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 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:23 am
The cat is the cat, what was that supposed to mean? Ifan followed after Takeru quite happily whilst Isambard tried to hunt for meaning in the words of the man. It there was one thing that Ifan had learnt in his time at the Pantheon it was that you just took things as they came. He had met dragons, a goddess of greed, a clockwork woman , a snake woman and a djinn cat or no cat he was intrigued to meet this god of mystery. It was certainly an interesting domain to command.
“How did you come by Chien Tang’s stone?” Ifan asked with curiosity, he wondered if their fusing had been anything like his, if he had chosen it.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:51 pm
Toshiro was a bit amused by the clue he had given, but at the question, he smiled. “Xun Jiang gave it to me. He found two of his brothers in danger. Shen Lung’s stone was cracked, his second host gone. Lifewater used his own ability to heal and strengthen him enough to keep his brother alive. While that taking place, Chien Tang was trying to reach out. His host was in his rooms, but she had died. He was in danger also, but with his senses heightened, Xun heard him.”
“I met him a day or so later. I am an immortal from a world called Earth. I knew Merlinus and Saphei there. They are the two Mysteries. I had lost track of them for many centuries. Thousands of years really. I found them here again. It was Chien Tang’s choice, but it was Xun Jiang who asked. He has become my brother as much as he is Takeru’s,” Toshiro explained. “I have fought many battles in my life. It is time for rest. Time is not kind to those of us who live forever.”
He laughed softly as he opened to door to his own set of rooms. “Takeru is a warrior to the core of his soul. As am I. But he has not learned that there are times when one needs to step back and not fight. If you do not enjoy the life and people you have, then what do you fight for? It is senseless. Therefore I fight him each step of the way. Until I have his respect, he will receive none from me. And even when he gives it, I will fight him again.” Of course, Takeru heard none of this from Toshiro.
He noted Syon just in front of them. “Would you see if Taj will join us? And that Mei Ling brings some tea to the deck.” He would turn toward the deck that led around the house itself to the wooden walkway over the pond.
Syon was just leaving as Toshiro was coming. “Sure thing, Toshi. Anything else?” When Toshiro shook his head, he disappeared down the hallway.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 1:35 pm
"Workaholics, seems to be a theme with gods." Ifan replied with a bit of a smile. Isambard was the same. It all had to be done now or yesterday, no time for resting or play. He had companions but none of them were really friends, more building blocks in his empire.
"Immortal ... but Chien Tang, when he is reborn you won't be you will you? You won't exist, niether of us will." He was intrigued by the concept of immortality, the only people with extended lifespans he had met were the gods. Though, this world was a funny one, full of all sorts.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:44 pm
Toshiro agreed. "Yes, it does. Chien Tang wants to protect everyone, especially the Twin Crown. But perhaps the reason he failed is that was all he could see."
"No I will not be, but Chien Tang will be. He is a dragon king, the general of the river dragons, very large or so I have been told. Immortality has advantages, but it has disadvantages also. You get a chance to make a difference but you do it alone. Everyone around you dies while you go on. It is hard to let others in. Merlinus and Saphei were my first friends, the very first life I had. My name was Critias. They accepted me, and I protected them with all that I was."
He stopped for a moment. "I am not human, but a mix of oniwanjin and human.
The island we were on sank. That was around 2500 years ago I think. There was a crystal that contained the energy to keep the island afloat and to give the people miraculous things. Others coveted it. In the end, they damaged it or perhaps used too much of the energy. It ran rampant. Neither race wanted me, but Merlinus and Saphei did."
He indicated that Ifan have a seat. "I knew I could save the humans, Merlinus and Saphei. I absorbed the energy into myself and that is what made me immortal. I was not entirely certain how I survived, but I have come full circle. I found Merlinus and Saphei again. They are the Mysteries." Toshiro smiled faintly as the housekeeper brought them some tea and cakes and then left without intruding. "There are things I have seen that no being should, but there are things I have seen and done that I will never forget either." A cooling breeze swept across the lake stirring the air and trees nearby.
"It is worth it to me to bring him back, giving him something he needs," Toshiro said softly, "But do not tell him that. I would rather he pay attention and keep guessing what I will do."
Taj saw Toshiro glance up as he heard footsteps on the walkway. He had been here once or twice already and he liked the rooms that Toshiro had created. They suited him. His feet padded softly as he walked, his wings folded back, but his tail was twitching from side to side. It was the twitch of a feline having fun. He suddenly grinned as Toshiro got to his feet to bow to him. Taj returned the bow to Toshiro and then to Isambard and Ifan as he sat down.
< What fine company gilds this humble abode this day. There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier. > he wrote, the words falling into the air between them. Then he took the offered cup with a grin. He already knew who this was without being introduced.
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Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:33 am
Ifan listened to Toshiro's dramatic story with interest. It was far better than his, born and brought up in an industrial city. He must have seen many many intersting things. It struck Ifan that he would never see such things himself, the Pantheon was very likely to be his final resting place. Still, the pantheon was interesting enough, with the different characters of the divine it was rarely the same every day.
Ifan took a seat as instructed and looked around himself, it was a beautiful home, peaceful and airy. Nothing like Isambard's dark rooms filled with Victoriana. For a god who enjoyed innovation he was certainly very stuck in his ways.
His attention was then caught by the person who approached them. A cat of sorts? Toshiro had not been wrong, this must be mystery. Ifan watched him as he said nothing and began moving his hands. It took a moment for the young man and god to realise that was his way of communication.
Ifan let Isambard back into the driving seat, he very much doubted he would be of interest to these gods.
Isambard gave a bit of a smirk at Mystery's words.
"Indeed." He replied. "As you already know my domain, I am Isambard, it is a pleasure to meet you."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:17 pm
 Taj had caught a glimmer of cogs and wheels when he was asked to come to Toshiro’s quarters for tea. At first he had thought it was Priscilla and Carp but then understood that it was a newer god than that. < Cogs and wheels align themselves in sight. Dollmaker was first thought, but then sight cleared and understanding came. > He nodded, grinning slightly. < And host withdraws to give god room. The need to know is joint. Host becomes Industry as Industry becomes host. Both have much to learn of the state of things. > The writing slipped in the air between them again. It was the first time Taj had referred to he and Jaster as we.
He watched Toshiro for a moment. Toshi liked this god well. And even Takeru seemed to agree. < Perhaps new friend this day. >
Toshiro watched Taj’s words closely. He frowned slightly then nodded. “Yes, Dollmaker’s door is similarly cogged and wheeled. I believe he even has a mechanical arm now. Someone pointed him out to me. Recently changed I believe.”
He also understood that Taj was trying to tell Ifan that this was not all about Isambard. It was about him also since he was becoming a part of the god as the god became a part of him. Toshiro commented nothing on that. He was sure that Isambard would catch it.
He refilled their tea cups slightly making sure their tea was warm. “I knew you were at the forge occasionally, Taj, and Isambard is beginning to build a new forge and warehouses for things. It is a very good idea I think. We can’t sit and wait on everything to come to us. We need to do our share also.”
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Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 11:25 am
Isambard did indeed catch Mystery's meaning, though of course chose to ignore it. He was a stubborn god after all. He watched the god with caution. Mystery was a complicated domain as far as he was concerned, perhaps not to be trusted.
"I am, and not just the forge. I have a quarry not too far from the town."
We're trying to make the town more habitable for those that have been stranded here." Ifan explained, as in his mind that was what they were doing, good things for people. A settlement and permanent homes.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:45 am
Taj nodded. < Expansion will deliver the needs of many. The shifter taught Jaster the forging of blades and sheaths. The cat remembers even the wood carving. > Taj did not often speak of his host, but he did remember it all. It was as much a part of him as it had been Jaster. < The shifter knows the whereabouts and when of all those at the forge. > At least those Taj had set into motion. < What ways come first other than forge and quarry? >
He wondered which direction Isambard would push the expansion. It was not entirely clear to him. Perhaps homes for people. There were many here but more would arrive with the dragons' actions in Outland which were still to come.
Toshiro warmed their cups of tea again. He thought about Taj's question. "Homes would be good if the land were cleared where the old houses are. That is what they did for the orphanage. The old building was torn down and a new one put up with everyone's help. Houses such as I lived in were easily made. It took a framework, but the rest was sliding doors and easy to put up. Tile roofs and surrounded by porches, the homes were protected even though their walls were rice paper. It would allow for quick manufacture and mine is an example of such." Ceramic tiles were easy enough to make. He indicated the house just behind them. "If you wish, I can sketch up the way one is made as an option for you."
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:22 am
Isambard listened to them and had to smile a bit. This man, a warrior and destroyer was offering to show him, Industry how to design a home, telling him what needed to be done. There was a saying wasn't there? About grandmothers and sucking eggs. What did they think he had been doing these past months.
They're just bouncing ideas off each other, you don't need to be so defensive.
"I have called together a group, or co-op I suppose of artisans and skilled labourers. They have begun to rebuild the town, fix what homes they can, build more where ones once were. Some work on drainage, some on connecting homes to water supplies. People seem to forget, though much was destroyed people's knowledge and skill was not, they just needed leadership and resources. Direction. Once the infrastructure and homes are in place they can expand to municiple buildings, shops, transport, production to support their businesses and population. Once others see the progress here they would hopefully be inspired to continue the success elsewhere.
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Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:06 pm
"I honestly have no idea what is truly available here, Isambard. I have only been here a short time on this world. And what I have seen of the buildings around this are seems very unstable. I was not sure when I first arrived that there were even any people left. Still not sure why I came in this direction other than something seemed to be pulling me here. And none know me well enough for me to pull people together yet so it is good that you can do so." He sipped his tea for a moment, frowning slightly.
"And there will a large influx of people from Outland. That is where we plan to go. I am not entirely certain the races of people there, but I know that there are dragons, orcs, elves, and humans. Beyond that, I could not say what skills they will have either."
Taj drank his tea, but then added, < Gnomes that tinker, dwarves that mechanize, goblins that grind gears with steampipes, engineers most treasured and rare. Offers from a dying world. > There were more of course, but Taj could only see a few of the things that Outland and Azeroth had to offer. But it could be enough to give Industry the workers he needed.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:33 am
It was in Isambard's nature to pull people together, he was easily able to manipulate and being within Ifan actually helped. The young man was very personable, people trusted him easily. The news that there would be many more coming to the Pantheon was both wrlcome and not at the same time.
"They will need housing, the resources here are strained as it is. I will set people to work in constructing some temporary housing perhaps, the forests are recovered enough to allow us some wood. Farming will need to be encouraged. If We can get things in motion then their transition will not be so hard.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:24 pm
Toshiro decided to expand on what Taj had said. "Not all will be remaining here. The world in question was subjected to demonic activities. It broke apart when those demonic forces opened an extremely large portal to another world. It broke it apart and there are only a few areas that have stabilized with air and such to drift in the nether. From what I gather, the place is going to crumble within the next several decades. Rather than let more in, Xun and his dragons plan to shut the portal down. I plan to go along as does Taj."
He stopped for a moment. "The first priority is to get the people to safety. Tempest can conjure tents, but we have no idea how many will stay rather than go to another war torn world which is where some are headed. But I am certain that anything waiting on them will be welcome. We are going to try to get them all to leave as soon as possible. I don't believe my brother is giving them a choice to be honest."
Taj nodded in agreement with what Toshiro had explained. < The elements leave doomed land for places that thrive. Even titans will not walk there long. > It was as close to saying what he knew as he could get. Outland was doomed but they would get those they could off before it collapsed entirely.
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:30 am
"It would not hurt to be prepared whether they stay or not." Those that moved on, took their skills elsewhere may feel motivated to start fresh, create new towns and cities wherever they decided to settle, they sounded like industrious races. He would have to take note of where they went to so that he could visit them and encourage their industrial evolution. Any shelter that remained would serve other families just as easily.
He sipped the tea thoughtfully.
"If you need help in your mission I will provide it if I can." He suggested. Things he had implemented at the Pantheon mostly ticked over by themselves.
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Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:48 pm
"Anything would be appreciated. I am quite certain that these people will need rest for a time. Life has been exceedingly hard on them with their world broken and demons constantly attacking them. And to find the things they need readily available to them will help a great deal or at least have access to making them," Toshi replied, nodding at the offer.
Taj listened as Toshi and Isambard spoke. Perhaps he would have his own people prepare food while he was gone. Then some of it would be waiting on the refugees rather than wondering where their next meal was going to come from. It could make the difference for these people.
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Posted: Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:53 am
A celebration might be a strong word, though he supposed anything would be cause to celebrate if you came from nothing.
"I will notify the team of workers and see what we can have ready for you." He finished off the tea and placed the cup down. "I'm glad to have met you Toshiro, and you Mystery. I am always pleased to meet the pro-active among us."
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