Through the eyes of his avatar, Sirius poured over the information gathered by his holy site. He had also attempted to further study and contemplation within his realm but was unsure of how reliable such information would be. He was also parsing information about it through prayers he had received to see how they understand it. Druidic prayers were common and invited overlap with spirit-singing. There were pockets of other groups that opened themselves to him, but he had not reached them in large numbers.
Diverting divine power into those that prayed to him, and expanding it through their magical essences, he attempted to draw them closer to divinity so that they could communicate more freely. However, as it spread out throughout the populations of the world, it became diluted. It had potentially passed over entire species, though that was not the intent. For those who did receive it, it alone was not enough. For some reason, trauma seemed to awaken the power for reasons he didn't fully understand but believed might connect to his nature as a god of hope. Others could temporarily invoke this innate power through direct divine attention. He named the power visions, but it was more than that with it a god could convey sensory or emotional information as he did for the first Leto.
Visions were a good start and would help integrate his further plans, but it felt lacking. As if he could not do it properly.
Refocusing on the Augur's Legend, he attempted to add to its function. He gave it the ability to subtly alter mana to create phenomena that would convey some type of meaningful information. Thinking of the Hir, he opened this function to all gods but added rules so that other gods would not abuse it. He quickly stole away from his realm to add a notice about this to the divine message board.
He had personally imbued three types of omens, that a celestial sheep born with black wool would warn of danger, that a Kirin appearing the sky would signify a leader that has the confidence of Sirius, and the passage of celestial bodies through certain star patterns could convey information based on the zodiac.
Yet it still felt incomplete, but he didn't know to progress. He calmed himself and agreed with himself to continue his diligent research. In the process, he had claimed a new aspect of magic.
Sirius creates visions and other omens as seen below in might summary, and we see his thought process in creating them. I also got the omen port.
Starting: 5/5 Ending: 2/0
-3 DP to add to Augur's Legend: Divine Guidance III: The holy site allows for the creation and proliferation of omens. Any god can create an omen in this way so long as Sirius does not reject it, and that it does not convey false or overly miss leading information. Omens created in this way are general, infrequent, unspecific, are limited in scope, and typically regard something specific to that god.
Imbued in it at creation are Sirius' omens: -> A Kirin appearing in the night sky signifies that a ruler coming into power has the blessing of Sirius. -> Different cluster of stars represent different aspects of the zodiac, and the passing of meteors through a respective cluster represents a rising of that aspect, with comets representing a lowering of that aspect. -> The birth of a celestial sheep with black wool forewarns of an approaching evil in the region.
-2 DP to give extraordinary ability Divine Visions: -> Applies to any species whose owner does veto it. -> Is active in some who have experienced trauma or recent direct divine attention (not everyone who has trauma awakes this ability) -> Allows god to share sensory and vague emotional information to those praying if they have this active ability.
-3 MP acquired port Omens: Omens Port: Influencing the world using magic to passively convey divine messages to mortals. This can also involve slight divine intervention that is minor enough to mistaken for chance.
Leto Delphi looked over her people and her supplies. Just above half of the original united freehold populations remained. Not all left by choice; the old and injured were unable to the long, perilous journey and needed to stay at the nearest haven. Most of their original supplies went with them as barter in the arrangement.
However, the high-lands were their home, and forage came easy. Druids, who referred to themselves as the Guiding Lights, flocked to her, additionally replenishing her population and supplies. A few mentioned that they had mentors who had settled in the city to the west known as Ha-Duna and that they would be happy to supply the pilgrimage and offer she could hardly ignore.
One of the pressing issues dividing her followers was a matter of religion. Everyone had their own opinion, and it threatened to destroy whatever sense of community lingered. At one point, she needed to have two way-finders separated as people worried about the severity of their argument. The druids were odd, as that very night, the same ones were laughing over drinks. To make peace, the worship of the druidic gods and the god of perfection, the goddess of love and the goddess of flame, shall not be discouraged. Nobody was satisfied with it, but it quelled the tension.
After some travel, they arrived at the Constellar Lodge. A wooden longhouse out of the walls of Ha-Duna. While her druidic followers had spoken of Ha-Duna, she had a more in-depth talk with one of the Constellars named Cionn.
Cionn, who was born from the Gaardskarls, guided her through the city. As they went to enter the city, they saw cow-pulled plows drove the soil of the fields. Going through the market to barter for supplies, they saw men smugly and lazying smoking a drowsing herb, and more practical men admired the new craftsmanship of glasswork. Finally, the stopped by the circle of the gods to ask that the gods bless the journey, she saw druids admiring a mirror, although she could tell it was different from admiring mundane crafts.
While Cionn as a translator, she spoke with one of the druid attendants about herself, Elysium and Ketrafa. At one point in the conversation, she slightly confused when the Long Strider suggested they travel north. After the confusion resolved, there was a mild tension, but it ended peacefully with him helping with the prayer, before being escorted back to the lodge.
The Constellars spent a large amount of wealth, supplying them with food, clothing, and simple tools, and pull carts. Delphi expressed concern about this. Cionn explained the resthouse system, how they had used their wealth to be independent of it as a matter of pride, but that it would mean they wouldn't starve.
They managed to leave, handing southward towards the lowlands, on relatively good terms. But the day before they left, they heard rumors that floated around them, such as that one of their babies was cursed to become a monster and that they Taeg-Eit was displeased with them, but also that the Leto was blessed by Seeros, or they were accompanied by an ancient folk hero that saught after Elysium long ago and never returned. The arch-druids clearly stated that such gossip was nonsense.
The Leto lost a significant portion of population and supplies as people were unable or unwilling to follow her, however, this was made up by Druids of the Guiding Light joining her and by foraging.
Her new druidic followers suggest heading west to Ha-Duna to resupply before traveling south, which she agrees to.
There are internal tensions over religion, which the Leto attempted to ease by allowing the worship of the druidic gods and the five with the exception of Tekret, without making any further decisions about how to restructure the faith, easing tensions but leaving everybody unsatisfied.
They arrive at Ha-Duna and the Constellar Lodge, a place where old and injured Constellars retire to, and they meet Cionn who is now a Constellar. They visit Ha-Duna, buying supplies at the market and giving prayers at the holy circle and notice various happenings around the city.
They left on fairly good terms, but there are rumors regarding potential curses that lay upon them and the divine nature of their quest, which the archdruids deny.
The priestess tightly grasped a bloodied clothe as she felt the entire weight of the night sky upon her shoulders. From a young age, she learned of the five, the old-tongue, and the proper appeasements. She felt forsaken by the gods. A year has passed since the sky raged against the earth and devastated the freeholds unfortunate enough to settle on the lower grounds. The Ketrafans lacked mercy and reason, and when the only recourse was violence, the forces of the united settlements fell before their bronzed weapons. A stranger who spoke the old-tongue carried the lone survivor, and it was a matter of time before the Ketrafans approached upon their position.
The stranger spoke a fable that the thane once told, one of far-away paradise, repeating a phrase she had heard uttered from the old fool, "The stars lead to Elysium." It was hardly time to consider such things. All else died or deserted, the burden of leadership fell upon her. It seemed every day, more misfortune manifested. The thane's second son was born healthy but bore the monstrous features of the trolls. People have started to question the divinity of Tekret and had chased one of his priests from the camp as the people thought him loyal to the Ketrafans. The others doubted her leadership, and she could not fault them.
Her prayers to the five echoed out and were left unanswered. She obeyed the advice of the foolish thane and shouted her frustrations to the heavens. As she released her emotions, she heard the ever quietest whisper, "The stars lead to Elysium."
As her eyes opened, she saw a tranquil grassland and grazing beasts. It was must more simple and not as perfect as the stories, but she could feel what her eyes could not see. There were no trolls or Iskrill, and while she sensed something alien and threatening, it was distant. The soil was fertile, and the animals were gentle. There was a warm, welcoming aura surrounding the island. She tried to find its source but only caught a glimpse of a small, robed figure with a crook. Reaching out towards it, it almost felt as her hand brushed against fur.
Her vision was pulled away from the island and back towards her body. It went so quickly that she could only catch faint glimpses, but she could viscerally feel the length of the journey.
As her senses returned to the highlands, the presence lingered. It whispered, "Restraint is wisdom, dogma is foolhardy, kindness is divine."
Despite her sight returning to normal, her senses have not fully normalized. She shouted, but instead of words, she heard her intentions. Echoing back to her was her true feelings that she had buried. It was a surreal but oddly comforting experience. The friendly whisper left with, "Be aware of yourself and strive each day to be better than the last. You may become doubtful, you may falter, and you might experience hardship, but never shall you be alone. My strength goes with and awakes your own, Leto Delphi."
Delphi approached the remnants of the freeholds who gathered around a fire. She held the clothe woven by each settlement and blessed by Tekretian leadership rites, and as all of their eyes rest upon her, she tossed the trinket into the flame. The deadly silence was broken by her voice, "Today, you can follow me or you can not. I will walk towards a new land, Elysium. I recognize that it will not be perfect and that we shall find trials there as well. But it is a tranquil land, and when we arrive, the stars shall welcome us home." Her eyes rested upon the thane's wife, and her tone made her intention clear, "I will do whatever I can to protect and advocate for any person who follows me."
One year after the end of the great storm, several freeholds banded together against Ketrafa's aggressions. Their forces were slaughtered by the Ketrafans, leaving only one survivor to carry a piece of cloth, a symbol of leadership, to the priestess Delphi. The survivor was brought to the group by a stranger who spoke the old tongue, who was not named but was Nicolas.
Delphi is sitting under the night sky pondering recent events, including the above, that the now-dead thane's second son was born with trollish features, and that people began to question Tekret and her leadership.
Taking the advice of the thane, she shouts to the stars about her feelings and is given a vision of Elysium, the birthplace of the celestial sheep and a place she considered a myth, and gave her some advice and echoed back her own hidden thoughts to her before dubbing her the first Leto.
She returns to the others, burns the cloth that symbolizes her leadership and tells them that she is going to Elysium and anyone is free to follow her or not. She also says she will protect anyone who travels with her, not directly saying but implying she will protect the baby with troll features.
No MP changed
The Leto: is a title that is held by a series of heroes, its current holder can determine heir/s that can willingly take the title upon their death, or perform a ceremony to pass the title to a willing heir. An heir must also open themselves to Sirius as if praying and be accepted by him to receive the title if the previous holder died then it will pass to the next heir in line (as determined by the holder as they assign possible heirs). If it is the ceremony, then the ceremony simply fizzles and nothing happens. If a holder dies without a suitable heir, then there will be no one to carry the title for 72 years before Sirius can appoint a new Leto.
Free With Hope Port: Hope's Aegis II: Drawing upon a reservoir of emotional strength, the Leto is resistant to any mental manipulations that will cause them to knowingly act against their true, unmanipulated interests or beliefs. This does not protect someone from manipulating their senses to be unable to see a sword, but it does provide protection against someone compelling to move towards a sword, or compelled to take any action, which they can make a reasonable inference would be dangerous. This protection does not need to be immediate, a person can fall under the influence of an effect that does not initially meet the requirements but once it does, they have the full protection of this title.
Cyrus travelled along the crowd of people flowing in Ha-Dûna. It had been about a decade since he spent a winter within the holy city. He had since grown out a beard, and was now wearing a worn but well-mended travelling robe that had a design of the kirin constellation surrounded by a circle on the left shoulder. Following him were two others wearing similar dress, a female in around her twenties whose left shoulder had the newt constellation but no circle and a slightly younger male who had a plain robe.
The group moved towards the inner town, and afterward, Cyrus once again found himself praying in front of Seeros megalith with his head tilted towards the sky. The young women took a similar position, while the plain-robed man quietly muttered something to himself.
A crowd of curious druids soon formed around them, taking particular interest in the shapes of zodiacs on their backs. One of them, a middle-aged woman stepped up to Cyrus and cleared her throat politely.
Before turning around, he said something in a language foreign to the highlands then flipped around with a flourish, “Excuse the intrusion, we are of the circle of the guiding lights and we are acting as ambassadors for the starry watcher. I am Constellar Cyrus.” and gesturing over to his companions in turn, “This is Wayfinder Cionn, and this is Initiate Simon.” he nodded his head while saying, “May the stars guide you.”
The woman furrowed her brow. “Wait, wait, wait… Cyrus as in… Did, did you visit us a long time ago? Must be a decade by now.” She eyed him up and down again. “Yeeeaah… Yeah, you must be! Do you remember me?”
Cyrus smirked, “Yes, I never forget a name, Owyn.”
She frowned. “It’s, it’s Aewyn, but, uh, close!” The druids behind her exchanged looks. “So, what brings you back here?”
“As always, we are guided by the lights of the night sky. But today, we share the bountiful wisdom of the night’s curator.” stepping back and gesturing to Cionn, she stepped forward, she outreached her hands, tightly cupping them together. She exhaled sharply and light emerged from her hand, shaping it into the visage of a newt made of red, fire-like, ethereal substance. It enamated a kind warmth.
The druids staggered backwards from the sight, one of them raising his fist angrily. “What did you do that for?! You had no reason to conjure forth the flames of Reiya at this time! Wanton demonstration is disrespectful, moreso here in the sight of the gods!”
Cionn looked towards Cyrus, who was hiding a smile, before sighing. She uncuffed her hands, causing the newt to disappear. While she attempted to hide, her face and tone betrayed her annoyance, her accent was also very typical for the region around Ha-Dûna, “We are the faithful of Seeros and the other seven. That was the heaven’s flame given form by my conviction. I would appreciate it if you did not slander my devotion.”
Another druid scoffed hot air. “Favours are not for show. While I’ll admit that it’s pretty, that creation of yours… Actually, what is that? Never seen Reiya’s flames be used to conjure forth an animal before.”
Her eyes once again glancing backwards, her lips curled into a crude resemblance of a grin, she seemed to struggle with her words, muttering something just under her breath in the foreign language though the word Seeros clearly slipped through, “It is a newt. And it is neither of Reiya, nor is a favour. It is an expression of my piety, and of my understanding of the great pattern of the sky.”
The druids once again exchanged glances. “Explain.”
Cyrus stepped forward, causing Cionn to sigh with relief, “Sirius is a god of many names and many virtues, he has extended himself to grant those Hir-blessed with a new power so that we may aid mortal-kind, the familiars. One must understand the zodiac, and devote themselves to one of its virtues, and the star watcher will freely grant his power to conjure these spectral animals. Perhaps it would help if I showed my soul-bound familiar?” he said, once again hiding a smirk, while Cionn shook her head.
“A familiar? What?” came another voice, though a number of druids grew increasingly curious, nodding for Cyrus to continue.
Cyrus raised his hand, the stars painted on the megalith behind him began to glow. Silver energy appeared beside him before growing and shifting into the shape of a legendary kirin, formed of light in the resemblance of a silvery metal. It stood half of Cyrus height, and as it stood there, the megalith still reacted emitting a slight whitish light.
Gesturing over it, “This is my familiar.”
Once more, the druids staggered back, unable to believe the sight before their eyes. One of them pointed at the statue and shouted, “Look! The statue!” Many of them fell to their knees in response to the miracle, while others looked on in disbelief. Aewyn shifted between Cyrus and the kirin before asking, “How… How did you do this? What is the zodiac?”
Cyrus dismissed his familiar, causing the light to fade from the stone behind him. “You raised this monument without knowing the Zodiac? It is Sirius’ will, his pattern that had wove into the night sky. It is many things, and once you understand it, then you can devote yourself to its virtues, resilience, observance, cunning, kindness, introspection, and loyalty, and then you will have a familiar that is an extension of yourself and your virtue. But familiars are just one of the two gifts which the starry watcher has bestowed upon his faithful, with promise of more.”
The druids looked between the kirin and the statue, before one of the others spoke, “Could, could you teach us how to connect with him as you do? These miracles are unfamiliar to us - at least, not seen before here in Ha-Dûna.”
Cyrus replied, “I can not teach you how to do it as I do, but I can teach you the fundamentals and guide you how to connect to the pattern as yourself.”
The druids had by now all been absorbed by the beauty of this creature, and were edging at the cusp of Cyrus’ words. “Teach us,” Aewyn begged, and many bowed their heads in equal respect.
Cyrus spent all day explaining the zodiac and its many features, detailing the six northern constellations of the whale, sheep, wren, kirin, snake, and fox and their locations in the night sky above the highlands. He discussed the six virtues and physical aspects of the heavens. His sermon included bits and pieces of philosophy, astronomy, astrology and a few miscellaneous subjects.
While people came and went, eventually the crowd began to clear and the three travelling druids made their way to a resthouse. As the sun began to set and the stars once again became visible in the sky, Simon stood outside looking at the stars. He was muttering to himself in the foreign language, though even to those who didn’t understand the language, it had an obvious, simple rhyming scheme. His fingers traced the air, and he was clearly deep in thought.
“It’s getting late, friend,” came a voice behind him. It looked to be a guard of sorts, humble linen shirt and pantaloons worn under a hauberk of padded hides. A flaccid woolen hat sat atop his head, and his thumbs were resting neatly on the inside of a hemp rope belt, from which hung a lumpy copper-headed axe.
Simon looked up with a start, saying something in the different language before going, “Understand no, friend.”
The guard narrowed his eyes and scoffed quietly. “Come now, friend, you know the rules - only those sanctioned by the archdruids are allowed to stay up after Gibbou’s Curfew. If you have their permission, I’d like to see it.” He offered an open hand.
Taking a deep breath, “Understand no, druid foreign apprentice I.”
The guard put two and two together and hummed. “Oh, you’re a pilgrim, huh…” He glanced back at the house behind them. “Do you, uh…” He tried his best to convey his words with his hands, clapping himself on the chest first and then pointing at the resthouse. “... Any friends? Family?”
Muttering, “Family.” he pointed back to the resthouse, “There constellar.”
The guard frowned. “... Constell--... Oh, those, uh, new pilgrims, huh. Understood - I’ll be right back.” The guard turned and stepped into the resthouse. It was a longhouse, doorways at the short ends and pillars along the walls supporting a heavy thatch roof. The centre of the house hosted a hearth half-full of glowing, charred logs, above which was suspended a spit with a goat carcass nearly picked clean. Around the hearth were three small tables flanked with benches on each long end; along the left wall upon entry were a few sealed clay pots of drink; and along the walls everywhere else were straw beds, most full of snoring travellers. Nestled at one of the ends of tables, Cionn was dressed in evening wear and was hunched over a wooden tablet, making precise cuttings into it.
The guard approached and bowed curtly. “Gibbou’s peace be with you on this fine evening, friend. Forgive my intruding, but do you know that man standing outside staring at the stars? He doesn’t speak Dûnan, it’d seem, and I’m trying to get him inside.”
Bowing her hand, “And stars guide you. I presume you are speaking of Initiate Simon, he means no harm to the peace.”
“‘Course, ‘course,” the guard agreed. “However, as you surely know, Gibbou’s Curfew will start any moment, and we don’t allow anyone without the archdruids’ permission to overstay the curfew - the Lady on the Moon wishes everyone a good rest.”
Cionn just nodded, “I will make sure he is well-rested. He does have a performance in the morning.”
Next afternoon, after Cyrus had discussed more about the zodiac and off-handly mentioned a special spirit-singing performance at this particular hour, Cyrus quickly said a prayer to Sirius before stating, “And now time for our performance of spirit-singing, blessed by the starry watcher.” before stepping back into the background. Simon nervously walked in front of a crowd, looking behind his shoulder and saying something in the foreign language. After a short reply, he took another step forward, closing his eyes before tilting his head up and began to recite a foreign poem. It had a similar rhyme scheme to one he was practicing, but wasn’t exactly the same. After a few moments, the magic within the song followed out and those who listened to it could feel the presence of Sirius, almost as if they were channeling his favor. A new sense began to open in their mind, and suddenly they had a keen awareness of which direction was north.
The crowd instinctively all turned northwards and smiled at one another as they tried out this new mental compass. The druids intently listened to the words of the song, nodding and occasionally rumbling along.
The performance lasted for a few minutes before reaching its natural conclusion, however even afterwards Sirius' presence lingered with the audience, though the more practiced druids could tell that was slowly fading away with time. Simon nodded, “Thank you for listening.” in a way that sounded about as rehearsed as the poem, before scurrying off towards Cionn.
Cyrus quickly stepped back up in front of the crowd, “And that was Initiate Simon’s performance of the zodiac song of the dog. It is just one of twelve songs blessed by the celestial keeper, but sadly along our group we only know of this one.”
One of the druids in the crowd raised her hand. “Where would we go to learn more?”
Cyrus gave an exaggerated sigh, “I wish I could tell you, however somethings must be handled more delicately. When I have a proper meeting with an arch-druid, then I will discuss it with them.”
Cyrus, now a Constellar, returns to Ha-Duna after spending 10 years in the prairie of sol, followed by Wayfinder Cionn, a native from the area around Ha-Duna, and Initiate Simon, a native from the Prairie who is a spirit-singer with difficulties with the local language.
At the megaliths, Cionn demonstrates her newt familiar but it is mistaken for a favor of Neiya. However Cyrus shows his kirin familiar, which caused the stars painted on the megalith to glow in its presence. Now curious to know more, a crowd gathers to learn about the zodiac and astrology.
Later that night, Simon is outside trying to learn a new zodiac song when he is stopped by a guard enforcing the curfew. After the guard realizes he doesn’t speak the language, he goes into the rest house and finds Cionn, adding some artistic flourishes to a map. She brings Simon back instead.
In the afternoon, after Cyrus taught more astrology in the morning, he introduced Simon and had him perform the zodiac song of the dog, which took the form of a poem. It caused the listeners to feel the presence of the stars, and had their minds opened to sense magnetism allowing them to keenly tell which way is north.
The poem ends, and Cyrus walks back in front of the crowd to announce it as just one of twelve songs. Someone asked how to learn the other eleven, but Cyrus responds that he would leave the information in the hands of the arch-druids.
Sirius Starting: 0MP/2DP Sirius Ending: 0MP/0DP
-2 DP to bestow the extraordinary ability of the Zodiac Songs on to spirit-singers | Silently, often crowded out by the voices of other spirits, the stars sing the song of the zodiac. Some stars or comets may sing differently, but only the unified voice carries to Galbar. By listening to these songs, and understanding their essence, spirit-singers can recite zodiac songs that bestow the singer and nearby listeners an advantage depending on the invoked zodiac, typically lasting for a few hours or until another zodiac song is sung. Groups of six to twelve spirit-singers can perform a song that invokes all twelve zodiacs and conveys all twelve advantages. > Whale: Improved Breathing > Sheep: Improved Jumping > Wren: Improved Vocal Capacity > Kirin: Improved Perception of the Stars and Zodiac Songs > Snake: Infrared Sense > Fox: Improved Hearing > Leon: Reduces sunlight vulnerability, Sight is no hindered by bright lights > Turtle: Improved Tirelessness > Owl: Improved World-song sensitivity > Butterfly: More graceful movements > Dog: Magnetic Sense > Newt: Emanates Warmth
Circle of the Guiding Lights: Starting: 7 +5 for post length Ending: 12
Ceres flew into the heart of the lands south of the Zodiac Stones. Plagued by endless storms, the region was unique. She had descended into a cave, unsure of it was carved by mundane or divine forces. It was deep but otherwise unremarkable. Being called underground was unusual, especially considering how remote and uninhabited the area is, but she tried not to question it.
She eventually found a dry branch of the cave raised from another path downwards, which drained the water. Following it to a dead-end, she closed her senses and allowed her to act as a divine conduit.
When she cast her sight out once again, she was standing in a cluttered room. Notes covered the walls and the newly formed wooden tables. Sirius had consecrated this room as the Augur's Legend.
Sirius had some experience with magic, having created Xuanwu to bind celestial energies to telluric energies, and having helped witches also connect themselves to it. He had noted the presence of servants, witches, warlocks, and druids, along with other mortal magicians. They all had the potential to be tools of good, and should not be quick to dismiss any of them. But they lacked subtly. Even Druidry, while aligned with virtues, appeared to lack a certain finesse.
He had taken some asteroid debris and formed into a crook. He had attempted to use it as a magic tool, but that did not satisfy his requirements. He needed to understand magic before he could truly create a system of it of his own. Thus, he created the Legend to monitor and record magic. He did not mean to be too intrusive with it, simply record the broad-strokes and particularly notable instances.
However, while his holy site operated, he could still work on separate projects. Several subjects had his attention, but his connection to the Hir made Druidry a good starting point. Reaching out through his avatar and the Hir, he blessed druids with new power, drawing specifically from his essence.
As druids of the guiding lights prayed to him, he whispered back, "Understand the zodiac, devote yourself to the virtues of one of the celestial animals under the stars in a place of druidic importance, and when you call upon a celestial animal you have formed a kinship with it will appear. It will not be impressive at first, but as you grow in piety, it shall grow too. Wish upon it, and it shall borrow your druidic power to serve you in ways that fit it. Go and share this knowledge freely."
Sirius is interested in magic and creates his crook as a magic tool, but realizes something is missing. He obtains the magic domain, but nothing flashy happens with it. He thinks other magic systems are good, but lack finesse. He creates the Augur's Legend to learn more about magic to be better prepared to subtly manipulate it. The Augur's Legend is in a dry part of a cave somewhere deep into the Stormlands.
However, for the time being, he can tinker with other magic systems and starts with Druidism due to his immediate connection to it through the Hir. He blessed druids with the power to make astrological familiars, and tells druids of the guiding light how to do so and tells them to spread the word about it.
Starting: 5MP/5DP Ending: 0MP/2DP
-5MP Claimed Magic Domain
-1DP Created Augur's Legend, a holy site composed of a scattering of notes about magical activity. Map the Infinite I: This holy site monitor and records the locations, intensity, movement, and variety of magical energies. This is only capable of doing so for intense or longstanding (more than a decade) energies that are not being actively obscured.
-2 DP Bestowed extraordinary ability, Zodiac Familiars -> Applies to all druids, but particular those devoted to Sirius. -> A person can manifest this after carefully studying the stars and the zodiac and devoting themselves to a particular zodiac that most matches their personality (zodiacs that do not represent a virtue take from the two zodiacs beside themselves, for example, newts are loyal and resilient) under the stars in a place of significance for Druidry or astrology. -> This power allows them to manifest a spectral familiar of the animal they devoted themselves too. Regardless of the animal, its size is determined by the druid and their skill and devotion, starting as the size of an adult human palm, but can grow up to fully encompass an adult human in the possession of a master druid. -> The familiar can manifest particular traits or behaviors through druidic wishes, appropriate the familiar. General traits include becoming tangible for brief periods of time or being able to separate from their owner for brief periods of time. Specific traits include wrens could monitor for dangers, newts could warm those who are cold.
As the sun set, Cyrus prepared to continue his voyage. He needed to patch a torn spot on his clothing. At one point, his clothes were relatively nice travelling wear fit for nobility, but the wear had since taken a toil on them. He noted the many differences between the prairie and his homeland in the highlands. Using a simple tool, he carved out details into a wooden slate in an attempt to make a map. It was difficult as the flat grassland offered few landmarks.
However, navigation was surprisingly simple, ever since the bizarre stranger told him about this pilgrimage, he could always follow the stars with confidence. He was originally hesitant to walk along the giant leons, however, not once had they given him grief.
As he continued to travel, the stars shifted their direction from south to north. They began to reveal something else that he had noticed before, the coming of winter. He had not realized the signs in the foreign place, but as he returned to the highlands, the signs of fall were evident.
After wandering for some time, he reached a series of fields economically ploughed between the rocky terrain, in between which were scattered small huts. A path cut between the fields and led to increasing concentrations of huts until he met the open gates of a low palisade wall, through which flowed a two-directional river of peasants, merchants and druids. Inside, he could see a busy market place, as well as more huts, though the majority of these were made of stone, as opposed to the wooden huts outside the walls. Wandering through the streets, he came upon the temple grounds. There were several large statues carved into megaliths, walking in front of one reminiscent of an old man in front of a starry field, he closed his eyes and tilted his head up and began to silently pray.
“P-pardon?” came a voice.
Nearly instinctively, Cyrus turned around and did the proper greeting, “Stars guide you. I am Cyrus, a traveler paying respect to his patron.”
The voice, belonging to a white-robed woman in her twenties, did a confused hum. “O-oh! I see. Gods’ peace upon you, then, traveller. I’m Aewyn, caretaker of these prayer grounds.” She failed to hide a frown. “I, uhm, I noticed your attire indicates you have been travelling far and further than far. Would you, would you perhaps like me to direct you to a nearby resthouse for pilgrims? They are certain to have new clothes for you, too.”
“I would appreciate that. Though, I am presuming you are a druid?” he replied.
“Apprentice still, technically,” she said with a curt bow. “I’m studying under the great Kaer Pinya. How about you? You mentioned you came here to pay respect to your patron. Are you a mapmaker, perhaps?”
“I have some experience with cartography, though none of my lessons really seemed to apply to the grasslands. Though, I guess you could say I am a sort of apprentice too.” he said.
“O-oh, is that so?” She eyed his attire up and down again. “U-uhm… Are you perhaps from a foreign circle?”
He paused, seriously trying to remember back until it came back to me, “Yes, she did say something to that effect. The circle of the guiding lights. Though I have yet to meet another member.”
Aewyn’s frown hardened. “Circle of the Guiding Lights? That one’s… New. Which part of the land do you hail from?”
“A small kingdom in the far north.” he said.
“Huh… That so?” Her glance seemed to drift. “Say, would you like me to show you to the resthouse?”
Cyprus raised his eye, and then for a split second, he smirked. “As I said, that would be nice. But I have one last question, when you look at the stars, what do you see?”
“W-what I see?” came an unexpecting reply. “W-well, I see Seeros’ grand tapestry of stars and constellations. It fills me with hope and safety knowing that, no matter where I go, I will have those same stars to guide me and others’ back home.” She made a small smile.
“You can see the tapestry?” he said, smirking again before quickly reverting to a neutral expression, “Then you should it is the time of the leon, a time to be kind to strangers.”
Aewyn blinked. “W-why, of course! Please, let me escort you to the resthouse. I’ll have Arn prepare a leek and pea pottage post haste!” She started leading Cyprus away from the prayer grounds towards a large stone house.
Cyprus followed her to the resthouse, receiving a bed and as much gruel, bone broth, and pea pottage as he could eat. He accepted the simple white robe for while he was in town, though it would be a poor choice to continue his journey with, though that is a matter of spring. With the cloth change, the number of looks and glances in the streets decreased considerably - Cyprus appeared much like any of the other pilgrims flooding through town in fluctuating numbers. One day when he was eating at the resthouse, another had shuffled up to him and inspected his attire with a bit of a frown. It looked to be a traveling merchant, the usual druidic robes of the other patrons being replaced by a large fur cloak over simple linen and wool shirts, a pair of hide pants and bark shoes. He wore a small fur hat.
“Say, friend, did you lose your clothes on the road? It’s not often we see someone donning the alm robes these days.”
“They are more or less in one piece, but trekking through the woods can wear out clothing rather quickly.” he replied.
“Huh, that so. Where do you come from, stranger?” The merchant gave his drinking horn a slurp. “Judging by your accent, I would say somewhere north of here.”
“More or less.” he replied, “It seems you are no stranger to the road either.”
“Oh, no, wouldn’t say that. Although, most who pass by here are either from the north or around Ketrefa, and you don’t sound Ketrefan. You’re a druid, aren’t you? Long Stride?”
“I have not tasted the Hir’s waters, but I guess you could say I am an apprentice for the circle of the guiding lights.” he said.
“Guiding Lights, huh?” went the merchant. “Not one I’ve heard of. Are they newly formed? What do they do?”
“I was informed that to join, you need to go on pilgrimage to the Hir and do druid stuff on the way. I was skeptical at first, but the first time I saw the stars after starting the journey, there are no words to describe it. Everything just made sense.”
The merchant frowned. “That doesn’t sound too different from the Long Stride. They’ve got pilgrimages, too; they help people, too. At least the Red Leaves teach their members to remain in their villages. What makes you different?”
Cyprus took a minute to think about it for a moment, “Well, other than the person who told me about this circle, my only guide has been the stars. So far they have not led me wrong.”
“Huh, that so…” mumbled the merchant.
Cyprus is informed about the Circle of Guiding Light off-screen, and we see him in the Prairie of Sol several months into his pilgrimage. He is then guiding north to Ha-Duna as winter approaches and traversing unfamiliar terrain would become more dangerous.
He prayers to a megalith depicting Seeros, when he is interrupted by an apprentice who tends to the area. Through their discussion he reveals that he is a travelling cartographer from a kingdom in the far north who is a druid hopeful in the circle of the guiding lights. He informs her that the current zodiac period is that of the leon, telling her it is a time to be kind to strangers.
She escorts him to a rest house where he changes out of this travel-worn clothes into a robe, where he talks to a merchant. They also discuss where he is from, and after some light prodding he gives some of his thoughts about the circle of the guiding light.
Sirius Starting: 3MP / 5DP Ending: 0MP/ 1DP
Claimed Port Guidance under the Star Domain (-3MP) Desc: For as long as stars shine down upon Galbar, they have guided its people. Guidance is concerned with knowing physical and temporal location. It is associated with maps, compasses, calendars, hourglasses, navigators, and associated people and objects.
MP Used to Unlock: 1 from Nicolas’ stargazer titles, 4 from the Circle of Guiding Lights titles.
Created Holy Order, Circle of Guiding Lights, Spending 4DP on titles: Starlit Pilgrimage I: In order to become a druid, one typically must summon the Hir to them through prayer. For this order, people who have a sincere and informed desire to join this circle are guided by the stars to the Hir for as long as they freely provide some service to the region they are traveling through. These pilgrimages can last for years, even decades, but they have all benefits of being a member of the order for as long as they are on the pilgrimage.
Sirius' Assurance II: A member of this order can never be lost for as long as they can or otherwise perceive the presence of stars, being able to easily find their way to a friendly settlement if they ever needed to.
Time of the Zodiac I: Using the stars, members of this order have an impressive sense of time and are always able to tell the current zodiac period.
Circle of the Guiding Lights: +3 for Post Length Starting: 0 Ending: 3
An asteroid hurtled towards Galbar at astonishing speeds, guided by an unseen hand towards the zodiac stones. Then, it woke up. She woke up. Ceres was.
The asteroid cracked in two, revealing her form, clad in earthen armor. Her skin was of the same ethereal, starry substance as her creator.
One of the asteroid shards was pulled back by the force of the stars, bound to it. She pulled it towards her, reforming into the war hammer, Libra.
The other shard glided towards the ocean, pulled by both the stars and by another unseen Galbaric force. It slid into the sea without splashing and began to grow. Massive fins escaped from the rocky shell. The large head of Xuanwu, the turtle that binds the celestial and telluric, emerged.
For countless years Ceres traveled completing her creator's pattern.
She captured an owl and caterpillar before encasing it in divine power, flying from the Zodiac Stones into the far reaches. Upon reaching the depths of the stars, she unleashed the owl, reborn as Cailleach. The great owl would absorb cosmic dust into her feathers, and then remold it into new lesser bodies such as meteors. She then freed the caterpillar, causing it to fragment into thousands of blue-winged butterflies. They would capture dust in their wings as well to bring to the great owl.
Returning to the zodiac stones, she created a guardian dog as tall as a human adult, Procyon, to protect the surrounding region. Those who touch his golden fur and embrace its divine power have their hope strengthened.
Finally, Ceres landed on the peninsula in the southwest of Toraan. It was the first time her feet had planted themselves on the ground. It was a new experience.
Pushing past that, she created the last of the zodiac animals. It was a simple animal, a newt. It had jet black skin with red and purple streaks. They could generate small bursts of heat or static, and they had very mild anti-mana properties.
Satisfied that her task was complete, and with no further instruction, she decided that she would remain in this region for at least a year or two.
Ceres hurtles to Galbar as an asteroid, created off-screen. The asteroid she was in split, one half forming the warhammer, Libra and the other forming the giant turtle, Xuanwu. She then went to space creating the owl Cailleach and celestial butterflies. Returning to the zodiac stones, she created Procyon the dog, and then she went to the Garden of Dreams to create celestial newts. Short descriptions of there powers are in the might summary below.
Starting: 5MP/5DP Ending: 3MP/2DP
Created the artifact Libra, a war hammer composed of an asteroid. Free using Cosmic Port: Bound to the Stars II - This object is attuned to the energies of the stars, using the bridge of energy created by the zodiac stones, an entity wielding this relic is able to travel more quickly between the holy site and the far reaches, should they be capable of making the journey at all.
Created phenomenal beast Xuanwu -1 DP discounted by Cosmic Port: Xuanwu is a giant sea turtle whose shell is composed of asteroid, he acts as an anchor between celestial and telluric forces.
Created phenomenal beast Cailleach -1 DP discounted by Cosmic Port: Cailleach absorbs space dust into its feathers and then reshapes it into various minor celestial bodies such as asteroids.
Created 1MP extraordinary species Celestial Butterflies Free discounted by Cosmic Port: They absorb space dust into their wings and bring it to Cailleach.
Created phenomenal beast Procyon -1 MP discounted by Hope Port: A dog as tall as an adult human. Its gold fur can enhance the hope of the willing.
Created 1MP extraordinary species Celestial Newts -1DP: A newt that creates small bursts of heat or static and has mild anti-mana properties.
Sirius reentered Antiquity. He had noticed the presence of many gods, and for the moment he didn’t want to involve himself with a crowd of gods. Glancing over the unfamiliar terrain, his sense fell over another portal which he quickly moved towards. He steeled himself, and passed through the portal. Immediately after entering the oceanic realm, he softly called out, his intention carried by divine will, “Hello… I am… Sirius. Is one of … kin of the lifeblood… present. There are matters … that should be discussed.”
The primal vastness that was Klaarungraxus ascended from the inky depths towards Sirius. Six huge, glowing eyes lowered their gazes to properly see the deity for themselves. The many-minds of Klaarungraxus pinged back curiosity; its form was small and soft, like the children of those mortal races made by the more gentler gods. Bipedal and at least visibly endoskeletal, as Gibbou and many of the gods the Old Growth Below had spied on in antiquity. A fascinating, if readily limiting structure.
”Tidings of currents soft and bountiful, Godling Sirius,” came the Great Devilfish’s reply, rumbling in Deepspeak that shuddered through Sirius’ mind, ”We are thee who is Klaarungraxus, distant kin so strangely made. What matters hath found wriggling purchase in thine mind’s matter that requires our attentions?”
Sirius responded, “Greetings … Klaarungraxus. There is the pressing … matter of our expulsion from Galbar. The pattern … it is incomplete.”
”Pattern? With finite measures only so many rotations can be formed to match one another; what pattern doth thine refer?” Klaarungraxus seemed to sink inwards then, leaning towards Sirius in the depths of his realm with considerable curiosity coursing through his tentacles.
“The Zodiac… The stars, they were without… order. I ensured that they would … be preserved. I finished most of the work. I just need to finalize it.. And make it accessible to the people of … Galbar.” Sirius replied, unnaturally still. The experience of being within this space was odd, and he considered if this is what Galbar’s ocean was like.
Klaar stared at Sirius as the adolescent looking deity with curiosity; his mindseye turned to those glimmering points above the waters, hanging in the sky alongside the One-Good-Orb during the darkest nights. They were admirable things, admittedly, but Klaar had seen little time to truly admire them.
”Zodiac? Stars? Hmmm. Preservation is unnecessary in all things, but needs of others always flow away from the needs of one. But . . . mortals will benefit, and thus, it must be made so; how might I assist?”
“Firstly, considering our … banishment. I need to … inquire about means to circumnavigate it. Secondly, considering … mortals, I have created … a small region to draw celestial … energies to Galbar. I now require a … method of … spreading it across Galbar and making it so … that mortals can more readily access it.” Sirius replied.
”Aaaah; it is solutions you seek. Worry not, four-limbed-kin, for I hath solutions to offer. With one tug I pulled forth mine limb and granted it a portion of my power. That small fraction of mineself traverses the realms far more freely than I; perhaps your limb separated could do the same? Or, something else, I imagine, would serve amply to thine goals.”
“I thank you … for your wisdom.” Sirius stated.
Sirius and Klaar had a long discussion about the nature of the zodiac and of deepspeak and telluric energies, and Sirius agreed to make a bridge between the zodiac stones and Ko, before formally dismissing him and returning to his realm
No Might Spent.
Sirius and Klaar have a conversation, with Sirius acquiring information about their banishment and how to further progress the Zodiac. They talked, and then Sirius formally left before proceeding to return to his realm to create an avatar.
Sirius floated in the void of the Quasar. He had experienced the years pass by but did not understand the significance of its length. He had completed his great work. Resting in the first star, Sirius didn't resist the Lifeblood's pull, only using his divine power to bring the remnants of his home with him, infusing it into his new realm.
As he was alone within the Lifeblood's grasp, he continued to work on his great pattern and answered the prayers of the faithful.
When the portal formed, he quickly entered it before returning to his realm, noticing the presence of other gods. He was not immediately sure how to handle this new development, but he adapted quickly. He reshaped the portal and formed a door of solid asteroid to fit around it, but decided to leave it open for the time being.
He also called upon the image of a creature that he had seen on Galbar, leons, and created a giant version of one of them to oversee his realm in his absence, which he named Nemea.
Sirius did not mind being physically separate from Galbar, but there was still work that needed to be done. He readied himself and passed through the portal.
No Might Spent, Everything created was within his realm.
Sirius spends his exile continuing to plan and occasionally answering prayers. He noticed the creation of Antiquity and the gathering of gods, and decided to put a door, currently open, in front of his portal. He also created Nemea, a giant leon, to watch over his realm while he was gone. He decided to leave the comfort of the Quaser to try to find out how to continue influencing Galbar.
Sirius toiled to bring order back to the stars, ensuring that his celestial animals claimed the far reaches and preformed their divine tasks, restructuring stars to be more stable, along with countless other adjustments.
However, as he was taking a short break to consider what he has done, he noticed an asymmetry. While still apart of the larger whole, he had created a comet-infused reef, yet no such thing existed on Galbar for meteors or asteroids. It felt incomplete.
As he continued his work, he had formulated an idea. While guiding some of his animals into a new region, he had conjured maple seeds from Galbar and infused them meteorite ore, using his power to plant them on the island-continent, Mydia, and compelled them to grow into mighty trees. They, the red star maples, were rare, hardy trees that were resilient to heat. It would be difficult to conduit mana through their wood or sap. Its syrup had similar effects to caffeine.
For the western-most continent, Kubrajzar, he imbued a small amount of asteroid into select iron veins. The resulting metal, stellar-steel, which shared many of the same properties as asteroids but less severely: durable, dense, chemically unreactive, electrically unconducive, and mana conductive. It was difficult to work without magic but feasible.
Satisfied with the pattern becoming more complete, he refocused on the outer reaches.
Free- Created Red Star Maple Trees, maple trees infused with trace amounts of meteorite and made more fire-resistant and containing a caffine-like substance in their sap, but not beyond what a mundane tree may have. Their wood and sap are also very mana unconductive. They are located on Mydia.
Free- Created Stellar-Steel, iron infused with asteroid, sharing many of the same properties but to a much lesser degree. It is found in Kubrajzar.
Sirius is busy doing space things, realizes he made a reef with trace amounts of comet as part of the lifeblood but didn't make anything on Galbar using asteroids or meteorites, and so he made the two things as described as above before continuing to do space things.
Member
GubGar