Member
Lord Zee
Thayr
Enzayne
Vec
WrongEndoftheRainbow
ActRaiserTheReturned
Dezuel
Dark Cloud
Verjil
Level 2 Goddess of Kindness
&
Gremju the Challenger
&
The Corrupter
Level Three God of Perfection (Corruption)
The Tree overlooked the steep piece of land on which the Cabin was built. It was a contrasting sight to be sure. Placed higher than anything else in the Valley was this blackened tree, with two thick trunks twisting one around the other and reaching several meters up, where reddish leaves sprouted into a flat canopy. Bright red fruit hung off the lower branches, shining in the sunlight.
Aella bit her lower lip nervously as she looked at the tree from the front of her Cabin.
"I know we placed it here to show Larwen that we were okay with his creations and corruption living among the rest of us, but... Ugh, it doesn't really mix with the aesthetic I was going for with this little get-away from the world." Aella muttered.
Gremju shrugged at the great tree as Aella spoke "Eh, we can just move it into Larwen's territory later if he likes it. If not well er, well do what you want with it it's in your get-away" Gremju replied.
The Challenger thought that the tree could use a few more spikes but he supposed the corrupted tree shouldn't be too obvious.
"So eh, when can we expect Larwen to show up? You contacted him about our little gift yet?"
Aella perked up, "Oh! Le me do that right now-" She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and sent the invitation to Larwen.
'Brother, it has been a while since we've talked, hasn't it? It'd be great if we could meet up for a chat and catch up, I have something to show you. I really hope you'll like it!'
Larwen had just finished fixing his Forge of Purity from the would be saboteur, when a voice erupted into his mind, one vagualy familiar and oozing with kindness. For it was Aella who called upon him, he knewe this now. But a kind voice could hide the pretenses of a greater danger, one Larwen had to be warry of. He would respond to her request, mainly out of curiosity. What could she possibly have to show him? He was still apprehensive about leaving Pervanon so soon, but this time the Zalsarix would be watching for any unwanted guests.
Larwen then summoned Willbreaker to his hands, and willed himself to Aella's retreat. He arrived in a shadowy haze right before them, mace in hand and standing taller then either of his siblings. "Gremju. Aella. Why have you summoned me? If you think to attack, I will not hold back dearest siblings. These days one can never be to careful of another God. I have had my fill of univited guests, and prideful warriors, always meddling in my plans. So, what is it then?" he finished in a rather cold tone.
Aella clasped her hands in front of her and, after a quick look at Gremju, looked up at Larwen's eyes - or at least, where his eyes should be on his face.
"Larwen," She began, "Our brothers and sisters have wronged you, they've attacked you and your creations, and I am sorry." She said as she walked closer to Larwen, wings half-extended.
"I couldn't stand by and watch and wait as our family hurt you again and again, brother. And so, I called upon Gremju to help me create something you'll like, something that will hopefully get the others to leave you alone to do as you wish." She spoke increasingly quieter as she moved closer, and stopped close enough to Larwen that the tip of Willbreaker pressed against her armor. When it did, she gently attempted to lower the weapon. ""It's okay, Larwen. I'm not going to hurt you." She smiled warmly at him and stretched her free hand towards him, motioning for him to take her hand.
Larwen listened to Aella intently, slowly realizing that she was not really a threat, but as she walked closer to him, Larwen could not help but be tense. All she had to do was whip out a weapon and try to attack him. Was she truly sorry for him? They had both created something for him?
Aella stood before him, trying to lower Willbreaker, so easy it would be to strike her down but Larwen, let the mace fall, then let it disappear as his hand fell. Her quiet words seemed to stoke a part of Larwen that he had not known about himself. He felt... at ease? When she offered her hand towards him, Larwen again hesitated, but her smile seemed friendly enough and... inviting. So Larwen slowly took her hand, and when their bodies touched, a hazy memory flashed before his eyes. A void of darkness, and one small light. It was humming. But as quickly as it came, the memory vanished. It left him questioning himself? Why had he seen such a thing, the very thing he had... devoured...
Trying to push it out of his mind, he began to talk, but all sense of his icy tone had vanished. It was more of a voice whose mind was elsewhere. "I am suprised by such a display of this manner Aella. Continue."
Aella grinned and resisted the urge to hug Larwen, knowing well that she'd been lucky he even agreed to take her hand. After throwing a glance to Gremju and nodding in the direction of the tree, uphill, she took off, leading Larwen to his gift. It was a weird thing for her, trying to comfort and lead someone who was that much taller than her. In her old home, she was the tallest of the pantheon.
The very moment Larwen turned around to follow Aella, he'd have been able to see the tree, standing proudly and overlooking the Valley. It wasn't a long walk, barely two minutes until one reached the strange tree. The ground around its roots showed signs of corruption, yet didn't seem to make attempts at expansion. Aella turned around and rested her back on the tree, fully extending her wings in the process. "Don't you think your influence looks that much more beautiful like this? Being around our creations makes it look as magnificent and unique as it truly is."
Holding hands, was an odd feeling. It was more of Aella grabbing on to one of Larwen's large fingers and pulling him along. Larwen did note that her hand was pleasantly soft, another odd thing to think. She was not perfected yet, he felt no need to exert such influence over her. Aella would definetly be better if she were perfected however. The Perfected God of Kindness. It had a certain ring to it, but would her soft hands remain? Larwen shook his head, trying to rid himself of such thoughts. Everything had to be perfected in his image.
Eventually he saw it, the tree. It was strange, a part of him but not entirely. This was the gift? As Aella spoke, he let go of her hand to get a closer look. Certain thoughts came to mind about the tree, but more specifically with what Aella was saying. There was a double meaning to her words, that which could not be avoided. This tree, it was only half perfect and the half that was not of him only existed to stop his influence from spreading. He let out a soft sigh, his siblings still did not see, but before he could say anything, the memory flashed before his eyes again. This time the hum louder and the small light closer but it quickly faded. His hands balled into fists, why was this memory plaguing him so? He looked to Aella, and her smile stopped him. Was it truly Kindness that perpelled her to act in such ways, or a deeper sentiment? Larwen was not sure.
"This gift..." Larwen paused briefly looking away from Aella. He didn't want to come off rude, for it seemed they had made this gift with genuine thought. He realized that they would not know what he truly wanted, not until they were like him. It would have to do for now as much as it felt wrong to think it. He looked back at Aella and asked, "What does it do?"
"Right! Gremju, would you be so kind as to explain what our gift does?" She said, not taking her eyes off Larwen partly because she was curious on his further reactions and partly because she really wanted him to like the gift. The latter one seemed to be failing already, so Gremju and his more matter-of-fact way of speaking might be what they needed to convince Larwen completely.
At Aella's request , Gremju burst into life with a cackle. In a puff of purple energy the imp father disappeared and reappeared in the tree itself before he began his explanation "So my dear brother this little tree we have for you here is not your typical method of spreading influence, no, no,no this is a tree of temptation bearing transformative fruits. Set one of these things up anywhere and it will start whispering into the minds of nearby mortals , telling them how amazing this fruit is and how they will be rewarded for consuming them. Try to hear the whispers, they ain't exactly quiet." Gremju spoke as he manoeuvred himself around the tree to one of the forementioned fruits, grabbing it with his clawed hands before once again vanishing in a puff of smoke and appearing closer to Larwen and approaching, holding the fruit in his hands, offering it to him.
The fruit was an almost spherical shape and crimson, it almost seemed to glow. "Here is one of the fruit in question, the idea is this method of alteration is admittedly slower but also more subtle, even at times when you are withdrawn these trees will slowly spread your influence. Also there's the upside mortals have to willingly consume them which should be an argument for those who would be outraged to shut their traps, but don't worry the whispers are quite compelling. Made 'em myself" he stated, pride in his voice as he spoke about the whispers.
Larwen listened as they spoke, listening to the whispers that Gremju talked about. They were enticing, but not everwhelming compulsive. Larwen theorized those with a very strong will could resist the temptation of such perfection. He also knew that this gift, no matter what it did, his other siblings would actively try and destroy them. A few made it abudantly clear, that they would not tolerate his existence, and Larwen knew that meant anything that held an ounce of his influence. But the fact remained, these two had gone out of their way to try and placate him and Larwen admired that, no matter how foolish it might seem.
But the truth of the matter was simple- No matter what Larwen did, others would still dissaprove. Perhaps it was his fault for declaring his intentions so soon, for he felt younger then, more prone to the whims of his powers. But how could his siblings see? They were blinded by their powers, creating and willing beings into existence that should not be. Larwen was simply trying to fix there mistakes. to give them an existence far beyond what they were originally. His improvements had to happen, there was simply no other way.
After a long while contemplating, Larwen spoke, "The others will not leave me alone, dear sister, dear brother. My very nature is an affront to them all, for they cannot see what I do. They are blind, stumbling about in the world and flooding it with their horrors. Their mistakes, I have to correct them for the universe wills it. I cannot change my nature, this is simply how it has to be. I am sorry." He let his voice drop to silence, for the first time he felt dissapointed in himself and Larwen did not know why. "This gift, I will accept it, but only between the three of us. You have... touched me in a way that I did not know possible. I shall leave your creations alone for now, and I will stop the flow of my influence into your domains if this is what you wish. Perhaps one day you will both see as I do, and then I will rejoice for I will not be alone. Until then dear siblings, I hope future encounters can be as plesant as this one. I must leave now, for I have been gone for too long and the war has only just begun."
Aella looked down at the ground dejectedly when the silence fell upon them, but looked up with wide eyes when he told them that he'd leave their creations alone. They had failed, that much was clear, but found Larwen's soft, mushy side in the process. Still, she had no interest in keeping her creations away from Larwen, so she slowly wrapped her arms around Larwen's waist and hugged him. "There is nothing in this World that would hurt me more than my family keeping away from me, Larwen."
"Even if you can't promise to turn toward a more peaceful path, I want you to know that you and your creations will always be welcome in my domains." She sighed and reluctantly released Larwen from her embrace, "Just... Try not to kill or kidnap too many of the mortals taking shelter under my wing, lovely Brother." She said as she stepped back and clasped her hands once more.
Once again Larwen was taken by suprise. Aella was hugging him, her presence was comforting to him, another feeling he did not know he was capable of. She spoke what she felt, but Larwen could not feel as she did about their siblings. Sometimes it was better to be alone, far less problems occured that way, but he said nothing as she held on to him. He gave her a very awkward pat on the back before she let go, and with it his feeling of comfort vanished. It was almost painful, but her next words gave him great joy, but at the same time, he did not wish to overstep his boundries.
"Beloved sister, this land has what it needs already," Larwen pointed to the tree, "I ask that you house the tree here and that will be it, for our siblings will surely think twice to destroy it in your domain. In return, I ask that you visit Pervanon and give it an equal gift as a sign of peace between us. I also pledge that the mortals in your domain, shall be untouched. However, I can not guarantee the safety of mortals who come to close to Pervanon. I should be leaving now." Larwen said, with a hint of longing as he looked at Aella.
Gremju considered to himself for a moment whether or not he had failed or completed his challenge. On one hand he had made a creation that was at least satisfactory in Larwen's eyes,but on the other the wars would continue to be waged. He decided he'd give himsef a B- for performance. After Larwen's offer not to corrupt his (and Aella's) creation's Gremju responded "Feel free to send your guys through the Plains if need be, I'd prefer you didn't alter anything in there and I'll tell my imps your creations should be fine but if you catch a few imps wandering around your domain feel free to deal with 'em, if they screw up maybe they could do with a change in lifestyle...Hmm that does leave the issue of Makai and his chosen imps though, er if you send any of your creations through keep 'em away from the big central glade because one of Promus' guys are trying to civilise a few of my imps around there. Not that I think it'll amount to much but I'd rather the Plains of Madness didn't turn into a warzone just yet" the challenger giggled to himself as he ended the sentence. Although he would love to see how Larwen's creation would fare against the 'civilised' imps he had his own fun challenge for them when they had advanced enough.
Larwen looked at Gremju, almost forgetting he was there, his words were most intriguing. Espcially about Promus and one of his guys. How many of these beings did Promus create and where did he send them? But it would have to wait, "Fear not Gremju, the war is here in the Anathema's between the Fae of Seihdhara and the ones that I have perfected. Blame Lasis for starting it, for she has built a castle in my domain, harkening to her rebellious nature. I needed troops to fight her own, the Unsullied King thought this was a poor idea, but here we are. Blame me or not, it was inevitable."
Aella pursed her lips and looked up at the peaks around them. "It truly was inevitable..." After a moment, she looked back at Larwen and smiled, "Thank you for coming, Larwen. Do expect me to stop by Pervanon soon, keep the place clean and pretty for my visit!"
Larwen then looked to Gremju, then to Aella and settled on her for a moment. He bowed his head slightly, 'Goodbye." And then disappeared back to Pervanon with more then enough to think about to last several lifetimes.