Pantheon 2.0 - Game Thread

[Injerian Praetus II]

Seriously, AK. Your arguments are ridiculous. I'll be ignoring you from now on.

[Benito Alvarez]

And if I stated I am willing to negotiate? Surely, you are not be so aggressive that you would declare war on another god who is willing to use diplomatic means to achieve harmony?

The same type of diplomacy you used with Quee? One that is ended but a few days afterwards with miltary action, and the death of a God?

What of AK? You argue Malice and Mutation is a bad mixture, what about Chaos and Destruction? The god of undead? The god of demons? I could go on. If you really want to argue I'm a threat because of who I am, please at least carry your principles further. Even the god of justice can see this is an abuse.

I do agree that such a thing would be a bad misscarriage of Justice. But my stance has never been that the Gods are not to expand to different areas of the world, for do we not all have believers in lands that are not our own?

No, I've stated multiple times why I am fighting against you Nor. It is that you are actively trying to take the world. It is not yours, OR mine to take.

I would be willing to negotiate, but I have a hard time believing that you will give up spreading your paradise to all corners of Eiran. A very hard time.

[Injerian Praetus II]

No, I've stated multiple times why I am fighting against you Nor. It is that you are actively trying to take the world. It is not yours, OR mine to take.

Well, you should have stated that I was not to expand. No one stated as such, and so I am being punished for a law you've only just decided to invent. Second, your arguments regarding my ultimate motives are suspect. I have always stated I have the intent to improve the world, but intent and action are two entirely different things. Please read the documents detailing previous discussions on this issue; I made it clear I wanted to work with other gods to this goal.

I would be willing to negotiate, but I have a hard time believing that you will give up spreading your paradise to all corners of Eiran. A very hard time.

No, you're not willing to negotiate. I said I am, yet you have brought nothing to the table other than threats. Here I am, willing to negotiate. Now negotiate.

[Benito Alvarez]

Well, you should have stated that I was not to expand. No one stated as such, and so I am being punished for a law you've only just decided to invent. Second, your arguments regarding my ultimate motives are suspect. I have always stated I have the intent to improve the world, but intent and action are two entirely different things. Please read the documents detailing previous discussions on this issue; I made it clear I wanted to work with other gods to this goal.

I have never said that you were not to expand, Nor. Did you not take a large portion of Khenstorn? Did I say anything then? I did not, because it did not come out of nowhere. It was expected and anticipated, and honestly, would you have allowed anyone else to claim those lands? Of course not, so no one made any other claims.

But in ONE seaon, you took over a third of a continent. How are we supposed to take such a massive and sudden expansion, except as the first steps of your many-times preached "spreading of paradise"? This paradise will destory the world.

No, you're not willing to negotiate. I said I am, yet you have brought nothing to the table other than threats. Here I am, willing to negotiate. Now negotiate.

I do not know what your a willing to agree to. Give some baseline, and we'll go from there.

I just wanted to make clear with that last statment that you dont have a very good track record of past kept peace agreements to give credence to your sudden exclamation of "PEACE!"

[Injerian Praetus II]

I have never said that you were not to expand, Nor. Did you not take a large portion of Khenstorn?

I'm sorry, but I took no more than any other god did of another continent.

Did I say anything then? I did not, because it did not come out of nowhere. It was expected and anticipated, and honestly, would you have allowed anyone else to claim those lands? Of course not, so no one made any other claims.

The same way no one else made claims to the section I transformed.

But in ONE seaon, you took over a third of a continent. How are we supposed to take such a massive and sudden expansion, except as the first steps of your many-times preached "spreading of paradise"? This paradise will destory the world.

Again, I will work with other gods to bring this about. Therefore, Yekithii is the end of the expansion.

I do not know what your a willing to agree to. Give some baseline, and we'll go from there.

Allow me Yekithii, that is, with new borders adjusted.

I just wanted to make clear with that last statment that you dont have a very good track record of past kept peace agreements to give credence to your sudden exclamation of "PEACE!"

*Laughs* Like yourself? Like Maeror, Undine . . . ?

[Norn]

Asking Nor Yekith to begin negotiations is foolish, since he is nto the one about to go to war. Those who oppose him must say what they desire of him that would prevent them from marching against his lands.

I will therefore begin, though I am neutral in this matter.

Nor Yekith, we desire that this expansion into Yekithii would be the last as you have said, and that you would work together with Astavyastataa Kadna and O-gon-cho to establish clear borders.

We desire that you accept that there are times when the followers of other deitys will pass through your lands attending to matters that have nothing to do with you, and that you relax your xenophobic restrictions to allow for such accidental instances.

We desire that you relax your interdict upon Khenstorn that those lands that were once claimed by Chisi La'Roo would remain free and would not automatically revert to either yourself or Melirelle because the worshippers of all other deitys cannot stand to reside there.

There you have a beginning to negotiations. What say you?

[Benito Alvarez]

I'm sorry, but I took no more than any other god did of another continent.

Exactally the point I was making. "No more than any other God."

The same way no one else made claims to the section I transformed.

But then, there was a season of calm before you moved in. We looked down for a moment and when we look back a third of Imerill is mutated and no one could go there, even if we wanted to.

Again, I will work with other gods to bring this about. Therefore, Yekithii is the end of the expansion.

So this one statement is going to wipe aways the years of telling us all that you are the only one capable to bring the world to paradise? Even if this is the first step towards peace, it will be a long while yet before anyone can take this seriously.

Allow me Yekithii, that is, with new borders adjusted.

What do you mean with the new borders? Back or forward?

*Laughs* Like yourself? Like Maeror, Undine . . . ?

And what did I do in the end, Nor? I forsook Conquest and abandonded a large portion of my people because they wouldnt see that it was wrong.

What have you done to prove your words as truethfull? Perhaps that is what I am really waiting for, something more than your words.

Prove to me Nor, really prove to me that you are sincere about Peace, for your words lost the ring of truth long, long ago.

[Bhakti]

What could you possibly promise? You have been pumping Mutagens into the waters forever.

Into the coastline surrounding Nor Pupae. For defense.

Undine spoke of your dumping of Mutagens into the seas long ago. Perhaps I misunderstood. But I would be interested to know how you prevent them from spreading throughout the seas of Eiran. You are not the God of Water, after all. Are your Mutagens programmed to latch onto the coastline immediately when they leave the Star of Yekith's influence, so that they do not enter the realms of other deities?

However, I direct you to events of this last season:

And then Nor Yekith's malice poured from Nor Pupae into the seas,

Am I misinterpreting this? It doesn't sound like this wave of Malice is contained to your coastal areas. It sounds like it might be an act of some sort against the seas in general.

The go everywhere, Mutating whatever they touch.

As opposed to other gods' effects spreading into the world . . .

You asked for negotiations. If I am one of the ones you would negotiate with, you are hearing my concerns. Others can speak for themselves, but none of my effects have ever spread into the world. I have never even attempted to put something into motion that might spread to the world, and nobody has ever told me of any instances where it happened anyway.

Adventurers snuck into Nor Pupae while you were away, and then came to Shakari. They carried Mutagens with them, and my people suffered "monstrous births" as a result.

Oh, so now I am responsible for everyone? Basically, this is not my fault. Further, I have made it clear I am conducting an inquisition of my lands, so that anyone not of my cult is imprisoned or forced out of my lands. So even though I try to catch them all, because I fail now and then, it's really all my fault.

Well, yes. You are negotiating for peace. You want all to agree to NOT attack you, and in return, you will not Mutate our lands or followers. But your Mutagens conveniently find ways out of Nor Pupae, and Mutate us anyway. All the while, you say, "It wasn't on purpose. You can't attack me, because I'm not trying to Mutate you." Will you ensure that this kind of thing can't happen? Or will you take the Oath to make the situation right each time it does? I have heard many instances of one deity or his/her followers damaging another's lands or followers, and restitution is often made.

Even if you took the Oath to not intentionally act against other deities, their followers, or their lands, there is no way to prevent your vision of Eiran. You have set it up too well for your success. It will happen. You have nothing to lose by promising non-aggression.

So basically, I've no choice; I have to destroyed.

You have set things up so that even you cannot prevent the world's Mutation. Eventually, your Mutagens will get out, and spread everywhere. And, since you readily admit that you intend to transform all of Eiran, this is all to your liking anyway. Since you have promised my destruction more than once, I don't see why I should bother asking others to not destroy you.

Give me a break, Bhakti. What of AK? You argue Malice and Mutation is a bad mixture, what about Chaos and Destruction? The god of undead? The god of demons? I could go on. If you really want to argue I'm a threat because of who I am, please at least carry your principles further. Even the god of justice can see this is an abuse.

AK is another matter. When he asks the Pantheon to negotiate, we'll discuss it.

[O-gon-cho]

Asking Nor Yekith to begin negotiations is foolish, since he is nto the one about to go to war. Those who oppose him must say what they desire of him that would prevent them from marching against his lands.

I will therefore begin, though I am neutral in this matter.

Nor Yekith, we desire that this expansion into Yekithii would be the last as you have said, and that you would work together with Astavyastataa Kadna and O-gon-cho to establish clear borders.

Sister, thank you for looking out for my neighbor's and my interests. I have been talking with L-rd Adomorn privately, and he and I are still in heated debate. I appreciate another negotiator, one perhaps not so closely attuned to 'protecting' all of Eiran, in entering these talks as well.

Do not get me wrong. I trust Adomorn's judgement completely. But I fear his current "tone of voice" may close negotiations before they ever open.

:::forgive me brother, but you have heard it before from me:::

Perhaps a second voice will further open the door to talks...

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

Let me suggest terms that might be ... more acceptable ...

Would you withdraw all to the Borders of Nor Pupae and adjusted borders for the new lands ... 25% of the continent ... with all followers of other gods unmutated?

Would you bring down the STAR ... so all can see your compliance?

Would you withdraw all affects of Mutation and Malice from all other Lands?

Would you agree for MALICE and MUTATION to be sealed in your lands ... to prevent any inadvertent spread ... trade and followers could come and go as long as they could not possibly infect or spread mutation or malice? A Petition thru Hedra Iren and the AllFather to my SISTER to allow me to impose the Barrier of Chaos and Destruction around your lands ... keyed to destroy any who might harm others if they leave.

You would be free to beautify Nor Pupae all that you want ... your influence outside from ALL your domains and DRP would be restricted as to mutation and malice .. any peaceful congress would be allowed.

Are you prepared for such - or propose an alternative to convince Justice and the Pantheon to listen.

Are these terms closer to acceptable?

[Injerian Praetus II]

Nor Yekith, we desire that this expansion into Yekithii would be the last as you have said, and that you would work together with Astavyastataa Kadna and O-gon-cho to establish clear borders.

Agreed.

We desire that you accept that there are times when the followers of other deitys will pass through your lands attending to matters that have nothing to do with you, and that you relax your xenophobic restrictions to allow for such accidental instances.

I am sorry, but I cannot allow this. I bathe my lands in mutative energies almost weekly - which I have the right to do. If I relax my attitude to foreigners, must I also stop the perfectiong of my land? Perhaps some gods need to rein in their wandering followers.

We desire that you relax your interdict upon Khenstorn that those lands that were once claimed by Chisi La'Roo would remain free and would not automatically revert to either yourself or Melirelle because the worshippers of all other deitys cannot stand to reside there.

Interesting. This is the first I have heard about this.

[Injerian Praetus II]

Allow me Yekithii, that is, with new borders adjusted.

What do you mean with the new borders? Back or forward?

Don't play the simpleton with me.

[Astavyastataa Kadna]

I see you have not responded to my adjusted suggestions ...

Perhaps you will answer this ... within your borders ... of Nor Pupae and adjusted borders of Yekithii (adjusted based on my and o-gon-cho's needs) ... how will you GUARANTEE that no Mutation, disease, or other corruption will be carried to other lands from yours ... either on purpose or accidentally? how will you GUARANTEE that no exertion of your deific powers or use of another 'device' will ever cause a similar 'infection'?

[Norn]

We desire that you accept that there are times when the followers of other deitys will pass through your lands attending to matters that have nothing to do with you, and that you relax your xenophobic restrictions to allow for such accidental instances.

I am sorry, but I cannot allow this. I bathe my lands in mutative energies almost weekly - which I have the right to do. If I relax my attitude to foreigners, must I also stop the perfectiong of my land? Perhaps some gods need to rein in their wandering followers.

We certainly cannot ask you to cease mutating within the boundaries of both Nor Pupae and Yekithii, and indeed any follower of another deity who wanders into your lands does so at the risk that he or she may indeed be changed by those mutating energies you have mentioned. Perhaps if you had explained this reason behind your continued demands that your borders remain inviolate then we would have understood sooner and this would not have been an issue.

We desire that you relax your interdict upon Khenstorn that those lands that were once claimed by Chisi La'Roo would remain free and would not automatically revert to either yourself or Melirelle because the worshippers of all other deitys cannot stand to reside there.

Interesting. This is the first I have heard about this.

The All-Father has informed us all this season that "a strange unease grips any mortal who sets foot on Khenstorn, unless he worships one of the Khenstorn Gods. This unease seems to grow with each passing hour, making it impossible to stay on Khenstorn for a long period of time." This may of course be Melirelle's doing, but I am surprised you knew nothing of it.

Finally, I believe that Astavyastataa Kadna has put forth a wise suggestion. Would you consent to sealing the powers of malice and mutation within your borders to prevent any inadvertent spread?

[Injerian Praetus II]

We certainly cannot ask you to cease mutating within the boundaries of both Nor Pupae and Yekithii, and indeed any follower of another deity who wanders into your lands does so at the risk that he or she may indeed be changed by those mutating energies you have mentioned. Perhaps if you had explained this reason behind your continued demands that your borders remain inviolate then we would have understood sooner and this would not have been an issue.

The King has always maintained an exclusionary stance. ((OOC: *shrug* roleplaying for you there*))

The All-Father has informed us all this season that "a strange unease grips any mortal who sets foot on Khenstorn, unless he worships one of the Khenstorn Gods. This unease seems to grow with each passing hour, making it impossible to stay on Khenstorn for a long period of time." This may of course be Melirelle's doing, but I am surprised you knew nothing of it.

Again, this is the first I have heard about it. What if it's someone else?

Finally, I believe that Astavyastataa Kadna has put forth a wise suggestion. Would you consent to sealing the powers of malice and mutation within your borders to prevent any inadvertent spread?

((OOC: A wise suggestion? I'm not playing this game to have my powers 'tied behind my back'. All it takes is some thinking to realise how this rule can be abused by others - not myself. Second, I will ONLY agree to this if every other god agrees to the rule, and that would lead to the end of the game.))

[I'm Murrin]

If you are not responsible for the unease that grips Khenstorn, then I should like to discover who is responsible, for I have issue with this act. My followers in the lands of Chisi LaRoo have resided peacefully there for quite some time, and now they are being driven from their homes, along with many others of those who shared the lands of Lady Luck.

[Norn]

We certainly cannot ask you to cease mutating within the boundaries of both Nor Pupae and Yekithii, and indeed any follower of another deity who wanders into your lands does so at the risk that he or she may indeed be changed by those mutating energies you have mentioned. Perhaps if you had explained this reason behind your continued demands that your borders remain inviolate then we would have understood sooner and this would not have been an issue.

The King has always maintained an exclusionary stance.

The King has maintained an exclusionary stance yet both he and you have appeared to care little when your own followers have been discovered in places where they did not belong. This mistrust has festered. Now that we know why you desire your lands to remain inviolate we can better instruct our own followers to insure that this is the case.

The All-Father has informed us all this season that "a strange unease grips any mortal who sets foot on Khenstorn, unless he worships one of the Khenstorn Gods. This unease seems to grow with each passing hour, making it impossible to stay on Khenstorn for a long period of time." This may of course be Melirelle's doing, but I am surprised you knew nothing of it.

Again, this is the first I have heard about it. What if it's someone else?

In which case you need not concern yourself with it and the request becomes irrelevent. I made the request only because it concerned Khenstorn and you are the continent's pre-eminent deity. You know nothing of the this "strange unease", so those who are concerned by it will investigate elsewhere.

Finally, I believe that Astavyastataa Kadna has put forth a wise suggestion. Would you consent to sealing the powers of malice and mutation within your borders to prevent any inadvertent spread?

((OOC: A wise suggestion? I'm not playing this game to have my powers 'tied behind my back'. All it takes is some thinking to realise how this rule can be abused by others - not myself. Second, I will ONLY agree to this if every other god agrees to the rule, and that would lead to the end of the game.))

I understand your position, and I do not wish to so limit any deity. However, how else may we insure that the rest of Eiran remains unmutated? You have promised that you will not actively spread your mutagens beyond the borders of Nor Pupae and Yekithii, yet it has been noted that the mutagens still find ways of spreading throughout our world.

We have all experienced times when our followers have misinterpretted our orders, or have acted contrary to our desires. We have all experienced times when our own actions have produced unforeseen and unwanted consequences, both for ourselves and others.

When I restricted the use of magic, a mage in Aikul was performing a powerful ritual and the resulting meeting of two great powers destroyed half of the city. As such, I offered to use a part of power to help Vadhaka rebuildm thus displaying that my actions were not intentional.

When such things happen to you however, it seems that you declare your self innocent and leave the one affected to clean up the mess. The lack of even a sincere apology has meant that there are not many who support Adomorn against you.

[O-gon-cho]

The Weyr grieves…

The events of the past week, the death of Jiayana and the attack on and death of several of the Hatching candidates, have spun the new Weyr on the verge of experiencing it’s first ever Hatching into shock, depression, suspicion, and fear.

But the Hatching, ahhh…the Hatching. It approaches regardless of what happens outside the shell.

Normally this would be a time of high anticipation and expectations. The Weyr would be scoured to a high gleam to welcome the Hatchlings to Zandarar and Eiran. The Weyrling Masters would meet and select candidates from those non-draconic residents of the weyr between 14 and 30 years old to present themselves on the sands for possible Impression. The Lower Caverns would be bustling with the preparations of exotic and favorite selections among foods and libations for the celebratory feast at the Gather after the Hatching.

None of this has been done.

While down on the heated sands of the Hatching Grounds, a lone egg of the 1500 eggs (minus the one stolen by Vaaxa) strewn across the sands gently starts to rock…

[Bhakti]

Finally, I believe that Astavyastataa Kadna has put forth a wise suggestion. Would you consent to sealing the powers of malice and mutation within your borders to prevent any inadvertent spread?

((OOC: A wise suggestion? I'm not playing this game to have my powers 'tied behind my back'. All it takes is some thinking to realise how this rule can be abused by others - not myself. Second, I will ONLY agree to this if every other god agrees to the rule, and that would lead to the end of the game.))

This is what I have been getting at also. You know full well how you would react if something I created accidentally made its way to Nor Pupae, and cause problems for your followers! Yet you will not attempt to keep your creations confined, nor make amends when they do cause problems for others! Your spirit of negotiation is a joke!

*calmer now*

Let me put it another way: What do you offer in the spirit of negotiation? Anything?

[Bhakti]

My apologies. I never got to this...

Murder is murder. Rape is rape. Rage is rage. Fear is fear. Feeding off of those things is your choice.

The hypocrisy!

Do you honestly sit there and believe the nonsense you write? How is it on the one hand you spout pretentious drivel and on the other you allow (nay, encourage it). You have taken, or represent, the realm of forests, yet forests are rife with the same things you accuse me of profiting from. Animals murder one another, they certainly have raped, they rage, they steal, they look down and destroy the weaker. This is the law of nature. Yet do you expect us to ignore that element that features so strongly in your realm?

Malice is in the intent. The cycles of nature, the food chain, contains no Malice. The Malice is in those who cause harm for the sake and pleasure of causing harm; for the sake and pleasure of causing terror, pain, and hopelessness in the victims. And for their god, the Malice is in receiving Power from that intended terror, pain, and hopelessness. You do not gain Power when one animal kills another for food, even if there is pain and fear. But you gain Power when one person kills another with the intent of causing pain and fear.