Nathrangking

Internally I groaned as much as is dignified for an ancient god. In the millennia that I knew Leila it was her tales alone that mattered I hope that this will not lead to her end. She is one of the few beside myself who remain who remember the earliest and darkest of humanities days. She is in many ways a sister to see her destroyed would bring true darkness to this world. "Leila a war unlike any that has taken place in millennia is on our doorstep. An organization of mortals is hunting our kind. They have killed the she wolf of rome, Chaos, and Ares. They have also captured 5 pf us including Rah and Apophis. There are gods who seek to create a Pantheon to wreak vengeance on the mortals. Some including myself, Sangus, and Caeli wish to learn more and prepare for the war to come without being rash. I am going now to the place where my younger cousin Ares met his end. If you wish to join us in our search for knowledge. Command this arrow to take you to me and it will do so." I pull an enchanted arrow from my quiver and drop it into the air where it floats on its own. I start to glow and a figure that looks exactly like me appears. "This avatar will keep you from harm until you reach somewhere safe. Follow if you wish or if not simply keep safe old friend." I suddenly lift off and in a moment I am back in the jet stream. The bitter cold brings back memories older than mortal memory. Clashing weapons and terrified screams combine with the sounds of the mortal's modern methods of war. They surround me now as they always have. I am attune to all warfare much in the way that other gods attune to their domains. I feel it all. Every battle past and present flows through me and I remember them all. Suddenly, I pause my flight. I can't help but remember that even among gods I am something of an anomaly. Unlike most gods even the eldest among us I am attuned not simply to the physical or divine realms. Mine is a connection in both for War is a concept in both planes of existence the implications of my nature may tip the scales of that which will come. My reverie is broken by a cry whose voice I have not heard in centuries. Before me are the horrific wounds which tear deep into the heart of the divine realm. The death of a god takes a jagged knife to the fabric of creation. When a deity is killed the portion of the divine realm that they kept in check is split open and all manner of terrible force is let loose. Nothing, but the rise of a new god can seal the open geyser, but even that sometimes does not take. Violence spills from the unmistakable wound which could only have been caused by the death of Ares. Tears form in my eyes as the last remnants of his essence which had clearly waited for me cry out in accusation one final time and then go silent. I cry out for a moment before filling myself with steel. I race down toward the earth below. Ahead I see Sangus, his companion, and Caelia standing by a seated young man and a boy whose face seems familiar though at first I cannot place it. With my gauntlet covered hand I wipe away my tears. I land next to them. I turn to Sangus. "Who are these? What have you managed to discern thus far?" @bees? @Darth Woodrack @Dr. Dapper @ZincAboutIt

*Wins by checking the shard in place of sleep.*

@Blessing of Potency

*Wins by accident.*

As I rise into the sky I see below me a face that seems to pop up every where. Over the centuries we have met a handful of times. That she was only now coming to the meeting is unsurprising. Though there is little time to lose if the Complex is hunting gods she could well be on their radar. Whisper a prayer to Sangus. "An old friend of ours has delayed me. If you are already on the way to the scene stay safe. I will send up a prayer soon any of your divine wisdom will be appreciated at that time." I then begin to whisper a prayer to Caeli. "Caeli please do keep these winds blowing while I inform our old acquaintance of what has happened." I turn a brief prayer to Sij Hawm "Sij can keep an eye Sangus? If things get ugly before I can get there he will need all of the assistance possible." I quickly glide down to the ground in front of the red haired god who is standing alone. "Hello Leila. Its been too long." @Dr. Dapper @ZincAboutIt @Invocation @Sorana

I turn my head to Chao. "What say you Chao if I keep things sufficiently chaotic will you join us?" "We have no time to waste. Wisdom waits for none." I quickly make my way through the field of bodies and across the cavern. "Shall we pay our respects to my late cousin Ares?" My voice echoes. My wings expand and I fly out into the open air without awaiting a response. The freedom of the air brings me a clarity that I have long missed. @Dr. Dapper @I think I am here. @Invocation @Blessing of Potency

"Sangus my friend the fate of the world may well stand upon the universal scales. We shall not fail it. Indeed Sij it does. It reveals much and shall not fail us." I turn my head to Chao. "What say you Chao if I keep things sufficiently chaotic will you join us?" My gaze returns to Caeli. "Caeli?" @ZincAboutIt

I lower my voice and mutter. "Indeed it does which leads to the chaos of war." I turn my glowing metallic gaze back on Caeli. It lingers. "Regardless of what the world lost that day the death of gods is no small matter." I turn to Barbados. "My sight of battles past shall reveal much I think. I will of course turn it to the task of learning what has taken place. I shall meditate on this and offer to you a prayer when I know more." My voice lowers slightly in prayer. "The She Wolf of Rome Barbados? I'm sorry for your loss. I knew her well. I helped her train Romulus and Remus. She will be missed." I return my voice to a normal range and turn to the remaining gods. "Ares was always a bit too impetuous and sure of his power. A wild god he was, but a brother nonetheless. As for Chaos this is indeed a cause for concern. With primordial chaos, the sun's of Egypt and Greece, the air, and the ascended mortal trouble is soon to follow. I must prepare for that which is to come." "Sangus if there is anyone who can see that which must be seen it is you. Will you join me in my search for certain answers to help in the the war that is to come? What of you Sif Hawm?" I turn back to Caeli. "Your eyes are everywhere. Will you send your spies forth?"

I turn and stare at the retreating forms of those who follow Barbados. I clench my jaw and I rise to my full height. The weariness is gone now and I feel powers that I have not wielded in thousands of years flow through me. "Hear me Barbados!! You seek control of a Pantheon of those you name equals!! I offer you words of caution. Do not underestimate those that you see to control." My eyes rove across the deities that seek to form this new pantheon. "You are a young god who does not remember the chaos of the ancient days when pantheons rose and fell in the blink of an eye. Do you think yourself greater than Cronus, Jupiter, Odin, or Gilgmaesh the King? They stood where you do before they were destroyed. Beware hubris young god! It consumes all!! Do not believe that you will be any different than your predecessors. There will come a day soon when you will need my blessings and blade! On that day you will call out me! I will come to your aid. However know that I am War and I shall not bow or kneel at the feet of any Deity!!" I turn to Sangus. "Why did you never take credit for The Prince? We all know that it was not that mortal Machaivelli could not have written such a thing." The pendulum continues to swing in the air before Chao. @Darth Woodrack, @Blessing of Potency, @Dr. Dapper

Yay!

I turn back toward her the golden glow in my eyes returning to normal. What a fool I have been. For a moment I acted as a young godling just coming into their powers. There is little excuse for my impetuousness. "Caeli both you and Sangus have spoken with more wisdom than I. There is little excuse for my impetuousness. I acted as a young godling just coming into their powers. Simply vowing to enter a Pantheon which not even born and already falling from within." @Invocation, @ZincAboutIt, @Darth Woodrack Turn toward Sij Hawm for a moment and nods in respect. "I needed the reminder of the fate of the last Pantheon which I had been a member of." I turn toward Barbados. "Should you accept my blessing it is yours to hold. I am willing to fight alongside you in the coming war, however War will not be caged again. Gilgamesh and Uruk left me disgusted with divine squabbles I left them after my counsel was rejected time and again. I shed a tear that day, but I knew that they had destroyed themselves. It took a bit of reminding, but I never wish to make such a mistake again. If it can be proven that this will stand prouder and stronger than Uruk then I will truly consider the fullest extent of your proposal. For now I will fight alongside you and aid you should you desire that I do so, but not more."

"Am I he who serves humanity to grant it more than it asks? Would they grant such a boon? I commit to those who call to me and I grant them their request no more no less. True victory were it asked would be granted. As for this weakness, would it not be so if I had created blessings worthy of divinities that would rewrite our fates, that will permeate the whole of the cosmos. and grant us lasting victory if it is accepted and let into each individual being?"

I feel no rage toward Sij Hawm his words are as they have always been and yet I am not done. Victory will yet be mine. "Sij Hawm with whom are they disappointed? It is I who raised them when they called to me. It is not I who took them. Sji Hawm it is known well that their own deeds destroyed them. Alexander and Caesar ceased praying the moment that they got what they wanted. Napolean and his hubris destroyed him. I am no more in control of their foolishness than I can control time. It does indeed reduce all to dust. Am I not he that renders verdict upon the field of war? Do I not grant wisdom to those who fight? I am victory itself this is known!!" "Caeli you know well that no matter how many I curse more shall rise. I see a battle coming that none may avoid on that day destruction unparalleled since existence began will be set loose. The days when it was enough to act through curses is coming to an end. Gods can be blessed, but only if they so desire. If we fall then what will remain. This realm will vanish and we will be forgotten. They will rule with fists of Iron and by our might." I turn my head toward her and force a weak smirk onto my face. "What of you mistress of the air? Will you not do battle as we have done so many times in the past? Will you not return to the mortals the awe that you used to inspire in them? Should they not again call out to you? We will have a strategy this I can promise. I refuse to allow all to end now and to end up enslaved or worse to those who would decide the fate of the gods and this world. Let them fear the winds once more!!" I let out a roar. I rise unsteadily to my feet.

I turn my gaze upon Sij Hawm. Their words are wise as they always are and yet there is something more and unspoken at play. A hardness fills my eyes and the glow in my armor becomes just a bit brighter. An aura grows around me and in an instant suffuses the whole chamber. I know well the power that Sij holds is among the most ancient. I must try and secure him and aid Caeli if we are to have any true chance of success. "Sij Hawm who knows time's true essence, they who bind, and they who ends your words are truth. We could well destroy ourselves in attempting what has been proposed. That being so is it not telling that I am willing to sign this pact. Have I ever chosen to side with those who were doomed to fail. Have I not graced the likes of Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon to name a few and granted them success when they called my name? By my name as the god of warfare, I Baalhan, he who grants victory, slayer of kingdoms, master of the field of battle, prince of the immortal blade swear myself to this cause and bless it with victory from this day!!" My voice fills the chamber and my sword returns to my outstretched hand. A blinding sapphire light envelopes the room and then fades. When it does my blade is once again gone. I slump in my seat wearily. @ZincAboutIt

Pretty standard really. Not actually exciting. Its neutral.

"Ah Sij. You have come. I recall that yours is to not just witness but also to you is to seal. Will you seal the ties of this Pantheon?"

A wry grin settles on my face as I turn my head to look at Chao. I look around at the assembled gods and goddesses for a moment before I produce a pendulum of sapphire energy which floats around in front of her. "Caeli, Caeli, Caeli, you know well that words sometimes have great power. Do you recall the prayers that ascended on the eve ot Agincourt?"

I turn toward Phantom and examine him. I sense that he is hiding secrets. I will have to watch this one. He seems to be a holder of an object of power. He could be an asset but only time will tell. "Tell me from where do you hail?"

I face forward again and sit back. I watch as the next goddess makes her way into the chamber and joins us. Her presence here confirms what I suspect. Barbados has summoned many deities from the corners of the globe. However, he has not accounted for many things. An accord of this sort would indeed make us powerful. However, it is not without risk. With Myself, Caebdar, Chao, Sangus, Caeli, and Leila, providing voices of wisdom we may perhaps do that which others before us failed to accomplish. I turn to Caeli. " Caeli is it? When did we last see each other? I believe that it may have been the skies above Paris 1942."

Cretin

*Wins while humming staying alive.*

I turn toward Sangus. "Sangus you are the wisest of us. I vote that you create the spell which will bind us as a Pantheon. Greece, Rome, and countless others fell because of betrayal from within. If we desire to stand a binding of more than simple words may be necessary."

I raise my blade and banish it in a wave of sapphire light. I close my metallic eyes and all at once a thousand fields of battle flash before me. I see a battle more vivid than the others. Divine power races through the air and the ground trembles. I sigh and open my eyes. "I pledge my immortal blade and power to our Pantheon. I am sorry to report that we have a problem. I sense a battle between a god and the complex in the outskirts of London."

"Barbados, you know well that mortals have tried before to take our power. Why should we fear these now?" My more measured tone echos through the chamber as I look around and cock my brow. "More importantly what do you expect of us? Many of us have been at odds in the past. Would you have us just set aside our pasts and unite?"