The galaxy is ruled by the powerful and overwhelming Aeldari, who reach ever greater heights. So grand, their dominion over all things, that some begin a path of debauchery in order to find meaning in a galaxy without wants.
The orks continue to devolve without a mighty threat to face them, growing smaller and less intelligent whilst kept corralled by the Aeldari.
The Necrons rest in their great sleep and will continue to do so for thousands of years, however that is but a blip when compared to the millions of years they have already spent dormant.
The chaos gods are not yet fully awakened, RAGE and SCHEMES and PESTILENCE slumbering, with EXCESS even further behind.
This however is not the story of any of these powers, it is a story of something that doesn't truly exist yet.
This is the story of you.
Humankind is primitive and ignorant of the horrors beyond its cradle, a race barely scratching at the surface of civilization or it's potential. They herd sheep and goats, collect harvests of grain from their primitive farms, while using tools of stone.
Yet a select few of these primitive people have vast power, Shamans that guide their people away from the traps that would seek to corrupt them. Mankind, however, in its beauty is inherently complicated and has acces to the full range of emotions.
Chaos would grow in power no matter what the Shamans did, which meant there would come a day when their power to reincarnate would be stripped from them and their souls would be consumed by the churning energies of the warp.
Humanity, as it tends to do, fought against fate. The Shamans gathered as one, hoping to die all at once as to create a protector for their people, a New Man. They together poisoned themselves, thousands of powerful psykers joining their energy together into one being.
Except, this was not the case. Some energy is always lost in transference, even that of pyskic energy. Most of the Shamans sought a sword and a shield of a being, one that would protect mankind like a stalwart warrior. Yet a minority wanted a different kind of protector, a warm blanket in the cold, a caretaker that would gently hold their peoples hands as they walked the right path.
Most of their souls meshed into one, a bright flare that burned in the warp and sundered any Daemon that sought to claim it.
Yet a second light existed, hidden behind the first. It was not a sprawling sun, but instead a beacon, a lighthouse in the middle of a dark ocean.
1 Terran year later a child would be born, an immortal pysker of incomprehensible power that would over time grow into their role. He was a mountain, powerful from the beginning and with the strength to crush evil where it stood.
Yet the other remained weak and in an odd void, half-formed thoughts not truly coming together. It would not be until it heard a small voice calling out to it that it would turn its gaze onto the world, concepts and knowledge from past lives finally filtering in.
It saw a small child, crying on sandy dirt in front of a body. It looked and it saw a corpse, a father struck dead before his time. It looked and it saw nothing else, nobody to comfort the child in need.
A deep sense of pain came to it at the sight, instincts arising for the first time. It searched within itself and gave unto them-
[ ] Love - Pure love is the comfort one draws on in times like these, for to grieve deeply, is to have loved fully.
[ ] Endurance - Loss is a part of life, to accept this and to live even with that fact is what strength truly is. Memento mori.
[ ] Hope - When it seems that all is lost, that there's nothing left to even bother going on for, there is still hope. It will end better then it began.
[ ] Determination - Spite is a powerful thing, sometimes the only thing keeping you going is your own refusal to quit.
[X] Hope - When it seems that all is lost, that there's nothing left to even bother going on for, there is still hope. It will end better then it began.
As it looked upon the child, it reached within itself before giving out a small part of its being. The child, a girl it now understood, paused in her weeping, confused and uncertain as they suddenly felt an odd sense of...comfort? The child looked around, partially out of curiosity and partially to avoid looking at the body of her father. Yet nobody was around her as she expected, nothing to be found until she looked within. There she felt a connection, just as it now did as well.
It-or...hmmm.
...
Introspection came for the first time, as it pondered its own existence. It felt dissatisfied, until it felt that it was HE. Identity felt important to him, if he couldn't understand himself then how could he understand this sudden influx of ideas and information? He was sent out of his reflection by a sudden influx of energy, causing him to look upon the world yet again. The girl was kneeling again, thought it felt different this time.
Instead of sorrow there was more of a look of concentration upon her face, as she gazed at the sky with a quiver in her lip. "Please keep my father safe in your arms, for I have failed to do so..."
He felt a mixture of deep sadness at her state, followed by confusion. Her father was clearly dead, so what could she be talking about? A click in his mind brought new information, as he gazed at the world in a different way. There he saw the soul of her father, clinging to the materium in some last act of paternal instinct, yet still beginning to slip away. Something in his mind told him that allowing for the soul to go would not end well, so he did as asked and grasped at it.
He suddenly felt a wierd sensation as bits of memories entered his mind, the life of the soul he just plucked. There came an odd satisfaction as well, as though some unknown purpose was being fulfilled. All he could understand for now, was that he could not let souls slip into the dark ocean, where foul beasts would rip them into shreds to consume for power.
He gave unto the girl the hope needed to keep moving, to push on despite the loss of such a key part of her life. She saw visions of her older self, all the things she would do to make her father proud, the things she would have to keep going in order to do. A smaller instinct within him then sent her a feeling of love, the love of her father who now rested with him. Images flashed through her mind, hugs, words of praise, bad jokes, hair being ruffled. The girl broke into tears again, however these ones were formed through happiness as much as they were from loss.
No further words were spoken, instead the girl slowly got up before heading into her nearby hut before he felt himself growing tired again. His awareness shut down, as darkness came.
He woke up minutes/hours/days later, greeted with a familiar yet different view. The body of the father had been recently buried, while he felt new connections and strengths not there before. He flicked his gaze over to a small village, where the girl now stood preaching to the small trickle of peasants passing by to or from their work. So far he sensed he had aquired a couple of those like the girl, however their connection was tenuous. He could not speak to them as they could, as he had no true body.
More startlingly he realized that he also lacked a name, a critical aspect of ones self. How could you talk or pray to someone with no name? He felt oddly distressed, feeling a need to correct this deep within himself.
In the end he chose to be-
[ ] Tukai
[ ] Kaharr
[ ] Mephinux
[ ] Write in:
As time went on, he began to gain more of his previous lives memories. This helped him to learn his purpose, or at least why he was made. He was to be the shepard of mankind's souls, their shroud so they would not be consumed by the predators of the warp. Awareness brought with it new fears and new bits of anger, the dark ocean that he felt he was now somehow a part of was rife with terror that would love nothing more then to turn the vulnerable people of mankind into ash.
If he was to save as many souls as possible, he would need to spread his influence across the earth, as he sensed those without his protection would easily be prayed upon by darker entities. Right now though his following was limited to a handful of peasants within a small farming village, for a diety he imagined he was rather pathetic.
He would need to do something to show his abilities, a way to spur the growth of his...cult? Hmmm, no, cult had an off feeling to it. He needed to show his devoted that he cared for them in a more obvious way, a symbol of what he wished to grant them in exchange for their belief.
A miracle must be made, but what?
[ ] Bless fertility - This one seemed easy enough? Just make the animals and maybe the people more uh...productive?
[ ] Create spring - The village is in the middle of a rather arid area it seems, it should be simple enough to flick something until water from underground pops up.
[ ] Cure illness - Mankind is lacking in effective medicine besides primitive herbs, maybe one of the shamans had some knowledge you could use to fix these people?
Finally came the most interesting bit of knowledge you gained from the shamans, in that you were an accident.
Ouch...turns out god's can feel kicks to their ego. Nevertheless, it certainly explained the feeling you'd gotten in the back of your mind, that presence of order that seemed so familiar. You had a brother, though it seemed like an odd sort of relationship in that he was currently a rather large 3 year old. You had to admit that being weak in comparison to a larger then average toddler stung, but you wouldn't question the shamans judgement, seeing as that was technically your judgment.
One question remained, how would you interact with your little-big brother if at all? You could feel that his psykic power was already great enough to communicate with you, though you didn't know how he would react. His mind probably wasn't fully developed, not to mention the fact that you well...aren't supposed to exist technically. It was a scary prospect either way, though the choice needed to be made.
[ ] Speak to your brother - You were starting to feel whatever the god equivalent of loneliness was, plus he was...kind of adorable.
[ ] Try to hide your presence - Your brother could end up trying to destroy you due to your existence, with him being the only thing on earth that could actually do it. It's best to hide, at least until you were strong enough to stand on equal footing with an infant.
AN: Did not expect that many votes! Thanks so much gang, gave me the motivation to pump this out right before bed.
Now some quick things, most importantly make your votes in plan format.
Secondly, I am *going* to make mistakes, I haven't read a bunch of books or gone through everything, so please don't throw stuff at me for not remembering all the details right or getting the lore wonky.
Sudden clarity echoed throughout your being, as you felt a critical piece of your existence arise. Those villagers who truly payed attention to the girl would see a small flash cross her eyes for but a second, before she spoke with new energy.
"I have felt his presence, his comfort came to me at my lowest moment! He gazes on us even now, Hagal, the great caretaker, with his benevolent eyes!"
The peasants seemed to lack her enthusiasm, busy and distracted with their difficult existence that brought constant struggle. Yet you felt a small bit of energy come to you upon your name being uttered so boldly, it gave unto you...inspiration.
- [X] Create spring
Just out of earshot from the girls words, two men looked with unease. Before them was a golden field of wheat swaying in the breeze, yet it was clearly wilting under the harsh rays of the sun.
"The well is running dry Elder, we barely have enough water to drink let alone keep the crops healthy. Our people are counting on this harvest, the hunters have been bringing back less and less....what are we to do?"
The other man, who was indeed older with sun-baked wrinkled skin, grimaced before looking down at the ground below. "I am afraid that there is nothing we *can* do, for if we stay here then we will surely starve. We will have to move on or perish...it seemes we have reached the end."
Yet as two began to solemnly turn to alert the others, the girl would finally speak loud enough for them to hear.
"For in my uncertainty, he gave out hope!"
The men would turn in confusion to face her, before a rumbling suddenly shook the the earth. Panic began to break out, yet the girl stood resolute as the trembling reached its peak.
There was a sudden pause, as if the world froze in time, before with a great *CRACK* a hole opened up just outside the village. From this hole a geyser of water flowed with great force, with drops of liquid falling down onto the village in an imitation of rain. Fear turned to joy, as the peasants cried out in wonder and relief. Eventually the geyser calmed and lowered, replaced by a new sizeable spring of fresh water.
A couple minutes later as the people grew calm again, the village crowded around the spring where the girl spoke to the Elder. The old man spoke with curiosity and intrigue, his gaze occasionally moving towards the water as if still in disbelief. "Young one, you speak of your god and his power, of which I now clearly see as true. We are grateful for what he has done, yet now we stand uncertain. What does your god ask for in exchange for this bounty?"
The girl, now the Prophet, spoke calmly in return. "The Caretaker is a mighty giver, all that he asks for in return besides your devotion is-"
[ ] Utter faith - For one to worship me is to worship no other, cast away the belief in other spirits or diety's, I shall hold no pantheon.
[ ] Sacrifice - Grant me strength with your newfound bounty, give unto me bits of your harvest and your livestock, all that holds value donated as proof of your faith.
[ ] A shrine - Build for me a place for the believer to pray in peace and unity, a structure which I may sanctify and plant a seed of my power within.
And so the Elder agreed, from then on all within the village gave worship to you. You felt growth and vitality in you upon such a rise in followers, yet you knew that you were still weak.
-[X] Speak to your brother
He was far away from your people, on the outskirts of a different village working in a field. Despite being only 3 he seemed as tall as a boy 12 years of age, as such his father put his strength to work in contributing to the household. His eyes held intelligence in great amounts, however it was uncoordinated, not yet fully capable of being used properly.
You spoke to him gently in his mind whilst he plowed a field, your voice flowing like a gentle stream. "Brother."
He dropped his hoe in confusion, looking around much like the child had yet focusing inwards much sooner. "Who is this!" He yelled. "What spirit seeks to claim my soul?" His voice was still that of a child, yet boomed so greatly...you couldn't help but chuckle. As he heard your warm laughter instead of the cackling he expected, his face scrunched into a serious pout that made you laugh even harder. "Answer me!" He cried out, until finally you gathered yourself and spoke again. "It is as I said, we are brother's. I may not share the blood that your other siblings do, but we share a deeper connection."
The boy looked within himself as he would on occasion, yet instead of the typical visions of the past or an influx of new memories, he looked at his very soul. The giant golden sun was familiar to him, yet only now did he see its twin. A smaller light existed a ways away, less developed and with no color to it yet. The boys eyes flashed until he was in the material again, his expression indecipherable. "You speak...yet as much as I can tell the words are not lies I cannot yet tell if they are truth."
You hummed in thought, giving him a mental nod before speaking softy. "I will let you think your own thoughts brother, but know we are kin."
Just as the boy was about to reply, a man came from the hut next to the field with a confused look on his face. "Altin! What are you doing just standing there? Has the sun gotten to you?" The boy turned, facing the man with a mix of emotions on his face. "No father, I was-" Yet as he searched for your presence within his mind he found nothing, a sigh then leaving his mouth. "I was just having another headache." The man, his father, had his face soften before he walked towards the boy. The two would hug, with the father whispering into the boys ear. "My son, I worry for you. Every day you grow bigger, you outpace me at everything it seems. Yet this mind of yours, I can see your struggles." He patted the boy on his back. "I just need to know you'll be alright."
The boy remained stiff throughout this event, old memories pulling him in several directions. Yet eventually he hugged back, his strength already greater then his father's used to hug him closer. "Of course, I'm ok." He straightened up before moving away a bit. "I swear father, I will be fine."
You felt a sense of peace flow through you as you left your sibling be, back in the general void you called home. You felt a sensation that told you another soul had flowed your way, a quick inspection showing it to be one of the villagers that had passed from old age.
Currently the two souls were just floating in the blank void, protected but not yet serving any purpose or even being aware. You felt there was room for improvement, however it would likely take much of your energy.
You gazed at the world and its people, watching with a warm smile as they spread out to tame new lands. Primitive tribes roamed north of where you had concentrated so far, while to the east interesting societies were being built as well. It would be nice to try and plant the beginnings of your faith amongst these peoples, but spreading so far would also take a great deal of power.
It seemed you were at a impasse, however you eventually decided to-
[ ] Develop the afterlife - You seem to gain small bits of power from collecting souls, that power also being denied to the thirsting madness of the warp. Yet you feel there is potential for more...
[ ] Spread your belief - Humanity is moving to new lands at impressive speeds, it would do you well to try and start followings among these far off people. It would certainly be faster then a follower running across the earth, safer as well.
AN: Wooo, once again really thankful for everybody giving so much input, one of my favorite things about quests is how they get people talking. Just understand this pace im going at won't stay solid forever, don't want to burn out and naturally stuff will happen that'll get in the way. Also, don't worry, there *will* be time skips, this won't be 50 chapters of ancient god simulator before we get to any actual 40k stuff. Hope I framed Baby-E well enough, other then that get your plans ready and I hope you've enjoyed reading so far!
"-a place for you to worship him, a structure where you might gather in prayer and that he may claim as his."
The Elder nodded in acceptance towards the Prophet, for such a demand was more then reasonable upon being given a new chance at life.
It took weeks of work, yet not once did the builders hesitate as they carried brick after brick, until finally the last one had been placed. What stood before them was now the largest structure in the village, able to hold many within it at once as well as an alter from which they prayed to their new god. Mats made from straw littered the ground upon which the peasants would kneel, as the Caretaker in his grace would not ask his children to bruise their knees upon the hard earth.
Yet despite all this the Prophet found it incomplete, the details not yet there to TRULY make it a house of her god. She spoke with the villagers before understanding was reached, final additions then began to be made.
The villagers gathered herbs and small stones, crushing them to make a powder that they used to color the walls. This powder was-
[ ] Silver - Golds more gentle twin
[ ] Orange - Warmth without rage
[ ] Ivory - Peace in simplicity
[ ] write in:
Satisfied with this, the Prophet then noticed there was darkness within the shrine, resolving to gather torches so all could see and know her diety. She placed the torches about the interior, noting how somehow the shrine seemed perfectly lit using-
[ ] Write in: (Pick a number between 1 and 20, cannot be 6, 7, 8, or 9.)
Finally the shrine was complete, with the villagers entering and praying to the Caretaker with renewed vigor. You smiled upon the sight, feeling that your strength grew around the shrine, while those who prayed within gave more power to you then usual.
Your gaze however, was drawn elsewhere by the sensation of sorrow.
Once again you looked upon your brothers home, yet he did not work in the fields as he did last time. Instead, he clutched the body of his father and tears soaked the earth beneath him. You moved to speak with him to give comfort, yet a shift in his face gave you pause. The emotion left him, before he stood up and began to walk. He crossed his home and towards another, where a man, his uncle, resided. You watched as he simply raised his hand towards his uncles fearful form, before the man fell to the ground...dead before he even hit the soil.
Deep worry filled you upon the sight, however as you gazed on the uncles soul a sour feeling entered you instead. They had murdered their brother out of jealousy, finding the idea of falling behind due to your brother's strength abhorrent. You sneered at the soul before you, not expending any energy to attempt to stop its journey into a daemons stomach.
Instead, you finally moved to speak to your brother, who had not moved an inch since the killing of his traitorous kin. "Brother-" You spoke gently, yet his voice boomed out in anger. "Silence! Do not toy with me, whatever you may or may not be!" His anger was not amusing this time, for it was not the agitation of an unamused child but the rage of a mourning son. "I am not-!" He gathered himself, though it seemed he may fall apart any second. "I am in no need of your council, do not sway me with your sick words of honey..."
You did not know what to say, so for what felt like an eternity you simply didn't. Yet eventually as you watched your brothers face contort in rage and sad confusion, you replied as simply as you could. "Alright." He seemed to pause slightly at that, so you pushed on. "I will give you your needed time, only when you wish will I talk."
Once again your brother paused, before eventually he seemed to sag into himself as he sat upon the ground. It was then you were reminded that for as powerful and as mighty as the being before you was, they were still a child. Your mind was an odd thing, you had simply done whatever seemed right to you upon the moment of your birth. Yet your brother had no such luxuries, the amount of memories forced upon him all telling him various things, while his own young mind struggled to balance it all with the life he was raised in.
"What do you want from me?"
You were caught off gaurd by the words, not expecting for your brother to speek so soon. His voice was tired, a kind of exhaustion that should only come from a man five times his age. You did your best to reply in a voice that was soothing yet firm, in an attempt to convince him of your sincerity.
"I only wish for you to be happy, as a brother should." You thought for a bit on if you should say this next part, but pushed onwards. "If and only if you wish, I can ensure your fathers soul remains safe...I will let no shadow take him."
Your brother stood up in anger at your words, his face red. Yet no threats left him, instead he stewed in deep thought. Eventually a deep breath was let out, as a final tear streaked down his face. "Fine...very well. I will give you this one chance, specter."
At that you gently pulled the soul of the man who raised your brother towards you, giving it a thanks that you were not certain it could hear. Your gaze turned back to your brother, who had returned to his hut and was sorting through various things.
"If I might ask, what will you do now?"
Your brother did not stop moving this time as he processed the question, leaving his hut while carrying a small hide sack. "I...do not know. I am done shirking my duties, so I will wander and I will witness humanity."
He continued to walk into the empty sparse plains, his face stoic and emotionless. "If I desire to speak with you, I will make it known. Otherwise...leave me be."
You did your best to send him a feeling of understanding, before doing as he asked. You did not know what he would be like next time you met, but you hoped that he would be simply himself and nothing else, that he could be at peace.
What more then that could a brother ask for?
-[x] Develop the afterlife
You gave a tired gaze at the group of souls before you, currently small enough to be counted with one's hands. You knew however that this number would continue to grow at ever increasing rates, so you chose to pursue a way to use these souls to further benefit you and thus humanity. Power fluctuated around you, of such strength that if a mortal gazed at the sheer amount of pyskic energy that was amassed their eyes would melt from their sockets.
No attack or spell was made from this energy, instead it was crafted into a space that was finite/infinite, material/immaterial. A tiny section of the endless warp shifted away from the usual constant flux, a puddle scooped from the ocean. In the middle of this section was your soul and very being, the central nerve, the heart. Any mad creature that stalked towards this land would be met with a searing pain, that sent them back to whence they came and away from your sanctuary.
Yet this place still lacked detail, so with great concentration you once again shifted the energy into-
[ ] A field - Tall stalks of wheat and grass intersected by gentle streams, where the souls might walk about in peace.
[ ] A city - A vision of what humanity can and will achieve, a sprawling symbol of civilization that will give comfort and familiarity.
[ ] Write in:
Finally as you gazed upon what may be your greatest work, you smiled, feeling pure satisfaction. Yet a tired sensation came about you, greater then any other you'd felt before.
You felt as though you would soon enter a strange slumber, where you would do your duty yet be stuck in a haze for a great period of time. Regret filled you as you realized all the things you would miss, however you did not let panic seep in.
Instead, your gaze turned to the village of your worshipers, which was already experiencing a great period of growth due to your intervention. You may not be fully there to ensure your peoples prosperity, but you felt you could give unto them one last great boon before you entered this comatose state.
With one last warm grin, you centered yourself and went to bless their-
[ ] Thinkers - Those who innovated, the curious ones, who go on to make life easier for their fellows via invention or breakthrough.
[ ] Dreamers - The painters, the actors, the philosophers, all the people who want to brighten the world or make others imagine.
[ ] Guardians - For every hyena that seeks to profit from despair, there is a selfless person who will keep the innocent safe.
You then felt exhaustion take you, a strange sensation for a being without nerves or muscles. Your vision turned gray, before with a sigh your mind switched off.
AN: Once again plan format for this.
In other news, trying to write the Emporer is hard... who could have guessed!
Next post is the first time-skip, when we can start getting into the big and good stuff. These introductory posts if you hadn't already guessed where mainly just so you guys could customize Hagal, who is going to be taking a god-nap on a celestial sofa for a while.
The villagers gazed upon their temple, and rejoiced in its beauty. From then on within the faith of the Caretaker traditions arose, symbols of their piety that would make their devotion known.
For every prophet and every holy-person, would mark themselves with a silver powder upon their faces so that they might symbolize their relationship with their god.
With this same powder, the follower would mark above their doors a five pointed star as to wade off bad spirits, while choirs of five would sing chants in the hopes of harmonizing with their diety.
As many generations passed the village would grow, while the faithful would spread word of the Caretaker to their surroundings until many prayed to him and built for him temples of their own. For every generation there would be a Prophet, while the feeling of their god whilst praying was always there, a comforting sensation as if being hugged by invisible arms. Miracles would come over time, those lost in the desert who managed to return when they should have died of thirst, or those who swore they could hear in the dead of night the whispers of their departed loved ones.
It was this constant presence that allowed the Caretaker to eventually be worshiped at least partially by almost all within the center of the world, however progress slowed the further one strayed to the edges of the earth. The northern barbarians, who still wandered about as the ancestors did, had faith in the form of countless nature spirits whom they refused to depart from. Meanwhile the strange people of the east had created among them various gods of their own, with converts being few if any among their number.
This brought great sorrow to the devoted, who believed that these people's souls would go into the unknown instead of the afterlife many believed they would achieve through their worship.
Yet in this turmoil the Caretaker in his grace sent a feeling to the Prophet, who meditated for many days before declaring-
[ ] Salvation through force - They would wage holy war upon these tribes and these peoples, to destroy these false beliefs so that they might be saved from their delusions.
[ ] Wine and gifts - They would simply redouble their efforts of calm preaching, so that perhaps they might change the minds of the non-believers.
[ ] Well enough alone - They would let these people be, for only those who come to the Caretaker themselves could truly be counted among the faithful.
So it would be done, praise be to the Silver One.
-[x] Thinkers
When the Caretaker first graced the people, he saw them thirsty and so gave unto them water. Yet then as they rejoiced, he saw how they broke themselves so that they might survive and so gave unto them knowledge.
Many among his faithful would claim to have felt inspiration in the midst of prayer, before going on to change the world. From their minds came the wheel and the pot, so that they may not have to destroy their backs to carry all that was necessary. Then came the one who tamed the ox and the one who tamed the horse, so that man would not have to burden their backs at all. Advancements in agriculture granted more food to the bellies of the devout, while finally one fellow would wake up on what seemed a normal day to change the world.
He with the blessing of his god forged a tool of copper, which then some generations later made way for the age of bronze. The center of the world was known as the center for a reason, as with the gifts from their god they made civilizations more advanced then any before them.
Many believed, however, that their diety blessed one certain group within society more then others. Indeed most would agree that the Caretaker seemed to favor the-
[ ] Farmer
[ ] Blacksmith
[ ] Healer
-[x] World of plenty
You then forged a world within your domain, a planet that if one tried to walk around would simply never end until one gave up, upon which they would arrive where they desired. You found joy in the beauty of earth and so added all the various environments that made it so diverse, endless flower filled prairies, forests of all kinds, tundra & desert alike, so all the peoples of the world would find a place familiar to them.
Then in the middle of it all you crafted a city, one that was ever expanding with various districts that would host all its people could need within. You knew that as humanity developed the old souls would find themselves lost and confused by modernization, so the districts would house the souls of their era in the way they were accustomed. Then you brought about many canals which glowed silver in the moonlight, to separate the districts in order for those within to only have to enter another if they so pleased.
You sighed peacefully upon seeing your finished creation, feeling content. You then witnessed with amusement as the souls you had aquired seemed to awaken, wandering about with wonder as they explored the infinite home they found themselves within.
It was after they had all wandered off, most to the city but some into the wilderness, that you came to a realization. You had by creating this place fulfilled your reason for existence, an interesting if odd thought. You could technically just stop now, relax in the paradise you had made.
...Yet such thoughts simply were not satisfying to you, perhaps it was that human instinct to always keep moving forwards. It was rather ironic to you that you came to this point of thinking right before you would be falling asleep, bringing a chuckle to you whilst you watched the horizon.
Things seemed so simple in this moment, you could hear birdsong in the distance while the smell of blooming flowers wafted towards you, carried by a gentle spring breeze. Yet for all this beauty, you couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding entering you. Rarely was a mortal life so simple, as such you believed that life as a god would be made much more complicated with time...
Sleep for you was interesting in that you were still partially aware, like having a single eye half open and being able to hear only murmurs from your followers lips.
You would pass out blessings and perform a miracle once in a while, your finger twitching in response to prayers you could only half understand.
Time passed quickly in what felt like hours, yet you could tell thousands of years were going by, you watched the world change but from a distance that made your vision hazy. Finally however, you felt the mist and the fog in your mind clear away. You 'stretched' yourself out, somehow feeling stiff despite having no physical form to speak of.
The world seemed so odd to you, you'd watched it change yet only now were you *seeing* it truly. Wondrous cities and kingdoms marked parts of the world, yet some still stuck to the familiar villages or tribes that you remembered. Your focus was of course on where your followers were, however it was not hard to find them. The most advanced place in the world, the bustling center of civilization, that was where your people prevailed. It was only then that you realized just how much stronger you felt, the old you seeming like an ant in comparison. Where before you had a couple hundred followers, you felt now as if that number was in the millions!
You looked upon the afterlife you built and indeed saw it was populated by many, the countless generations that had grown in number wandering about bringing great satisfaction to you. Yet you noted as you gazed back upon the material with interest that there were...other presences? You moved to speak with them however all you received in reply was sluggish instinctual responses that didn't make any sense, which unnerved you dearly. You inspected what they were for a time, eventually finding that they appeared to be other gods, yet not. Human belief was making a sort of imprint, but without the sheer pyskic power used to birth you and your brother they were just shells of sorts.
It was incredibly disappointing, you'd been hoping to have a nice conversation with another thinking being. Such thoughts brought you back to your brother, however just as you moved to find his presence...
"Spirit, I am...in need of your aid."
His gruff voice sought you out first, his mental voice sounding much older then what you were used to. You mourned how much time you must have missed, how much older your brother must be and how little time you'd spent together in comparison.
You found yourself compelled to find him due to this, perhaps there was a way to salvage your admittedly near non-existent bond. "Of course brother, where might you be?"
He replied quickly, with a sense of urgency that alarmed you. "The great fields of the east, that you may know as Mongolia."
You gave him the Psykic version of a nod before you moved your gaze outwards to where he spoke of, finding him rather easily. He sat upon a large horse, wearing immaculate armor and wielding a mighty spear that both seemed impeccable works of craftsmanship. His gaze turned towards your presence, giving you a nod before he turned to look forwards. You followed his eyes, before pausing immediately.
In the far distance was a massive being, floating gently off of the ground. It's body was made from an odd reflective metal, green lightning arching off of its humanoid shape before scorching the earth. The ground seemed to lift gently into the air around it while below it only remained a vast crater, its very presence looking as if it were breaking the laws of reality.
If you had a jaw it would be dropping, with your vast mind only able to speak what came to it first.
"Oh....oh shit."
Your brother sighed deeply, his grip on his spear tightening while his eyes never left the creature. "Indeed."
You felt you only had time to make one big move before things began, the strange beings gaze already having fallen onto you both. In the end you chose to-
[ ] Try and strike it directly with your power
[ ] Bless your brother to be more ready for battle
[ ] Call upon the energy from your afterlife
(Continued in interlude: Here be Dragon)
An: When I say big stuff I mean big stuff!
So make your plans for this, but keep in mind that this battle is gonna be its own thing and the rest of the plan will take place separately afterwards.
-[X] Bless your brother to be more ready for battle
"I don't know what the creature is, but it's incredibly powerful...and from beyond earth."
You looked at your brother with worry, his words bringing you into deep thought, or at least they would if you weren't already 'occupied'.
"This may be a bad time to say this but I don't know if I can actually hit this thing..."
Your brother turned his gaze to you with agitation and disbelief, which made you become defensive.
"Im sorry alright, it's not my fault I was born without hands! I'm doing my best!" You quickly tried to think of what to do, before an idea erupted. "I have a plan, but I'm going to need your permission-"
Your brother, who's gaze had went back to the now rapidly approaching creature, scoffed before shouting. "Just do it already!"
With that, you gathered up a large bundle of your energy before shoving it into your brother's soul, worry encompassing your entire being.
Immediately he began to grit his teeth, his hands clenching as power radiated from his body. He groaned as energy came in such strength that for the first time in his existence he felt overwhelmed, while the creature reared back it's metal fist in preparation for some sort of attack.
Green lightning and other bits of material you had no understanding of began to coalesce, until a beam flew towards you both at such speeds that a boom from the breaking of the sound barrier reached you first.
Just as the beam was about to hit your brother, he finally gathered himself and cut the beam with his spear. Smoke and ash from the blast cleared away to reveal him still sitting on his mount, the patch of ground they rested at untouched but surrounded by a large crater, the ground looking as if it were simply erased from existence.
Your brother now seemed different, his eyes replaced by golden light, his spear lit ablaze with flame, while his mount now had wings of silver.
The creature, though it's face was not one capable of expression, seemed oddly amused. It then spoke, it's voice like the scraping of steel and the grinding of stone. "Your people will make such fantastic meals, you should be honored to be the feast I shall use to regain my power and conquer the stars!"
Your brother meanwhile kept his face flat and without emotion, his voice plain yet laced with power. "Youwilldiebeforeyouevenmanageoneworld."
With that, the two moved at rapid speeds. The creature continued to fire beams of energy, while your brother flew upon his Pegasus to strike with his spear upon seeing a weak point. You watched in awe at the battle, the clashing of two beings of such strength that fissures began to open in the earth and fires broke out from the sheer heat their fighting created. You were so distracted that you almost didn't see the small child gazing at the battle in the distance, which brought you concern. What brought terror to replace that concern, was the village behind said child. If was far away enough to avoid being damaged for now, but you noticed with worry how the fighting seemed to inch closer towards it with time. If the battling forces got to close, every human being in their radius would surely perish.
Your brother was to distracted to notice what was happening, while the creature saw the village and appeared *gleeful*. Once again you did not have the luxury of time, if a choice was to be made it needed to be done NOW.
[ ] Defend the village - Focus your power on shielding the humans, you worried however if you'd be strong enough to hold them back.
[ ] Step in - The only way to keep them away is to *push them* back, body or no body, nothing touches your people.
[ ] Do nothing - As much as it brought anguish to you, you needed to conserve your strength...I'm sorry.
AN: Bit of a short one, but it's a fight scene so...
Anyway, I hope my battle writing is decent, if you read 40k stuff you probably put focus on duels and war for uh, obvious reasons.
Emotions flooded into you, as time seemed to freeze for but a moment. You felt worry for your brother who even with your blessing was barely keeping up, terror at what could befall this village should you fail-
But most of all...
You felt RAGE. You felt that anger, that attachment to the ones that could not defend themselves, coil around you. The voices of the few Shamans who sought a Caretaker echoed in your mind, booming out a call to action. You groaned in pain and focus as you collected as much of your energy as you could into one point, brute forcing a solution in the face of no alternative methods.
Your brother continued to stab at the creature, his flaming spear rendering small cracks in the beasts body. Yet this was not enough, as it turned its gaze onto the humans in the distance with glee.
"A banquet of life-essence, ripe for the harvesting..." It's voice was like the dripping of tar and the shattering of glass, as a cackle erupted from it. The creature managed to dodge one of your brothers strikes, swatting him and his mount out of the sky before beginning to hover towards the village.
"Morsels of flesh...delectable..." One of its arms morphed into a shifting mass of moving blades, a large shredder meant for the collection of 'material'. Your brother slowly pulled himself out of the hole he'd made from his impact, gazing at the scene in the distance with anguish. He looked behind him only to see the corpse of his mount, knowing he would be to slow to reach the creature in time by himself due to how exhausted he felt.
The villagers fled, the men attempting to guide as many women and children away as they could, but it was a pointless endeavor. The creatures range was simply to great...yet it paused, something felt off to it. It turned its gaze, however it was to late to dodge the silver ethereal fist that impacted it's face at incredible speeds.
The creature roared in pain as shards of metal shattered off of its form, however it quickly gathered itself to look upon the new threat. There was no warrior before it, instead all that there was to been seen was that of a flickering silver fist. It chuckled as it readied another attack, interest clear in its tone. "The primitives have forged two constructs then...I would be impressed if not for the clear brutish mindset you both seem to exude." A ball of green lightning formed within its hand before it spoke in a mocking voice. "Let me guess, your going to use your power to...hit me with your fists again?"
Your voice replied, booming and now material despite still lacking a mouth. "Yes." You spoke bluntly, with a hint of frustration. "Now shut up, I'm your opponent now."
No more words were spoken as the ball of lightning was hurled towards you, clipping your hand and sending physical pain into you for the first time in your existence. This did not stop you however, as you continued forwards and slammed into the creatures chest. This continued for an unknown amount of time, all of your focus put into defeating the beast. You would score a hit, yet the creature seemed to harm you twice as often. Finally you would feel your reserves be depleted, your fist vanishing from existence. The creature laughed at the sight, it's batterd body glowing as it spoke with glee.
"Do you now see the futile nature of your resistance? All you have done is allow me to take more pleasure in your death, primitive construct..." It's gaze turned to the village again, glee evident in its form. "I am Mag'ladroth, the strongest of my people, master of the material, dragon of the void! I will consume you a-!" A golden spear erupted from its chest, it's voice choking as it looked down at the wound in its torso. Flame erupted from the spear, consuming large portions of the beasts body as it's screams of pain hissed out for miles around.
Its body was reduced to a wirling lump of chrome and electricity, which fell to the floor to reveal your brothers form. He pulled the spear back before staring at the lump, a grimace on his face. "You talk too much."
Soon after your brother collapsed from exhaustion, the two of you reeling from the aftermath and doing your best to collect your thoughts. Your brother was the first to speak, exasperation clear in his voice. "Now what exactly was that about 'not having hands' earlier?"
You replied defensively, though the energy in your tone was still sapped. "Well you know, I'm still learning...and stuff just happens sometimes!"
You swore for just a second you saw him grinning.
Yet despite the temporary bit of respite, you both knew things were not yet over. Even now you could sense Mag'ladroth ever so slowly regenerating, you doubted that even at full strength you could actually destroy it in its entirety.
Your brother turned to you with worry, an unusual amount of honesty in his expression. "I grow concerned as to what can be done, neither of us can simply spend the rest of time chipping away at this alien."
Your thoughts were more focused on the implications of its existence, with you looking at the sky in uncertainty. "So long as this thing is on earth nothing is safe..."
Your bother then seemed to get a spark in his eye, giving you an honest bit of worry. "You are right, I will just have to hold it elsewhere then..." He began to go into deep thought, though you had a different reaction.
"I'm sorry, do you mean to somehow reach SPACE? I can't think of a single way you could possibly-" Your brother suddenly teleported with the creature in hand, completely sending your mind into a state of pause for several minutes.
"...huh."
AN: THE VOID DRAGON HAS BEEN DEFEATED! Rejoice in having rocked the shit out of a star god shard.
Your regularly scheduled programing will continue in the next update, I sincerely hope you enjoyed our first 'fight' scene of sorts.
The Caretaker had given them a clear vision, to not use his compassion as a tool for pain or conquest. None would be put to the sword for their upbringing, just as none could be expected to be true in their faith with a blade to their neck.
Instead one must show his bounty to the uninitiated, allow them to see what their diety offered to those who knelt in the pursuit of a greater future. This technique was not greatly effective, however converts did indeed trickle in over time. What mattered was that none were alienated, that the souls of the faithful were not made dirty by dishonorable action.
Many religions persecuted and cut down those outside their number, clear lines drawn in the sand that divided the people of the known world. To have a faith that did no such thing, it was an oddity. The doubtful could come into the presence of a temple, to feel the embrace of the Caretaker and let loose a sigh of relief.
-[X] blacksmith
In this age of acceptance and knowledge, with the scholars of the land having brought great advancements to their people, it came naturally that the craftsmen would do their part. Blacksmiths forged many grand tools with their skills, honing their craft in the pursuit of bettering themselves and those around them. Such was their vigor in this age that many agreed the Caretaker held a special place in his heart for those who used their hands for creation.
'It is easy to destroy, for it is a base impulse. It may take a second to knock over stones that took hours to pile up, yet it is the one who stacked them that always gains the most.'
So it came to be that the devoted would craft many symbols of their faith, whether in the form of a humble talisman or in the creation of a large statue built in their gods likeness. Many debated what form their diety took on, or if they even had a form simaler to that of a mortal. Yet one great mason built a statue over a period of years, recruiting his sons and those willing to aid him. It was a great work, one that for many put the arguments to an end. For the form of the statue was indeed grand, in the shape of-
[ ] The humble - A robed figure who's face cannot be seen, it's arms stretched out in preparation for an embrace.
[ ] The maker - A shirtless man holding a hammer of the forge, his face eager.
[ ] The watcher - A man wearing simple clothes, with an intense stare on his face. In his hands are a tome to record the deeds of the righteous and a spear to strike down the vile.
[ ] Write in:
Of course, this was merely in the center of the known world, on the outskirts and far off lands, other events occurred...
In the flat fields of Mongolia, a great wave of spiritual upheaval had begun. An entire village had claimed to witness a battle of gods, which lasted for hours and shook the heavens.
Many wandered to the site of the battle, seeing great patches of ground burnt to ash, filled with deep gouges, or simply not there anymore. In a mighty crater, a peasant found a shard of metal that could not be bent or broken by any means. It became widely believed this was a scale, a piece of the dragon that had shed during the battle.
This scale would be placed within a shrine, not to worship it, but as a symbol of might for a different diety. The fist of the stars, the hand of a god which had come down from the heavens to bring low the beast that had wanted to consume them. Worship of the Bright-Hand spread throughout the region, with many becoming monks and training themselves in the art of defense. No bandit or raider would dare make a strike within the steppe, for they knew they would be beaten by the warriors who sought to emulate their diety by striking those that would harm the innocent.
You looked upon these warrior-monks, saw their devotion, and felt odd. They did indeed pray to you, yet for the first time it went into an aspect you had never felt before. They wished for hope yes, but these people asked for strength of arms, for the ability to strike down their foes.
You did not know how to feel about this, however in the end you elected to-
[ ] Encourage them
[ ] Dissuade them
Asger felt at odds with himself many times, though his emotional state was rarely simple in the first place. He watched waves fall upon the rocky shore, the view from the cliffside being one many would agree to be beautiful. The sun gently set in the distance casting a vibrant glow onto the sea, while a grove nearby had leaves that swayed in the breeze.
He had sat in this exact spot countless times, though the view was always a bit different...he would say he enjoyed this version at the very least.
His first true time on this cliff was arguably much worse, a boy fleeing a burning village while pillagers chased after him. He'd had much less time to enjoy the view then, only a couple seconds as he fell after being shoved off.
Time did not slow down as he neared death like he'd heard in stories, instead he believed that it just sped up for him alone. It was not much of a life worth looking over to be honest, a boy of twelve years who did nothing of Interest until they died running like a coward. The last emotion he felt before he hit the rocks was shame, he saw the disappointed eyes of his family before all became darkness.
Then, as quickly as it had come, it went away. He gasped on a beach shore, cold from the wind and from the sea water that had reached his legs due to the high tide. He spent what felt like an hour terrified of what had occurred, believing this was some sort of underworld and he was to be eternally punished.
Yet as he stood up and looked around, his thoughts a tad clearer, he realized he knew exactly where he was. That was the day he stumbled back to his village, only to find a pit of husks and ashes that was already being reclaimed by nature.
That was the day, a thousand years ago.
He could live no normal life after that, eventually his body didn't grow gray from age and he knew then that he truly couldn't die. Every time he attempted to settle down he would be forced to leave after a decade or two, people growing suspicious of his lack of change and viewing him as a witch that needed expelled.
Sometimes he felt as though he'd gone mad, before taking matters into his own hands...
Yes...he'd visited this cliff many times, was the one to plant the grove in the hopes the next visit would be more pleasant. The view unfortunately, was always soiled by the aftermath. He always felt this futile hope that *this* would be the one, the final gaze at the sunset before he journeyed into his own twilight.
A cynical part of him whispered that it was just a hobby at this point, a little tradition he used to pretend that he was all still there.
Then there was the smallest voice, so tiny it could just barely be heard. It told him that he should enjoy the view and be done, to push things back a bit further. When one had all the time in the world, what was the rush to die?
He scoffed, before he stared at the stars above. He'd taken solace in them at one point, companions he could rely on in the darkest times.
Then one day he watched one of the lights burn out...and that was that.
Tears fell onto the dirt, though it was honestly more instinctual at this point. There wasn't much of an alternative at this point was there? What was he to do, try to ingrate himself with his descendents just to have to leave then eventually as well?
No, he decided...and then he quit procrastinating. He slowly stood up from his spot, before walking to the edge and gazing downwards. The rocks he remembered had eroded fully around two hundred years ago, ever since then he'd really just had to rely on getting the angle right.
He let out a deep breath, closed his eyes, and st-
"Hello there." A voice broke his peace, causing him to freeze with both feet still on solid ground. Nobody had ever found him here before, he felt excitement at the novelty but also revulsion that somebody had intruded upon his space. He slowly turned around to face the stranger, his brows creased in confusion.
The man that stood before him was odd, simply in just how basic he looked. Tanned skin, long raven black hair, he was clearly from the southlands and yet appeared so average he doubted he could pick him out from a crowd if he tried.
He spoke up with agitation, displeased to have been interrupted. "Why do you come here stranger? I have nothing to offer you."
The man replied in a simple tone. "I merely wanted to warn you to not get to close to the edge, you seemed like you were close to tripping."
He felt his face flush from anger, quickly replying. "It's none of your business what I do, danger or no!"
The man then chuckled, bringing more anger to Asger, yet his next words replaced rage with worry. "I suppose not, but it would be inconvenient to have to return after you woke up again..."
Asger paused, his mouth going dry as he thought on the implications this conversation suddenly brought. "Who...what are you?" Now that he looked closer, his senses picked up an unsettling feeling, the hair on his skin standing up on end.
The man stared at him for a moment, before taking off his robe. Suddenly Asger was blinded, stumbling back before remembering where he was just standing. Right before he could fall to his not-death however, a large arm grasped him and held him aloft. He stared in awe at the man, who was now transformed. Their voice, booming as it was, still had that same neutral tone.
"I am Neoth...and there is much work to be done."
AN: Oof, sorry for the wait gang, life does what life wants sometimes. I can't say that there won't be gaps like this, but I promise you I will never simply stop this story without reasonable explanation.
There was also a small heaping of writers block when it came to the narrative section, the first alternative pov and all that.
For many of His worshipers felt split over the matter of how to view their god, some viewing him through his creative blessing while the rest chose to focus in his capacity for organization and justice.
The mason in his imagination however, felt there should be no difference between the two. As such when he revealed his work, it was that of a man in a toga with a hammer at his side. Yet in his other hand, a slab of values chiseled in by said hammer, the values being those practiced heavily by His worshipers.
Collectively these were called the silver rules, a code of ethics that when followed would make one not only virtuous but pious as well. To not take out of greed, to strive to improve oneself and those around them, along with giving those the respect one wished for themselves.
Many craftsmen afterwards went into making their own statues and idols, however the blacksmiths found another purpose their skills could be used for in the service of the Caretaker.
-[X] Encourage them
Those warrior monks who fought against the bandit and the raider would find themselves blessed, as the silver scale was made to glow a soothing light. They took this as a symbol of divine approval, before setting out to expand their order.
Yet the path they took was different from others like them, they did not recruit from the nobility nor did they treat themselves AS nobles. Instead they would work to raise up the downtrodden, the homeless, and the forgotten. Those among them with the will necessary, were forged into warriors capable of killing the enemy with not just their weapons but also their bare hands.
The monks and their path spread westward to the central lands, where they collided with the followers of the Caretaker not in bloodshed but through a shaking of hands. The warriors of the east and the craftsmen of the west traded their skills, with both lands prospering due to a mutual respect for their patron deity.
You found yourself worried eventually, your brother seemingly nowhere despite your attempts to search for his unique signature. Eventually you ceased these attempts, in the hopes that he simply needed space after the arduous slaying of the Beast.
The creature, that which called itself Mag'ladroth, terrified you dearly. It's boasts had revealed much in the way of unsettling news, which had you looking up occasionally at the stars above. You knew instinctually that the galaxy was a massive place, earth being a speck upon another speck when compared to the vastness of the cosmos.
This wasn't even to mention it's immaterial equivalent, the warp being just as if not bigger then the material. You had yet to dare step out of your section, which currently could best be described as a rain puddle on the edge of a vast sea. You could tell there were other things out there, many weaker then you yet many also much stronger. Foolhardy Daemons would rarely attempt to break into your domain, only to be burnt to cinders via your silver essence. Interestingly enough, the souls of the afterlife who'd lead a martial life seemed to be...organizing. You watched closely once, as a group of them seemed to forge a bow before firing it upon a minor spector from upon the wall of your domain. Amazingly, you watched with raised brows as the arrow sunk into the beings throat before it let out a death rattle and faded to ashes.
You supposed it made a bit of sense, that which was forged in the immaterial seemed to harm a thing of the warp just as something forged in the material would harm a mortal. It seemed nothing truly grand, primitive efforts that had just barely started to be tested. Yet still, the fact that the souls seemed so intent on protecting themselves, and perhaps even could...it brought a smile to your face.
Such amusement was ended rather quickly as you realized you had gone off the path again, cursing yourself as you gathered your thoughts. The material and the immaterial both held terrifying things within, things that could just as easily poke back if he dared to touch. Yet still, curiosity remained. It would not do to be ignorant, just as much as it would be harmful to rustle into the unknown.
In the end, he chose to-
[ ] Look into the galaxy
[ ] Look into the Warp
[ ] Focus on earth, your people need your attention more.
The expansion of your faith into the Eastern lands spurred a bit of an exploratory urge within you, causing you to look fully upon the world your people called home for the first time. South remained society's that remained primarily tribal, as was the case for the north, though there seemed to be something curious happening on a peninsula...
What truly caught your attention however, was even FURTHER west. Two mighty continents, vast and full of their own peoples who while also tribal, had made fascinating unique discoveries of their own. It saddened you to think all of these cultures would remain unable to mingle with the rest, likely for over a thousand years still at this rate. What especially worried you was what would happen when they DID meet, the dangers such long isolation would have upon both when they made contact. You could potentially sidestep the issue by deeming to send an expedition of followers to attempt crossing the seas, yet that may also create the devastation you wished to avoid.
Eventually, you-
[ ] - Sent the expedition, all of mankind must be together in arms
[ ] Did nothing, sometimes the best thing to do is leave well enough alone.
Time, ever changing, though you steadily got more used to it. You watched mighty empires rise and fall, the whisps of unborn gods fade into then out of existence, all the while humanity advanced.
Your central and eastern followers made great advancements, which they shared and through charitable acts won over many to their faith. A solid chunk of what you now called Asia followed you, while those of Northern Africa and everything between the two also had various large chunks of people worshipping you.
Yet all was not well, as you believed humanities advancement also lead to a swell of emotions that brought unwanted attention. You could only watch as the kingdoms of Europe began to fall into the worship of the DARK gods, the tribes that had shunned them having either fled to your lands or destroyed in retaliation. Oddly enough, there was a bastion of yours in the far north, in the lands of Scandinavia.
Yet still, things remained dire. It seemed that chaos had found a hearty stew, with it being eager to sup itself on those who'd yet to hear or refused your call. You watched as armies formed on both sides, while your brother so far worryingly remained missing. Your people had you with them obviously, yet the attention of chaos even in slumbering form created a battle you doubted possible to win.
You felt you had a chance, a single hopeful chance, to divert the eyes of one of the gods. It would even the fight more, while giving you breathing room to be more active materially instead of having to constantly hold back daemonic incursions. The choice was extremely difficult, however with little time you quickly chose to block the eyes of-
[ ] - The Hound
[ ] - The Schemer
[ ] - The Grandfather
With fear and fire in equal measure stirring in your heart, you gave what boons you could to your followers before gazing at the world with dread.
Chaos must not prevail, this is the eternal truth.
AN:
What's it been? 5, 10 minutes?
....heh...heh.
ANYWAY! That's right! Like I said, I may be gone for a while, but I always come back baby! This quest is back in action, thank you so much for your patience.
As you entered once again into the rolling mass of sheer anything that was the immaterium, you pondered the gravity of what you were about to do. If your brother were here he'd likely attempt smacking you over the head for 'such dangerously ludicrous acts', however...he wasn't here.
So he could kiss your incorporeal buttocks!
With a giggle, followed by an uncertain glance at what lay ahead, you hesitantly moved forwards. Now, the warp was funny in that you could theoretically go anywhere within instantly, it's just that such acts were typically barred by a lack of knowledge or one of endless beings simply blocking the way via its power.
It's why you couldn't simply appear right besides Nurgle and kick him in the warts, even you would be forced to fight ones way to him before you could achieve such satisfaction.
So instead, you simply went into getting the lay of the land, or sea, or...well you understand. Interesting facts could be gleamed on the material from the immaterial, as they both affected the other heavily. As such you could immediately tell that there seemed to be a HEAVY amount of control held by a pantheon of alien gods not known to you, thankfully however they weren't the same as Mag'ladroth.
Instead these 'Aeldari' rubbed you the wrong way for a different reason...in that they were completely ignoring you! You thought you'd have to hide, but it turns out these gods have reached such a level of self importance they simply aren't giving you the time of day. You supposed they had power to back up said arrogance, they were in control of most of the warps vast waves besides the foul corners that had always been within the hands of Chaos. Still, you were able to learn a small bit about some of these Eldar powers.
First up was one you seriously pondered if they were just Khorne in a mask, that being the god of murder Khaine. From what you glimpsed the book was exactly what the cover said, a blood hungry slaughterer who was...tolerated by the rest. It seemed Khaine had even attempted to kill all of the mortal aeldari for some reason, so yeah...a real piece of shit.
Next was the chief of this Pantheon, Asuryan. You uh...actually couldn't dig up much about this one, besides the fact he was in charge while liking fire and magic. He also apparently was the one responsible for putting up some sort of barrier dividing the mortal and divine, which made you seriously consider if one of these people actually created the divide between the warp and realspace...as absolutely insane as that sounded.
Isha meanwhile was a fertility goddess, who was the one that asked for Asuryan to 'maybe not let Khaine just murder everybody on a whim'. She seemed from what you could gleam the most empathetic of the bunch, however it seemed most of her myths involved her balling her eyes out.
There was a whole bunch of others, a forge god, a hunting god, a fucking clown for some reason. However, the absurdity of it all was not given time to sink in.
There were more pressing matters at hand, such as the fact you could feel a sickening stream going through the warp. It seemed like the energy of prayer that should by all means be going to the Pantheon, yet it was instead snaking about like a spilt drink heading for a drain.
You could not see where it was going, even worse you felt somewhat glad for the fact. You moved to turn back, yet before you could a new pulse caught your attention.
It was a call, a pull in a new direction. You could tell the origin was divine and Aeldari, yet even still that was a long list. It could be anything, a random whim, a desire for peace, a trap, you had no clue about these beings inner thoughts.
In the end however you chose to let it be for a bit in order to focus on more important matters, you'd been away for to long anyway.
Besides, it seemed to you that these Aeldari had a skewed sense of time, a hundred human years seemed but a day to them...so they could most certainly wait a bit.
-[X] - Sent the expedition, all of mankind must be together in arms
Your followers heeded your vision, the faithful gathering together many resources and heading to the eastern coasts of Asia. There they built a fleet of sturdy vessels over the course of two years, wanting to ensure the perfect designs so the journey would be made smoothly.
You blessed them with proper direction, allowing for them to avoid storms and other such dangers. They charted new maps, found fascinating islands, before finally landing off the coast of the new continent. There they are met by the bewildered Chinook people, before diplomacy begins. You watch with rapt attention, anxiety plaguing you until you eventually let out a a sigh of relief.
The two groups after much confusion, manage to hash out what seemed to be a very basic agreement. The followers gave gifts of iron tools, seeds from their homelands, along with some pieces of art. The Chinook meanwhile, offered smoked fish as their people lived primarily off the river, along with furs and other local goods that equally fascinated your people.
The crew stayed for weeks, with many men taking time to attempt to translate the language. Over this period much information was discovered, primarily the fact that the native peoples had a different idea of life where ownership of land was an unknown concept. You found this part of humanity to be one of your favorites, their ability to diverge and form different yet functional ways of life. You hoped there would never be a day where humanity couldn't surprise you, especially with its ingenuity.
With this newfound knowledge, the followers requested the right to build a village on a peninsula by the Wimahl river. This would allow for a proper port to be built, from which more trade could come in, while the village would offer tribute to the Chinook peoples as a 'rent' of sorts. This was convenient for both parties, as the Chinook were a people of trade and had routes that reached deep into the continent.
By having access to goods from far off lands, they could greatly increase their wealth and ability, which is why they promptly accepted the deal. So it was made to be, that the settlement of Port-Standing was built and two worlds came closer to being one.
You still had worry about the matter of disease, along with the potential for future tensions, yet in this moment you allowed yourself a sigh of relief.
--[X] Write-In: look for the nascent gods
The idea came upon you suddenly, like a strike of lightning. Would it not be fruitful to attempt making allies of these fleeting deities, to at least attempt to give them the chance to become more? This was followed by a sour feeling, the idea you'd essentially been letting infants fade out of existence due to...ignorance.
This would certainly not do, as such you did your best to create a method capable of bringing about a gods full potential. Understandably, this was much easier said then done. You definitely couldn't make something your equal, so anyone you 'elevated' would essentially be a much weaker underling of sorts. Still, you had no small amount of options available at least.
With the power you had available, you picked 3 godly shadows and slowly attempted bringing them into a proper shape. It took years, was exhausting, and many times you almost failed due to various slip-ups.
Finally however you had them ready, only to discover that uh...yeah they were definitely babies. It was going to take time for them to develop, however you already felt a certain attachment to all 3.
Little Odin was definitely going to be troublesome, a wisdom in his eyes that was honestly a bit creepy along with the fact that despite being an infant he already had a beard.
Apollo was definitely going to grow up to be quiet the rebel, seeing as he already took amusement in suddenly becoming as bright as a supernova when you went to check up on him. Your eyes couldn't be damaged by it, but it still fucking hurt!
Finally, Isis rounded the two out...by being spontaneous. Oh she had her moments were she was agreeable and angelic, yet there were others were she would suddenly be pulling upon your hair like you'd just spat on her face.
Even with your divine energy you found yourself exhausted, with the souls you asked for advice looking at you with reverence, then confusion, followed by a great bought of laughter.
"My lord, you will get used to it...then it will get worse."
Parenthood, as it turned out, could drive even gods mad.
-[X] - The Schemer
How you longed for that tired feeling now, instead of the kind of exhaustion you currently felt which was only born from long boughts of fear.
If you failed in this attempt, humanity may very well be enslaved in its entirety. Every ounce of focus you had went into this, as your power coalesced to form a great beam which struck out before creating an invisible wave...
Elsewhere, in an endless maze that eternally shattered itself before coming together again, a being of endless change sat. To look upon its face would be to see infinite forms, as the god known as Tzeentch simply refused to be recognizable at any given point in time. It's mind was just as unknowable, as even while asleep the god of trickery had countless schemes played out.
Yet just as he twitched in order to move a couple pawns, this organized madness was turned against him.
Yes...he would keep his forces back while the blood and the rot took losses in their conquest, while he would be able to beat them into submission afterwords with his still fresh legions.
Of course, just as....planned?
AN: This was a doozy to write, for many...MANY reasons. No plans or votes for this one, it's just me getting all of the regular stuff sorted before we get into the battle for the souls of mankind.
Turns out, when mankind develops more rapidly then it should, alot of stuff happens in response. Not very sporting fellows over at Chaos, just can never leave well enough alone.
