Pantheon 2.0 - Game Thread

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

...She has not declared herself an enemy. (As Astavyastataa Kadna has done.) She has not behaved as an enemy. (As Nor Yekith has done.) ...

BAH!! Minor godling ... professed of love ... but I see no evidence of such in any of your works or ramblings. Where have I declared myself an enemy of any ... other than profess commitment to my nature ... as do we all.

One of your own ... confesses horrid acts of destruction.

It came to Simjen easily, did the wielding of fire. He sent great fingers of it through the dense forests. He pulled flaming gouts from the sky to hammer the plains. And he pushed his fists into the ground, driving up volcanoes to spit, smoke, and explode across the sea.

No creature or creation on Eiran was safe. His brothers and sisters came angrily to him, bearing in their arms their dead children. Simjen's precious nieces and nephews. When he tried to tell them he had only done it to save Eiran, they looked at him with pity and disgust.

And while I support cousin Simjen in all his acts of DESTRUCTION, as Fire is kin to the CHAOS I represent, no cry has gone up declaring him an enemy! Even when, apparently, he calls FIRE again from the skies to destroy his own!! *bows* I admire cousin Simjen's surrender to his Nature.

But YOU alledged godling of love. BAH!! You jabber much ... and mean little. Perhaps I need to work to earn the enemy title you have branded me with ... not of the Pantheon ... but of YOU!

Watch and ware little godling ... minor cherub of Eiran; your WENCH may need to find someone else to warm her ... treasures *sneers*

[Bhakti]

Where have I declared myself an enemy of any ... other than profess commitment to my nature ... as do we all.

Well, let's see... There was your revelation:

"We will teach this world to fear us!! And to fear our followers."
...
"This worlds inhabitants will tremble at OUR coming *a chucke* and its godlings will too!"

Right out of the starting gate.

And this:

We will prepare the world for its OMEGA.

It is difficult to interpret such words as those of anything but an enemy.

And, of course, there is your constant insults to my Wife.

So...

Perhaps I need to work to earn the enemy title you have branded me with ... not of the Pantheon ... but of YOU!

A declaration of war against me? *shrug* I but mentioned your self-proclaimed attitude toward us. But if this is your desire, so be it.

[Vadhaka]

She has not declared herself an enemy. She has not behaved as an enemy. I will act on the only fact I know about her: she saved my daughter.

Well said brother. Well said and true.

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

.... And, of course, there is your constant insults to my Wife.

Ahhhh ... the WENCH!! *chuckles* ... you mistake me godling ... I like her spirit! She has shown more FIRE in our engagements than you with YOUR petty bantering!

[Bhakti]

Now that you have declared war with me, I will attempt to show you sufficient FIRE. (Not actual Fire, of course. That's Simjen's domain. But you get the point.)

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

Now that you have declared war with me, I will attempt to show you sufficient FIRE. (Not actual Fire, of course. That's Simjen's domain. But you get the point.)

I've mad no declaration of WAR hostile godling! Godling of LOVE - BAH!! I said perhaps I needed to protect myself. A reasonable precaution given YOUR agressive comments!!

Attack me if you will, but I will call the Pantheon to judge YOU ... as I have NOT attacked yours! Godling of LOVE ... BAH ... your aggressiveness reveals you as more a kin to ME than to any gentle emotion!!

Cousins of the Pantheon!! Bear witness ... only this minor godling has used the term "enemy" and "war" ... I have simply spoken of my Nature ... as we all are made. I call for your assistace against this AGGRESSIVE god who falsely names his domain LOVE!!

[Vadhaka]

Love and Hate are two sides of the same coin. *shrug*

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

Love and Hate are two sides of the same coin. *shrug*

Well said Master of assassins ... although it seems our impetinent cousin spends more time on one side of that coin than the other!

[Norn]

Assistance? Why, what has Bhakti done? Has he attacked you, or your people? Has he attempted to settle lands that you have already claimed. Has he used his power to thwart your purposes?

I suspect that the God of Love has done none of these things and that he is guilty of no more than repling to your veiled threats?

I will aid you against such things if that is truly your desire, but such aid will be limited to a pat on the head and a glass of warm milk at bedtime. Anything further shall be dependant on your growing up.

[Vadhaka]

But both fall within theambit of his nature.

[Bhakti]

No. You did not say "perhaps I needed to protect myself." You said, "Perhaps I need to work to earn the enemy title you have branded me with ... not of the Pantheon ... but of YOU!" But it is not the title I have given you, it is the title you have given yourself. And I was not looking for any interaction with you when I mentioned it, I was merely pointing out the difference between you and Melirelle, who truly was given the title by others.

Now, instead of crying to the Pantheon for protection, perhaps you should make your intentions a bit more clear. Or a lot more clear. It may be that Melirelle felt she did not need to dignify others' suspicions with a response. Those suspicions were only assumptions, after all. But our suspicions about you come from your own words. If you do not want to be considered an enemy, you might want to speak different words.

And speaking of assumptions, it seems many assume that Love means Pacifism. It does not. I may not feel the need to act against someone just because of a loud mouth. However, if there is more specific reason, say, the threat that someone will work to earn the title of my enemy, I will act. So say it, and say it plain: Are you going to attempt to earn the title of my enemy?

[Simjen]

Asta

And in these words is as much truth as is in you to understand

But be wary. As the mark on the map resembles the mountain when seen from afar, yet bears litttle relation to those that know it well, so do these words become useless when taken as more than a guide to the complete Truth.

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

HOLD!

Love and Hate are two sides of the same coin. *shrug*

An interesting concept,cousin Bahkti ... I call on YOU ... DECLARE ... do you, as cousin Vadhaka suggests, now CLAIM the domain of HATE ? Are YOU both sides of said "coin"!

[Norn]

You speak wisely Bhakti, for whilst love may revel in peace it will defend itself more ferociously than any other force I have yet seen.

As for our cousin's intentions, I fear that he has made them all too clear - he intends to destroy.

[Vadhaka]

Sister Norn said it far better than I. I fear you mistake my intent brother, even as I misspoke it. As she said, my intention was rather to imply that love aroused to anger can be a violent force.

*bows*

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

...I fear that he has made them all too clear - he intends to destroy.

Ahhhh, cousin Weaver ... I but act as is my Nature ... as do we all! You have seen that cousin Simjen also DESTROYS ... when it is for the greater good.

Answer me this Goddess of the Weave ... without Death there can be no Life ... and without Destruction there can be no Creation! Is this not the way of existance? Would you argue for entropy!!?

[Norn]

I do not doubt that we have all destroyed upon occassion cousin. My concern is that you will seek to destroy one of our number - the ensuing chaos would strengthen you considerably.

[Vadhaka]

The Rise Of The Second Prophet

The First among the Eyeless strode down the centre aisle of the great Temple in Shama, a bloody burden draped across his back, scattering priests and faithful alike as he strode toward the altar inscribed with the Black Dagger of Vadhaka.

As incredulous crowds gathered behind the Messenger of God he heaved his burden onto the altar and ripped the cloth wrapping from it, revealing the bloodied corpse of Pathikah, First Prophet of Vadhaka Chora, God of Thieves and Assassins.

As the gore smeared the inscribed Dagger with its sinister aspect, the Eyeless threw his hands up to the heavens and howled for his gods attention.

“Vadhaka! My God! Bear witness! Your weak prophet has been cast down! No longer shall he sit in idle indolence while the faithful make your word law and your power great! I denounce him. I denounce him with his own bloody corpse. Surely your favour has fallen from him if I alone can end his miserable life this way. Now hear me, and strike me down or raise me up as is your will.”

The Eyeless knelt before the altar, smearing his forehead with the blood of the dead Prophet, awaiting the will of his god.

The crowds waited.

And though no cloud obscured the sun, the light within the Temple dimmed to twilight, and they strained to see as a veil appeared to surround the waiting servant of god, and a voice sounded faintly in the gloom, as if from a long distance away.

“My child,” the voice of the god whispered. “How can I condemn you for acting for the good of my people and my church? Or for acting according to your will and faith? I loved the prophet well, as he loved me, but by fate even gods are cast down, much less mortals.

I grant you my blessing, and name you Agraga, Prophet of Vadhaka Chora.”

The crowds gasped as if in surprise, and even the Eyeless kneeling at the altar looked momentarily shocked.

“Now go, all of you,” the soft voice continued. “Give Pathikah all due honour, and inter him with the respect due a Prophet of the Faith. In his way he served me well, and he has earned his reward. Do you likewise, or share his fate.”

--Recorded faithfully as witnessed by Gudhasaksin, present in the Temple

[Mistress Cathy]

Well, it has been a busy evening.

First, regarding Melirelle. I too am grateful for her intervention in the life of my daughter. Melirelle also has offered assistance to me without asking boon in return. She has come between me and disaster and therefore, I cannot question any device of hers.

It has been her past silence and associations that has given me pause and left me to wonder at her intentions. Yet, she has come out of her shell in a most generous way towards me and therefore, I am grateful for her presence.

Asta wrote:

Watch and ware little godling ... minor cherub of Eiran; your WENCH may need to find someone else to warm her ... treasures *sneers*

Ah, dear, sweet Asta. When will you learn? Bhakti is indeed the god of love and no other god could hope to come close to his....attention to my treasures.

Ahhhh ... the WENCH!! *chuckles* ... you mistake me godling ... I like her spirit! She has shown more FIRE in our engagements than you with YOUR petty bantering!

Dear me, Asta. You love me after all.

Norn wrote:

You speak wisely Bhakti, for whilst love may revel in peace it will defend itself more ferociously than any other force I have yet seen.

Indeed, Bhakti guards fiercely that which he loves and will brook no harm to come to it. That is the very nature of love. He has not sought his own way but has worked diligently to protect and preserve that which he loves. Do not make the mistake that Love is weak. Note that Bhakti is one of the most powerful gods in the Pantheon.

[Bhakti]

I suppose something should be said about this:

I but act as is my Nature ... as do we all!

We all act as our nature demands. But my nature does not demand that I impose my will or my ways on others. Your nature demands that you make us fear you; that we feel your WRATH; that you Destroy us. This may be your nature, and you may have no choice but to obey it - but that does not mean we must sit back and let you do it.

I await an answer. Are you going to attempt to earn the title of my enemy? The lack of an answer will be taken as a Yes.