Hall of the Gods

[Smyg]

"Ever are we impatient to spend immortal energies when the better virtue might be joint labours."

"In one of Mother's mirrors, I heard a very wise man in an age to come speak of virtue, and how its knowledge must begin with the acquaintance of vice."

Dagrun grins, and continues. "Are you acquainted with the latter, my friend?

Hrafn takes a seat in his allotted throne, until now empty, and smirks in that fashion he has, ignoring the depraved disorder of the Shadow just next to him.

"Mother best keep her truths under key and lock, I see."

[Coin]

"Ever are we impatient to spend immortal energies when the better virtue might be joint labours."

"In one of Mother's mirrors, I heard a very wise man in an age to come speak of virtue, and how its knowledge must begin with the acquaintance of vice."

Dagrun grins, and continues. "Are you acquainted with the latter, my friend?

Hrafn takes a seat in his allotted throne, until now empty, and smirks in that fashion he has, ignoring the depraved disorder of the Shadow just next to him.

"Mother best keep her truths under key and lock, I see."

A laugh seems to escape Fuamhaire, filling the hall even after the darkness of the Shadow.

"I have heard to beware of enchanted mirrors - for in them you see reflection of what truth your heart desires."

His evident mirth at Dagrun and Hrafn's word-play ends when he gazes upon the south-east of the map. "We need no mirror to see the desires of some. But light will penetrate even the deepest darkness."

[Serenissima]

The white-robed, hooded figure sat down at the map-table, at the opposite end to the bulk of the gathering, face ever-concealed in shadow - at least here in a 'public' location, outside of her own domain. None had noticed her enter, nor even arrive to sit, and yet, here she was. A rare appearance, by all accounts.

Aaru reached out a hand, night-black and unreal from beneath the pure-white robe, and gestured to a portion of the map. "If we are making claims on this new orb... I suppose it would be remiss of me not to join in." she pondered, before finally, the curled finger settled upon the sandy lands in the north of the central continent.

"Here, then. Let this empty desert go to the Goddess of Death; a lifeless land seems very appropriate to me."

[Xaph]

LOLTH
(Gently, as if to herself)

The hunter takes the forest,
A desert to the lord of chains,
A dragon takes the islands -
but no one says their names
a host of gods are here
and they're all making their claims
but no one checks the spider
who won't play in their games

[acecipher]

"Borax observes the other gods, thinking deeply, not speaking until it is time to self-narrate his own introduction, a process likely to annoy all those present. He carries on regardless of the opinions of the others."

"Borax waks to the table, with... a map. He holds up the map: on it is circled the triangular shape of land in the southwest, and on it is written a name: Barinton'ite. This shall be his land, a glorious land of mountains, with forests and valleys and all the landforms in one place: A glorious forge where he shall build the city of Arak'eda, upon the mountain of Arak'nia, which shall be the talest mountain upon all the landforms! All glory to his construction! May the winds and the skies praise the mighty mountain and the grand valley! May the earth tremble at his name: Borax!"

[Mooell308]

The steady thumping of six large feet pounding across the floor marks the arrival of a large, iridescent scarab: Hylax, the Forever Queen. The patron of friendship, cooperation, harmony, and - most strangely - insects. Forming from nothing well within the memory of all but the youngest gods, she has since imposed herself into nearly all divine disputes, acting as a mediator even when her involvement is far from welcome.

She places a foreleg upon the north west corner of the map. "In my wanderings this land has proven most bountiful to my previous children. It is my plan to make it even more fertile, a lush paradise for newer, more divine children. In time they shall spread from here and bring harmony to the creations of others." Rather than speak, her voice seems to emanate from within her body, calm and emotionless. She looks across the assembled Gods, seeking approval for her choice. Large compound eyes seem to linger longer over those with darker ambitions.

[Xaph]

LOLTH
(cont, gently)

The young girl claims on Elvior
an island to the East
Manwe looks North-Westernly
but he spoke the least
Mola brings her children
but look to the South East -
the world will soon be swallowed
by this Shadow beast

[acecipher]

"Borax looks curiously at the insectoid form, pondering her choice for a few moments, before expressing his opinion through self-narration. He notices that Hylax and Manwe's claims are vague and undefined, having both claimed the Northwest of the map, and not having yet established a firm border between themselves, when no natural one is present--that is, if Manwe is to connect any new lands he makes to the already existing landmass. He wonders if Hylax or Manwe would wish to take some of the forests on the central continent, for it too has marshlands, trees, and hills: and If mountains are required, Borax volunteers to offer such services to create a sextuplate of mountains anywhere within either realm. Raising mountains, after all, is among his most easy of powers."

"However, he continues, failing the need for relocation and assuming we can draw clear borders between all powers in the north, I would propose we limit our own activities on the main continent to a minimum: That we allow it to develop as naturally as possible, to leave it pristine for the children I am sure we all wish to bear, soon. He laughs, ha ha ha, and gives off a wide grin."

[Gesar]

Dagrun peers at Borax, silver eyes gleaming from behind the ornate half-mask on her face. "Perhaps..." She contemplates with a tittering laugh barely covered by the slender olive fingers of her hand, glancing at her brother. "We ought let Hylax and Taurchuiel compete over their claimed territories. A contest of wits perhaps? That could be great fun." Another laugh bubbles up from the throat of She-Who-Smiles, sounding closer to music than any natural sound, and the gaze of the fey goddess seems to search around the room for...something. "Or...a bargain could be struck. I'm so awfully fond of those."

[Serenissima]

(Manwe's been renamed Taurchuiel.)

[Mooell308]

"I will spread my reach in time, dear Borax, as our children prosper." Hylax peers between the Mountain God and She-Who-Smiles, looking about as perplexed as a scarab can be. "But Borders, competition? These sound only like mechanisms to divide us. Any land I make claim to is open to all, so long as their intention is beneficial to mutual prosperity." Antennae twitch ever so slightly. "There is nothing to bargain for."

[Smyg]

"I will spread my reach in time, dear Borax, as our children prosper." Hylax peers between the Mountain God and She-Who-Smiles, looking about as perplexed as a scarab can be. "But Borders, competition? These sound only like mechanisms to divide us. Any land I make claim to is open to all, so long as their intention is beneficial to mutual prosperity." Antennae twitch ever so slightly. "There is nothing to bargain for."

"There's always something to bargain for."

[Gesar]

"There's always something to bargain for."

"And if there wasn't," Dagrun puts in cheerfully, waving her hand and removing the censer from the map, in its place materializing a crystalline dagger. "There would be no point!" The goddess stabs in into the heart of this new 'Elvior', and around it, a bloom of surrealistic, colorful flora decorate the island.

"The peoples of this world must be allowed to compete, and grow, and quarrel like enemies and lovers alike. Or siblings, maybe." A sly glance to Hrafn and Mola. "And we must all do the same. Otherwise, the grand drama of this cycle would grow dreadfully dull and dreary, and I daresay I have seen enough poor performances in my span without the impending threat of mortality."

[Mooell308]

"The peoples of this world must be allowed to compete, and grow, and quarrel like enemies and lovers alike. Or siblings, maybe." A sly glance to Hrafn and Mola. "And we must all do the same. Otherwise, the grand drama of this cycle would grow dreadfully dull and dreary, and I daresay I have seen enough poor performances in my span without the impending threat of mortality."

The Forever Queen grinds her mandibles together, whether from irritation or just habit is impossible to tell. "Our creations are not toys for our amusement, if we cannot provide for them a life of contentment we have no right to create them in the first.. Discord will reveal itself naturally in time so I do not think you will be bored for long, dear Dagrun. "

[Gesar]

"Oh, my friend, everything is a toy. Even we are toys, for some unseen force beyond our ken." Dagrun draws a fan, fluttering it dramatically, before gazing down upon the map. "Is that not why we have parceled out our particular parts of paradise? Is that not why we squabble even now, you and I?"

As quickly as the goading begins, however, it stops, She-Who-Smiles snapping her fan shut - only for it to resume with silver eyes falling upon the robed-and-hooded goddess of the afterlife. "Admittedly, many of our choices have been predictable, woefully so. Hrafn and I have little use for the bleak and barren deserts, and I can nearly taste the great plans of those who have also sought fertile ground for fruitful endeavors. Perhaps there are those among us who seek more, then, and can find it readily within reach...let sand and stone be available to those who would but grasp for it."