As Theadeacus descends he lashes out with tendrils of darkness, pulling the fallen into himself and  Ebon's Gate. Steadily he uses his Body of Endless Horrors to fashion a gruesome but powerful suit of armor and focuses his Jewel of Shadows to produce a stronger sheathing of destructive power around his war-scythe.

The wildly alien movements and appearances of these creatures reflected their unnatural origins and corruption. Theadeacus could not help but think back to Anathema's return to the Buoy when he say their dimensional movements and disregard for the fabric of reality. Had this been her doing? Had she sent these monsters to attack his Realm?

He dismissed the thought for the moment and focused on the task at hand. Moving to the Font he grimaced under the assailing force of the....thing...that existed before him. If not for his Will he would be crippled outright but Garamea was not nearly as resilient. He considered retreating to bring her to safety but he couldn't afford to allow this thing the time it needed to complete its workings.

Bringing his augmented staff to bare he channeled his magic and produced a hail of darklight bolts, testing if the thing could even be wounded with such magics.

[Private to GM: Where did Raasiel's forces come from and where are they?]

(OOC: Oh right! Your Gaze lets you even see animated constructs, so they popped on your radar even though they haven't come into play.

Raasiel's home base is about a quarter mile to the north of the font laterally, and a good distance up, near the peak of that mountain; she's not yet involved in the battle, but is allied to Eros and may intervene.)

Just a ping so that the thread doesn't fall under your updating radar.

Reality fractured again as you struck the beast - it didn't seem harmed in the least, in fact you could swear that it was - moaning in pleasure?

"Hagar al'rathuhayd alagran tomithu!" It howled. "Salack immenan al'layan hiraka?" It queried.

The branches of the beast waved, and there were then three "Theadeacusi". One was dead; one was you; and one was beyond beautiful, a thing beyond life or death - the death of death, end of ends, The One Undying. When Taeltresin fell, when Atropos lay on her deathbed - it would be this one that came to turn out even her light.

It was no longer bothering the font; it was focused entirely on you. Aside from the effect of its presence, it had yet to take any offensive action towards you, and seemed curious rather than frightened or aggressive.

You felt that the reality-fracture was this thing's version of asking you a question - it was asking who you were, among the many potentialities of you that it was seeing from its position in a higher dimension.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:32, Sat 16 Feb 2019.

Theadeacus was unsettled by the sudden appearance of three of himself, especially the one which seemed to be more powerful and perfected than himself. Still the reality-fracturing being had turned its attention towards him and it seemed as tho his magic was largely ineffective against the being.

So he responded to its inquiry.

"I am Theadeacus, creator-god of the Aso, and ruler of Eros."

He allowed his answer to linger for a moment before offering his own question.

"Why have you come here?"

A question for a question.

The thing spoke again, and now you understood its words, faintly, at a third of their previous volume. You were hearing through the stranger other Theadeacus, who knew the thing's tongue.

"I have come for you, my love, and been granted many children by you, sweet death. They are inferior, but all firstborn are. I understand your grevious displeasure! I will bring you our lastborn soon, yes, a fitting child, hmm, if you will help us, embrace us? You will not die as you too may eternal lie, oh yes, and with strange days as these, perhaps even your father's father may perish,"

A voice in your head. I am Raasiel, a friend and one of yours, until I figure out how to transcend you. That thing isn't really here - it's far weaker than it should be, in case you didn't notice. It's actually playing very nice with us. We can't kill it, but we can banish it. How fast of a learner are you? Think you can pick up enough Animancy to revoke a nothing-that-noths before you go Mad from my instruction, or do you need my help in person?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:45, Tue 19 Feb 2019.

Thedeacus maintained a contemplative face as if he were considering the words of the alien being. In reality his mind was turned inward as he responded to Raasiel.

I am aware of you and your work Raasiel. If you have any assistance to offer I would appreciate it. We can discuss Animancy and your road to transcendence once we have removed this interloper.

Some part of him was glad that Aso like Raasiel existed. There would likely come a time when his people needed to transcend his own existence, to reach beyond the vision of the world he had created so long ago.

Alright, I will be coming down. You lack experience, but between your godhood and your staff you should have the juice to make a Pact.

I don't know how experienced you are with Spirit magic, but beyond manipulation of spirit stuff, you can manipulate your own soul and that of others. All gods are able to change up their physical bodies, I gather, because your soul is powerful enough to make its own self-law. That's kind've what I -

She was an academic. Of course she'd ramble like this in a crucial moment.

She stopped herself. Whatever. Research later, action now. You need to Invoke me - summon my soul-word into yours. But I will only tell you my true-name if you agree to make me into a Vassal. I'll teach you how to do it. It'll cost you ten Spheres of power - basically it's like god-touching but instead you grant me a slice of your godhood. Don't worry, godhood grows back just like livers do.

If you Invoke me while I'm still mortal I'll go batshit within fifteen seconds of meeting that horror. You saw what it did to a Demigod. I need to be a bigger fish.

What she told you was truth, and resonated with you. +15% Spirit Magic.

If you agreed, she continued:

So repeat after me. Exactly. 'Blessed Embrace of Raasiel the Thanaton, Vassal Mine - Admixed Intellect and Ambition - Raziel, I Summon and Invoke Thee.' Do that, sacrifice the spheres, use your staff to amplify everything - I'll be there, I'll help you revoke this motherfucker.

If you disagree, she instead continues with:

Disappointing, but okay, fine, I will still help as I can. I'm not risking my sanity though, so I am going to help your from here. I will set up a revocation ritual within range, naming you as the Banisher. Your Darklight will become Voidlight, and you'll be able to hurt this thing.

Meanwhile, with speed that wasn't speed - it didn't move, it just was somewhere different, just like that - the Horror was beside you, and stroked you back. Your nerves burned, and your spine was riddled with - would have been riddled with tumors, if your nature as a god wasn't that of Death and therefore directly opposed to the touch of antideath.

As it was, it nettled and burned, and your mind drifted closer to madness as you heard its words, knew them, felt the paradigm of your existence shifting, expanding, gaining new angles.

sweetling

your silence is beautiful

you are the breath of the void

and my love between stars

Theadeacus: 8/10. Taking psychic damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:06, Fri 01 Mar 2019.

Thedeacus contemplated his choices, albeit briefly. The burning sensation of the alien beings touch compounded with the psychic trauma its words were slowly afflicting upon him was enough to force his hand.

Grasping his staff with two hands he rose it vertically upward.

"Blessed Embrace of Raasiel the Thanaton, Vassal Mine - Admixed Intellect and Ambition - Raziel, I Summon and Invoke Thee!"

He then brought his staff downward all the while channeling his Essence and divine spheres into the staff.

- "Raziel, I Summon and Invoke Thee!"

-10 Spheres. Raziel is risen from the mortal coil, and becomes a new God, as a Vassal to Theadeacus. She takes Dagger Peaks as her Fief.

Theadeacus, however briefly, gained sight-beyond-sight, as he touches a raw nerve of Taeltresin and dips a hand into the pool of Theogenesis -

Meanwhile, at the Academy, a few short years ago, or perhaps a few short years hence . . .

The head researcher blasted the head off another philosophical zombie with an orb of darklight. "This is entirely your fault. Raziel. Raziel, when I'm speaking to you, it's customary to reply. Raziel!"

"I'm studying, you mite. The Antidead were a stupid idea. It's not my fault I mistook the advice of that Erebite for wisdom and decided to make Antiservitors. The interconnections between the Shamanism of Arthos and the the Life magic of Erebus and our own Spirit magic - there's something there, and you know it."

A golden, mechanical hand crushed a windpipe. Horunculi. The anti-zombie groaned, pawing at the book in Raziel's other hand. She channeled decay, and the thing crumbled into dust. "That they would share my hunger for the knowledge and try to directly consume the brains of the living in order to accelerate their own learning? Exactly how could I have foreseen that? Now focus on the reverse incantation so we revoke the spirits of genius possessing these corpses."

The sight-beyond-sight faded, and beside you was a new Goddess - Raziel, Goddess of Intellect and Ambition, Vassal to Theadeacus.

You have reached level 1 in Spirit Magic.

"Speak with me - I've done the research. Use your staff - I'll chant - we'll get this done together."

You really just charged into a war without even trying to do any independent research on what you were fighting? Theadeacus, you have got to do your homework.

I guess you just really couldn't let another hour slip past while those kids were in danger, you big softie.

The Revocation spell was formulated in the same way as the Invocation you had just used. You were combining Spirit magic with your own lordship of Eros to force a creature that was outside the domain of Death to be expelled back into the Void from whence it had come. The exact words weren't very important, so long as you said what you were doing, named what you were doing it to, and then established a spiritual link to the target by describing what it was. The most powerful Spirit magic required collaboration between the incanter and incantee, but a revocation was simpler.

"something revocation of the Horror Raamthumalah - Admixed something and something - Raathumalah, I banish thee!" or some equivalent

Raamthumalah: 15/15, temporarily stunned by 4th dimensional distortion
Theadeacus: 8/10
Raziel: 10/10
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:20, Thu 07 Mar 2019.

Theadeacus wasn't sure how he felt about the birth of this new god, especially having ceded the Dagger Peaks to her, but he wasn't prepared to lose more in the pursuit of something already done.

With the alien being stunned her shifted his position away from it and brought his staff in line with its distorted form.

"I'd sooner die a thousand deaths than let my own people come to harm. If you are as skilled as you claim then let's put an end to this."

He channeled his new power and chanted.

"Accursed revocation of the Horror Raamthumalah - Admixed Lies and Madness- Raathumalah, I banish thee!"

She spoke as you spoke, and your words had power - as the lord of the Realm, you had never extended a invitation to this being. You wanted it out; the Tree, recovering as it was, rejected it as well - the power you poured out through your staff was a beacon, a marker, the sharpened the contrast between this being and the Tree, hardened the lines between dimensions, cut off the many claws this thing was using to cling to reality.

Raziel was considerably weaker than you - newly minted - and while she lent little power compared to what you were able to muster, she bore half the aftershock.

As reality crashed backed together, the three of yourself crashing together, there was uncertainty. On a deep level. As your spirit asserted itself, it was shaken and smashed, causing you bodily harm as if you were a diver coming up from the depths too rapidly.

Theadeacus: 3/10

She took as much of the shock as you did, but she was less resilient. She collapsed beside Garamea, although she was still conscious - just weak.

Raziel: 2/10, in shock

There was . . a remnant of alien thing's power, a shadow of rot and chaos. You could draw power from it, if you so chose, before it faded . .

Theadeacus looked to the alien power still lingering in his world and he knew that he could harvest it, just like many of the powers left by his fallen foes. This power, however, was different. It was rotten and chaotic and some part of him knew that while it could make him stronger he would also loose something more valuable.

Instead he watched it dissipate until it was finally gone.

Once he was satisfied that nothing of the being remained he turned his attention to Garamea and Raasiel. After confirming that they were both alive he used Body of Endless Horrors to modify his necroarmor into additional arms in which to carry the both of them with.

Exiting the Font he went to rally with his forces and bring the campaign to an end.

It took awhile after you left, the battle finished, for word of total victory to reach the troops, and then be communicated to the Reaper squad. They began the lengthy process of tunnelling themselves out, and within an hour's time the children - most of them with wings still yet to mature - were given over to the waiting arms of the troops; it became apparent that many of children had parents who were part of the military.

Some of them would never see their parents again, of the many lives claimed by the Oni.

By that time, Raziel was recovered, and without hesitation she began helping Garamea come around, aboard the Harbinger. She was using spirit magic. "I'm reminding her soul of its own name . . . healing the damage to her psyche. It's good that her mind shut down instead of fully embracing what it saw. As it is, it's just damaged . . the greater danger when dealing with something from the Void, is that often time it changes you instead of injuring you. And that change is very hard to reverse,"

You'd made the right choice by not claiming that power, it seemed. Not many would have been able to refuse the allure.

There was another speech to give, to your waiting forces. The warlocks aboard the harbinger were exhausted; it was pretty much only the Demigod among them that still had enough focus left to keep the ritual drives running smoothly. Castos proved reliable, again.

Theadeacus nodded to his Vassal Raasiel.

"Thank you Raasiel. Do the best that you can. Garamea has been a loyal solider to our people and has kept the faith. It would be a shame for her to loose her mind to a foreign power. When this is over we will discuss the nature of your rule. The Dagger Peaks are a most inhospitable locale but I believe you capable of ruling it for the interim."

With that Theadeacus dismissed himself to speak to his victorious army. His voice carried out on the wind as he spoke from the main deck of the harbinger.

"My people. Today is a day of days. We have rescued the captured children of our people, we have released our tortured kin from their corruption, and we have slain the foul alien presence that dare enter our domain. Today we stand stand victorious. By blood, by steel, and by magic we stand victorious! Let all who dwell within creation know that the Aso of Eros kneel to no being. Let all who trespass against us know that Death has come for them. For Eros, For the Aso!"

With the Dagger Peaks under the control of his Vassal, Theadeacus had fully unified Eros at the moment of that speech.

New threats were bound to arise, as Taeltresin woke, and things once lost emerged again, and new growth bloomed - for better or for worse.

=

Garamea came around weeks later, and Theadeacus was back in the Dagger Peaks again, within Raasiel's sanctum; a tower of brass and clockwork hidden within a peak of the third-highest mountain in the realm.

"Her mind has fully recovered from the ordeal. What she remember of that day, I have rewoven. Her memory will not be exactly the same as yours - she will recall the being as a shadowy figure, rather than its true form - but I have otherwise preserved her mind. Just a stitch or two, really."

Raasiel went to the wall; the very tip of her sanctum was a solarium that embraced the setting sun. "I have plans for the Dagger Peaks, Lord Theadeacus. I would like to discuss them with you."

Theadeacus listened to the report on Garamea and nodded once.

"You have done well Raasiel, I thank you."

He looked to Garamea once more and allowed her to rest while he moved about the sanctum with his vassal. As they moved to the highest point he commented on the structure.

"It is quite impressive Raasiel, some of the best craftsmanship I have seen and not simply within our own realm."

Then conversation shifted to plans for the Dagger Peaks.

"I am sure that you do. I would be interested in hearing them."

She chuckled. "If only I could claim to be the craftswoman. No, I found this, and based my research on it. The Font of Savagery is linked a curious supernatural ore that can be mined in the peaks - Horunculi, the living metal, is made from it. But it cannot be worked unless it can granted hunger,"

"This . . fortress . was built before you or I. It had books within that told me of the world before the blight. A horrid world where mortals were the playthings of immortal parasites called 'gods' that traded their souls as currency and their realms as fortresses, or as the seats of pantheons,"

"Horunculi is a horrid thing . .  naturally. It is sourced from meteorites that fall from the skies above, and found in realms old enough to remember a time when the universe was young. It grows by and thrives by consuming mortal souls, when properly treated with death and spirit magic. This realm, I believe, was once a hidden weapons manufactory for a pantheon lost to the Blight,"

"However, while it is a deadly weapon beyond compare in the hands of a God, it lives only on mortal souls. By bonding the metal to my own soul, I was able to feed it. Now that I am a god . . ."

She flexed, clenching her fingers. "The bond remains. I found archives of this - of tamed Horunculi. I desired to be your vassal - something I read of within these archives - to test my hunch. I feel quite vindicated."

"Now. We need to prepare for the inevitable. Unless swift action is taken, the existing pantheon will soon be at war with factions once firmly under the thumb of Gods - the Beasts, Devils, the Inquistors, Antigods, Made Gods, Old Ones, whatever perversion of divinity best pleases your palette."

"You're different that other gods - obsessed with your people, with seeing after and protecting them. You sacrificed yourself rather than see your friend be eaten by the Pantheon. You're worthy of the title, and of devotion, because you are devoted."

"I'm going out on a limb here, and you might kill me for what I'm going to suggest,"

"But this is the best I can come up with. I've been in contact - via old communications technology, an Inter-Realm Channel, or IRC - with others delving into old magic. The Vix of Arthos, an Erebite that was once a god and remembers the old world, a Telluran Pilgrim, and the fine minds at the Academy."

"We need Gods to stand against what threatens us from without and within, but the Pantheon that exists is insular and of the old world. It exists to dominate and mortals have no rights within the Valley Di- the Valley of Banners. With strong enough magic and careful employment, a skilled mage can take on a God. Especially in a bonded suit of living metal, which the Gods used to use to kill each other as efficiently as possible . . ."

"We can trust you, and you trust your friends - and from what I've heard, they're insane but by no means tyrants. And still young, able to grow in their understanding. With your backing, I want to revive an old faction of mortal godkillers - the Nauii - who were once the only thing the Old Gods feared, before the Nauii stronghold was discovered and obliterated. I want this sanctum to be their base of operations,"

She gently rapped her fist against her metal chin. "This time, with living metal on their side, and a Pantheon of new gods at their back. I want to call a summit here, to my sanctum, of representatives from the mortal races of the New Gods,"

"And I want you to formally accept your role as leader of a new Pantheon. We will build weapons of steam and godsteel, engines of decay and deep magic, and soldiers of living mirror and stitched shadow."

She leaned back against the enchanted glass of the solarium. "I do need a decision here and now, lord Theadeacus. You know the winds are changing. We need a captain at the helm or we'll be soon lost at sea."

She grinned. "With a trusty navigator at his side, of course."

Theadeacus listened to Raziel, his expression neutral but attentive. He allowed her to finish before speaking and even then he only began a few moments later.

"There is quite a bit to digest here."

He paused again organizing his thoughts.

"For the moment I will accept everything you have told me to be true and assure you that your proposal has not jeopardized your life, at least not by my hand or any of those who would answer to my word."

"I have to agree with your assessment of the Pantheon. Their's is an old power and with it they bring ideas and ideals which no longer serve those who they are supposed to protect and guide, if they ever did. I believe the New Pantheon has the potential to bring about the change we desire and defend ourselves from the old and new enemies of the tree."

"That said resurrected godkillers armed with living metal seems a precarious solution to the Pantheon. Should we succeed we will have a group of beings capable of killing us. What is your proposal for controlling them?"

Theadeacus listened to her proposal but he also had other questions.

"I would like to know more of these perverted divinities you have gained awareness of. That and tell me of this deep magic."

Raziel considered. "Any mortal general knows the armies he commands could turn on him if morale sours. Men are not swords - they cannot be fully trusted. However, the living metal is a weapon . . . and the men, in truth, are merely the power source."

"I will hand-craft each of these weapons myself. As the Goddess of Intellect and Ambition, my greatest ability is my Oath of Avowal - a ritual which binds the hearts of men to serve my ambition, as a retainer joins herself to her lord's dream. It requires a voluntary ritual, which I will incorporate into the bequeathal of the Horunculi. I will, so to speak, have an invisible trump card that would activate to overwhelm the mind of any that wear my armor."

"The effectiveness of the Nauii relies on subterfuge. To kill a god, a mortal must surprise that god, strip them of their greatest strength with the Witchhunter's Word, and then slay them with a supernatural weapon before that God can change tactics."

"The Witchhunter's Word is an ancient curse, and in a language spoken only by the Mad. It binds the caster's own death to their foe - to rob an enemy of the ability to use magic, for example, or the ability to use a divine power they are noted for, or removing the simple ability to breathe . . ."

"Every Nauii ascended to become a Pilgrim Hero without the assistance of a God. That can be done if the mortal is in possession of a Dream - a purpose beyond themselves that draws them to greatness. My dream is for an interconnected world of a thousand cultures - where both God and Man operate within a relationship born of mutual respect. The Nauii cannot be a true army - it was the individuality and their unpredictability that allowed them to succeed for so long against the Gods."

"Perverted divinities . . . I have many theories, but little fact. There is something aside from the soul the distinguishes gods and monsters - humanity. From what I have heard, you have retained a great deal of this trait, while your siblings have traded some of it away in exchange for power. When a God loses their humanity completely, they become something else. They gain power to fill the void left by their loss of humanity, but they are no longer exalted paragons of their culture . .  and this corruption can spread to their people. The cannibal Beasts who lose their higher mind, the inviolable zeal of an Inquisitor that has given up emotion, or the chaotic horrorshow of a Mad God that abandons sanity and understands what no creature born of Taeltresin should . . A God is a shackled beast, but the same bindings that restrict power, also grant shape and form."

"Deep magic . . . I would speak little of it, if you would allow me the privacy. It is an Arthosian secret. I have heard of those that delve into it being slain by a strange creature of Arthos; and I do not wish to betray my sources."

Theadeacus listened to Raziel and was placated by her words. The Oath of Avowal was a powerful and useful ability. It would ensure that at the very least those possessing the Horunculi would be under the command of his vassal should the need arise. The existence of the Witchhunter's Word concerned him but it was to be expected that the Mad would have powers of that nature. Luckily, Theadeacus had foreseen the limitations of his own power and invested heavily in the power of his people. Should the Nauii slay him at least Eros would still prosper.

Still talk of the perverted divinities and how his allies had corrupted themselves with foreign powers concerned him. He was passingly aware that they had undergone a great many changes to become who they were now. All the same he could understand their temptation having seen the power that lay beyond humanity in the visions the alien being had shown him.

"You have given me a lot to think about but as you said these times call for exact measures and actions. Let us begin the creation of the Horunculi and the resurrection of the Nauii. I shall work to unify the new Pantheon and bring them in line with this goal. I believe we shall not face serious opposition."

When she mentioned not wishing to discuss Deep Magic further he nodded understandingly but did speak on it more.

Garamea came around, murmuring. The demigod stood from the daybed she had been resting in nearby. "What happened?" she said. "Did we win? Are the children safe?"

Raziel nodded. "I'll organize the summit. It will take some time. You're free to explore my sanctum, and consult my library. I'll retire to my study."

With that, she departed the solarium.

Theadeacus nodded to Raziel, allowing her to depart without interruption. He then turned his attention to Garamea.

"Garamea you shouldn't be up."

He moved to her, supporting her weight.

"The battle is over. We were victorious. The children are safe. Now follow me back to your bed."

Theadeacus brought Garamea back to where she had been resting up to this point and put her back in the bed, regardless of any dissent he might have gotten from her. Once she was settled to his satisfaction he continued to speak.

"You were injured thru a mental assault at the beginning of the battle. I was able to repel the invader using spirit magic and with the assistance of my new vassal, Raziel. You are currently in their sanctum located within the Dagger Peaks."

He allowed her a moment to process before continuing.

"It was Raziel who oversaw the healing of your mind. Still I would refrain from thinking on the incident if you can manage it."

Seated on the bed, she cupped her face in her hands. "I can't . . . even think about it. I don't want to. I remember what we saw - the oni, how they messed with how things should be. Is that what we're up against? Is this something related to the Blight?"

"I can't take this shit, Lord Theadeacus. These aren't thing that are meant to be fought . . . this isn't something mortals can hope to deal with. I guess I'm a demigod or something now, but even that . . . we need Gods. Gods like you, an army of them. That's the only way we'll ever be safe." She blinked away tears, and looked up at you.

"What makes you what you are, Lord Theadeacus? What strengthens you? Is it our faith? Something to do with . .  Eros? I don't understand any of this. Eros feels so small . . "

Theadeacus was taken back for a moment by Garamea's comments, although his face had not shown it. Here was the woman who led a militant religious group, who had once proposed committing a campaign of genocide to cleanse Eros of heretical factions, who now was the demigod general of one of the largest armies in all of Taelstrin and she was crying. If nothing else it did not bode well for how others would deal with facing such creatures.

Theadeacus moved closer to Garamea and placed her head into his shoulder, smoothing the length of her hair with his hand.

"I am as I am but it is my people who give me true strength. Everything I have ever done, all that I have accomplished in this existence is because of the people of Eros, because of people like yourself."

Theadeacus looked off for a moment, still trying his best to comfort Garamea.

"But you are right. Eros is but a small world but I still believe in its strength."