Pha-hu didn't attempt to dodge, and thus Aesin's mighty blow hit him full force. He was bowled over - while his Skin-of-Shields-and-Hammers took most of what may have been a fatal hit, he was still winded, still dazed, still very much in pain. He felt the biting sear of the snow against his flesh as it bit into him, and tasted sweat and blood.

He got up - extremely quickly, to his credit - and spun about, striking Aesin in the sword arm before the God of Order could respond. He was weak with fatigue by this point, however, and only glanced Aesin; the God of Order felt nothing but a slight pinch.

They both stood apart.

Aesin attacks again, without hesitation. He aims to incapacitate the god.

Pha-hu parried the attack with his forearm, then pushed it to attempt to drive it into the snow.

"Well. It has been fun, but I shall take my leave. I concede to you, dear sir, and hope to cross arms with you some time in the future."

He then dropped The Skin-of-Shields-and-Hammers to reserve his energy and sped off towards the gate where he had come from.

As Pha-hu attempted to parry the blow the force of the attack struck him down. The string of words that came out of his mouth were mumbled, stumbled, fumbled; as he dashed back towards the gate, he stumbled a little.

Aesin put away his sword and retracted his shield. The bumbling mess in front of him has had enough.

He motioned for the nearby men to help him back to his realm safely and then went back to the town centre.

(Due to lack of response - and the fact that Pha tried to leave anyway - I'm stating what happens without the said response)

Pha is carried out of the Realm on the backs of the men of Aesin. There is a flash of blinding light, a crack like lightning, and both he and the Gate are gone.

Pha-Hu, continue posting in your own Realm.

--

Within the town center Aesin finds the medicine man drilling the troops. They offer no resistence, no complaint. There are a handful of other people wandering around the square.

[Scouts: 3/15]

(Due to lack of response - and the fact that Pha tried to leave anyway - I'm stating what happens without the said response)

Pha is carried out of the Realm on the backs of the men of Aesin. There is a flash of blinding light, a crack like lightning, and both he and the Gate are gone.

Pha-Hu, continue posting in your own Realm.

--

Within the town center Aesin finds the medicine man drilling the troops. They offer no resistence, no complaint. There are a handful of other people wandering around the square.

Aesin approaches the medicine man and says "Encourage honour, loyalty and obedience to the men. Prepare the majority of the men for melee training. The rest should do agility training, for they will be trained as archers."

He looks at the man and asks, "What is your name?"

"Maesz," said the medicine man. "My name is Maesz, my lord."

He continued to maneuver the men.

He nods and ponders for a moment.

He relaxes completely and breathes deeply and feels the land around him.

He feels the cool breeze roll across the land and the heartbeat of the realm - uneven, disordered.

He continues to meditate while he waits for his men to return.

A day passes. Then night. Many hours flow about Aesin, the rigid structure of the clock giving him strength. The meditation was good for him.

The scouts did not return.

Aesin began to move again. He started to gather stones and casts Law and Order, He attempts to enchant the stones in order to dowse for minerals to mine.

The stones are easily found. Flat, black things, taken from the river, they will be more than addequate to divine with. Aesin slowly begins designing a ritual to dowse the location of precious minerals.

Aesin waits until dawn. The sun rising gives great peace to him. He sat, meditating.

He considers the essence of the minerals he wishes to find and their purpose in the realms.

He also meditates on the natures of patterns - the cycles of life, the inevitable death, the sun rising and setting as well as the moons ever calming presence. He sees these elements coming together to form destiny.

For the hour he meditates Aesin begins to understand the pattern behind all things - not just see it, not just know it to be there, but to truly understand it. It is a beautiful feeling. After the meditation he feels completely revitalized.

Aesin stands and heads to the river. It seemed to shine like crystal. He removed his armour and clothes, revealing the God of Order in his simplest of forms.

He enters the freezing water, but to Aesin, it is warm. He begins to wash himself thoroughly.

Soon, as he departs the icy waters, Aesin feels as if his very soul has been removed of all taint, as if everything within him is finely and meticulously structured.

He dresses and gathers the stones. He evens them out until there are twelve and names them as follows:

North, West, East, South, Center, Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Spirit, and the final one Aesin.

The stones are named, and seem to thrum with an unseen power. Magic is afoot.

Aesin then throws them in the water an proclaims:

"I am Aesin, God of Order! I am the arm of Justice and true agent of Order!"

And Aesin is assaulted by visions, as the ritual promised.

.. he is shown rich veins of silver, and rich veins of gold, some beneath a raging river.. rich despoits of iron, an abundance of copper.. small currents of platinum.. uranium flows, almost the deepest, plutonium with it's brother.. nickle and lead.. a living line beneath, the lowest yet, with a mind not born of Aesin..

.. but now he returns. He has seen the metals. He knows the land. He knows where they rest. He's seen the patterns.

He declares the ritual over and gives thanks to the patterns.

He calls for able men to follow him, ready to mine.

The men come, but ask what exactly is involved in the mining process. Would their knives and swords be enough?

Aesin told the men to cut down a tree and to carve it into many strong sticks.

He also asked for some copper ore and rope.

The men already have a large store of timber and copper, and bring much out to Aesin. They begin carving the timber into a meaningful shape - powerful staves.