Goldeagle1221

Grisaille Genesis

@Adorablesaucer
@Dracolunaris
@Oraculum
@Lexicon

Okay, I am now accepting CS's. Take your time, OOC goes up probably after the first is accepted. IC after the fourth.

Grisaille Genesis

I'll give it a few more days to marinate, and if by then the interest check hasn't snagged more people, I'll go ahead and start it with us three and let them come as they come.

I also want to say that I have completed most of the secret lore to be discovered in game, as well as some other cool features -- so I'm looking forward to this! Lot's of fun coming our way.

Grisaille Genesis

I'm here to perform actions and suffer the dreadful consequences.

@DracoLunaris

A trooper.

Grisaille Genesis

We're on.

@Oraculum

I'm eager to see what sort of character you cook up this time, especially since unnameable horror is off the table.

Grisaille Genesis

I am absolutely interested. Would you like us to start working on CSes now or hold off?

@Lexicon

You can start working on them now if you'd like but there won't be too much of a rush until I get at least three more signing on before I make an official OP. Starting now might be a good idea though, since this will have limited space! Thanks for your interest!

Grisaille Genesis

@dracolunaris
@oraculum
@adorablesaucer

Grisaille Genesis

THIS IS AN INTEREST CHECK.

Grisaille Genesis

Credit

Grisaille Genesis is heavily inspired by the game “Kingdom” created by Noio and Rawfury games. Knowledge of the game is definitely not a prerequisite but merely an inspiration point.

The Gods of Pertovia were partially inspired by the Riyria Chronicles

This game will focus on several main characters and countless side characters all at the control of the players and your story telling whims -- but what is the game? Well, here is the hook.

You are an inhabitant of the island of Pertovia -- I would say island nation, but it hasn’t been a nation for as long as anyone could remember. It’s a large dark land filled with secrets and covered in temperate forests, with many a mossy ruin and ancient dwelling. Long ago any semblence of true civilization was mysteriously struck from existance and what you can only assume was its replacement took precident: The Filth.

The Filth is a collective term for all that is wrong with Pertovia. Rings of black stone shuttle strange portals into existance and every night, hordes of strange monsters spill out to collect from the people, bypassing those who learned to wallow in the dust, but breaking down the walls of the brave few attempting to restart civilization. The Filth has been known to kill leaders, smite those with ambition and otherwise keep humanity in the darkness.

Over the years many have tried to right this wrong, or to unlock the secrets of the past, but none have been successful. It is rare to find a written work catalogued by one of these heroes of the past, even rarer to find someone who can read them, but oral stories are strong, if not carefully guarded as secrets. Crowns used to denote the leaders of yore, and some say certain crowns have escaped the claws of the Filth. It is rumoured that whoever discovers these crowns and wears at least one on top of their head, the people will flock, and civilization can start anew… however it is also said that other… more terrible things will also flock to these upstarts. Who will be the kings and queens who lead us back into the light? Will it be you?

You better hope so, because your character has found a crown on their travels through the woods. Whether you wanted it or not, you are now in possession of one of the most coveted items in Pertovia. Is it magic, does it do anything? No idea, but it is a symbol, a symbol of hope, and a beacon to the weary. It is now your duty to either rebuild civilization and unlock the story of the past, or die trying.

This story will focus on your characters going through the drama of setting up a civilization while battling the Filth and studying the past. There will be drama, there will be dives into ancient dungeons, there will be ruins and strange artifacts, there will be seiges, and there will be many a conflict. This is all done through you, the player. While your main character will be the crowned one, you are allowed to use and make any side character you wish, while I play everything else, including the Filth. This is narrative based and collaboration is encouraged. Skies the limit, and if it helps any, your technology level is aesthetically the end of the 11th to early 12th century. OH! Also, rumors have it that the main land is much… much worse off than Pertovia. Start small.

While making and using extra (NPC level) characters is encouraged, you will start off with a single main character who is a cut above the rest. For that character, you are required to fill out a character sheet, and in the case of their death or leave from the story, you should fill out a new sheet for your new main character or replacement. Please check out the ‘stats’ hider in the CS before filling out anything else and write whether your character is selfish, altruistic, or some scale in between in their personality section to show that you have read this.

Character Sheet

If you want to use a photo, put it here!

Name: Person McName
Title: The Example
Age: Newborn Baby
Appearance:

Person is a male bipedal hominin with no defining characteristics and is completely broke

---

Personality and Background Information:

Person is jealous, easily angered, and is at a cross with his creator. His fury stems from his brief birth for the single purpose of being an example for actual players… etc Please include at least three personality traits to help you characterize your character (I.E Cheerful, Nihilist, Contrarian)

Stats and Skills(It’s not what you think!)

Six-by-Five tier stats. These stats do not define the personality of the character, nor will they have much room for change. They are simply the base psycho-physical attributes of the character, and will likely not play a large part in the story except in circumstances where we need to compare the character in a dubious situation or otherwise ensure the character is not breaking their mold. Zero is not an option. Write your character’s favorite food in their personality section to show that you have read this. Please note my use of ‘man’ in the following list is due to me not wanting to write out “Woman/Man” or “Person/Human” each time.

Points to spend: 15

Physical

Might: The output of the body, and how much strength it can deliver.

1. A child among men
2. A man among men
3. An athlete among men
4. An olympian among men
5. A legend among men

Coordination: The skill of the body, and how reflexive, accurate and precise it is.

1. Reflexes of a tree
2. Reflexes of a man
3. Reflexes of a cat
4. Reflexes of a mantis
5. Reflexes of a cobra

Fortitude: The input of the body, and how much stress it can withstand.

1. Skin of paper
2. Skin of skin
3. Skin of leather
4. Skin of bark
5. Skin of stone

Psycho

Intellect: The power of the mind, and how well it absorbs and recalls information.


1. The slow
2. The average
3. The quick
4. The smart
5. The scholar

Wisdom:The skill of the mind, and how well it applies all forms of knowledge to a solution.

1. Stumped
2. Straightforward
3. Insightful
4. Wise
5. Sage

Willpower: The truth of the mind, and how much stress it can withstand.

Weak of will
2. Will of will
3. Plenty of will
4. Strong of will
5. Paragon of will

Skills and Training:

Before he became an example, Person was actually a fletcher and thus is handy with the bow and arrow as well as with craftsman tools. Who knew?

A Travelers Guide to Pertovia

So you want to visit Pertovia, do you? Of course you don’t, you live there! -- but in case you’ve forgotten the key points about the dusky old island, let me remind you…

… it isn’t a well kept secret that while most of the land’s inhabitants had given up on building a proper civilization out of fear of the Filth, there is a few smatterings of what may be called ‘cities’ or at least glorified refuges that have historically either held off the Filth adequately enough or rebuilt themselves fast enough to still exist. The three most important to know is the refuge of Illistair -- City of high walls and angry people, Jornorston -- Refuge of questionable religion and a strange lack of Filth (The obvious kind), and Kendles -- The damned town, where life is short but as fulfilling as you may get in these dark times.

In case your forgot your manners after you left your mother’s camp, the Pertovians do have a set of dieties that have trickled down through the ages thanks to oral tradition and the rare leaflet. While there may be more, including regional dieties, the most common are The Four:

Teid the All: said to be the creator of the world and the other gods and the most contradicted in mythologies -- as some say they were slain by the other gods, others say they rule over the other gods, but most wonder what they did to deserve a world like this.

Parrel the Queen or Steward: depending on how you feel about Teid being dead (if anything at all), Parrel is either the Queen or the Steward, patron of health and care. She is said to look after your home and your family -- but the eagle eyed cynic may question this when observing the Filth. Self proclaimed practitioners of medicine often swear by her, and she is said to swear by their concoctions.

Ligdon the Wild: Ligdon is a mixed bag, just like the other gods of this pantheon. He is the caretaker of the wilds, as well as the proctor of virtue and other good moral qualities. He is the lord of the brave and right hand of the hunter. According to some, he and he alone is guiding the faithful through these most horrid times; often charms are made in his name to help fend off the filth or protect hidden caches… in some ways his name is a beacon in the dark. However there is a dark side to his coin: it is a resounding myth that during one drunken night after the largest hunt ever commissioned, he had become inebriated with lust and forced himself upon Parrel, bringing us to our last god.

Oorick the Hated: Pertovians are rather honest, and this Gods name says all. Oorick is the bastard spawn of Ligdon and Parrel as well as the harbinger of moral corruption and tragedies. Often depicted as a bubbling mass of everything that should never have been born, Oorick is often the target of everyone's hate.

As expected, having these four gods as your top of the line administration is rather depressing, but so is Pertovia right now -- I think that is the most important detail to keep in mind right there when visiting -- or rather living there.

Let’s cover one final thing regarding Pertovia: Law. There is none… but that doesn’t mean you can just do anything you want! While there is no official law, there are expectations and they are exactly what you think they are. That said, those large enduring settlements may have a thing or two to say if you break one of their expectations, so be mindful of where you are and look for bylaws -- which is a pain since most of you if not all of you can’t read, and hardly any of them are writing.

FAQ

Q: Wait, if there are four of us and four crowns, who is the main protagonist and who is the de jure ruler to be?
A: All of you are the protagonists and as far as government is concerned, you figure it out.

Q:How do we start?
A: Well, you recently stumbled across an ancient crown, marking you for death by Filth or renown by creating a civilization and unlocking the past. Take that, run with it and if you get stuck -- there are three others running around with crowns, that’s a talking point. If you are still stuck, well there is always me.

Q’s the mood of these RP, you’re acting pretty silly in the OP
A: It’s a rather serious RP oddly enough, with a lot of underbelly themes and impacting points. That is not to say a little light heartedness or wholesomeness in the face of abyssal darkness isn’t appreciated, but try to keep it reasonable to the theme.

Q:Is there magic?
A: How about you start digging up the past and figure it out on your own? There is plenty of ancient ruins and structures -- artifacts aplenty.

Q:Okay, but can my character use magic?
A: Maybe, but definitely not right now.

Q: Wait, if reading is rare -- how do you expect us to do any studying about the past?
A: You’ll figure it out.

Q: Can characters die?
A: Yes, but hopefully this won’t be a character death fest. That said, it’s best not to suspend belief so plot smart.

Q:So what sort of player are you looking for?
A: One willing to write a story for quite some time, put in some good posts and to be interactive with the world around them. There is a lot to uncover and really our story can go anywhere from here. If you are reading this, please put your characters most memorable moment at the bottom of their CS.

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

**wet noises**

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

Rainy Noodles at Sundown

Starring Snake and Sleepman

Wooden wheels ground over wet cobble, creating a dull grinding sound that challenge the wash of the gentle rain. The night sky was inky and the air was thin but cool. Gentle lights flickered from glass covered torches, challenging the darkness and illuminating a small wooden shack. The shack wasn't much more than a single bar with five seats exposed to the elements on all sides except above, where a thin awning stretched over any would-be customers. The thick smell of broth seeped from behind the bar along with yellow light and sharp clangs of metal.

"Here go," an old lady with a wrinkled face unceremoniously placed a wide clay bowl in front of the River-God. He had been sitting there since -- actually he didn't know, he couldn't quite remember ever sitting down but here he was. He looked down into the bowl of noodles, buttery broth swimming around the yellow-stained egg noodles, dotted with quick chopped vegetables. He looked up, but the old lady had already left, her voice carrying from the back of the shack as she argued with what he hoped was her gruff husband.

Wooden chopsticks clicked together and Shengshi turned to the stool adjacent to his, a smiling face looking back at him. The smiling gentleman held a prize of noodles between two long chopsticks, a gentle hum in his voice, "I do love this place you know," his grainy voice ricocheted across the sound of the pattering rain.

Shengshi smiled and grabbed a pair of chopsticks for himself. “Well, in that case, I look forward to the taste test. Let us see if the noodles of dreams can measure up to the craft of servants.” He pinched a couple of strands between the sticks and slurped them up. He chewed for a moment and swallowed, nodding with an impressed expression all the while. “That is quite something, indeed. Incredible what the mind can convey to the tastebuds.” He grinned and reached out his hand to K’nell. “How have you been of late, my dear friend?”

Their hands clapped together in a clasp and then fell apart. K'nell swallowed his own bite and cleared his throat, "I've been well, and how have you fared? I would be lying if I didn't admit to hearing about the troubles settling on the southern continent." The old lady came out from behind a curtained door and placed two cups onto the table and then a carafe between them. She gave a gentle bow of her head and turned to leave.

"Ah thank you, dear Rosy," K'nell tipped the carafe over Shengshi's cup. The old lady simply gave a pinched smile and shuffled off. The cups were both quickly filled halfway with a clear liquid. K'nell lifted his to his chin and ushered Shengshi to continue.

The snake mouthed the name Rosy to himself and shrugged discreetly. His eyes then flicked back to K’nell and he pursed his lips. “Well, I cannot lie, the last fifty years have been something else. With everything from experimentation to figuring out the essence of agriculture, in addition to all the conflict before and after the Arrival of the Alma - everything has been less than harmonious.” He furrowed his brows. “Yes, you have no doubt heard about all that regardless, so I will spare you the rant, dear friend. Now, what have you yourself been doing?”

"Oh, what I've always been doing, I suppose," K'nell took a sip of his drink and placed it back down, opting for his soup. He slurped a pinch of noodles and nodded, "Ah but I'm sure you want details. I admit I rarely get visitors who simply want to chat." He swirled his chopsticks in his soup, his utensils suddenly pinching a large bundle of noodles. He held them over the bowl until they stopped dripping. His eyes flickered back to Shengshi, "If you don't mind, I would like to perform a quick exercise… have some of my soup."

The snake blinked and accepted the bowl with a nod of his head. “Well, I am not one to decline such an offer. May I inquire as to what this exercise is about?” He took the bowl with both hands and brought it to his lips to nip at the soup.

K'nell held up a finger, "First, how does it taste?"

The snake smacked his lips quietly. “Quite similar to my own, I confess.”

"What if I were to suggest that my soup is actually very different than your own, but your tongue, of course, is none the wiser. You see, both soups have a similar taste pattern and your own palate has already become accustomed to it through your own bowl." K'nell smiled, "Awfully thoughtful for a bowl of soup -- here." He suddenly produced a glass vial of black liquid. He let eight drips fall into the soup before Shengshi, the broth darkening.

"Now try."

The snake once more nipped at his bowl, smacked his lips and then had another sip. “My… What did you put in it?”

"Just something very different than the original flavour. To be honest, that spice you now taste has always been there, but hidden. Now it has something to contrast against and show itself," K'nell explained simply. He looked at his drink, "Such is the way of soups… and such is the way of dreams."

The snake took another sip and chuckled. “A similarity shared with wine, I suppose. By the way, how did you like your gift?”

"I enjoyed it very much, thank you," K'nell grinned, "Not a drop was wasted, I assure you."

“How marvellous,” the snake said with a grin. “Please, do not be afraid to ask for more. There will always be more for my dearest friends.” He slurped another mouthful of soup and hummed pensively. “On another note, may I ask what happened that night when all my servants suddenly woke up screaming? Were you testing something?”

K'nell gave Shengshi a knowing look and waved a hand over their noodles, a tiny grin tucked in the corner of his mouth, "I was simply making soup."

The snake wrinkled his nose. "Not a soup for the faint of heart, I reckon. Forgive my questioning, but I feel compelled to inquire as to why you felt the need to make such a… Particular recipe."
I
K'nell steepled his fingers over his now empty bowl, "Ah I see, you have some concerns." He paused with a hum, "Perhaps a quick look behind the curtain might appease your worry?" The god smiled as his fingers slipped between the unseen folds of reality, "Yes?"

The snake made a face and nodded. "Very well. Show me."

K'nell raised a brow and flicked a smile; then with a sudden resounding snap, everything changed.

K'nells boot crunched on autumn leaves as he walked, his elbows folded square behind his back. The two were on a leaf ridden path cut through beautiful red leaved maples that hung over their heads. An owl was crying somewhere and Shengshi wasn't sure if it was dusk or dawn. The leaves swished in tiny storms and K'nell sucked in a soil scented breath.

"So tell me, Shengshi," K'nell broke the tanquility with a charm, "What are you thinking, if you'd forgive my familiarity, what is the future in your eyes?"

"The future? Why, that is simple! The future is prosperous - unending lands of green filled with full-bellied beasts and pious mortals, webbed together by rivers of life." The snake made a playful smirk. "Or had you something else in mind?"

K'nell smiled but didn't take his eyes off the path before them, "That sounds almost like a paradise, no?"

The snake nodded. “Indeed, hence why I wish it for this world. Already, much of it has known destruction, and it deserves a calmer, safer future - one without worry and anxiety.”

"Have you created paradise, yet?" K'nell turned his head to look at Shengshi, his black eyes betrayed more than a simple question.

The snake made a frown. “W-well, obviously not. It is a future goal - a project-in-progress.”

"I suppose that would make sense," K'nell nodded and turned back to the path, "I have one more question on the topic, but I have to ask you not to take offense to it."

The snake pursed his lips. “Go on.”

"Do you know how?" K'nell asked simply, his words almost punctuated by him suddenly stopping on a particularly crunchy leaf. He turned to the snake, a single brow raised.

The snake’s face caught a slightly redder shade and he looked away. “... There is still some experimentation to be done in order to find the optimal path, I fear…”

"Ah," K'nell presented a tiny smile, "Then I won't pressure you further on paradise." He mused in silence for a second, "But since you clearly have had some thought of similar subjects, did you perhaps devise an end for your creations? Or perhaps a way to create perfection?" The God didn't wait for an answer before he started walking again.

A distant look filled Shengshi’s eyes. “A way to create perfection, huh… Well, I have been refining my book of law that I will hand down to mortality. I believe firmly that the system outlined within them forms a most harmonious society, which can then be supported by bountiful harvests and great wealth. Only…” He shook his head in disappointment. “... Please do not tell anybody I said this, but I… Struggle to practice my preachings, so to speak - that does not exactly set a wonderful example for mortality.”

"Deviations are expected in most coded works; although by the creator…" K'nell paused, "I suppose that shows you that you have either created a code that is impossible to follow or one that is honest -- as so many creator of rules ensure the rules favor them first… If that was the case, in this greed you'd have no trouble, so take your struggle as a sign of potential and not failure." He looked intently at the snake, "As for the topic of privacy, you are in a dream. Only I and the dreamer know what transpires in dreams and as I've made clear to others, none of it shall be shared. I expect the same of you of course, we share delicate bits of information, such as this dream, or the secret demise of Vakk." His eyes flashed over the snake for a moment.

The snake blinked. He then sucked in a breath through the nose and placed his fist over his mouth. “... His death…” he began, “... I…” He squeezed his eyes shut in shame. “... I am afraid that is a secret no longer.”

"I know, Shengshi," K'nell stepped over a tiny puddle, "But hearing it from you ensures my faith in your honesty." He hummed for a moment, "However I must insist you keep this talk between us, yes?"

The snake nodded with a recovering smile. “Of course, my dearest brother. This is but a dream - little of note to share.” He winked playfully.

"And yet some of the best things happen in dreams," K'nell mused, "Ah, for example."

K'nell suddenly stopped and as if the trees were peeled away on command, there stood an endless field of green before the two gods. It held glistening blue brookes that cut the endless field into pieces. Idyllic homes crested each island, and a great many people went about various tasks, each with a feeling of bliss in their hearts and step. K'nell plucked a yellow flower from beside him and held it to his nose to appraise it.

The snake gaped in awe and breathed a hacking gasp. His eyes shone with the moisture of pride and love as he gazed out across the vast fields of green, listened to the warm buzz of farmers and heard the snaps and smacks of their work. He sniffed a single sniff and nodded. “Yes… Some of the best things, indeed.” He slithered forward among the tall, verdant stalks, his hands caressing the growing sprouts on top. He hummed to the sound of the becks and flight of the bees and revealed a grin than glistened in the light above - the same way everything around radiated with idyll.

"But of course," K'nells grainy voice piped up from behind Shengshi, the Lord of sleep not having moved from his spot, "Should you stare at this scene long enough, it will become bland despite that special spice that makes it so wonderful. It is not perfect, but it holds a piece of perfection." He paused, "Then again there is also the matter of perception."

The grass bent under his boots as he made his way to Shengshi's side, "No, I'm afraid this is not good enough. Mind you it isn't the lack of grandeur nor the dreams fault but those perceiving it. Tell me, Shengshi, what makes your most beloved creations happy?"

The snake furrowed his brow in thought and hummed. "Why, I reckon that would be the knowledge that their creator watches over them and ensures their bellies are filled and their throats are wetted." He gave K'nell a look. "Since you asked the question, what do you think?"

"Hm?" K'nell turned his head towards the snake, "Your creations? I suppose the answer is the same for any creation granted free will: they make themselves happy, or unhappy -- not to say external forces are not extremely important in determining one's mental state, but to rely solely on external stimuli is… well incorrect."

"There," K'nell pointed a finger at one of the farmers, "You can see the intricacies of this person's mind, yes? By all means they should be soaring with happiness as all their needs are met and they live in an idyllic paradise… but they are uneasy -- unsettled. They crave new experiences, new sights." K'nell chuckled to himself, "So let's say I give those to him, will he then be at ease? Sadly not, as they will eventually realize they want something else entirely. This is a man not yet ready for paradise, as he has yet to find it first in himself. That is not to say that a paradise shouldn't be much more than this, but if he were to be at paradise within, I dare say any scape I throw at him shall be paradise as well." K'nell smiled.

"Do you follow, dear Shengshi?"

"I do," Shengshi murmured. "He could be granted tools to humour himself with: a harp, a flute, clay, wood - paradise necessitates a culture for the arts, of course." He gestured outwards. "Everything such would be welcome in paradise, so long as it would remain harmonious and not infringe upon others' enjoyment of it."

"Oh but it would, dear Shengshi, if the mind is not prepared," K'nell looked out over the field, "It takes a single grain to disrupt such a gentle equation and when dealing with objects of free will… well that is to say perfection is not as simple as everyone plays nice and does nice. To need to enforce a rule dictates that it is a mere sham of a paradise, not quite there… so."

K'nell turned to Shengshi, "Physically a paradise needs to be infinite and infinitely varied, that much is easy… but the psychology of the denizens of paradise, not so easy. So how do you ensure that all parts of this paradise are in concordance with each other… well I suppose you learn all sides of the equation, and every motive possible for emotion… I suppose you add a contradicting flavour to the soup, to better understand the spice you seek to taste." K'nell folded his hands, "And that's just to make the soup, does this all make sense now, Shengshi?"

The snake nodded slowly. "Yes… Yes, it does… A Galbarian paradise is beginning to sound difficult."

"Then let me make it easy," K'nell smiled, "Or at least allow me to simplify it all to a few words: you cannot force someone to be at paradise." K'nell inhaled, "To answer a long ago asked question, a dream holds the seed of truth, but so does a nightmare. You cannot ignore negative experiences on the path to paradise, but let both dreams and nightmares foster a better way of thinking. Perfection exists, dear Shengshi, we just can't talk about it."

"I would like to disagree, but it was indeed a nightmare that brought to me the thought of forming Xiaoli." He chuckled to himself. "Yes, I am in agreement with the need for this balance of impulses - both good and evil can be necessary when deciding the proper paths ahead. Yet… I do hope there will be a spoonful more good in the lands to come."

K'nell looked at Shengshi for a moment before smiling, "But of course and on the topic of balance, I have come across an interesting case -- perhaps one that would be an excuse to allow this topic to rest and our minds with it."

The snake raised a brow. "A case?"

K'nell nodded and clapped his hands once. At the resounding vibration the sky suddenly rolled and thundered about the fields. The people were nowhere to be seen anymore as the sky suddenly sundered open and with it, a torrent of flame. The fire pounded to the earth below and engulfed all.

The flicker of blinding orange subsided and Shengshi stood on the steps of a dias, K'nell sitting on a throne far above. The intricately dressed room around them was well lit, and filled with a playful orchestra. Flitting orbs of emotion danced around them and in between the statues along the walls. Before Shengshi could comment, K'nell flicked his wrist and a person materialized between them.

The figure was nothing too impressive, save for the dark circles under his eyes and the beat up clothes of a gentleman he wore. The man was neither dreamer nor of K'nell.

"A man who has only (or at least mostly) experienced misery alone for the past five decades. Not even in sleep does he get a reprise, as it is flooded with nightmares, most of which have nothing to do with his particular journey through life. He is known as Karamir and unfortunately for him, he is friends with…" K'nell mulled over his words, "Well a divine being whose sole purpose is to spread misery."

The snake furrowed his brow and made a faint sneer. "With a name like that, he can only be the creation of Kalmar… My, what an utter lack of creativity." He turned to K'nell. "Why are you showing him to me?"

"Simply because I thought you might find this case as curious as I do," K'nell flicked his wrist and the figure fell to the floor, lumbering about mindlessly. K'nell cleared his throat, "A mortal who has for the better part of their existence having been removed from positive encounters. Of course, he has grown used to his current level of misery -- as expected. To be suddenly liberated from such misery, what do you suspect might happen?"

“... I imagine he would act like a beaten beast - joyous and ecstatic, yet perhaps even a little anxious. Free of chains, the slave is often without purpose, after all.” A pause. “Did you have a wish to free him hidden within this message?”

"You'll have to excuse me, I don't tend to deal in wishes -- he is on his way as we speak," K'nell leaned back in his throne, "Have you ever felt trapped?" The question was sudden, the God of Sleep reaching into his coat pocket.

Shengshi shook his head. “No, I cannot say I have.”

K'nell seemed to ponder the answer as he pulled a silver tin from his coat and opened it up. He presented the rolled cigarillos within to Shengshi, "Smoke?"

The snake peered intently at the cigarillo and hummed. “I have never tried, I confess. Lately, I have been a little wary of smoke and fire.”

"Oh yes of course," K'nell snapped the tin shut, "How insensitive of me." He hummed for a moment as he tucked it away.

“No, no, do not concern yourself with that. It has already been over fifty years, after all, and fire is a necessary, essential part of life for many mortals. As will pipeweed and other substances be, I reckon. Now, I imagine you wanted to tie the trapping to this Karamir?”

"Could you excuse me if I spoke rather liberally for a moment?" K'nell gestured a hand.

“Why, certainly - go ahead.”

"You are trapped, Shengshi," K'nell folded his fingers together, "Whether you know it or not, since the moment you fell asleep I've felt it. Karamir, the cigarillo, simple prods at your symptoms. Tell me, when seeing a curious case of damnation, why did you first focus on the name made by a rival and when presented a luxury item, your first thought was of the war? You have things eating at your subconscious, Shengshi, and plenty of things that need to find a bed."

The snake recoiled a little and blinked. “W-w-well! I-...” He cast a sideways glance into the distance and sneered. “They were mere remarks. Karamir’s name is awfully similar to his creator’s and I have indeed kept my distance from fire over the last few years. What, are you going to tell me that I am trapped by my experiences from the past?”

"Perhaps I misspoke," K'nell offered, "Then again, if I didn't, you would know before me."

Shengshi’s eyes flicked back and forth between K’nell and the fine curtains over the windows. He sighed a hot sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. “... I would not say I am trapped, but the past does haunt me at times.”

"Who can fault you for it," K'nell grinned, "I suppose the only judgement can come from what you do next."

“Yes… Speaking of, would you have any recommendations? Already, I have sworn to oppose Azura and, well… I would likely be a fool to think one of your crows did not catch my latest failure.”

"If I may be so bold," K'nell said after a small pause, "Perhaps it would be wise to sit for a while." He patted the arms of his throne, "And think. Think about the start of things, and the end of things. Figure out the path of each of your choices and only create when you know how to end it. But if I am to be honest, lecturing is not my strong suit, at least not this sort."

The snake smirked. "As usual, you are much too modest, my dearest brother. Your advice has been more than helpful, I assure you." He looked over his shoulder as if something was there and shrugged. "An itch and spine in my neck is telling me I have taken a rather funny position in the real realm… I must be waking up."

"Ah, that's what I was afraid of," K'nell said, "The former rather than the latter. Far be it from me to be directly involved in the choices of another -- in this case, I suppose for a friend." He smiled wide, "As for your waking arrangements, there you are."

As the last syllable sounded, Shengshi realized he was no longer asleep. He turned a lethargic neck to see that he had nearly twisted himself around inside his basket. He muttered to himself and quickly undid the knot that was his body and crawled out of the basket.

"Well… Time to see how close we can get to paradise."

Summarino

Two bros hangout at a noodle bar and talk about why K'nell made nightmares. They then discuss what is paradise and perfection and how to obtain it. They briefly muse over Karamirs shitty existence then K'nell tells Shengshi that he needs to relax. Shengshi is like no...kay. Then K'nell tells him to have a thoughtful vaca.

The end

No might spent

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

MP:07 FP:08

The room pulsed. White light glimmered over the opaque shadows, dispelling them and revealing grey-blue stonework. Once again in five points K’nell had placed dream orbs, each hovering over a pedestal, whirring and pulsing their glow. In the center of the star, there was a great ripple of light, just as before, with K’nell standing in front of it. His fingers deftly slipped through the light, hooking ethereal threads and incorporeal strings. He pushed and pulled them, weaving them into a pattern hidden by the mind numbing light. The birth of Diana had pushed his project closer than he had expected, and he could feel things starting to fall into place.

A tiny smile cracked his lips and he began to hum a melody, the grain of his voice giving it a veneer of experience and mystery all in one. He tugged a particularly stubborn strand, and reality seemed to shimmer around him for a moment. He paused and the sparkle of light fell back into the rhythmic pulse of the orbs. As his fingers worked his mind idled on different things, his vast army of crows feeding him endless streams of information. He made a curious face at some of the images and sounds the crows relayed, smiled at a few others, and threw in a few frowns for good measure.

Snaking one hand out of the ripple of light, he waved it at nothing in particular and the images stopped flowing, leaving his mind alone with his own ponderings. There was so much to think about, and unlike eons ago, things happen much quicker than before, forcing him to prioritize his thoughts. He let his hands fall from the ripple of light and tapped his clean shaven chin, “Prioritization.” He gave a single humorless ‘ha’ and returned his hands to the ripple, the room suddenly blooming with spots of every bit of color imaginable, plus a few new ones.

“Such a word is hardly known on Galbar” He mused as he tinkered, “Then again, I’m hardly on Galbar.”

“Orvus,” He thought to himself, the images of his last encounter flashing by his mind. He nodded to himself, hoping that the god managed to figure out the true purpose of his gift, and not just the obvious one. His raised his brows and the image of Orvus shifted to that of Azura and her birds, images he knew very well despite never personally meeting her. His crows have heard many stories and opinions on the god… K’nell let his brow fall as he worked on a particularly hesitant thread of light.

“Oh, Azura,” he shook his head, “A heart of gold, but then again, find me a god who doesn’t think their soul is silver and ideas as solid as diamond.” He looked at a mirror that leaned against the wall and smirked.

“There’s a hypocrites’ smile,” He charmed before turning back to his work. He scrunched his brow as he worked; perhaps it was intrinsic to his sphere, a boon acquired from his specialty, but to him, there always seemed to be so many roads and so many strings --almost too many strings-- to only pull one and assume --He yanked a strand of wispy gold-- that it was the only or even the best string. He watched a cloud of glowing light pulse on the other side of the ripple, “Or that the effects of a choice be so simple and clear.”

“Or perhaps,” He thought on, “There is no other choice, or perhaps too few choices.” He thoughts turned to Ashalla, and then to Narzhak,“[i]That there is a certain complexity in the simplicity, or perhaps it really is all that simple.” He smiled, knowing very well that there buzzed a law that even a man of dreams knew to be true, that it is usually the simplest of answers that holds the answer. He cocked a brow, “But at what point do you fall from humility in your choice, and are just plain proud.”

“Then I suppose you could be too prudent as well, too invested in finding every option that you forget what you were talking about to begin with,” He said out loud to nothing at all. He pulled back from the ripple of light, the glowing sun a melody of color. He tucked a hand under his elbow and pinched his chin.

“So I suppose, the answer to this equation is simple,” He watched the ripple, “You cannot have one without the other, and I suppose you’d have to find a certain balance to make sure that you know exactly what is what. But that is the beauty of the dream,” He smiled, “You can have one without the other…”

“Unless…” His eyes flickered with the light.

“You want something else entirely…” A cheshire grin overtook his face.

WHOOM!

The ripple suddenly exploded with a rush, engulfing K’nell in all its splendor. As the flood of color overtook the palace, it grew dark and dim. Runes floated in its miasma as it curled into lines of wicked poetry. The great wonder of the dark tsunami shook the dreamscape…

---

Limbo began to shake and the weavers that floated around it suddenly turned a scarlet red. With an explosive blast, a dark pillar of miasma erupted from the stone platform, rocketing to the sky. It slammed into the heavens with a tremendous force, blasting the night sky with a unsettling shiver. All around Galbar, the sleeping suddenly began to jerk, and began to scream, and began to cry. The realm of the sleeping broke into a chorus of horror, fit with an orchestra of shrieks and a symphony of anxious whimpers.

… True nightmares have been born.

---

...The initial great wave of terror never seemed to touch those who bore the spiral…

---

Diana suddenly stood up. Her umbrella slid off of her and thunked into the wet grass below. Her boots scuffed and she turned every which way, surrounded by a grove of trees -- a gentle river babbling nearby. Her sickly eyes seemed enticed and a smile stretched over her jagged teeth. Slowly her gaze fell to Karamir, the sleeping mortal jerking in his sleep, sweat beading at his temples. A giddy grin and a single clap erupted from Diana, the avatar nearly hopping in place.

“Karamir!” She kicked the man out of his sleep, his eyes popping as they escaped horror.

Karamir shot up into a sitting position, his hand lunging for a branch that lay nearby, only to pause when he realized there was no actual danger. “Agh… wh-what!?” he demanded.

“What, what,” Diana mocked with a wave of her hand, “Can’t break you from that, can I?” She shook her head and waved her arms, “But no, don’t you feel it?” She smiled wide, eyes shifting over his face, looking for signs of his nightmare.

“Whatever do you mean?” Karamir asked, recalling the lessons he had been repeatedly nagged and pestered about.

“Oh dear, oh dear,” Diana scooted around Karamir, “Do mortals really not feel that? A new wing of the palace has been awakened. I can taste it in the air, I could feel it ‘oozing’ from you as you slept.” She closed her eyes as if picturing something, “The symphony was masterful, and you’re telling me you couldn’t even hear it?”

Karamir scratched his head in confusion. “That dream was the worst one yet, but you’ve been giving me nightmares ever since we met. There was something special about this one?”

Diana’s jaw hung in astonishment, “Karamir, that’s probably the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.” She hugged herself and smiled smugly, “To think you couldn’t even tell the difference.”

“So what does this mean, then?” he questioned.
“It means I can go home, dear” Diana smiled wide, “And that-- well.” She thought for a moment, “It’s hard to explain, but since you’ve known me… I’ve had a small piece of myself that seemed to be missing, but I think I found it again, oh yes.”

Well, that was concerning, for more reasons than one. “Wait… go home? You’re leaving?” he asked her. Karamir did not relish the idea of her gaining what sounded like more power, but for some strange reason he also did not want her to leave.

“Well leaving is a relative term,” Diana flicked her wrist about, “Leaving this boring slab of stone? Yes.” She closed her lips and hummed in thought, “Oh my, you’ll just love it. No more sunny days, or fluffy critters -- at least not the petting kind.” She shivered.

“Love what?”

Diana blinked, “Home, Karamir, home. My, you’re a dense one.”

Karamir raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying you’re taking me somewhere?”

“Of course,” Diana rolled her eyes, “We are friends, aren’t we? It would be strange to just… leave… you stranded.” She curled a finger and bit it in thought, as if tempted.

Karamir looked around. He had already seen his fair share of dangers on this continent. From giant winged lizards to abominations of filth and metal. If left alone, his odds of survival were not great. “This ‘home’ of yours… what is it?”

"I always forget that you're a simpleton," Diana mused, "Somehow." She shook her head, "I come from the land of dreams, of course." She did a slight twirl, “Couldn’t you tell?”

“I know that, but what is it?” Karamir pressed. “Is it just endless horrors and nightmares? Is being there any different from being asleep?”

“It’s whatever I want it to be, of course,” Diana stuck her chin up, “It’s really quite easy to understand when you think about it and yes, I’d say it’s much better actually being there rather than sleeping. Not from experience of course, but my own personal…” she mulled over her words and rotated her wrist, “I’m not sure, bias? Perhaps.”

“So what happens to me when I sleep - it would just be more of that?”

“Oh my dear Karamir,” Diana pinched her brow but betrayed a toothy grin, “Your lack of eloquence is somehow as sharp as it is dull, or rather it must be because that stung. It’s not just merely pictures floating around in your head, or some sleeping side show, or maybe that’s all it is to you?” Her statement inflected a question and her eyes dug into him with an awaiting glare.

“I’m just trying to learn more about it, that’s all.” he answered, shrugging to offset his defensive tone.

“Haven’t you learned anything from your dreams?” She asked with an almost sickening innocence that Karamir had grown to be cautious around.

Karamir sighed. Getting a straight answer from her had always been difficult - so why should he expect it to be easier now? “I’m trying to find out how it’s different from my dreams. If it’s just more nightmares, but far worse, or all the time, then that isn’t a life I want to live.”

“Oh no, it’s much much better,” Daina clapped once, “Besides, what sort of life are you trying to live anyways? You squat by trees and grunt half the time, I could only imagine what life would have been like if you hadn’t met the likes of me, you know. Look at you, dashing clothes, nearly intelligible diction, and a worn weary eye to boot. I’d say it can only get better for you.” She crossed her arms.

Karamir frowned. “I think your definition of ‘better’ is different from most creatures.”

“Oh foo, there you go with your nonsense again,” Diana folded her hands, “You can’t deny how great it has been having me around, and I’m just saying we can have much more fun, but in a much more civilized land.”

Karamir squinted. “More civilized? In what way?” After all, many of the things he witnessed in his dreams could hardly count as ‘civilized.’

“For one I can introduce you to the wonders of cleaning yourself regularly,” She kept her arms crossed, “Dances, orchestras, cooked food, all of that fun and fluff.”

Karamir ruminated on the offer. He distrusted it, of course, yet he knew that staying here alone was a death sentence. And at least going with Diana would offer some change of pace from the seemingly endless wandering they had been going through previously. He removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair. How long had they been wandering? Countless winters had come and gone. He had been told he would live long, but long was not forever, and he needed to feel like he was making some sort of progress.

He sighed. “I will go… on the condition that I am allowed to safely leave whenever I want.”

"Oh you silly man," Diana cackled, "Have I ever once said you can't leave?"

“I’ve never been in a position where I could safely leave,” Karamir pointed out. “When we first met it was at sea - there was nowhere else to go. And here… this land is dangerous, and you never gave me a weapon to defend myself.”

"I gave you the best weapon of all: style and good friends," She nodded, "Now hup to! We have a home to return to." She put her hands on her hips, "Now just to remember which way it was."

Karamir rose to his feet, and then his eyes widened in fear. “Are we going to have to take another umbrella ride across the sea?”

Diana tapped her chin, "Maybe! Oh I know how much you love those." She spun and spun as if looking for something, "But we do have a schedule to keep, somewhat." She knelt down and scooped up her umbrella. She stared at it for a while and tossed it idly in her hand.

"I suppose we could fly."

”Wait…” Karamir began, before breaking off into silence. For a few seconds, he could only stare at her with his mouth agape. He clenched a fist, then unclenched it, before clenching it again. His face reddened, and it looked as though he might explode, but then he took a deep breath and appeared to calm down - though his hand remained closed. ”That was an option?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Diana blinked, "Oh my, yes." Her lips cracked into a toothy grin, "Although as you can imagine, space is a little limited."

Karamir opened his palm, and then slowly brought his hand up to meet his face. “Why didn’t you do that in the first place?” he asked, his voice still quiet.

"Oh I think you know me well enough by now," She said idly as she unfurled her umbrella with a whoosh! The brim of the umbrella seemed a lot wider than Karamir remembered and Diana flexed her fingers over the grip a few times, "Shall I be honest with you?"

Karamir dropped his hand. “Do you mean to imply that you have not been honest with me before?” he asked in an unusually dry tone. “I am shocked. But please go on.”

"Oh hush, I've never uttered a lie to you. I simply have a confession," She looked over at him and held out a hand.

Karamir stared at her outstretched hand for a moment, and then reached out to take it. Gripping her palm was cold and somehow, sweaty? Or was it so dry that it felt that way, either way the discomfort spread up his arm like a creeping spider as her fingers creaked over his. But Karamir had grown used to such sensations, and he was unphased.

"I've never flown before," She cackled as the two suddenly shot off of the ground, smashing through the canopy of the forest. Karamir’s grip tightened and his surprised yell was drowned out by the rushing wind, but this was not his first time flying, and after the initial surprise passed he was able to calm himself. As they jerked to a horizontal flight pattern, he saw a shimmer exit a hidden pocket of Diana's dress. The tiny orb slipped out, smacked him in the nose, and quickly disappeared as it plummeted to the ground.

”Agh!” he cried out, his voice suddenly nasally as drops of blood streamed from his fresh injury, landing in the forest below. Diana didn't seem to notice, or at least pretended not to as she started her little hum up again. This was going to be quite the journey.

Summary

Here we find a god (K'nell) musing over the choices of other gods while creating something in his arts and crafts room where he had made Diana. His solo convo goes on long enough that he forgets his topic and turns to explain the duality of dreams and nightmares and how you can have one without the other… that is if you just want dreams and nightmares (lol what. [Think about it]) So then he unleashes his new project upon Galbar… Nightmares.

The world screams. Nightmares are real now, find them occasionally (or perhaps often, maybe hardly) in your box of dreams.

Oh and then Diana is all like WOOHOO and wakes Karamir up from a horror of sleep and then he convinces him to come home with her (like stray dog) and then they decide to fly. The piggut orb is lost on DF.

[/hider]

Might Summary

Starting 7 MP 8 FP
5mp spent on obtaining the Nightmare port

Ending 2 MP 8 FP

Other ports
2 / 5 misery
1 / 5 polymorphism