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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:25 pm
This is primarily for the Council to convene and discuss things but others are welcome to drop a character in if they like 
Glyph had spent his days considering their actions and options since the creation of the Council on which he sat. The star about his neck was a constant reminder that their action or inaction could cause as much trouble and strife as it could peace and prosperity.
And it bothered him that, for as much they'd all vowed to do good things for, well, everything... they hadn't once convened to speak together on matters. It was time, he felt, to get the ball rolling. Too much was at stake for the Gods to drift into their own personal spaces again.
He'd sent out word via mortals and Aoide and posted a Notice on the community board that had been created when his host yet lived. Then, with the calls sent out, Forest had set himself to waiting in the Orator's Walk, toying with the plant life in the area, encouraging them to grow. He managed to call a vine into reaching him and sat with its tender feelers twined around a wrist, a thoughtful expression upon his lips.
He wanted to address the problem of the Grigori and the ways in which they could defend or attack the creature.
The Notice Calling the Council
The members of the Council are summoned to the Orator's Walk for a discussion and planning of the steps needed to be taken to protect our realms. The presence of Greed, Underworld, Worldshield, the Mortal Seer, and Forest are all required.
It is time for action to be taken. We cannot afford to wander separate paths and we all made vows or gave promises when we took up the Stars - we cannot forget them.
Meet me at the Orator's Walk at Noon, three days hence.
~Silvim Illustirre
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:48 pm
 Forest was not alone in waiting - really, you couldn't tell Ashoka to be somewhere and expect her to just be on time. The pard was always either early or late, but usually the former. She had planted herself, as it were, on the Walk a full two hours ago. Granted, she'd proceeded to fall asleep, but she was there! A little ripple in her awareness, the feel of someone else and the tickle of unseen possibilities, roused her from her sleep.
She stretched but didn't rise, watching the horned god for a moment before speaking, "You were nicer about that than I would have been. Your spelling is better, too."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:50 pm
It was not long before another figure approached the Walk, comfortable robes sweeping lightly at the grasses and leaves. "I see your touch in more than words, Forest," Tian Yue called out, placing one hand on the bark of a tree; Creation's power fed Life, but the other deity's power was manifest as well. Manifest, and answered eagerly by the Forest under his sway.
As the Dragon King approached, he realized Ashoka was there as well, nodding to her. "Ashoka - you look well," he said with a welcoming smile. Mortal though she may be, she was Councillor as well, and not expected to show deference to any. At least not by him. "Thank you for your foresight and action, Glyph," he added, turning to the other god. "A vow forgotten, never - but days slip by consumed by vital yet ultimately petty tasks, and in the end the result may be the same if left unchecked."
"Fair words," came a low chuckle from above. There, reclining catlike on a branch, was Phaedra - who knew how long she had been there? The amused smirk on her face said not telling! as effectively as words. "So, we are gathered then? Good, good..." One claw toyed with the star slung about her own neck, running along the delicate edges of the Crown's gift.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 11:55 pm
He glanced up when Ashoka stirred and made her comment, drawing a grin from Forest as he gave a shrug, "No reason to be unkind yet. I think we forget too easily the passage of time." Giving wave he gently curled the vine from his arm and guided its reaching tendrils to the wall where it might grow up and around.
As he did so, another familiar voice rang out and the smile broadened, glad that the Dragon King had shown himself... that left Phaedra and Nergal, then. Laughing lightly he glanced at the perked and healthy plants in the vicinity, "That is good to hear, I worry sometimes if I step backwards rather then forward"
His next words inspired a cheeky grin and he looked again to Ashoka - his guess had been correct, time slipped through their hands so very easily, "Indeed. Inaction and thoughtlessness could be just as deadly, and I for one would not welcome a repeat of Hell."
With Phaedra's reveal - he could not call it an entrance for the goddess' voice broke in with ease and her expression held a tight-lipped confidence, like a woman teasing a man, "Gathered? We miss Nergal yet... but I have not heard from him or his."
Forest frowned, waited a few moments then shrugged, "No matter. The discussion can easily be summarized when he arrives. I called the council to session because of the Grigori. An obvious problem, yes, but there is no obvious solution. We know so very little about them... no location, no numbers, let alone how to combat or defend against them. Their leader struck Harmodius down and I still do not know how that was managed. Do any of you know?
"And, along those lines, does anyone know what hurts them? They cannot be infallible or else Samyaza could have conquered us single-handedly, and they were exiled or imprisoned... that also had to have been achieved somehow, via some weakness. We all have relics... and yet I do not know if any remain at the Pantheon - I've been toying with the idea of speak to Jin about this. As the treasure keeper, he'd likely know what was in the Pantheon's keeping, be it weapons, armor, information, or some other kinds of relics.
"Preferrably, I would see some plan to guarantee their undoing because they escaped in the first place but failing that some other means of controlling or confining them is best. We are gods and we each have many resources... there must be bread crumbs to follow somewhere." He paused there, taking a moment to meet each of the Councillors' gazes, "And, once we know something, to make that information broadly known. These Stars protect us, yes, but we are still vulnerable... if one of us should fall, our knowledge should not also fall with us."
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:08 am
"Dragon," she acknowledged with a smile, the tip of her tail flicking.
When Glyph had finished speaking, she pushed herself up into a sit - everyone was always so much taller when you were looking up at them from the floor, but she was really quite loathe to leave it when she was so comfortable. "There used to be a list of them, on the board." The pard closed her eyes, trying to remember, but it did not come; there was too much for her to remember everything. "Don't remember how many, but there was a list."
"Zhiji and General-Brother found two weapons...they are Harmodius' now, probably. Zhiji has armor, maybe works for Grigori?" Ashoka grinned. "Only one way to find out, obviously."
"His treasures were at the Old Place, so maybe there are more, but they were also there because that is where he died." Sharing Ying Long's personal information didn't seem to bother her in the least. "Still, worth looking."
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:21 am
Phaedra had her own, amusing theories about what staid Underworld might be doing, but she kept them to herself. Time and place, after all, and this was neither. "When I took the Throne, I sought them out, but..." She shrugged, slightly awkwardly since she was still laying on that tree branch. "They are damnably elusive beings, even to the Sight. Gehenna is Void, whom they yearn for and wield. Our defenses must counter this Void. The Manacles that Futs Lung and I found were of ancient make, and worked to bind the End for a time, though we all know they were not infallible. They did effect Void, though, through some secret method of manufacture that has been lost. Regrettably." She traced one claw along the bark of the branch below her.
When Phaedra fell silent again, her tail idly swishing back and forth against the leaves, Tian Yue glanced up and opened his mouth to speak. "Samyaza obscured the Crown's Name, in part - I was not present for the attack, but I know that what she did pushed the imbalance in Destruction towards Gehenna. During the Ritual, I offered up a new Name as part of my own offering. There was a tale, a small story I found in Harmodius' things as I researched for Naming, speaking of a redoubtable woman in service to Law, and the Pearl she found and claimed. I believe this woman to be Samyaza... but she is changed now beyond telling, and changed others as well. If she still has this artifact of old, this Pearl, perhaps removing it from her keeping might lessen her power. Or it might be that she has come so close to Void that she needs no mere relics to maintain her hold."
His brow was furrowed in frustration. "Information about the actual attack, and how the Grigori came to be in the Pantheon... I know precious little about that, save that Gaia was attacked as well, and Her arm taken. But the Empress has been in such seclusion since..." Indeed, he had no idea if Gaia was even within the Pantheon any more.
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 4:50 pm
"The Old Places..." Glyph echoed, pursing his lips. Those would be their graves, their seats of power long cracked and broken with the fading... and difficult to face - he was terrified of Fading again, a fear he suspected curled at the heart of many of the gods. Exploring your own remains, from another another life, another glory... it left him feeling thoughtful and wondering where his glories rested.
"Two weapons... that is not very many. We need our relics... at the very least. I wouldn't even know where to start for mine. Greed? Worldshield? Have you travels taken you near any other graves? Ashoka, how did Zhijian come to find his?"
He made a thoughtful sound and looked up to the Ruthless Desire perched above - ironic, that. "Wielders of Void - the stuff of unmaking. I wonder... something counters nothing. Would a 'positive' force be enough to match them? In Samyaza's attack and flight, did anything we use have a marked effect? Your shields, can they withstand a concentrated attack from the Grigori?" His gaze shifted to Tian Yue as he fell silent and listened.
"Do you know what that Pearl was?" It could have been anything, from the time of their greatest strengths... and very likely important. The notions of Names also struck a chord in him, "If she can undo even Harmodius with the uttering of a Name, then surely she has her own that we can wield against her and hers. Did you find anything mentioning such matters?"
Glyph's expression grew thoughtful as he sat back on the bench and unconsciously reached to coil the vine around his wrist once more, "If imbalance and Names can wreak such havoc for us, perhaps we can tip the balance within the Grigori, unravel them as they tried to unravel us."
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:40 pm
"He remembered. He died there, in the Old Pantheon." Which, fortunately for Ying Long, had probably made it easier...and been a good thing in the long run, since they'd found the Fate Stones there as well. "Tian Yue knows more, they went together."
"If you want to find old things, you'll need to remember what you lost in the first place...or at least where you lost them." Such a bother it must be, dying and then coming back and not remembering anything.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:25 am
"As Ashoka says, the Old Pantheon held many secrets and many bones. Unfortunately, it was damaged by Gehenna's ravaging as well. Some of the most astonishing relics were lost." Tian Yue sighed at the thought of the seeing stones cracked and crumbled, their visionary surfaces dimmed and broken. "But it would be a starting point. It is reachable through a world named The'taa'na. A few of the errais know the way."
"The Manacles were within Yggdrasil," Phaedra put in, still drumming her fingers against the branch, though it seemed that she was doing it absently rather than to deliberately annoy. "With Jin Huang's corpse, naturally. It seems we all left discarded relics hanging around our impromptu graves. If only we'd had the good sense to all die in one place..."
"I would place more value in recovering ancient knowledge than the artifacts themselves," Tian Yue said, after a moment. "With knowledge, we can remake such powerful items and rediscover that power of old, rather than scraping through the ashes for old glories. As for my shields... it is hard to say. I was protecting the Pantheon at the time of Samyaza's attack, but as a very young god. The attack burst my shield from within. My power is many times greater now, and yet they wield Void. Gehenna defied my shields even as I am now. I fear I cannot dampen them as easily as I could one of our own..."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:04 pm
"Has no one gone to explore the Old Pantheon since its discovery? I would have gone had I known..." Glyph's expression was thoughtful, a plan forming as they spoke, "Can you help us remember where our things are, Ashoka? I know we've spoken of your abilities but I would assume Seeing for us is either much easier or harder then trying to See for a mortal. Dangerous, too, if you skry using relics of old." He bit his lower lip, "It would be up to you how far you wish to push your self." It wouldn't make sense to burn up the mortal on a 'what if' or a 'maybe'.
"The Old Pantheon would be a good starting point, agreed, but we cannot all leave the Pantheon at once. As it stands we have two venues of exploration: one, the Old Pantheon and two referencing Harmodius' things and the great library at the very least." He thought over their varied skills and personalities and swayed his head from side to side a few times.
"Tian Yue, you have been to the Old Pantheon, I think you should go with Ashoka to see what you can find. Her skills may be extremely useful in guiding your searches there. Information will be most important, I agree, but I would also not snub the gathering of relics either." He looked to the god, a smile upon his lips.
"Greed... Speak to Jin since you've worked together before. He surely has knowledge of the Treasury - we need information about Samyaza, her pearl, and how to combat them. I am certain that that information will not be kept in books and scrolls alone." He quirked a lip, hoping Greed's covetous nature might actually assist them here.
That left his and Underworld's parts... "As for myself. I want to see the Old Pantheon but someone does need to stay here. There must be things on this Pantheon's grounds that may be of use - I will certainly look into the journal you mentioned and go through the Library. Some guidance would be useful here, however,... either Knowledge or Harmodius." The last was more a thoughtful musing then a suggestion as he crossed one leg over the other.
"Thoughts? I think we are agreed on the collection of information - regarding Names, Samyaza, and the stolen Pearl as well as gathering knowledge to remake our artifacts."
((I believe that in order to actually discover anything that we need to petition Ivy for either quests or tidbits or what have you.
Once this RP is finished, I suggest a 'group meeting' with Ivy to iron out everything and ping our ideas off the DM. =3 ))
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:22 pm
"I cannot Remember for you, and I See only small pieces of the past - and you are asking about a very long past, the past of the god part of you. The mortal part's past is much closer, much stronger, hard to see beyond. Your remembering must be yours, I think. Try falling out of the sky." Ashoka's lips peeled back in a grin. "It worked for Zhiji."
"But if things are found, maybe I can See some of what they have seen, if their memories have not faded. I will go with Purple-Dragon, and look for lost things."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:13 pm
"Of course - I would love to go there again at slightly more leisure. Slightly." The Dragon King smiled, inclining his head to one side. "I believe Zhijian wishes to visit The'ta'naa again as well. Two birds, one stone. As for the book, it was in Harmodius' chambers, written on leaves of Yggdrasil. No doubt the Aoidei have moved it by now, but one of His trusted hands should know where it is." He glanced up at the sky, briefly, before looking back at Glyph. "It is written in the First Tongue. I have some knowledge of it, hard-won; perhaps I ought to assist you in that, at least at first. The Tongue is.... challenging. Enjoyable, but challenging."
A faint purr drifted down from the tree at the mention of Jin Huang. "That is an acceptable course of action." Usually, Phaedra would balk at being ordered around, no matter how obliquely or couched in pleasantries the request may have been, but with this she could appear cooperative and get something interesting out of the deal at the same time. A fair enough trade, especially since it didn't involve some fusty old library.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:28 pm
Glyph made a face, "I dislike flying at the best of times... my roots are in the ground, not the sky." Indeed, forest had a fear of heights that he did not often speak of. It was one thing to walk tall, firmly rooted in the ground, another thing entirely to be unbound and unsupported with nothing beneath but a long and painful fall.
"That would be appreciated Ashoka. You have a talent none of us can lay claim to and I think that's something worth noting." He smiled kindly then turned his attention back to Tian Yue, "Then that works. Zhijian's presence will also help speed your trip if I am not mistaken, another boon. I wouldn't doubt the book is moved either... and I'm not about to go prying into such things without asking Harmodius first, now that he is back."
Tilting his head at the comment of the First Tongue he gave another nod, "Your guidance would be helpful then. If we both read it then more will be gleaned from its pages perhaps."
Phaedra's agreement made Forest grin and he worked hard to suppress the chuckle. They two had much history between them. From his being tangled in her webs as lover and chronicler to their equal standing now... he felt he knew her best of those gathered. "Thank-you Lady Greed. We should meet once more before Worldshield and Ashoka leave on their journey, I think. Perhaps what we have learned in the meantime will be beneficial."
Looking to Tian Yue he tilted his head, "How long do you think a remedial lesson in First Tongue will take? We do have Harmodius back, whom I can make inquiries of as well, if he is willing - and provided I'm allowed to see the book."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:02 pm
"I will go whenever you're ready." Ashoka nodded, falling silent while the gods discussed books and Tongues and plans. If there was a First Tongue, was there a Second Tongue? What Tongue would this be? Hmm. She picked at her toes while she thought about it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 6:13 pm
"I shall petition Jin Huang at the earliest opportunity," Phaedra said with a slow grin. By 'petition' she meant 'bother', 'harass', 'poke', and other such synonyms, of course. Best to be paid for what you were going to do anyway~
Tian Yue, for his part, looked thoughtful. "It is difficult to say. I was taught the Tongue long ago, when I was a young dragon. Without that underpinning of knowledge... do you know if you had any training in the First Tongue before the Fading?"
Phaedra stretched, then hopped out of the tree, landing in a crouch, one hand going down to steady herself.
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