Welcome to Gaia! ::

Dawn came as always in a slight lightening of the ever dark sky. Cosine found herself outside once more. She had to be in the air, though it was far from fresh. The world reaked of death and decay. The end was drawing ever near and each day it became more and more apparent.

All she had heard and all she had done would not leave her mind. The names, places, people. There were quests, people fighting to save them all and what was she doing? Floundering around. She felt useless, stupid and … dirty some how. She had done things she would never dream of and she was ashamed.
If this was what it meant to experience and live then she was not sure that she wanted to be reborn after all.
Simple shoes slipped on the gravel as the goddess made her way back down the path it seemed she was doomed to walk back and forth. She knew every inch of it. She felt like a mad woman as she stumbled along the path. The things she had found out still rolling in her mind. She wanted more, craved it. Information, answers. She did not want overheard snippets of conversation. She knew there was only one place to consolidate this information. The pantheon, either the other gods or the library held all the answers she would ever need.
Above, Inifinity cawed, she had started to wander in the wrong direction. The goddess sighed and turned, cutting through a thicket of trees. She had to get back to the pantheon, the library. She wanted to bury herself deep inside it. Find all the names, the people. Understand everything that they understood. She would be safe there.

Gianfar.

She should find him. Knowledge. What she would give for his mind, to know everything to hold it all right there in i your hands. Though, if he knew everything why were they still so lost, why was the world still ending. Perhaps there was no answer within the cavernous halls of Knowledge.

So much for knowledge and power.

Cosine clutched the bag she had tighter and eyes the sides of the road. Just as she wanted what others had she knew they wanted her things too. Her food, nice clothes, the necklace she wore, her life. Desperate times where people would do anything. She should have brought a weapon of some kind. Yes, she had power but it was a shadow of what it had once been. Practically useless she imagined if someone was determined to hut her.

She wanted what they had too, anything, knowledge mostly. It was odd, she did not seem to care what they knew or how much, it did not matter to her, she still wanted it.

Lost to her thoughts she took a wrong turn and Infinity, lost to her own thoughts did not notice. She merely followed along after her mistress wondering how she might get to the bread that she carried within the bag.

It was funny, for a place usually full of people the Pantheon always felt so lonely and empty. Often she had walked through these halls and thought so. It seemed to be a place to escape to, hide within or just avoid. Only with the End did people flock towards it.

Something had been very wrong in this plan of rebirth. She got the feeling many were not learning from their fading, not using human experience to see just why they were abandoned in the first place. Was that why Destruction had gone back into himself?

He had told her himself that he caused horror to gain attention. If he was not getting enough of it then why not go for the ultimate cry for help. Nothing like apocalypse to bring a community together.

Alone, she wandered up the stairs to the rooms her brother had been staying in. She really hoped that he was safe and well. When the wave had hit, not long after a feeling of pain and danger had reached her. She knew it was him. Her neck and throat still ached from time to time. Reminding her that she needed to track him down.

He was not dead. She could feel that, but lost and somehow distant. It was hard to gather her feelings towards this. Yes, he was brother, twin … but also a stranger. Since their rebirth she felt she had lost what connection had been there before. She knew she could function alone now. She was not half of a whole but a whole in her own right. She was her own person.

Cosine paused before the door and reached out to knock. Was there life within? She wondered where else he might be if no one answered. On a dramatic quest? Well, that would at least mean that he was well.

Nothing.

There were no sounds, no movement from within the room. She knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing.

She stood still and placed her hand on the door. Her eyes closed and she concentrated on the inside. She had to check he was not lying injured somewhere. He was not there, though he was safe, she believed that at least. Distant, but safe.

“Our paths are fated to cross.” The Number goddess said to herself, removing her hand and turning away from the door. There would be plenty of time to catch up, but for now, knowledge.

Cosine was very surprised to find the library still intact. She had expected chaos but no, all the books remained happily in their homes on the shelves, the dust still keeping them warm in their slumber.
"Gianfar?" She called out, pausing on the marble floor to listen. There was no familiar sound of his soft voice, no mop of silver hair behind the shelves. He was absent, probably very busy giving answers in this hour of need.

Her eyes fell on the computer that they had been working on before the wave. The programme was still in its early stages but maybe ... just maybe. She sat in the seat and pressed the button. Nothing happened for a moment, then as she was about to get up the fan whirred to life. The screen flickered once, twice and then started to load. She could see them all. Her numbers gathering and talking, creating the pictures before her.

The programme was a simple one, a base for them to begin with and when they were done she would take the time to configure something more solid. It asked her simply to enter a subject. She hoped that among the small percentage of books they had managed to catalogure before the wave that there was something she might be able to use.

'Grigori' she typed carefully, her fingers unused to the position of the keys.

Searching. The word flashed at her and she leaned back in the chair, her eyes dancing around the cave of books. The numbers worked hard, shifting and grouping to make different codes. Several results appeared on the screen before her. Not as many as she would have liked but it was definitely a start if nothing else. The goddess slipped her notepad and pen out of her dress pocket and started to make notes of the location of the books.

'gaia' 'Aristogeiton' more notes.

Once she had all that she wanted she stood and stared up at the piles of books. It was a little intimidating, knowing the library as she did. Though a voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she had tackled the treasury with no problem. How hard could a mountain of books be. Especially as these were in the parts they had already organised.

She was right and it did not take her too long to locate the books on her list. Some where up high and needed the use of a ladder, others down low and one book, rather curiously was found in the travel section. She piled the books high and picked them up with a grunt. She wished that she had brought an Aoide with her, though how was she supposed to know her path.

Cosine had one destination in mind with her burden. The one place she could concentrate, the records section. Her little hide away when the world got too irritating. Which, in the past had been very often. It was dim and cold, not the kind of place most people would choose to spend their time. Her desk sat at the back, covered in dust apart from one square from where Lien had taken the book of souls.

Home.

This was the most grounded and content she had felt since her morphing. The world was such an unstable place but it was nice to know some things did not change. She dumped the books on the desk and was instantly engulfed in a cloud of dust. She coughed hard and flopped down into the chair. Not really caring that she was now a complete mess. As the dust began to settle she pulled open one of the carved mahogany drawers and felt inside. Spiders, who had taken up residence when she had abandoned her post scurried to avoid her hand. They seemed rather unhappy about the intrusion.
"Hah, found you." She grinned to herself and closed her pale hands around a pen. She had developed the habit of talking to herself long ago as people who spend much time alone do. The pen she pulled out of its hiding place was enchanted. A silly little girft from her brother but very useful.

It never needed refilling. As Cosine brushed the years of grime off the cherry lacquer fountain pen she wondered if it still worked. Enchantments wore off after time.
"Right, let's get to work old friend."
She pulled the first book down from the pile and the lid off the pen. Trying it on the paper she had she was plesantly surprised to discover that it still worked.

The books prooved to be very enlightening for her young mind. She read about Creation, the whole story. How the first gods were pearls, how Creation came from Void and how Gaia birthed the first true gods. She had known these things once but now they were just as lost as all her other memories.

Of course she took notes diligently. Especially on the Grigori as it seemed they were the enemy that needed to be stopped. Void, that was interesting too. From Void they came yet now it was Void they were trying to prevent. The Origin of them all. She devoured book after book, not moving from her perch until her fingers rested on the last one. The book from the travel section. It seemed to be a memoire of some kind. Written by a man who had travelled centuries ago, after the fading.

The World Tree.


Nergal had mentioed such a place. She could not remember it. There was a whole section on it ... then about the cities that surrounded.




Her keen eyes drank in the information, the place where once she had had a temple? It was possible, no, likely. It sounded amazing. She breathed deeply and read the paragraph about the South East Gate again. Worshipers of Creation. Enchanted weapons. She read the page again and then a thrid time. These people ... they might know more.

So many of those reborn had such fragmented memories. But here, here was a whole city full of people who had existed since the fading, their ancestors would have known. There would be books, tales. They might know something of the Grigori.

Cosine picked up her pad, pen, the book and hurried out of her corner. There had to be someone who might know more. Nergal and Echo were off searching for parts of the Aristogeiton puzzle. She could not ask them. Adrian? had he gone with them. He might know something but she had been to embarassed to find out if he was joining them. Ishum, the aoide. They seemed to know an awful lot about the past.

Home.

She decided, picking up the book, her notepad and pen. That was where she would go next. Back to the begining.

(( Quote from here Zhij's quest by Ivynian ))

((Inspired by the following picture found randomly on Devart. [X] ))

Survival of the fittest.
That was the way of life. Only the strong live through the fight. The weak ones die, become dust. They feed the strong. What happened when the strong began to fail. Where did that leave everyone?

The scales were tipped, natural order unsettled. No one knew if things would ever be as they were before. Though, at least there were those willing to die trying to salvage what life they could.

Cosine, goddess of numbers, the counting crow, sat alone in the room that she had called hers since her rebirth. It was all she could remember as home, this single room in Music’s house. It was dark outside and she sat, half dressed, staring down at her fingers. Through them, not at them. Fairy lights that Lien had put up spread a soft glow throughout the room. An illusion of warmth in a cold world.

Though her body was there, on that single bed in the small room her mind was a million miles away. On another plain of existence. It had finally happened. The information that she had learned over the past few days had hit her. Hard, like a giant medieval tome.

Cosine was now stuck, unable to move as her brain processed. She did not even look up as Shandar, her winged cat rubbed against her arm and settled on the bed beside her. One day this would all be gone. When she returned, if she returned there might not be a house left. No comfortable bed or deep relaxing bath. The aoide would be gone, the stables, Ishum. Everything turned to the very ash that they walked through each day.

And what of Echo, Nergal. Their babies. What of Ankou? Her brother? Everything and everyone that meant something to her. They were all in danger. Shandar let out a soft miaow drawing her attention back to the room.
“This is what it means to be human.” She said softly. Picking him up and nuzzling his fur a little for comfort. It was soft and he was warm.

Was it worth it?

Yes. Even if they all died, all crumbled to nothing into the void. She was glad that she had been reborn, if only for a short time. To know the kindness of Music, the wise thoughts of Underworld. To have met mortals, who they all needed and she now understood why.

Even in such a short space of time she had been taught strength, to laugh, relax, that numbers were not so serious and neither was she. She knew home, family and warmth. Concepts there were no previous memories for aside from her brother.

If she died tomorrow, she would be disappointed but she would be happy. Well, as long as it were quick and painless if Nothing consumed them. She hoped that they would all go that way. Still, all these things also gave her something to fight for. A reason to resist the void. She would fight on, as the others. Play her part in keeping the world from crumbling.

Cosine was happy to have some time to herself in the city. It was easier to think when your mind was not crowded with other people’s thoughts. As one wandered the dusty streets of Baadris it was easy to see the devastation left by the effects of the weeks. What had once been thriving and rich was now rotten and poor. Emaciated faces stared from what was left of tents watching the stranger with suspicion and awe. Cosine kept her eyes on the road, she did not want to look at them, did not want to see what pain was being caused. It was causing her to lose her faith and she could only imagine how these people felt. They were losing everything, even their lives. It was frustrating to think that she could not help them directly. She was no god of healing or nutrition. Still, perhaps there were things that they could do, some small ways in which they could help these people.

She turned a corner, things looked a little different, a square full of market stalls. Not the fragrant, legitimate stalls that had once been the life of the cities. These were families selling worldly possessions, crafts they had made, also a black market of goods to be traded, no questions asked. This was desperation, the last bit of civilisation left. When the stalls stopped making money, there would be panic, theft. Chaos would begin to reign.

Keen green eyes fell on the different wares and goods, then on the people selling them, desperate for anything they could bring to their family. The first stall sold jewellery. Beautiful bracelets and charms all made from stone and glass. Cosine smiled at the woman behind the boxes and picked up a pretty, pink bracelet.
“These are beautiful.” She commented, holding it up to the afternoon light.

The woman nodded in thanks.
“My husband made all of them.” Her voice was soft, weak even and her grey eyes spoke of her trials. “He worked for the guild, they’re all approved. Used to sell them in our shop before … before he passed away.”

Cosine glanced around some of the other items and inspected a few more. Bracelets with intricate details and designs, pendants. She picked out a few bracelets and a couple of pendants.
“How much for these?”

The woman’s worn features crumpled into an expression of thought and she met the goddesses eyes.
“What do you have? I have no home, I am living with my daughter and her family, in one room of what used to be their home. “

Cosine bit her lip and reached into her bag.
“I have water, bread, some tins of food.” She placed the items down and smiled. “Will they do?”
A smile crossed the woman’s features, it was as though she had witnessed a miracle and for a split second she looked young again.
“They are more than enough.” She said, wrapping the jewellery up and handing it over.

Numbers breathed deeply and looked down at the wrapped package. The food would barely last a family two days. She smiled back, feeling more useless still.
“No. I wish I could do more.” The words brought an instant thought to her mind. More, she could do more, they all could. “Wait. Your family, the families you know, bring them to the palace gates. I will take you somewhere you may get food, shelter … and I know I sound like an insane woman, but what do you really have to lose.” She added, watching as the woman watched her and looked back down to the food. “I promise you, myself and the others that came with me, we know a place where you will be taken care of.”

“I …” had she been about to protest? Cosine would not know as she did not give time for doubt or questions, the goddess merely bowed to the woman and gave a huge smile. “Be there, I promise we can help you.”

~~~~~

From the old woman Cosine continued on her mission, talking to those in the market and bartering what useful items she had for various trinkets, fabrics and gifts. It was silly, she knew that. Buying presents. Some fabric for Echo, hairpins for Nergal, things for the children that might be. A bracelet for Jessica’s little girl, a toy space ship for her son. All people she may never see again. People who may already, gods forbid be dead.

So this is what it meant to be human.

“Genuine wares from across the Galaxy, all currencies, tradable items and food accepted. Rare watches from Earth, crafts from the twelve tribes. Charms, for all your needs.”

The voice was rough, not well spoken and female. It shook Cosine out of her thoughts and drew her to the stall. There was something … familiar about it. She had heard it before, but where. The owner of the voice wore what looked like a hat, with a large headscarf covering it and her face. Cosine tilted her head for a moment as if it might help her catch a glimpse of the woman.

Nothing,

Green eyes travelled down to the stall and she took in the wares. It was the same as many, various gadgets and trinkets from other planets, but this stall, this held goods of power. Items of belief and protection. Unconsiously her hand went to the charm that rested in her hair. She wished that Ankou could have come with them, it would have been nice to have someone to explore with. She was the only one without a companion here.

“Would you take some water and a blanket for this?” The goddess asked, reaching for a necklace of dark beads and a stone pendant. It would suit him well she thought.

Purple eyes stared out from under the heavy veil and widened in what seemed to be recognition.
“Lady C?” the voice said … softer, almost as if she believed her very words might make the goddess vanish.

Cosine followed the party of new companions down through the streets that had once been elegant residences. Now they, like everything else were crumbling to dust. They stopped at a space port close to the palace, it was fenced like all the others. Several ships sat rusting on the landing pads, next to them a circle of tents, seemingly old and moth eaten were set up, people sat outside them, talking laughing as though nothing had happened. Though, when the going got tough wasn’t laughter the only luxury left. It was strange to see them next to these machines of high technology. The ancient juxtaposed with the modern

“Would you believe we are one of the twelve tribes.” Isra said as she unlocked the gate and held it open. “Ancient people, we were around before this city, before there was such a thing as a sultan. My forefathers roamed these lands before people began to build permanent homes and the cities existed. Then of course they were driven away from these oasis. Byt the greedy those who wanted to own the land.” She smirked and gestured for Cosine to walk towards one of the tents at the back of the enclosure. It was bigger than the others and the goddess could just about make out the rich fabric that had been used. Of course it was worn now. A shadow of what had once been. “We are nomads, we fly for trade, adventure. The current situation has driven us back to the desert however and worse, here.” She made a face and held the flap to the dust covered tent open. “I only come back for obligatory meetings at the palace. The Sultan pretending to recognise the ways of old. Just to keep the populace happy. There are some within the city walls who remember us.”

Cosine listened and ducked into the tent, it was dark and took her eyes a few moments to adjust.
“You can get inside the palace?” She asked with interest, looking around as she was able to see. Then interior of the tent was beautiful, hangings, cushions and various bits of furniture dotted around. A the back there was a fire, another goat woman, this one green was sat watching a kettle intently. Beside her a dark haired man holding a baby. It was a warm scene, hopeful. These people were better equipped to deal with the harsh realities of the crumbling world.

“Zero’s sister, Zeta … My husband Azhar and my daughter Layla, born to this evil, though she is a strong one.” The tall woman smiled proudly and gestured for Cosine to sit.
Cosine moved forwards nervously, sitting before the fire and allowing her eyes to look over the three sat there. The Aoide who watched her with a smile, the dark haired man and the tiny girl who sniffled and waved her arms.
“You have a lovely home and family.” She said softly, her eyes unable to leave the little one, how long before she joined the growing numbers of souls. An innocent life. At least she knew that there were those who would be able to put her to rest and offer her scantuary, offer them all sanctuary should they lose the battle for life.

“I knew you would come back.” The green Aoide said, her voice was softer, more eloquent than her sister. “I knew it, what’s happening Lady, what is all this death, all this evil? It’s our Lord isn’t it? Something terrible has happened to him.”

Cosine looked to the aoide that knew her and then up to her sister as she joined them by the fire. The little boy clambering into his mother’s lap.
“I am not sure I know where to begin. yes, something terrible has happened and we are at a loss for how to put it right.”

Though begin she did, telling everything that had happened in the days since her rebirth. She sipped her tea and listened to the input of her servants and the young family. Isra, a judge and her husband a healer. They were educated people from families of tradition and great belief. She learned that the stories of the gods were handed down in oral tradition. They were believers, all the tribes were.

“So you see, we came here hoping to find some way, or some knowledge. To awaken Origin once more and bring an end to this.” She smiled weakly and looked around the circle. “Believers may help too, and … and maybe if you come back to the Pantheon with us we can help you. Your tribe, the other tribes. Gods need worshippers and I think, I think many people are losing their faith.”
Isra, who had been listening intently, her chin resting on her son’s head. She would do anything for her people, her family. At this point, -anything- no matter how crazy or out of reach it sounded.
“I can get you into the palace.” She said after a long silence. “You can pose as council members. Should be enough to get you past the guards.”

Azhar nodded and looked to his wife.
“I have some weight with the other tribes, as a healer and the chief’s youngest son. I can try and rally them together, maybe we can convince some of the city people to leave this place. With our ships dead there is nothing for us here now.”

“We’ll help too.” The twin aoide piped up. They had lived with the tribe since the fading and did not wish to see them die. Not when so many had already. The caravan was half the size it had been before Destruction.

“Well, I have to meet them at sundown,” She looked up to one of the holes in the tent. “Soon, by the looks of things. Isra, you come with me and meet them, get us into the palace and then come straight back to your family. Prepare everyone to be at the palace ready to leave. We’ll show the Sultan just how empty his throne is.”