Mythopoeia: RP of gods and nations (game thread, closed)

[JoJo]

Badger, Jashipolis, Isle of Oilean Uisce

The following day, the group left Jashiki's castle for the first city of the island. Aurelius and Badger took up the lead with Daigoro stationed between them, while Lar-Kai and Sam took up the rear with a constant eye on pursuers. Young Kaius had remained with Jashiki to further study contact with the deceased. First though, the subject of the princedom of Oilean Uisce had to be dealt with.

"Aurelius, I confer upon you the title of Prince of Oilean Uisce," Daigoro recited with his hand on his father's shoulder as the man knelt before him. Technically he had inherited the title on Aurelius' death, the title had then been superseded and held in abeyance however when the young boy became Emperor. This meant it was free to be conferred again on any other Auroran subject, in this case on it's former holder.

"Thank you, son," Aurelius nodded with a smile as he stood up. As the group entered Jashipolis, they couldn't help notice the Luug fleet stationed omniously on the horizon of the port, returned after having been washed out the previous day. In the city centre a large group of water-benders and other volunteers had gathered, nervously awaiting further orders under the guidance of Ker-Hai. They collectively gasped when they saw Prince Aurelius strolling into the square, the Emperor by his side.

"My liege," Ker-Hai cried from his raised platform, his wrinkled face contorted in an expression of surprise, "They said you were dead?"

"I was, until the intervention of Gangari," Aurelius replied with a broad grin, holding up the young Emperor for the whole crowd to see, "This is my son, the Raindrop Emperor!"

A mighty cheer arose from the crowd as they realised it was the fabled leader from the north. They all stared expectantly up at Daigoro, who quickly glanced shyly to his father and Badger before speaking.

"Thanks... we have to beat the Octavians before they ruin more of Aurora, I know we can do it today!"

"Well said," Ker-Hai agreed as he was drowned out by the water-benders surrounding them, "They say that this child is never wrong. Let's hope that holds today," he said as he spread out a map to explain his plan.

~​

The Oilean Uisce fleet sailed out of Jashipolis upon a great wave, human and halfling water-benders working side-by-side to propel their wooden ships faster than any seen before. The Luug barely had time to turn their ships before the defenders were among them, cannons smashing through planks and rocky bodies as quickly as they could be reloaded. The Octavians realised too late that they were just outside the protective boundaries of the island that had saved them the day before and turned to flee as they saw that defeat was inevitable. Prince Aurelius smiled as he saw this, the first victory of the Commonwealth for quite a while. The others watched from a small distance, so they were in the protective reach of Oilean Uisce.

"We have to go now!" Badger shouted to Aurelius across the widening gap between their boats, "We're going to Albur, to meet Lord Aldren!"

"Alright, we'll catch you up eventually," the Prince replied, glancing to Daigoro happily, "Stay safe my son!"

"I will, Papa!" the young Emperor called back as the two fleets disappeared into the distance, the sounds of battle fading into the background, "I hope they're okay," he added to Badger.

"They will be," the bodyguard replied confidently, "Now is the Commonwealth's time to shine again. But first, we have to deal with Julius!"

.​

Ying, Nau Ajivha, Republic of Greater Ajivha

Tensions had been rising in the port of Nau for months as food supplies became scarcer and scarcer, this was immediately apparent to Ying and his fellow monks as they entered the city. As Collective inquisitors roamed Ajivha, much to the distain of it's inhabitants, there were rumours of resistance. When the inquistors left, only to return almost immediately as invaders of Grand Ajivha, the common people had had enough. Crowds gathered in the streets as statues of Octavius and Wen were pulled down and smashed with hammers, Republican guards reduced to onlookers as they were unable to stop the mayhem.

"The counter-revolution has begun, and it will not be quashed easily," Ying commented to his disciples, this was simply a statement of fact, the Lyserian monks had strived to stay neutral in the great schism, despite their nominal allegiance to Lysei and his Emperor. They had nevertheless shipped Katalia back to the Republican authorities on the Isle of Maia where the majority of her alleged crimes had been committed decades ago, they trusted in the court system to try her fairly. They recognised that even the servants of their god were not above fault, and were glad they had sent her off, as a new task had appeared on the horizon. "The people of Grand Ajivha need protecting, their former brethren have turned on them and want to evict them from their land for sharing Ajivha will their fellow mortalkind," Ying added, "The Order of Lyseria will not stand by while ethnic cleansing is attempted, even if the gods will!"

Spoiler: Notes

(Minor) - Activate Fortress Aurora perk in regards to Grand Ajivha, all relevant bonuses applied. Gas masks equipped. Lyserian monks and the two Grat elite units are deployed in defence, along with nearby driders, golems and any Zalya under the control of Indraj-Alika.

 

[Viirin]

Khalorean, Lord of the Swarm

Khalorean was fully preoccupied with the maintenance of his temple and peoples. But there was much, much more work to do in order to get it to the capacity and functionality he had been desiring since the moment he came up with it.

It was finally time to continue. To do the next step; the step he didn't think was necessary before the previous; he had specifically stated to his blessed driders that they should not allow mating to be abused; but apparently it was anyway. He had not wanted any mortal to know what was planned; but somehow humans mated with animals and bore deceased, mutated children within the time of a few short weeks anyway.

The god had planned that none of this should ever have happened, or have been possible. Fail or succeed, there shouldn't have been a difference. Khalorean was the Beholder of the Deep Oath, but there was clearly even deeper magic at work, far above the comprehension even of a god.

He had planned to try until he succeeded, and in the meantime, have a new race specifically designed as peacekeepers, priests, and nuns, to show off the success once that was what it was. But that didn't work in the slightest. But he could at least create the race. They would go on a pilgrimage just as the driders had done; and just as the driders had brought non-sentient children of Khalorean, so too would the next race.

They would be human... to a point. Their true form would be that of a four to six foot long butterfly of a rainbow hue. The butterflies should be able to assume their human form at will; or at least with a small amount of concentration. This might frighten people to see it directly, so a cloud of butterfly dust would enshroud them regardless of which form they were switching to.

But as humans, they would belie their true colors. Their skin would be white; but with a hue from the rainbow- but slight. Their hair and eyes would be far more obviously colored. However; any time one of these Rainbow Butterflies would switch to insect form and back, the colors adopted by their skin, hair, and eyes would be randomly re-selected. This was to help to teach those who got to know them not to judge based on shallow appearances.

The non-sentient allied swarm the Butterflies would bring with them would be something more familiar. Ants. Simple ants. Simply the size of an elephant. These creatures were powerful even miniscule; scaled up they would be much more so. Black ants would be the origin to modify- only one hive, though. Ants of normal size were just as useful to the world as would be gigantic, passive, workers who naturally recognized a hierarchy.

Spoiler: Actions

[http://s492.photobucket.com/user/Viirinking/media/rainbow.jpg.html]

[http://s492.photobucket.com/user/Viirinking/media/maxresdefault_2.jpg.html]

Create Rainbow Butterflies
Difficulty: 11 Cost: 4AP (15 AP - 4 = 11 AP)
-Creating or altering a sentient species roughly comparable to a human.

[http://s492.photobucket.com/user/Viirinking/media/themthree.jpg.html]

Create THEM Ants
Difficulty: 9 Cost: 3AP (11 AP - 3 - 8 AP)
-Creating or altering a non-sentient species smaller than an elephant.

I forgot where Jojo said he wanted them placed; so if my roll succeeds, then he knows where they go. But they go together.
Hopefully if my roll fails, then instead of a full ant colony, it's only like 5 ants instead of total fail, and instead of a tribe of 100, its like 12 individuals instead of a total fail, with a single individual leader (Female. Name: Holly)
But I understand if it doesn't go that way.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

Aeross, Rostrum

Progress had been swift ever since the new army came. Rebels were caught left and right but not without casualties. Violent raids often spelled doom for residents in the surrounding area as the new soldiers had no discretion. They were efficient but their efficiency cost the lives of the local Krakari. The armored cars dispersed riots and gatherings easily as most Krakari had never seen such armored machines before. The people began to know a certain fear that Aeross hoped that no one would have to know.

What worried him more was the war raging in Aurora. He had read reports and listened to rumors that more of these mercenary soldiers would help with the conflict. He pitied the Aurorans that would feel the weight underneath their talons. The Krakari Republic might not be as technologically powerful as the Collective but its people knew war quite well. Aeross could now understand why the government wanted to sell off mercenary muscle en masse as it allowed them large influxes of wealth they could make in a few seasons. Aeross even heard rumors of a deal between Valerys and a God but nothing was certain down here. Word had certainly spread that Gangari had contacted Valerys and helped the Capitol which hit the rebels hard. With less people to sympathize with them, Aeross could tell that the Crimson Wings were crumbling.

Then Aeross received a message that they had caught one of the leader of the Crimson Wings, the one responsible for bombing the town halls months ago. He rushed to the jails to see the frenzied Krakari being dragged from a carriage. Despite his capture, the Krakari was livid and thrashing about like a wild animal. A crowd had gathered and the rebel noticed easily.

"Can't you see?!" He yelled out. "Can you not see the oppression? Our countrymen kill us for money and nothing else! Paper bills for lives!" The Krakari said before one of the guards finally knocked him out with a blow from their rifle. Aeross flinched at the display of violence and saw the Krakari's point. They were winning the war against the Crimson Wings but at what cost? The citizens around him were gripped in fear. The fire in their eyes had died out and had been replaced with the cold fear he saw in a caged animal's eyes. Had they really won?

Spoiler: Actions, part 2

(Major)Research census program-Surveys and searches to find individuals with magical abilities
(Major)Research advanced construction methods

(Minor)Encourage worship of Gangari

 

[JoJo]

Spring turned to summer and much was renewed as was customary at the beginning of each season, the violence that engulfed the world notwithstanding.

Nations

Aurora

Commonwealth of Aurora:

A new elite unit, the Adorabeetle scouting squad, was created by the Confederation of the North, enboldened by the success of Oilean Uisce in deflecting Octavian invasion. At the same time, a secret action was completed on time.


People's Republic of Aurora:

Unaware of the drama unfolding to their north, Republican settlers colonised the lands south of Sungarde, spreading across the fertile plains of the south. Meanwhile to the north, Nau Ajivha joined it's elder brother in becoming a citadel of Aurora.


Collective

The Collective flew their ships over Grand Ajivha, descending like shadows upon it's inhabitants with a cloud of gas. Little did they realise that the technology of gas masks was well-known among the Aurorans and so when they landed rather than an unconscious populace they found many defiant Ajivhans, along with the elite monks and Grat who had been hastily brought to the city. The following battle was intense, and the Second Legion found themselves trapped behind the old Vazin's palace, in the heat of the moment they thought it might be over. Just as it seemed that all had been lost however, the First Legion rallied and managed to surround the remaining exits to the city. With neither side eager to push forward, the siege of Grand Ajivha therefore begun and the next month would determine who would control the most ancient city of the known world.

Back in their homeland, the Collective successfully trained a new elite unit, the Shapers, however their training of the Inquisitorial Guard did not go so well and ended up with not enough recruits to form a proper combat division.



Krakari Republic

The Krakari sold their Talis and Rostrum armies to the Commonwealth of Aurora and the Collective respectively, only time would tell what they would use these mercenaries for. Elsewhere, they successfully researched vehicle tracks and a census to find individuals with magical abilities, their research to find advanced construction methods however failed to find any of the right materials.




Gods

Gangari


Gangari attempted to teach scholars of the Krakari Republic how to produce an Aetheric shield, unfortunately their mortal minds were distracted by other affairs and no shield was designed in the end.


Kharolean

Kharolean experienced similar difficulties to his divine brethren, his giant ant colony hatched out in eastern Padonia as expected but his rainbow butterflies did not develop as expected and died before they could be birthed.

 

[JoJo]

Badger, Doragas Manor, Duchy of Albur

A week after the battle of Oilean Uisce, Badger, Daigoro, Lar-Kai and Sam arrived at Doragas Manor in northern Albur, the small duchy squeezed between the Kingdom of Ray-Das to the north and the Kingdom of Mereton to the south. The mansion was named after the famous Tianese port city, having been built in the same style as the Novaren buildings there. They were greeted at the gate by Lord Aldren, looking more wrinkled than ever.

"Come on in," he beamed as he greeted the four travellers, flicking the red orb up and down in his gnarled hand with a wink to the young Emperor, "Let's just say I've been expecting you,"

He lead the group into his home, giving them time to rest and eat after their long journey. That evening after Sam and Lar-Kai returned to the ship to carry out repairs, the Lord Deputy approached Badger and Daigoro as they sat together in his drawing room.

"Come," Aldren gestured to the pair to follow him, they walked out of the manor and down the path to the end of his garden, where beyond the hedgerows lay a clearing with a number of crumbling stone buildings in a circle. The trio walked up the largest one in the centre, which had an entrance leading down below the ground. The Lord Deputy lit a torch and they followed him gingerly down the steps until they reached a passage way with pictograms and writing stretching off a short distance.

"Old Auroran," Badger breathed, though he had no idea how to read it.

"Not quite," Aldren replied with a shake of his head, "As far as we can tell, this writing is a precursor to the old Auroran script, there are many similarities but parts we are having trouble translating. Parts which don't seem to make sense, unless we're reading it wrong,"

"What can we do?" Badger asked slowly, glancing down at Daigoro. He had an inkling what the Lord Deputy was going to suggest.

"The young Emperor here can tell fact from fiction, thanks to the god Jashiki," Aldren said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, "I believe he is at-least somewhat educated in the old tongue, is that right?" Daigoro nodded his head eagerly. "All we have to do then is let him read it, and he'll know what the right translation is... and whether it's the truth or not,"

"What is it about?" the Emperor asked curiously.

"The history of our people, before Aurora was founded," the Lord Deputy said simply. Daigoro put his hand against the wall and began reading slowly, stumbling occasionally over the odd long word.

"In the beginning, a nameless god created men," Daigoro started, "That was in a... different world, far away from here. Then the god died, or went away, I'm not sure. Men lived there for countless ages before they rode on the backs of... flying whales... through holes in the sky into this world,"

"So it does say whales?" Aldren breathed quietly, "I thought they might mean ships,"

"No, definitely whales," the Emperor nodded affirmatively, "It says it happened several times, with the Novaren people being the last to arrive. The old natives were here first, then the newer ones, then the Ajivhans and finally us. All from the same world. It says the settlement here was founded by the Novarens, about a hundred years before this was carved," he kept reading, scanning quickly line after line.

"What about Matthias, and the Father?" Badger asked hesitantly, "Does it say anything of his nature?"

"It doesn't say anything specifically..." Daigoro chewed his lip, "But I can already tell. Matthias wasn't a god, he was just a great man. Lysei had nothing to do with him either,"

"I can't..." Badger was speechless with shock, Aldren put his hands to his head.

"I was afraid of this," he said quietly, "Does it say anything of the Father at-all in this text?"

"It does," Daigoro nodded slowly as he walked along to read more, "The Father we think of as Matthias was based off a real god, one from the old world I think, who cared for them after the nameless one died. It doesn't say much about him though... just his name..."

"What is his name then?" Aldren asked anxiously.

"Roe," the young Emperor said simply, "That's it, that's all it says,"

"One word, Roe, that's all?" Badger shook his head with an incredulous sigh, "I always knew the world wasn't worth trying to make sense of,"

.​

Supreme Leader Wen Sung, Nova Verde, Isle of Maia

Wen shuffled quietly into the court just as the case was being opened, he hoped his presence would not cause too much of the stir. After waiting more than fifty years for this day, he wouldn't miss it for anything, despite the war in Ajivha which plagued his mind night and day.

"State the name of the defendant," the judge reeled off automatically, his head buried in a pile of papers.

"Katalia, also known as the Weaver or Hand of Lysei," the prosecutor replied nervously, the end of a quill in his mouth.

"What are the alleged crimes of the defendant?"

"Two hundred and five counts of murder, one of illegal torture and one of regicide..."

The prosecution began to reel off countless names of victims, tripping over some of the less pronounceable names. Once this was done, he glanced nervously at where Wen sat.

"For the first witness I call upon Supreme Leader Wen Sung to the box," there was a gasp across the chamber as Wen stepped forward slowly and ascended the witness box, most of the court only noticing his presence for the first time. "Can you confirm the identity of the defendant?"

"Yes, it is her, Katalia," Wen said quietly, pressing his glasses against his forehead.

"Can you describe the first time you met the defendant?"

"There had been an assassination in the palace, the prophet Vallous had been found slain in his bedchamber. Without gaining permission from any Auroran legitimate authority, Katalia took it upon herself to interrogate a serving girl named Bryony who may have committed the crime. The girl vanished after the interrogation, never to be seen again," Wen paused to let the information sink in, "Then, she had me brought to the dungeon based on accusations made by Bryony. I was tortured with magical ropes of fire, had several of my fingers cut-off and was almost burned to ashes, before she left me to die. I only survived due to the timely intervention of the good god Gangari,"

"And you met her again later?"

"Yes, well saw her several months after that," Wen corrected him, "I was assisting Emperor Kaius III as part of the Octopi resistance group, at a base in the southern forests of this island. Katalia disguised herself, gained access to the base and then upon finding the Emperor burned him to dust. I and several companions saw her flee into the forest and she was struck by arrows, some sort of divine intervention saved her from capture however. From then on I did not see her again until the present day,"

"Thank you, Supreme Leader," the prosecutor nodded and then Wen returned to his seat as the next witness was called up. All were elderly by now, since the crimes had been committed more than half a century before, but the pain in their lives was clear as they described watching their families murdered before their eyes, often for a crime only the head of the household had committed. Eventually the witnesses had all spoken and it was Katalia's turn to defend herself. Until that point she had remained utterly silent, only glaring at each person in the court room in turn. "Do you have anything to say in your defence?" the prosecutor asked Katalia.

"I do not deny these acts," she spat, "I was only following the orders of Lysei!"

"You say that now, but have you always?" the prosecutor asked slyly, looking to Wen, "I believe it had been noted that you made statements to contrary when torturing Comrade Sung many years ago,"

"That is correct," Wen said tiredly, looking at Katalia, "I implored you to release yourself from Lysei on the day you tortured me, and you said you did everything he asked of you of your own free will," she bristled but did not say anything in reply. Presently the jury left the room and then returned with their verdict some time later. The judge was privately notified by a letter, nodding gravely as he opened it.

"Katalia, you have been found guilty of the counts of murder, torture and regicide placed before the court under Auroran law. I hereby sentence you to death by firing squad, to be carried out tomorrow morning at dawn. The court is dismissed."

.​

King Indraj-Andha, Nau Ajivha, Kingdom of Greater Ajivha

The port city of Nau Ajivha was in celebration the day Indraj-Andha arrived with his fleet of Krakari privateers, Commonwealth flags were waved from the newly reinforced walls and native and settler alike came out to welcome their King. Caught between a hostile invasion from the south and a Republic that no-longer cared for them, the monarch of Ajivha had never been more anticipated. Once he had greeted the crowds, Indraj-Andha retreated to the council building of the city where he met with his advisers and others to plan their next steps.

"Come forward," he called as a group of monks walked in, bowing before him reverently, "You are from the Order of Lyseria?"

"Your Majesty, that is correct," their leader spoke, "My name is Ying, head of the Order. I trust you received my letter?"

"I did," Indraj-Andha nodded, "I am intrigued by your proposal for a separate state of the Commonwealth on Lyseria, though the isle has always been close to these lands it has it's own culture and having been there recently myself whilst in hiding from the Octavians, I can attest that it's people would be happier outside the Ajivhan kingdom. I would be willing to let Lyseria secede, in return for your continued support,"

"That you will have," Ying bowed again, "Many of my monks are in Grand Ajivha as we speak, defending the civilian population."

"Perfect," the King smiled, "Stay for this afternoon, a meeting of leaders has been scheduled for later and I can explain our plans then,"

Spoiler: Notes

Territory of the People's Republic of Greater Ajivha loyal to Indraj-Andha declares itself to be the Kingdom of Greater Ajivha, a restoration of it's previous status and part of the Commonwealth of Aurora. At the same time, the island of Lyseria secedes from Greater Ajivha to become a separate state within the Commonwealth: the Monastic State of Lyseria.

 

[Viirin]

Khalorean, 7 AP

Khalorean could feel his ability to perform miracles and divine will lessening; this generally meant that the season of the world was quieting down, and a new season would come to be. Winter gives birth to spring, as it was. He figured most gods were aware of this and planned accordingly; not spending holy capacity pointlessly.
But Khalorean had failed twice in his works, and it displeased him.

So now was the time to try again. The giant spider judiciary workers and the butterfly priests would have to be attempted a second time. So he did so.
Instead of creating the Rainbow Butterflies from nothing, he instead decided to summon forth a swarm of butterflies of his own ability, and merge them into humanoid form. They had to be made along with THEM, which were already effortlessly made. But the Butterflies weren't, and that was part of his Plan. So he went to work in attempting their creation again.

The mortal issues surrounding the original creation of the Galans was past now, but the god did require them. Lysei had abandoned the project the moment he said he would assist; but that didn't matter now. They could be attempted again, but this time only with Khalorean's own power.

Spoiler: Actions

Trying to make the sentient species I failed to do earlier.

Create Rainbow Butterflies
Difficulty: 11 Cost: 4AP (11 AP - 4 = 7 AP)
-Creating or altering a sentient species roughly comparable to a human.

Create Galans
Difficulty: 11
-Creating or altering a sentient species roughly comparable to a human.

 

[JoJo]

King Indraj-Andha, the Battle of Grand Ajivha

King Indraj-Andha and his Krakari privateers rode day and night once they left Nau Ajivha on the road to Grand Ajivha, only stopping to rest as necessary. Dawn was breaking as the ancient city came into view, even at distance the sound of occasional gunfire came through the air as the citizens of the city held off the invading forces besieging them. Indraj cupped his eyes as he studied the great walls carefully, weighing up the greatest challenge of his life ahead of him. He knew his father would be somewhere in those walls, despite their differences he only hoped the old man was safe.

He thought back to the plan that had been arranged in tense negotiations earlier that week in Nau Ajivha. He had taken a long time to come around to work with the People's Republic, he could hardly stomach accepting those who had been at-least partly responsible for the death of Emperor Maximus but he recognised that some coordination was vital whilst territory both sides claimed was under attack by a foreign power. Still, their respective armies would be operating in entirely separate theatres. The Padonians and Sarandans would launch invasions from their borders with the Collective, whilst with the help of dragons brought in from the Archipelago the Ajivhan army would attempt to stage a daring landing on Gokhavar. He himself would be leading the Krakari privateers in the defence of Grand Ajivha with the help of the Order of Lyseria and a small troop of HouseCarls sent by King Cyneheard of Mereton as a sign of goodwill. He only hoped enough of their many pronged assaults would get through to make the Collective see sense and halt their attacks on Ajivha before full scale war became inevitable.

~​

Meanwhile down in Saranda, Meneloath looked satisfied over Eagleview as the Octavian troops were scattered or surrendered en masse, many of their companions already returned north to deal with the unfolding chaos in Ajivha. The army he had raised in secret with the help of Indraj-Andha over the last month had come together exactly as planned, they barely needed to do more than be at the right place at the right time to take control of the small state back. Now though they faced a tougher challenge altogether.

"Comrades, Saranda is free once again!" Meneloath shouted to his soldiers, "Though the Republican threat is in retreat though, another has risen to take Grand Ajivha from it's people. We will not abandon our closest ally, Indraj-Andha, now will we?"

"No, we won't!" the chant came. Some of their enthusiasm was loyalty to the benefactor who had largely funded their underground campaign against the Octavians, some practicality that they were depending on the Ajivhan King for the continued payment of their wages.

"Then go, and fight with honour for the great drider people!" their leader cried as the driders poured as a throbbing mass towards the Saranda-Collective border, hungry to see some real action for themselves... and any food they could find along the way.

~​

Supreme Leader Wen Sung, Nova Verde, Isle of Maia

Wen took a deep breath as he entered the meeting chamber of the Imperial Palace to see Faustus Caeso, a cadre of Sungian guards at his back. Indraj-Alika was preoccupied with the fast-moving events of Ajivha and Rogaan was busy with the Deep Tribes after their defeat in the previous month, that was perfect for Supreme Leader. They could be notified when the traitor was safely behind bars.

"Faustus," Wen exclaimed with a false smile as he walked over to shake the fellow leader's hand, "There's something we have to talk about,"

"No, there's something we have to talk about," Faustus replied with a quick grin, instantly sending a shiver down Wen's spine.

"Arrest him!" the Supreme Leader barked to the guards behind him, but before he could move it was his own wrists being bound by the men he thought had been his most trustworthy.

"You'll be surprised at how little men can be bought for," a booming voice came from behind the curtain, the fabric being pushed aside to reveal a towering figure. Wen's blood ran cold as he recognised the man in front of him, even though much of his skin was broken and filled with maggots which oozed out.

"Octavius?" he gasped in shock, "This is impossible!"

"Merely improbable," Octavius smirked as he walked up to Wen, punching the old man in the gut so he fell to his knees. "I remember you, you were Kaius' manwhore right? How things have changed," Wen glowered at him but didn't say anything, "I suppose I must thank you for finishing off my treacherous nephew Maximus, and I did like how you finished my book," he glanced at Faustus with a chuckle, "I can't forgive trying to arrest my most loyal ally though, the one who saved me from my grave,"

"Faustus, we must stop him!" Wen pleaded desperately, avoiding the insane gaze of Octavius, "Fifty years of death has destroyed any humane bone left in his body, he'll tear apart our Republic!"

"Silence!" Octavius shouted, hitting Wen over the head again so he was thrown sprawling to the ground. "I'll be taking over the Republic from here, take him away," he growled to the guards, who hurriedly dragged the former Supreme Leader out of the room and to the nearest cell, where despite his protestations he was thrown into face first. As he sprawled out on the hard stone floor he reached with shaking hands to his chest, where an odd pain had set in on the left side.

"Oh Father, not now," he muttered as his head began to spin, stars appearing before his eyes. Even in his semi-conscious state, he could still hear Faustus Caeso's spiel travelling up from the courtyard below as he gave a speech in his fine speaking voice.

"I present to you the new Supreme Leader of the People's Republic of Aurora, Comrade Octavius!"

Spoiler: Actions

Commonwealth of Aurora

(Major) - Deploy privateer army lead by Indraj-Andha in the defence of Grand Ajivha, assisted by the Order of Lyseria and Mereton HouseCarls
(Major) - Sarandan army invades eastern Collective territory, assisted by Adorabeetle scouting squad

People's Republic of Aurora

(Major) - Ajivhan army invades Gokhavar on the backs of dragons, assisted by dragon riders
(Major) - Padonian army invades northern Collective territory assisted by sea vampire battalions and steam gun water benders
(Major) - Dinesh, southern Ajivha, is upgraded to citadel

Minor - Both

(Minor) - Pay six gold to the Krakari Republic
(Minor) - Saranda overthrows Republican government and rejoins the Commonwealth
(Minor) - Driders deployed to assist each army

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Grand Ajivha - Jubal Kaya

For the past several weeks now men had been throwing themselves against the army, the number of corpses he had come across walking the streets was... wrong. This wasn't how it was to be, the screaming masses ran at them as if their lives depended on it. He had seen hints of this level of fanaticism amongst Aurorans before but this was new to him. They threw their serfs at them more readily than their professionals.

The gas had helped somewhat but they just kept coming... The homeland had been warped far more than he had thought. As he walked he saw another corpse left in the streets to rot, this one had one of their damned masks on. He pulled the mask off and began emptying another vial of the 'water' into the mans mouth. It'd be awhile before he started walking but Gangari'd fix this mess.

He heard gunfire in the distance and the streak of rockets began to appear in the sky again towards where it was coming from. It was starting again. He motioned to the soldiers watching him to pick up the body and started walking back to the where his ship was anchored.

[hr]

Nau Ajivha - Ying

In the city of Nau Ajivha, slept a monk named Ying. As he slept he began to hear a noise, a sort of clicking. When his mind recognized it and he awoke, he saw a creature sitting near his bed. Human in shape or so he assumed and wearing a stylized silver mask shaped like the face of a bird. It wore black robes and was watching him, it held a burning pipe to a hole in its mask, with smoke faintly drifting from it.

"Jashiki?" the monk murmured sleepily, his eyesight wasn't the best even in the day and in the dead of night, at most he could see the figure wasn't likely from the mortal world.

"No, I am not Jashiki." the creature replied with the voice of man, "I apologize for the lateness of this, but if I had come openly it was doubtful I would be allowed to meet with you." The pipe in the creatures hand extinguished and it seemed to disappear, "My name is unimportant, however I am a knight of Gangari and it has been made my duty to speak to you on behalf of my order."

"Ah, come," Ying said simply as he led the creature to a mat opposite him, where he sat cross legged and invited the creature to do likewise, "And which order do you come from?" he inquired slowly as he started to brew tea in a small pot.

"The Justiciar order of Ajivha," the creature replied as it sat on the mat, clicking noises coming from it as it moved, "Though in honesty most of us have been based in the 'ghost marshes' for the past three decades now."

"I admit, I know very little about your order," the monk nodded as he offered the figure a cup of tea, "So, Justiciar, what is it you have come to ask me tonight?"

"I've come to ask that your order leave Grand Ajivha peacefully during the reclamation." The creature replied as it took the cup, "We're also curious as to why your order is involved in the first place?" The creature raised the cup to where its mouth should be before lowering it again and looking at it.

"Ah, politics," Ying shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the Order of Lyseria does not do politics. We are sworn to protect the innocent however, inside Aurora or otherwise, and the planned ethnic cleansing in Grand Ajivha is exactly what our order was founded after the last Auroran civil war to prevent,"

"Politics?" It replied, "What we're asking isn't political. and the reclamation being carried out by the collective has nothing to do with 'ethnic cleansing.' We ask that your order leaves as we don't desire the deaths of your comrades and neither do the officers managing the reclamation. As for the reclamation, I'm curious as to where this belief that it's an 'ethnic cleansing' is coming from?"

"We have it on good authority that the Collective intends to force all of the citizens who identify as Auroran out of their homes and indeed the city," Ying sighed as he took a sip of his own drink, "That is ethnic cleansing, how ever much fancy language about 'reclamation' you dress it up in. We do not desire death either, but we will not shy away from doing what is right, even at personal risk to ourselves," he paused to look into the distance, "When you get to my age, you realise that a human life is worth so much more than a few replaceable buildings. As Father Lysei once said, all this bloodshed for what... a tiny fraction of a dot in a vast universe, it's so pointless,"

"When you get to my age you realise that this speck of dust is as important as we decide it is, as is a life. Both are sacred, and the blood being shed isn't without purpose." The creature replied, "You refer to 'Father Lysei' and the pointlessness of bloodshed, but he drove your people to drag Jashiki worshipers from their homes and burn them alive, casually put a man who by standards of law was a murderer into power, and armed men who went on to commit genocide without a thought..." The creature paused, "The land is being reclaimed with the purpose of reestablishing the Sammah Ajivha-Tahna. Gangari has promised that those who die within will be granted new life and those who refuse life will be granted paradise. The promise of the Collective is that once the city is under control evictions will only occur in the case of civil resistance for the sake of stability."

"If what you plan is so good, why was it not offered freely to the people of Ajivha, rather than at gunpoint?" Ying shook his head sadly, pointedly ignoring the knight's claims about Lysei, "The world has moved on, if you wish to re-establish Sammah Ajivha-Tahna then feel free to but not on land where innocents who may not want to go along with your plans already live," he stood up, giving a short bow to the figure, "I think it is clear we will not reach an agreement on this, I will bid you good night," With that Ying left the room with his hands clasped in quiet prayer, disappearing out into the night.

[hr]

Nova Verde - Katalia

Katalia gritted her teeth as she was hurled back into the jail cell, magical bonds of water still binding her wrists, after all her service to Aurora this was how she was repaid. She blamed them all, from that snake Wen to the crowds of onlookers in the gallery who cried out for blood, but especially she blamed her former master Lysei. Why had he not appeared to protect her when she had been captured by those monks, or during the trial itself? That was the greatest betrayal of all, and so she fumed silently in her cell as she awaited her final meal.

"It hurts doesn't it," a voice came to Katalia, "to be abandoned silently by those who promise and judge? How long has his silence been?"

"Over twenty five years," Katalia replied bitterly after a pause, looking around the room for where the voice might be coming from, "Last time I heard from him he was forging that damned sword, his shadow still takes the odd deserving mortal to their fate in Avagarde but I haven't heard from the god himself in a generation. With Aurora divided and Maximus dead, yet still no sign, I can't help wonder if he has left this realm altogether,"

"He's become apathetic to the plights of mortals," the voice replied as the form of Gangari appeared sitting against a wall in the cell looking at her, "as the others have over the decades. I haven't felt him pass from the world, it's likely the only thing keeping him from drifting away are those placing their hope and fear in him, it's unlikely to be far from this point he leaves."

"Look, I've never been one for beating around the bush," Katalia nodded, looking Gangari straight in the eye, "My hunch is that you aren't just here for a chat the night before my execution,"

"I've come to make a simple offer to you." Gangari replied, "A larger prison and after an indeterminate period of time, freedom in this world again as long as you reasonably follow my laws. In exchange for this, if I call upon you to act for me, you will do as I ask."

"I'm not keen of another prison, but I have a feeling I won't get much clemency in this place," Katalia sighed, holding out her bound wrists, "Fine, take me, I'd rather not die tomorrow," She wasn't sure about carrying out tasks for Gangari, but she would cross that bridge when she came to it.

Gangari nodded and touched the water wrapping around her wrists causing it to lose its unnatural solidity and drop to the floor. "They'll need to think you're dead or they'll take it as a sign of Lysei still acting in this world. Would you prefer your duplicate hang themselves in this cell or be executed in the morning?"

"Let her be executed as planned," Katalia replied with a shrug, "The less questions raised, the better,"

Gangari stood and the wall behind him shimmered, he said "Follow me," and walked into the now shimmering wall.

Katalia smiled with her eyes glinting as she followed the god into the prison wall, throwing back one final dismissive glance at her cell before she disappeared.

"Fools," she smirked to herself.

Katalia found herself alone on an island off the coast of Arcadia in the Aetherial Sea, though she wouldn't know that. The sea was unnatural and the land in the distance looked like paradise though any attempts by her to reach it ended in failure as some nightmarish thing always stopped her before she reached the shore. After a few days in this place Katalia looked to the sky and finally asked "Why?"

It was a simple question and eventually Gangari answered her "Because you are a sword without a master. A human refined to an edge and left to rust into nothing. You very much remind me of what I once was. The promise of power, the savage glee in doing a god's work, the scars of death left festering to remind you of your failure, and in the end abandoned without a word. Without them around to keep you firmly in your place some day you'll begin to see the blood on your hands and the reality of what you are will reach you. Some day you'll try to find peace in this and you may even succeed."

And then he went silent, leaving Katalia to think about what he had said.

~​

The crowd was silent with anticipation as Katalia was led out of the prison complex to the execution grounds, a squad of three soldiers awaiting armed with hefty steam rifles. They were hoping for a show from the famous murderess but were disappointed when the figure stood stoically even as two water-benders firmly bound her wrists to the wooden firing post in the centre of the grounds. A countdown was held and then three shots rang out, Katalia's body falling limp immediately. The crowd left crestfallen, unaware that far above them something was stirring. Red eyes flashed and a terrible cry rang across the island of a being long slumbering who was finally awaking again, most mistook it as the wind but a few knew better.

"Agggghhhh!"

[hr]

The Aetherial Collective

In the city of Gokvahar three soldiers sat in silence, rockets sitting against the railings of the city walls. Each saw something in the distance, it took a moment to realize what they were. Dragons. The Aurorans were apparently attempting a counter attack. It took all of a minute for their recognition to lead to the city itself releasing swarms into itself and the sky around it. Plates shifted across the city revealing the honeycombing of the city as the black swarms as they were called spilled out. As the dragons approached the swarms flew at them and began to kill and consume the genned beasts leaving the riders to fall with their steeds. Fire did little to stop the unnatural insects as they swarmed the dragons.

In the distant marshes similar scenes were unfolding as dormant swarms were awoken to be unleashed and the refined spore gases were flooded throughout the entirety of the collective. Tireless training and preparedness did wonders for the people as those in the armours devised over the decades met the invading horde with their blessed weapons.

The foreigners caught in the middle of the mess were urged to shelter as things unfolded, tunnels offering them ways out should they desire.

Spoiler: Gangari's Action

- 21/21 AP

- Teach scholars of the Krakari Republic a way to produce an Aetheric shield, capable of stopping fast moving objects. It is reliant upon the well-like Aetheric generators granted to the Krakari previously, which are in turn reliant upon the Aetherial Sea.
- Action is difficulty 11, with a cost of 4 AP. Total domain bonus applied to the roll is +8.

- Begin resurrection of those killed in Grand Ajivha using the life giving waters within Gokvahar as a Catalyst. Move those being resurrected to Gokvahar until Grand Ajivha is taken.
- Action is difficulty 11, with a cost of 4 AP. Total domain bonus applied to the roll is +8.

- Should have 13/21 AP at end of turn.

Spoiler: Aetherial Collective's Action

Major - Continue invading Grand Ajivha using the First Legion.
Major - Continue invading Grand Ajivha using the Second Legion.
Major - Deploy hired Krakari privateers in Grand Ajivha to nullify those hired by the Aurorans.
Minor - Utilize the Wraith Vanguard and Zalya Shock Troop Elite Units in the Invasion.

Minor - Use Ashlif to grant 'Tactical Omniscience' to Collective Forces in Grand Ajivha, Gokvahar, The Eastern Collective territory being invaded, and The Northern Collective territory being invaded.
MInor - Utilize refined spore gas in Grand Ajivha and against Auroran forces in Gokvahar, The Eastern Collective territory being invaded, and The Northern Collective territory being invaded.
Minor - Release black swarms in Grand Ajivha, Gokvahar, The Eastern Collective territory being invaded, and The Northern Collective territory being invaded.

Minor - Deploy Occultist Elite Unit in Gokvahar Defensively.
Minor - Deploy Internal Security Elite Unit defensively in the Northern Collective Territory being invaded.
Minor - Deploy Shapers Elite Unit defensively in the Eastern Collective Territory being invaded.

Major - Train an Elite Unit - 1st Mujahideen Forces.
Major - Train an Elite Unit - 2nd Mujahideen Forces.

 

[JoJo]

Nations

The Battle of Grand Ajivha and elsewhere

Four armies converged in Grand Ajivha on the day of the great battle, two of them Krakari, facing against each other solely for the payment they had been promised. The fighting was fierce and Lyserian monks and Meretonian elites shortly joined the fray on the Auroran side, backed by the civilians inside the city who rose to fight alongside their military countrymen. For hours it seemed as though neither side could gain a foothold, but then finally a daring charge by Indraj-Andha broke the stalemate and the Collective troops were sent scattered as fast as they had arrived, unable to regroup. Eventually under heavy fire, the three armies had no choice but to retreat from the city in their ships, their plans thwarted but at-least most of them still alive. Crowds gathered to cheer in the city square as Indraj-Andha declared the refounding of the Kingdom of Greater Ajivha to be complete, and not a single Octavian was seen that day, or at-least no-one who would admit to having been one.

Elsewhere, the Collective had little more luck. Without armies to protect their lands, their elite units were unable to stop the march of the Padonians and Sarandans into Collective land, with the Internal Security Units and Shapers perishing in their attempt to halt the invaders. The flying city Gokvahar was put under siege by the Ajivhan army with the help of their elite dragon riders, despite the attempts of the Collective's black swarms to drive them away, only the next month would determine the lofty metropolis' fate.

Aurora


Meanwhile whilst armies clashed across half the world, Dinesh, the settlement to the south of Grand Ajivha, was upgraded to become a citadel.



Collective

Even as their comrades fought and died on the battlefield, two new elite units were built by the Collective: the first and second Mujahideen Forces.


Gods

Gangari

Gangari successfully taught scholars of the Krakari Republic to create an Aetheric shield, capable of halting fast moving objects fired at them. At the same time he began the resurrection of those killed in Grand Ajivha using the life giving waters within Gokvahar as a catalyst, with those brought back moved to Gokvahar for the time being.

Kharolean

Kharolean's powers ran true this time and the two sentient insect species he had attempted to form previously, the Rainbow Butterflies and the Galans, were created in full.

 

[JoJo]

Master Wen Sung, Nova Verde, Isle of Maia

Wen lay dazed on his back in the cold stone cell, holding his throbbing chest as he heard the patter of small feet coming up besides him. He blinked to see Opal appear in front of him, tears welling up in her bright blue eyes.

"What have they done to you Father?" she cried quietly.

"Octavius... he did this," Wen gasped, "You heard?"

"They've made him leader," the young vampire sniffed, wiping her eyes, "That's bad, isn't it? We have to leave here now," she glanced around behind her, where several prison guards lay still, blood oozing from still fresh wounds.

"Yes," Wen replied after a pause, tapping his left breast weakly, "I think my heart is giving out child, I can't walk any more,"

"I'm not leaving you here," Opal replied defiantly, taking the old man's thin frame in her hands and lifting him carefully onto her tiny shoulders with her vampiric strength, "You know where we have to go?"

"To find... the little Emperor," Wen breathed, "We must get to him before Octavius does!"

.​

Supreme Leader Octavius, Nova Verde, Isle of Maia

Back in the capital of Aurora, Octavius sat on the golden throne of the Emperor, chuckling to himself as various Octavians came in turn to pay their respects to him, each trying and failing to one degree or another to hide their disgust of his rotted visage. The new Supreme Leader was anxiously awaiting one attendee in particular though, and brought his mind back into focus when Tariq Devan was brought into the chamber, the Corvan spy glancing around nervously.

"My... great comrade," he started, unsure how to address the new leader.

"Let's cut to it," Octavius sighed, "I have been informed that you were in charge of finding Maximus' grandson Daigoro for Wen Sung, is that correct?"

"Yes," Tariq nodded quickly, "He is most often known as the Raindrop Emperor,"

"And why haven't you found him yet?" the Supreme Leader spat, leaning forward threateningly.

"Well, Aurora is a big place," the spy stuttered, "We know he entered Mereton recently, beyond that it isn't clear. Our best guess is that he's gone to challenge the other claimant to the Imperial throne, Julius,"

"Very well," Octavius snarled, taking a grape and stuffing it into his mouth, "You have until the end of this season to find the boy, or it will be your head instead. I want him alive and unharmed, is that clear?"

"Yes, yes, your Majesty..." Tariq bowed hurriedly, before realising his mistake, "Sorry, I mean comrade!" he stammered as he fled from the chamber, the laughter of the demented leader following him.

.​

Emperor Aurelius Daigoro, Stowhurst, Kingdom of Mereton

Some time later, the young Emperor himself and his entourage arrived in the city of Stowhurst, all carefully cloaked to avoid attention. Daigoro was being carried on Badger's shoulder, behind them walked Lar-Kai, Aldren and Sam. They had to be particularly cautious in the southern land since their darker skin marked them out as foreigners to the Kingdom and attracted consistent attention, if usually harmless.

"There," Daigoro pointed with a short finger up at the castle in front of them, "That's where Julius is staying, with the King,"

"How do we get in there though?" Badger growled, privately imaging what he'd like to do with the treacherous prince when they caught up with him.

"This, I can work out," Lar-Kai added with a wink, "I'll give you a clue, it involves two ropes and a bucket,"

.​

King Indraj-Andha, Grand Ajivha, Kingdom of Greater Ajivha

Indraj-Alika glanced up in surprise as his son entered his room, putting down the book he was reading. Some might call it a cell but that would be insulting to anyone who had ever been kept in one, it was perfectly furnished as one would expect for a royal visitor, the only difference was that since the fall of the city Indraj-Alika had been confined to it. Indraj-Andha sat down opposite his father, staring him straight in the eye.

"The People's Republic is gone in Ajivha, I suppose?" Indraj-Alika asked after a pause.

"Yes, the last remnants collapsed after the Collective were driven away," his son replied, "Rightly or wrongly, they blamed the Collective invasion on the weakness that the Republic had brought. That and the growing food crisis, we are still getting to grips with that,"

"We always did have problems with food production," Alika muttered, "I'm sorry, if I knew last year what I did now, I have burned that wretched book when I was given it. You are King now though, and I trust you to rule the Kingdom well," he smiled sadly.

"There is more," Andha replied, "Why not work with me? You are still Gangari's demiurge and you still command the Zalya of this land. There is no strict rules over the succession of the Vazin title, you may have that whilst I remain monarch. If you wish, that is,"

"Yes son," the ex-king smiled again, "I would like that,"

"Good," Indraj-Andha sighed in relief, passing over a half-written letter for his father to read, "Hostilities have yet to come to an end with the Collective, us and the Republic occupy a portion of their land each and our own Ajivhan army surrounds their Gokvahar as we speak. Many are calling for harsh retribution, some even for the total destruction of the Collective nation, but I don't think that is necessary. Here is the offer I would like to send."

Dear Rederick of the Aetherial Collective,

On behalf of the Kingdom of Greater Ajivha and Aurora at large, we hereby offer to end this senseless violence by withdrawing from Gokvahar, restoring the recently conquered territories to your control and also returning any Collective captives, in exchange for a treaty recognising each other's borders as prior to this year's war in perpetuity. This treaty would have to be signed before the end of month and sealed under the eyes of our shared god Gangari, under pain of smiting should either side break the treaty in future, before withdrawal could take place.

Yours in the name of the gods,

King Indraj-Andha and Vazin Indraj-Alika of Greater Ajivha

"I will sign this," Indraj-Alika nodded tiredly as he finished reading the letter, "Perhaps peace can be achieved before it is too late,"

Spoiler: Notes

(Minor) - Last pockets of the Republic of Greater Ajivha are absorbed into the Kingdom
(Minor) - Kingdom of Greater Ajivha sends a letter to the Collective

 

[Viirin]

Khalorean, Mereton

Khalorean felt a boost of power as he succeeded with his previous failures, and since things were going so well, he might as well keep going. Maybe his other failure could be corrected, and made to succeed, too.

He first coalesced his form effortlessly (it was always effortless, but still) from his Temple's materials and natural insectoid inhabitants, so he might speak with the driders and now humans occupying the temple as a place not only of worship, but as generous caregivers and... inkeepers to those in need of respite.

Whatever else was going on around Mereton was not Khalorean's direct concern- he was busy. Appearing during the final stage of the day's religious lesson, Khalorean took the speakers and primary housekeepers aside. He had seen them fail him earlier. He had no interest in that happening again.
The visitors arriving from long travels or simple temporary escape from their own home for whatever reason should not be using the private rooms below the temple for carnal purposes. They were to be looked in on, not only so this didn't happen, but also so any possible dangers to the visitors could be thwarted, if there were such things.

This was a place of peace and rest, and such places often get damaged by those who have fought too often. Khalorean would attempt his Temple's breeding blessing again. But no one should be mating at all on the property, anyway. Not yet, at least.

Khalorean, Giant Ant Hill

Khalorean had dispersed his avatar in Mereton a few days prior, and had now chosen to coalesce himself within speaking distance of his Rainbow Butterflies. They already understood how to raise giant ants instinctively; that was part of their design.
Peaceful as often as they could be, and passive naturally, but fearsome warriors when required.
Khalorean appeared to the named and chosen leader of the Butterfly swarm- which currently maintained the form of a blonde woman with slightly pink-hued skin with purple eyes.

"Holly", Khalorean began to speak to her. "I have created you and your people with a specific goal in mind. I have created a Temple, though none truly understand its purpose or how it might be used. Would you travel there, and preach my Will?"

"But of course, Divine One", she responded. "I understand in my mind that which you wish, and want to do it! We can help so many people."

Khalorean needed to say no more. Holly took on the form of a giant butterfly with wing-patterns of every color of the rainbow, and communicated with a few others. She picked up a larval giant ant queen, and the five others picked up various simple supplies. It was a far distance, but they could fly at a decent speed so it wouldn't be too many days until they arrived, even accounting for their rest periods.

They headed towards Mereton, where other insectoid races had already been heading, if they hadn't already arrived.

Khalorean, Galan Web Nexus

The creation of the Galans finally a success, and now their first task was ready. Khalorean appeared before a dozen or so of them after they had had a long conversation (which was incredibly common amongst them) in regards to objective justice that didn't obstruct personal freedom.

Their home was hidden under the surface of a blackened and rocky landscape; though by their own travel standards (when they did travel, which was rare) they were near both a mountain and a swamp. Unlike other spiders, their webbing was interwoven and made snug (though for a human it would be quite wide) living compartments.
Not a species that highly valued personal effects, but modes of thought- and reasons and meanings behind personal belongings. Most of their spiderholes were quite clean and natural-looking.

Taking on the form of a spider even a Galan would be surprised to see, the god spoke. "The world is going through a time of much chaos", Khalorean began to say. "I know without question that you can feel it. I have already begun to change this truth, but so much more must be done that I require mortals to fulfill certain steps for me. Will you continue your cognitive art and help to stem the tide?"

This caused discussion. Everyone present was in agreement of course, but that didn't mean they didn't have to discuss it at length. In a short and to-the-point response, they agreed.

Unlike the other insects, the Galans would work individually from various cities, but regularly meet at a central (or centralized) place for discussion of legal proceedings and the understanding that comes with prolonged and direct observation of one's instilled rulings.

Whatever mistakes were made, would not be made repeatedly, or at least it would get better. The lava-filled spiders were not perfect beings, after all. They were still mortal. Mortals who wearing armor or other similar things was the same kind of idea as it was intelligent to put a fresh piece of bread, forgotten, in an active oven. But they did have their own personal flaws.

Four headed towards the Temple at Mereton. The others headed to other cities, both large and small, in seemingly random directions. Just as with the Butterflies, a vast majority remained at their primary place where they were created; just as the Driders had done.

Spoiler: Actions

I miscalculated somewhere. Probably by a lot. Anyway, since Jojo said I have 21-8 (13) AP left...
Looks like I might also need an update on what my + is at.

Difficulty: 15 Cost: 6AP (13-6 = 7)
-Create a new rule, or disable one of the existing rules of the universe in a small area (eg gravity, existence of magic etc)
Same as before; details already given earlier.

Thought I should show off an image of the Galan city:

[http://s492.photobucket.com/user/Viirinking/media/070912145919-large.jpg.html]

So imagine that, but these live there:

[http://s492.photobucket.com/user/Viirinking/media/phantom1-3.jpg.html]

 

[JoJo]

Gangari et al, Nova Verde, Isle of Maia

Opal hefted Wen onto her shoulders, in years past he had done the reverse, now he felt as light as a birch tree to the young vampire. She crept forwards, glancing out of the open cell door over several corpses to check if any more guards would be arriving on the scene, none were visible. As Opal exited the cell a tall man appeared standing to the right of it, recognizable to Wen and those of faith as Gangari he gestured for her to follow him. Opal froze in horror as the seemingly giant figure materialised next to her, she was about to flee when her father whispered in her ear.

"It's... Gangari," The little girl nodded in silent realisation and started to follow the deity, still checking over her shoulder in-case any guards picked the most unfortunate time to walk around the corner.

"The guards are already dealt with," he said. He walked through the corridors for awhile, leading the child and her father until they reached a brick wall with a red mark on it. He touched the mark and the wall warped and split open wide enough for them to pass through into what appeared to be the outside. As he stepped outside he asked "Where were you planning to bring him?"

"Father said he wanted to find the Raindrop Emperor," Opal shrugged her shoulders as she took in her new surroundings, shifting Wen into a more comfortable position, "I don't know where we would find him though and I don't think Father knows either,"

"He's in Mereton," Gangari replied as the wall began to repair itself behind them, "I've been watching over him. I can take you to him now if you desire."

"Yes... please," Wen gasped, "There's something... I would like to say... to him,"

Gangari nodded and they found themselves in the back room of a grungy Mereton inn, a small boy wearing a long woollen cloak sitting opposite the group studying a small black stone on the table in front of him with an expression of intense concentration. His mouth fell open when he glanced up at the interlopers who had suddenly materialised out of thin air. Gangari put his finger to his mouth and made a shh noise at the boy's reaction. He smiled softly and walked towards the boy.

"Hello, Aurelius. You haven't met me before but my name is Gangari and I've been watching you for some time. I was hoping for our meeting to be under better circumstances however the world is against that. My friend is ill and it is important that he speak to you tonight. Do you have any questions?" A few chairs materialised around the table as he sat down and gestured to Opal to approach.

"I've heard about you," the small Emperor admitted to Gangari, "You can call me Daigoro if you want though," he looked to the other two companions, "Master Sung?" he breathed.

"Daigoro," Wen smiled weakly as Opal helped him sit opposite the Emperor, "I'm sorry..." he said simply, "for everything," Daigoro bit his lip, looking at the ground.

"I miss my grandpa," he said sadly.

"I know," Wen replied with a pained expression, "I miss Maximus too... I never wanted it to turn out this way. Now I see this whole Republican idea was a mistake from the beginning," He dropped to his knees, an arm around Opal to keep him from falling to the floor.
"Will you forgive me?"

"It's hard, it hurts so much," Daigoro replied tearfully, looking to Gangari and then back to the ground.

"Please... I don't have much time left," Wen said clutching his chest, before offering his hand to the boy, "I will try anything to atone for my sins... in that short time,"

Gangari stopped smiling at the discussion, he spoke with kindness in his voice.

"Your grandfather was a good man in his time and it may mean little but he's in a kinder place now. The man in front of you is a good man, misled by the corruptions of the world as he tried to do right as many have been. In time all will be clear again, all will be right, all will be good. He means what he says, please."

The Emperor looked between Gangari and the former leader, before returning his eyes to the god-hiding stone on the table.

"I forgive you," he said to Wen after a pause, squeezing his hand slightly.

"Thank you," the old man whispered with a sigh of contentment, letting Opal lead him to the side of the room where he was laid down to rest. She returned promptly, a serious expression on her face.

"We need to deal with..." But before she could finish her sentence though, the handle on the door turned. Badger strolled in, stopping dead in his tracks when he saw the interlopers.

"Opal?" he exclaimed angrily as he drew his sword and grabbed Daigoro by the scruff of his neck, pulling the Emperor back behind him. "I knew the Republic would be on our heels but I didn't think it would be you," he glanced at the figure of Gangari, uncertain what exactly it was.

"If we were here to harm the young Emperor he would already be dead and we would already be gone," Gangari stated as Badger grabbed the Emperor, "We're here to talk." He recognized the lack of recognition on Badger's face and continued, "Four active deities are recognized by Aurora outside of the Emperor. Of the four which of them appears consistently in mortal guise?"

"Ah," Badger creased his brow as he saw the sense in the figure's words, he lowered his sword apologetically, "You must be... Gangari..." he said slowly, he wasn't even quite sure how he knew that, Jashiki's blessing must have sharpened his mind more than he thought.

"Yes, we aren't here to fight you," Opal rolled her eyes, "As I was saying, we have to deal with Octavius. He's taken over what's left of the People's Republic with the help of Faustus Caeso,"

Gangari smiled and nodded to Badger before turning to Opal "I agree, his corruption as it stands will run unchecked if he isn't dealt with immediately. I had come to ask what you knew of his presence in what I assume is still the Capital, after your father had been released. I have eyes watching Faustus and those around him, but Octavius movements are blurred to me by what I assume to be one of 'those.'" He gestured to the stone on the table.

"What, the High Prince Octavius?" Badger scratched his head in confusion, "Hasn't he been dead for... ages?"

"Somehow, he's back," Opal replied shortly, "Or at-least something using his body, not sure if much of his mind is left," she turned to Gangari, "He was in the Imperial Palace last time I saw, I don't know much else. The Republic had an amulet that could hide a mortal from the gods, so he must be using that,"

Gangari nodded "Do you know of any that would still be loyal to your father in or near the palace?"

"After Faustus, no-one we could be sure of, I think" Opal shook her head, tilting her head towards the spot where Wen lay. He coughed and then spoke in a whisper.

"That is why we came here... Daigoro and Badger," he wheezed, "You must restore just rule to Aurora... by sending Octavius back to where he came from,"

"What about my cousin Julius?" the Emperor piped up, "He still says he is the real Emperor,"

"We'll deal with him first," Opal said reassuringly, "Then, we must return to the capital and finish the civil war, once and for all,"

"There are things I can offer you in this, if you intend on that course." Gangari stated to the four in the room, "There are enough soldiers and supplies within the palace to carry out an assassination on Faustus, Octavius, and any between them tonight. Otherwise, I can offer you forces to supplement your own to assist in taking the city in a conventional assault."

"Would these forces be the Collective?" Badger grunted, "Now, I've only heard rumours and second-hand accounts of what the mess in Ajivha is about, but let me tell you they aren't exactly popular right now out here in the east,"

"I'm aware." Gangari replied, "Would it really matter if it was? Though I was speaking of a company of Krakari that I had purchased the services of for this purpose."

"It would not be wise to involve such... contentious forces, it would risk turning allies against us," Opal agreed, "The Krakari would be fine though, they are still well respected in these lands. Thank you," she nodded to Gangari.

Gangari turned to Badger and then looked to the Emperor, before directing the question to the four of them "Any objections to me carrying out my plan tonight?"

"Do it," Daigoro replied confidently after a pause. Badger nodded.

"Tonight we will meet with Julius and sort out that problem... one way or another. Then we will return to the capital,"

"I will travel north ahead of you, to find allies," Opal said with a small smile, "Perhaps Daigoro I will meet with your father, last I heard he was fighting the Republic in the northern Ray-Das," she put her hand on the centre the table, looking expectantly at the man, boy and god. "Together?" she asked. After a moment Gangari put his hand on the center of the table over Opal's. Badger shrugged and put his giant hand down as well.

"I've gone this far, not going to abandon this little rascal just yet," he winked at the Emperor, who stuck out his tongue playfully in reply.

"Together," Daigoro added as he put his small hand on the pile.

.​

Badger, Stowhurst, Kingdom of Mereton

Following their agreed upon plan under the cover of darkness, Badger crept around the edge of the high castle walls, Daigoro's small hand in his own. Lar-Kai, Sam and Aldren had already started the journey north with Opal to gather allies for their return to Nova Verde, whilst the pair dealt with their business in Stowhurst.

"It's just you and me now, kid," Badger muttered ruefully to his small charge. Once they reached the planned spot, as marked by a foot-high bush, the bodyguard removed a rope from a bag slung over his shoulder and tossed it up so it wrapped around the bar of the nearest window. He bent down so the young Emperor could climb onto his back.

"Hang on tight," he whispered as the boy put his arms around his neck and then they climbed slowly upwards, Badger praying that Lar-Kai was right about the rope being hold both their weights. He would be fine if they fell, but the little Emperor on the other hand... he breathed a large sigh of relief when they made it to the open window, where they fell into the drawing room on the other side. It was relatively bare with stone brick walls, a small carpet and tapestries hanging on the walls, as traditionally Meretonian chambers were. The bodyguard put his fingers to his lips as they tip-toed out of the room and down the corridor to where they had been told the finest guest bedroom lay. If Lar-Kai's information had been right, this would surely be where their target would be. The young Emperor reached out to slowly turn the handle, suddenly leaping on it at the last moment as Badger kicked open the door, his sword at the ready.

"I've been expecting you,"

Spoiler: Actions

Commonwealth of Aurora

(Major) - Secret action
(Major) - Settle opposite Sungarde, underneath the Shifting Sands. The new land is named Kharogarde
(Minor) - Pay Krakari six gold and return their hired army

People's Republic of Aurora

(Major) - Implement air-tight seals
(Major) - Settle south of Sungarde
(Major) - Settle south of Sungarde

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Gokvahar - Temple of Ajivha

Rederick sat quietly dreading as he read the offer from Ajivha. Jubal sat across from him at the table staring at him.

When he had finished he looked to Jubal and asked "Is there any word from the Grat?"

With grinding clicks Jubal replied "No. Silence from them."

"They're leaving us to die then... Recall our diplomats, put a watch on any in our land, and stop trade with them. Dolmak?"

"He's apparently speaking with Juagua but no word beyond that."

"Cawles?"

"There's anger that we had deployed their own men against them, against what Gangari had said they were to be used for. Otherwise from what we've been informed of, she's working with their mages and engineers on a project of some sort. Her guards are being silent about it though."

"Tell the Krakari to move their forces back into their territory and wait for orders. How are those we dragged back?"

"Most of them are waking up still. A few are still dead, but most of them are showing signs of life."

"Assign guards to the chambers and have apothecaries work on them..." After a few moments Rederick's tone wavered slightly and he asked "We don't have a choice do we?"

"We could flood the continent as we had planned," Jubal replied.

"There's no coming back from that. Not in this attempt, not unless it's needed. Has there been any word from the cult?"

"They don't know how they're piercing our armour and they don't know how the dragons got past the swarms, however they've apparently determined how to bypass those masks we've been finding."

"Tell them to keep working... How is the occupied land holding?"

"The Aurorans have apparently found one of the archives but they haven't figured out how to enter it. The incendiaries have been rigged to go off if they manage to breach them. As for the Driders... They're still trying to fight the Driders."

"Ungrateful bastards. Fighting on the side of the Aurorans. The people who tried to kill them off so they can kill us. The people who tried to save them."

"That's the mind of a Lysei cultist. Though their eagerness at it surprises me, Gangari has given them far more kindness than their own creator and we've been trading with them since their nation was founded."

"Ungrateful bastards." Rederick sighed, "We'll be dead or enslaved in less than a year if it continues like this. Signing the treaty gives a few more decades to try again. Their instability will show itself again and by then we won't need the Grat."

Jubal sat gears grinding in his head, replying after a few moments, "We only accepted having to sacrifice our flesh so that we could see our home free again. Asking for a few more decades, and they'll want your head. Accept the offer and they'll have it by the end of the month."

"I know," he replied, "But would it be better if we were to be Aurorans? or I were dead?"

Rederick stood up and left the room, to organize what could be done to stem the tide against his people.

Xule - Palace of Nations

The offer of Ajivha travelled fast and soon reached Collective soil, and thus a meeting between each nation's leaders was arranged in the closest they could find to a neutral party at short notice: the city of Xule, it's disputed status between the Republic and Commonwealth notwithstanding. Just over ten days after the message had departed, Indraj-Andha and Indraj-Alika found themselves sitting opposite Rederick and a pair of automatons on either side of him in the meeting chamber of the Palace of Nations, a knife could cut the tension in the room.

"A drink?" the King offered, gesturing to the late Emperor Maximus' drinks cabinet alongside the far wall, "The finest alcohol and whale oil for a hundred miles in any direction,"

Rederick nodded after a few moments of silence "Wine would be preferable."

Indraj-Andha clicked his fingers and one of the attendants behind him hurried to the cabinet to fetch a red wine bottle, pouring it out nervously for each of the men, before returning to his place. The King reached forward to sample his glass.

"Our offer is quite simple, as you will have read," Indraj-Alika begun, "We will withdraw from Gokvahar and the occupied territories, and return any hostages. In return, all that we ask is for a treaty recognising each other's prewar boundaries in perpetuity, sworn on an oath under our god Gangari, so that he may strike down either nation should they in future break the terms of the treaty,"

Rederick nodded and replied a moment later "I'm amenable to that. However a condition has been mandated by Gangari. The monarchy within Ajivha must be dissolved. It does not matter to him whether or not your son continues to rule, simply that blood is not the determining factor in the future."

"The monarchy is the unifying symbol of modern Ajivha," Indraj-Andha replied, "Binding settlers and natives together. It is not so easily discarded,"

"Though, he has a point," Indraj-Alika noted to his son, "Beyond you, there are no further males of my line. Perhaps the people will accept your daughter Khaira as Queen when the time comes, maybe not,"

"The people in the city have already cast off the monarchy once," Rederick directed at Indraj-Andha, "another revolution will come when the merits of men outweigh that of their ancestry if the system isn't replaced. Your family is unlikely to survive a second if it stands on its blood and nothing more."

"What are you suggesting?" Indraj-Andha asked slowly, looking between the two men.

"An elective monarchy," Indraj-Alika replied simply, "Each new monarch must be confirmed by the assembly of Ajivha, as I was over thirty years ago. Perhaps they would choose the first born of the last king or queen, or perhaps another,"

"It sounds... unprecedented," the King muttered.

"Not If you think about it," his father pointed out, "Our ancestors chose their Vazins in that way, and perhaps will again when my time is over. Even the election of the Auroran Emperors is similar, succession is not automatic but instead can be any living male of the eleven Princely Families."

"He would be amenable to that," Rederick replied to Indraj-Alika before looking at Indraj-Andha. "Power cannot be carried past this life and ensuring your children receive yours is not worth gambling the fates of those who come after them."

"Very well," Indraj-Andha sighed, bringing out a piece of parchment and making a few quick amendments with a quill, "if there is nothing else to discuss, let us sign this treaty and end the war today. I only wish our Emperor was here to witness this, but, eh, no-one knows where he is," he added sheepishly.

"He is lost but he is safe." Rederick stated offhandedly to the others as he read the treaty and the signing began. Upon the treaty he signed his name 'Pious Rhetoric Gangarison.'

"Why do you not sign your real name, Lord Commander Rederick?" Indraj-Alika asked as he studied the document.

"This is my name as it is was given to me and as it is written in documents." He replied, "The other name is used as I find my name to lead to a certain formality beyond papers."

"You can say that again," Indraj-Andha muttered as he signed the paper too, "Well, that's it, peace is declared," he nodded, "Demobilisation will be begin immediately. Perhaps over time our union can be restored, when trust is rebuilt,"

"Perhaps," Rederick nodded. After a moment a few papers appeared in his hand and he set them on the table, "There's something you need to be warned of with the treaty having been signed. There's a possibility a disease was released into the city during the gassing. These papers describe the symptoms and how to handle the afflicted. They should be distributed to your apothecaries. If any begin to show symptoms of it, we advise that you send a messenger to us so that our Apothecaries can deal with this for you."

"We will be aware of that," Indraj-Andha grunted as he stood up to leave, turning to walk out of the room without another word. Indraj-Alika followed him, giving one final glance tinged with disappointment towards Rederick before he left the meeting hall too, the Ajivhan copy of their agreement in hand.

Rederick sat silently drinking the wine he had been given as they left. The Automatons clicked their insides as he sat, stood up and walked away. After a few minutes he followed and walked out of the room with their copy of the treaty in hand.

Spoiler: Gangari's Action

- 13/21 AP

- Find Octavius. It's enough of an action to find a powerful entity so this should be more than enough.
- Action is difficulty 11, with a cost of 4 AP. Total domain bonus applied to the roll is +8.

- Should have 9/21 AP at end of turn.

Spoiler: Aetherial Collective's Action

Major - Implement Delysid based Stimulants. (research tech)
Major - Construct a fourth population unit of Automatons.
Major - Train an Elite Unit - Inquisitorial Guard.
Major - Train an Elite Unit - 3rd Mujahideen Forces.
Major - Train an Elite Unit - 4th Mujahideen Forces.

Minor- Move Gokvahar north towards Krakari Territory.

 

[JoJo]

Nations

The War

Their peace treaty guaranteeing each others borders signed, under the threat of punishment by Gangari should either side break it's clauses any time in the future, the Aurorans and Collective withdrew to their respective territories, returning all captives and redrawing borders as they had been prior to the invasion of Grand Ajivha.

Aurora


Commonwealth of Aurora

Meanwhile in the Commonwealth, a new settlement funded by King Indraj-Andha on the banks of the southern hills opposite Sungarde was successfully funded: the land would come to be known as Kharogarde. An action attempted in secret failed to deliver any useful results, however.


People's Republic of Aurora

Whilst this occurred, the People's Republic implemented a new form of air-tight seal that could hold in a vacuum, for what purpose unknown. They also settled south-west of Sungarde in an attempt to offset some of their great territorial losses to the Commonwealth in Ajivha in the previous months, both colonies were successful but it would not be enough.




Collective

As the Collective began to recover from the war, they implemented Delysid-based Stimulants for research purposes, along with a fourth population unit of Automatons, though they would still need to be assigned souls by Gangari. Two new Mujahideen elite units were assembled but the Inquistorial Guards unit failed to get off the ground due to lack of recruits.


Gods

Gangari

The Tabula Rasa was made immortal and invulnerable, as according to Gangari's wishes.

Kharolean

This time, Kharolean was better prepared and his blessing on the temple in Casterbridge took effect precisely as he had planned.

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Nova Verde

Gangari stood silently waiting as night fell over the city of Nova Verde. One hundred Justiciars prepared to do their duty for him, to storm the palace and execute those he determined to be guilty. Each had been made to memorize the list of the cancers within the Republic, and should any of them be found during the sweep they were to be dragged to the throne room for execution.

Most of his knights wore black cloaks and masks made of silver tonight, something of a uniform to them lately. The designs varied but the majority of them wore either masks resembling the faces of birds or masks that rendered them faceless. The automatons tended to favour the bird masks, having it worked into their forms and fusing the metal to the remaining piece of their humanity, their skulls. Their mechanical bodies tended to resemble birds or more accurately Krakari in this age, with talons on their hands and feet.

The featureless masks on the others made them appear similar to how he had appeared during the fall of Ajivha, a clawed screaming thing that put nightmares in the heads of a barbarous horde. That creature was a symbol to their order, and so he saw most of them had decidedly grown claws from their armours as well for the job.

He looked over the city one last time and started things. He unleashed one long inhuman scream into the city to echo through it and began rupturing the gas canisters he had set throughout the palace during the invasion a year ago. Gas spilled into the palace, or more accurately the rooms he had decided gas needed to be spilled into leaving the guards quickly blacking out and soon unconscious.

Red marks that had begun to appear without explanation upon the walls of the palace weeks earlier, disappeared and the walls in which they sat warped and split open. The few Justiciars that were already inside stormed the rooms they were to secure, as their comrades came through the new entrances to the building.

After a few minutes as those that were outside began to attempt a response. Ten men sat on their knees, riflemen standing and waiting with guns aimed at their heads. Gangari and his servants stood looking them over. All but one of the expected targets had been found, Octavius conspicuously missing.

The Tabula Rasa clicked its bones next to Gangari. He thought it would be good for one of his servants to witness this, it was the Tabula Rasa's duty to deal with these corruptions as it was.

After a few moments Gangari spoke, "Every time I've given your kind a chance to change you spit in my face and carry on spilling your filth across the continent." An odd khopesh appeared in his hand as he stepped forward to the first man in the the line, Faustus Caeso "I had hoped one of your masters would be here so they could see this today, though it seems they have another day in their lives. Whether or not you care for your life you'll tell me where he's went." The blade burst into flames in Gangari's hand and he decapitated the man in a single blow. He then stepped to the next and did the same in silence. He then repeated the process with the next eight, removing their heads in a single stroke.

He turned to the Rasa and patted him on the shoulder saying "Find Octavius" with a slight smile. The creature walked off melting into the shadows as he looked to the corpses. The next step was then began.

The rooms containing prisoners or glorified slaves found their doors blown off their hinges, while the guards that would normally be watching them sat unconscious and the gas dispersed in the air as it was designed to. He had decided they were to be given a chance at freedom in the chaos.

Gangari then took a brush and stabbed a knife into the now dead Faustus to draw some blood. He coated his brush in it and then began to paint upon the wall of the throne room. His symbol clear as it could be and then as he forced the blood to dry where it was, the words "YOUR GODS ARE ANGRY" below his mark.

As he finished he told his knights to hold the palace for five minutes and then after those five minutes had expired he teleported them away to the safety of the countryside and left the Aurorans to discover what had been done.

Spoiler: Previous Turn - Gangari's Action

- Already Succeeded
- Make the Tabula Rasa Immortal and Invulnerable.

Spoiler: Previous Turn - Gangari's Action

- 9/21 AP

- Make Ashlif Immortal and Invulnerable.
- Action is difficulty 11, with a cost of 4 AP. Total domain bonus applied to the roll is +8.

- Should have 5/21 AP at end of turn.

Spoiler: Aetherial Collective's Action

Major - Research Gas masks.
Major - Station the fourth automaton population in the Legion quarter and upgrade it to a citadel.
Major - Research Disease.
Major - Research Ballistics.
Major - Research Practical Genning.

Minor- Continue moving Gokvahar north towards Krakari Territory.

 

[JoJo]

Emperor Aurelius Daigoro, Stowhurst, Kingdom of Mereton

Daigoro almost tripped over in alarm as he and Badger halted in their tracks to see a hulking figure sitting cross-legged in the room, staring at a lump wrapped up in silky string. The deity was half-transparent and seemed to fade in and out of view, but was still recognisable from the many statues of him Daigoro had seen in temples.

"Maximus!" Lysei enthused as he nodded to the Emperor standing in the doorway, "You're finally here, now we can get back to fixing up Aurora again,"

"I'm not Maximus, I'm Aurelius Daigoro, his grandson," the young Emperor replied indignantly. Lysei grunted and then floated over to the boy to inspect him closer with a suspicious stare.

"You're right," he said shortly, "You have different eyes," he turned back to the struggling lump, which with a start Daigoro recognised as his first cousin once removed Julius, "Now Kaius, I'm afraid it's time for you to die," Lysei whispered ghoulishly, "Katalia will have justice, one way or another,"

"He's not Kaius, he died over fifty years ago," Badger growled, "That's his son, Prince Julius, whatever he's been calling himself recently,"

"And who are you?" Lysei rounded on the bodyguard, fire rising angrily off his armour.

"Badger, guardian of the Emperor," the man replied coolly, maintaining his position. The deity sniffed in annoyance.

"Hm, I don't see the difference," Lysei muttered as floated back up to the pretender, ripping the silk off his mouth so he could speak. "Is this true?" he asked coldly.

"Yes!" Julius stuttered, "I have never met you before, and I had nothing to do with Katalia being executed!"

"You have been trying to steal the throne that rightfully belongs to young Daigoro here, though," Badger pointed out dryly, "No gratitude for Maximus saving your life after your last rebellion,"

"No, you don't understand, he has my wife and daughter hostage!" Julius replied desperately, "King Cyneheard that is. He wants to use me as a puppet to rule all of Aurora for himself."

"I don't believe you..." Badger grunted, glancing at the Emperor who tilted his head slowly.

"No, he's telling the truth," Daigoro muttered, looking to Lysei. "Let him go," he said firmly. The god seemed a little taken-aback by the directness of the boy's order but dutifully cut the silk bonds around Julius, letting him fall to the floor.

"Thank you," Julius said gratefully to the young Emperor, before looking to the other two, "We have to move fast, before Cyneheard hears of this..."

"Wait, what is happening to me?" Lysei interjected over the prince, fading in and out of view even more than usual. Daigoro reached out to touch the ghostly figure with his right hand.

"Your power, it's fading," he shook his head sadly, "You're leaving this world behind, soon,"

"Are you saying I'm saying I'm going to disappear altogether?" the deity replied in horror.

"No, I don't think so," the little Emperor shrugged, "You're just moving on to somewhere new, beyond here,"

"The world has moved on," Lysei sighed bitterly, "I was so caught up in my forge that I didn't see decades pass, Aurora torn apart and my finest servants Maximus and Katalia taken away from this plane before their time. The anger that has fuelled me this past half-century is almost spent," he looked down at his own transparent form, "Perhaps there is still one way I can help you, before I vanish though," he closed his eyes in concentration, holding his arms up dramatically.

"The fallen righteous, arise on my command!"

.​

King Cyneheard, Casterbridge, Kingdom of Mereton

Meanwhile in Casterbridge, the King of Mereton arrived at the temple on horseback flanked by a division of his HouseCarls, staring in amazement at the changes that had come over it since his last visit. He shielded his eyes as a pair of giant insects walked out together of the temple, bowing before him reverently.

"My name is Holly," one of the insects with wings said, "Like the tree. I'm a Rainbow Butterfly. This is Boulder, he's a Galan," she gestured to her eight-legged companion.

"It is good to meet you," Boulder grunted.

"Where did you come from?" Cyneheard asked, "Did Lysei make you, like the Driders?""

"Oh no," Holly shook her antennaed head, "The great Kharolean was our creator, he has sent us to help bring tolerance and peace to these lands. Are you the ruler of Mereton?"

"Yes," the King replied, "Though my fealty is the Emperor of Aurora,"

"If we will be accepted as subjects, our races will readily pledge loyalty to the Crown," Boulder nodded, bending down.

"Yes, you could come in handy," Cyneheard muttered to himself with a sly smile, turning back to the insect pair, "I will consult with Julius II about your status but I have a feeling he will be open to extending full rights as Auroran subjects to your peoples,"

"Your Majesty!" at that moment one of his young pages scampered up to him with an urgent expression, "We've received news from Stowhurst, they say a great army of the dead has risen and it's taking over the city!"

"What?" Cyneheard spat as he mounted his horse, slapping it angrily, "And who is leading this army?"

"The Raindrop Emperor, they're saying!"

"Aurelius Daigoro!" the King growled angrily to himself, turning to back to Boulder and Holly, "Talking about your peoples, we could do with your assistance now!"

Spoiler: Actions

Commonwealth of Aurora:

(Major) - Settle east of Kharlogarde
(Major) - Research astronomy
(Major) - Secret

People's Republic of Aurora:

(Major) - Create second god-hiding amulet
(Major) - Research dense fuels

Also, raise Auroran worship of Kharolean to 72.

Lysei

DC 11: Raise temporary (read, one turn only) army of the dead to secure the Raindrop Emperor's position in Mereton

 

[JoJo]

Summer turned to Autumn, and the coffers and foodstocks of nations was restored as always, as was the power of the gods.

Nations

Aurora


Commonwealth of Aurora

As the forces of High Prince Aurelius arrived in the south, many accompanying halflings settled east of Kharlogarde in preparation of taking the region from the hands of the People's Republic. At the same time in Ajivha, research into astronomy was successfully carried out and also a hidden act was done.


People's Republic of Aurora

Meanwhile in an enclave of loyalty to the Republic, a second god-hiding amulet was created and given immediately to the spy Tariq Devan by the rotted hand which smelted it. In Padonia, resarch into dense fuels was completed on time.





Collective

The Collective carried out a new cache of research, successfully studying gas masks, disease, ballistics and practical genning. The new automaton population was moved into the Legion quarter, upgrading the settlement to citadel.


Gods

Gangari

Gangari's powers ran true once again and Ashlif was made immortal and invulnerable, at-least as far as one could be made in an age where even deities seemed vulnerable.

Lysei

With a final outpouring of his power, Lysei summoned up an army of the righteous fallen from across Stowhurst to help secure the city for the young Emperor of Aurora and his companions.

 

[JoJo]

Emperor Aurelius Daigoro, Stowhurst, Kingdom of Mereton

Citydwellers cowered in their homes and the town guard drew back in alarm as hordes of the dead began climbing out of cracks in the soil, pushing past stones and clasping rusted swords and axes in their skeletal hands. Badger rode out of the castle on a borrowed horse, Julius following close at his heels on his own trusty steed whilst Daigoro sat in front of his bodyguard trying not be shaken around too much as he called out to the residents of Stowhurst.

"It's okay, they aren't going to hurt you! We're here to take back the city!"

The skeleton army halted as they reached the city walls, climbing atop to get a better view over the fields beyond. The little Emperor caught up and took a sharp breath when he saw what they were looking at: the army of King Cyneheard in the distance. Lysei whistled as he appeared besides the trio.

"I haven't seen an army quite that big for a generation," the god noted quietly.

"It's not usual these days," Badger replied drily. The skeletons started to pour over the walls of Stowhurst and onto the plains below, clashing immediately with the enemy. The quadruple watched from their vantage point, noting with surprise the giant insects who were accompanying the King of Mereton.

"They're no driders," Julius pointed out.

"We've got to talk to the huge bugs!" the young Emperor implored Badger, "I can feel they don't know what's going on, we've got to give them a chance to join us," The bodyguard sighed but nodded and the pair set off together onto the battlefield on horseback, ducking and weaving between men, skeletons and the odd arthropod. They reached a clearing in the mayhem where two bugs were back-to-back, surrounded by a ring of the undead, brandishing their weapons. One had colourful butterfly wings, the other a giant spider with an lava abdomen.

"Come and get us!" the spider called to the surrounding skeletons, "We can take every last one of you?"

"Wait!" Daigoro shouted back to the pair, "We have to talk. I don't know who you are but you're fighting for a bad man. I'm Aurelius Daigoro, Emperor of Aurora,"

"I'm Holly, and this is Boulder," the rainbow one said after a pause, "How can we trust you, little grub? The King told us the rightful Emperor is Julius,"

"Actually, that isn't true," Julius added as he arrived from behind, ducking an arrow as it flew past, "Cyneheard was holding me against my will, young Daigoro here is the true Emperor of Aurora,"

"Can you prove it?" Boulder asked suspiciously, "We have never met any of you before, how do we know who to trust?" The Emperor closed his eyes and reached out with the powers that Jashiki had blessed him with a year ago, before so much had happened. He drew on every scrap of information his ability was feeding him.

"Kharolean created you, to bring peace to this land," he said with a friendly smile, holding out a childish hand, "I met him up north and he offered to help us. Help us help him end this war,"

~​

The battle was fierce but as the rainbow butterflies and galans melted into the side of the Raindrop Emperor, the tide was clearly turned and before long, the warriors of Mereton were surrendering in their droves as they realised the battle was unwinnable against a supernatural combination of bugs and the undead. Finally the flag of surrender was thrown up by the King and his generals when he too reliased there was no hope.

"We've done it, thank you!" Daigoro enthused to Lysei as the deity smiled weakly, fading in and out of view even more than before the battle.

"My time is up, you must finish the rest yourself," Lysei whispered, "Can you promise to bring peace to Aurora?"

"Yes, I promise," the young Emperor replied earnestly.

"Thank you," Lysei said contently as he melted away into the sunlight, "You may want to visit your friend Wen too, before it's too late..."

"Wait, what?" Badger exclaimed in alarm as the fire deity disappeared from view. He and Daigoro looked at each other and then began to run down the street, pushing the now-decaying skeleton soldiers out of their way. They reached the inn where the old master was staying and burst in, Opal staring horrified by his bedside.

"Ah young Aurelius Daigoro," Wen murmured, "I'm glad you're here, there's something I would like to share with you, before it's too late," he motioned to Opal, who brought out a pile of papers and handed them to the young Emperor, "I wrote this for Faustus Caeso and the others, before I knew he was a traitor. I call it One Nation Auroranism, it's a model for a unified nation which can please both the Republicans and Commonwealth, I hope,"

"I will read it," Daigoro promised, "There are still so many lands out there, I don't know if I can bring it to them all,"

"You must," Wen rasped, "You are the only one who can now," With that the old man turned over and fell still, the young Emperor reached out slowly to prod his arm but Badger gently stopped him.

"He's gone," he said simply. A single tear rolled down Opal's cheek as she stood up and closed her father's eyes for the last time, kissing his forehead as she did so.

"I'm going after Octavius," she said simply to Badger and Daigoro, turning to walk out of the room. Neither attempted to stop her, they knew what she meant and they too would be heading that way soon enough.

.​

Badger, north of Albur

Several days later, Badger and Daigoro were travelling north against from Mereton. Prince Julius had taken over temporary administration of the Kingdom along with Princess Matilda, whilst King Cyneheard was awaiting trial for treason and attempted regicide of the Emperor. They decided to forgo the offer of an accompanying guard that Julius offered, there were still few men they could truly trust after the assassination attempt in Aquilonia.

Initially the pair were making good progress along the eastern coast but then a grey blanket of fog descended on the small ship they sailed in, rendering navigation all but impossible. Badger was back in the cabin studying the map of the East Sea again when he suddenly heard a small cry from outside. He rushed out to see a terrible scene greet his eyes.

"Stop right there," Tariq Devan spat as he pressed his blade against Daigoro's throat, "You may be invincible but I know he isn't," Badger glowered, careful not to correct the Corvan spy on his mistake. Two burly guards seemed to come out of nowhere to hold Badger's wrists tightly in each of their arms.

"Well, it's come to this Maximus," Octavius grinned as he stepped out of the gloom towards the pair, "You didn't really think you could escape me did you?"

"I'm not Maximus, I'm his grandson!" the young Emperor exclaimed in exasperation.

"Of course, my mistake, he killed himself when he was surrounded by my followers," Octavius smirked, running his mottled hand down Daigoro's smooth face, "As tempted as I am to make you do the same, I need you alive... for now,"

"Leave him... alone!" Badger snarled from where he was being held. Octavius spun around, cackling gleefully.

"I don't need you though... vampire," he grinned, "That arm-band isn't fooling anyone, least of not me," he signalled to the guards holding Badger, "Let's put the sea back into sea vampire. Tie him to the spare anchor and throw him overboard."

"No!" the young Emperor shouted, tears running down his face, "I'll do anything, don't throw him overboard!"

"Anything eh?" Octavius raised a decaying eyebrow, stepping in to hold the boy's chin thoughtfully, "Tempting, I can think of a lot of things... but then again, I can always find new less risky incentives later. Did you know I have your mother and sister in Nova Verde?"

"Don't..." Badger growled angrily but before he could saying anything more, his wrists and ankles were bound by the guards to the heavy metal strut of an anchor with thick chains. "I'll be back!" he spat at Octavius, who turned around briefly to smirk again at him.

"Those chains are made of steel that doesn't rust for hundreds of years, I very much think you won't be," he laughed heartily as the bodyguard and anchor were cast upwards, the last sight he saw was a brief snapshot of Daigoro's terrified face in the fog before he sunk deep into the bottomless depths of the ocean.

Spoiler: Actions

Commonwealth of Aurora:

(Major) - Aurelius' army secures Republic-controlled Sungarde for the Commonwealth, renaming all of the Auroran lands to the west of the Southern Channel as Kharlogarde
(Major) - Implement astronomy


People's Republic of Aurora:

(Major) - Implement dense fuels
(Major) - Settle west of Padonia
(Major) - Settle west of Padonia

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

Gokvahar

Rederick sat silently in the darkness of his office, thinking of the future and contemplating his life as he wrote letters to several across the continent. One to each of his children to say goodbye to them, one to Cawles to inform her of what was to come and who was to take his place, One to Indraj-Alika to inform him of the fates of the dead they had taken during the invasion with a letter to be sent beside it to inform him of his own passing...

He could feel the poison eat at him as he thought about it.

It had began after he had returned from the meeting with the demiurge and his son. The looks, the remarks just out of what should have been earshot. Rederick had seen it coming before he had been warned and three days ago someone within the city had began to poison him. His food and his drink, were laced with what he believed to be the poison they had learned from the Krakari. Low doses he thought as well or it would have killed him outright. The feeling as it pumped through his veins gave him the impression that he had at most a day or two until his organs failed him and his spirit was released from the rotting cage.

His father would save him if he asked, he knew that, as would his sister probably. But there was no point in him living past this, his people hated him, his purpose in life was realistically as a tool of his father, his wife was dead and he hadn't spoken to his children in years. He wasn't even sure if he had a soul, his father had told him that he had one, but the souls of those bound to Gangari were more a loose piece of him than the souls he had seen in the ocean.

Every one of his kind was to be absorbed on death to be reborn in the sea of souls. He had worried of the answer he would get if he asked Gangari if they were still themselves in his paradise.

Rederick placed another piece of parchment infront of himself and began to write his letter to the Driders.

To the matriachs of Saranda,

With the long standing alliance between our peoples we are shocked by your siding with Aurora in these times, a people who in the past and the present have thought nothing of your freedoms and your lives, so that you could aid them during the reclamation of our own lands.

After our efforts to safeguard your people against Aurora we thought the pacts forged before and during those times would be ironclad. Because of your disregard of our history in these times many of our children are dead at the hands of yours. Your sins shine brightly in our minds and with the breaking of the pacts between our peoples we are ending trade with your city and expelling your diplomats from our land.

Below this point he used a different ink, one designed in earlier days which was believed to react to light differently, one that was thought to only appear to a few in the world. The Driders were amongst this group.

Those few who came to our lands seeking help during the second invasion have accepted terms of citizenship and have been granted full rights as members of our Collective. We offer these rights to all who may come.


When word had reached us of the actions of the Auroran's in your lands, we had attempted per mandate and agreement to organize a response to assist you. Our forces were massed in the north and by the time our vanguard had arrived we had discovered that your forces had surrendered.

In these times many amongst us are unsure of what drove your children against us, but of those in control we believe it to be against your wills. Our God, which we believe to still be one of your Gods as well with your past, has asked of us to offer weapons, supplies, and soldiers to retake control of the land which was supplied by the will of our creator as well as yours.

The risen dead, which you are likely aware of at this point have been waiting outside of your lands for a command from our God to assist in this as well.

We ask that you inform us of your situation, so that we may act appropriately. If you are unable to send a messenger. Gangari is listening as he always is.

He set down his quill and didn't bother with writing his name upon it. It would be someone else to organize the response if the Driders admitted their situation.

The next two he wrote was one to the Grat in which he informed them that they were cutting trade, suspending contract payments, and expelling diplomats. He considered calling them bastards for abandoning them but simply decided to ask them to explain themselves for their failing to act.

The other was one to his order, informing them of what was soon to be his fate and that Gangari had decreed that a man named Tariq Devan was to be captured for Treason against Gangari and that a stone in his possession of some kind was to be recovered with him. Aside from an effort to settle land in the north and further secure the natural borders of the marsh the full resources of the state were being placed in their hands for this task. It was believed that if he was found, his master and apparently the young emperor would be found as well.

He felt his arm twitch and he continued. All he had left was duty and he was going to carry it out.

 

[JoJo]

Nations

Aurora



As the battle for Mereton took place between Aurelius Daigoro and Cyneheard, the war for the twin southern states of Sungarde and Kharlogarde was also waged between the forces of High Prince Aurelius and the remnant of the People's Republic. With Octavius vanished from public view however and the other leaders of the Republicans defected or dead, the Octavians found themselves divided and directionless and were easily routed.

Elsewhere, the Commonwealth and Republic implemented astronomical and dense fuel research respectively, whist the plains north-west of Padonia were settled even as the huge state began to tear itself apart upon hearing that it's leader Faustus Caeso had been assassinated.




Collective

With the full attention of the Collective's spies on locating the wayward Tariq Devan, some progress was made even in a short time, indicating that he and his master were somewhere on the Isle of Pesh. Whether they would have time to put this knowledge into action would be another matter. Meanwhile they were less successful in settling the northern marshes, a failure put down by experts to a lack of available population.



Gods

Lysei

With the last of his power exhausted, Lysei hereby departed from the world, never to be seen again by mortal or deity alike.

Gangari, Jashiki and Kharolean

The three remaining deities bid their time even as armies clashed and men plotted across the world, their thoughts inscrutable to even the wisest of mortals.