Bezaleel didn't want to ruin Theadeacus's joyful reunion with the others. Especially with what he had just missed Bezaleel say about Anna.

Rocking the chair some quietly he moved two fingers from his forehead in a gesture of greeting at Deekin.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Tue 15 Jan 2019.

"We're not sure. She got more from me than from Skeles, since the thing ran on divine power juice and he didn't supply much, having just been Aramanthed, poor boy."

"I've got it working again - or at least figured out how it works. Every time it's used, it needs an Essence, and fuel. I think it basically Mythcrafts? It like, turns the God into an artifact? With mortals it probably just needs souls, but it needed pure divine power to affect Gods."

Theadeacus entered, emoted.

Lysandre glided over to him, gently laid a fine hand on his shoulder. "What is lost can be found again, my dear brother. The blight . . . the tree was close to dead. Now new life is blooming. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you directly. I was . . . occupied with a Mad entity corrupting my realm. Corrupting me, if I had split myself at all - I wouldn't be here. It was invincible while the Blight lived - I believe my realm was closer to the tree's heart than others."

Draining his flagon, and with a bemused glint in his eyes, Ulfur stood. Dressed in his usual brigandine and blackened mail and girded with a hand-a-and-half sword across his back, he seemed a warrior, but the gnarled staff grasped in his off-hand - grasped in a steel gauntlet of overlapping plates, suggested something more than a simple armsman.

He placed his flagon carefully on the tabletop, turned towards the small crowd that were the only other occupants of the vast hall and began to make his way slowly towards them. When he was a polite distance he called out, thinking similar words in each of the realms, "Well met, strangers. I am Ulfur, Thane of the Forge of the Sea and the Ruins of Kailesh... If I may, I heard lots of talk of a Tree..."

Standing up from the chair, Bezaleel walked around the others and greeted Ulfur. "Hail, Ulfur. I am the Lightbane Bezaleel, God of Shadows, Darkness, and Undeath." walking up with his hands in his pockets, Bezaleel had a friendly demeanor.

Making it closer to him, he spoke again, "You must be young and new if you such a question. But it'd be rude to interrupt their reunion with such talk. Come come, I'll have a sit and drink with you. I'll give you the gist of things." Bezaleel put a hand on Ulfur's shoulder. Then walked past him to have a seat.

Bezaleel didn't quite get a strong gaze at Ulfur at first. But as he sat his perception began to take hold. Noticing the odd array of colors and saturation. Unnormal to that of Taeltresin. It almost reminded him of when he swallowed the mad's blood. His eyes tightened as he further inspected the being with crudeness. Darting from spot to spot across him. Then, he noticed his shadow.

Unsettled Bezaleel spoke with a low tone of voice. "I'm sorry. You said you are thane of the forge and sea correct?"

Bezaleel's ears shifted and he continued, "Are you not a god?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:26, Wed 16 Jan 2019.

Theadeacus was nodded amicably when Lysandre spoke. It had been quite some time since he had last spoken to her. She was the first to go into stasis and they didn't even have enough knowledge to reach her Realm, let alone free her from whatever bound her.

All the same his mood soured and darkened when an unfamiliar voice greeted him. He turned and with the full array of his divine, magical, and mundane senses began to scrutinize the new being. They were a god, at least he believed they were, but their essence was different. Not inherently wrong like the Blight and Mad had been but still different.

Then there was their simple appearance, too saturated with color. Even its shadow was unnatural, casting a color rather than pure darkness. Theadecaus readied his staff, knowing full well that its power was inert within the Buoy but maintaining the façade if only to comfort himself.

"Bezaleel."

Unheeding to Theadeacus' words he watched as the young and impulsive god brought a total stranger further into their midst.

"He cannot be one of us. His essence is...too dissimilar."

Bezaleel's eyes shifted to Theadeacus and back to Ulfur. So much for his more subtle approach of gathering information from him. "I noticed, Theadeacus. His being is wrong of Taeltresin. It is similar to the blight in that it is from outside of it."

Holding his Kusari-gama from his sash, Bezaleel spoke to Ulfur. "Why are you here, where are you from?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Wed 16 Jan 2019.

Even as the others felt their hackles rise, the shadows that Ulfur cast rippled and his over-saturated mien began to fade in its lustre. Blood red faded to shade, umbra chased cinnabar within him,  even as he seated himself. Of shadow, all that remained was black and grey, reflections of the Buoy's flickering torches. Dual images of the ... creature ... presented themselves: the horned wolfling warrior, lean and graceful; the rooted man, little more than half his height. Silver glimmering fur dappled into a coarse black thatch and a ruddy solid face, horns vanished in mist and shadow. Flickering, the wolf's hackles rose even as he faded from sight and the solidity of the man asserted itself with a sigh and a raised eyebrow.

He paused, cocked his head in a most canine gesture, and raised one finger, "So"

He paused again, the finger hesitation but finally reasserting itself, "So. Ahem. Let me begin again"

He thought about pausing a third time, but his voice carried on regardless, "Of course, I am ... A God, that is ... But I wasn't, not fully, not knowingly. I was a dream of a God, whose dream ... became a truth, I guess. But who remains a dream. Let me begin again, I said. Well-" and he turned his raised finger into a hand, offered in greeting "- well, I am Ulfur Tellurii, God of the Mountains, but I am Ulfur Karuantii, Dreamer of Beasts, Runes and Forges..."

Glancing at their readied weapons, or perhaps acknowledging them for the first time, he added, "You won't need those. Not here, certainly, but not with me regardless"

He smiled, hand outstretched, eyes moving between Bezaleel and Theadeacus.

Thedeacus narrowed his eyes at the shapeshifting god and moved his staff back but never released it, although that was not saying much.

"I am Thedeacus, God of Death. I'll say just this: if you are a friend then you will find yourself welcome among us and I hope that we may grow together in this new era. However if you are our enemy not even the power of the Buoy will allow you to escape me. I will hunt you down and take every life you have before I scour Taeltresin of even a memory of you."

With that Theadeacus accepted the offered hand.

Bezaleel didn't make much of a move. His eyes solid as peered at Ulfur.

The shifting of the unknown God and/or entity was somewhat unsettling. Still not as much so as his colored shadow.

Releasing the hilts of his weapons. They weighed on the sash once again.

Looking at Theadeacus and then back to Ulfur he spoke, "Don't let tall, dark, and brooding shake you too much. He's a good guy once you get used to him. Though, I doubt he'd get all of your lives. You look like intresting to eat I might hunt one myself if he goes after you." Bezaleel stuck his tongue out slightly. While he joked and poked fun, he was also serious.

Stretching his hand out he shook it as well.

"Dream of a god aye? Must be one nice dream that the darkness has a color. Must be comforting for those afraid of it.

Grasping the single proffered hand firmly, Ulfur was careful not to grasp too firmly; his eyes moved slowly between the two Gods, smile firmly in place though with some effort, "Death and Undeath. Well, that has to be ... burdensome? Weighty?"

Smile fading with their threats, his eyes took on some of the flintiness of the mountains - perhaps the grim hunter that was the wolf, "By my forge... well, that kind of talk might be considered rude, but ... well, I sense there is some history to why the warning is necessary? Perhaps you begin by telling me where this Taeltresin is, or what it is? And what this bloody Tree you were harping on about is..? What being a friend requires..? And then I might knowingly risk being eaten, or not."

He pursed his lips, "You might start with this lives business..."

Bezaleel kicked his feet up how he likes, continuing to talk to Ulfur. "I don't quite understand entirely. But it seems you've made home the tree. Welcome to Taeltresin. Home to many realms, worlds, gods, demons, and mortals alike. I don't find undeath to be so weighty. I got used to it."

Here is teeth were still itchy, as the problem hadn't been fixed yet. Picking up his pinky he clawed them between words, "Every god has four lives. Some taken by the mad, other gods, or creatures and mortals. There is a reason behind the threats. Many gods... Tend to only use others to their means. Some will eat you just because, others will find a reason to or make cause for one."

Moving his claw away, he made sure a plate of raw meats came his way. Taking a large vicious bite out of one. Chewing and swallowing he then spoke more, "The tree, is a world Tree. It exists in the nothing. Outside of the tree are thick mists, the blight and mad, and a very very large lack of rules. Taeltresin, holds your realm as a branch on this tree. Just like every other realm is a branch. There is an order of Gods who rule the tree. They are called the Pantheon. It be best to understand they rule for a reason, that if they cross you. You do not lash out. They will probably end up giving you quite some reasons for that. Many gods follow in line, most happy of their existence, order, and laws. Seeing them as protectors to fall under. Baaah!" Bezaleel made a vomit motion to put his point across.

Eatting more a goblet of spiced blood also made it to him. With satisfaction he drank from it as well.

Listening carefully, Ulfur summoned mead and seared venison in a reflection of Bezaleel's own wants; he found the taste of honey still remained from when ... he had been a Dream, though here and speaking to these others. He shrugged off the fractured memory, concentrated on the worlds this one spoke: Trees, Divines, Pantheon...

He sat upright, trying not to make it the sudden move it had begun as. Lent forward, "Take offence easily, this Pantheon of yours? If, say, they were to demand a tithe from your people and you were to ... cause a teeny tiny volcano to erupt in their midst"

He held his fingers a fraction of an inch apart, "Teeny, really"

Bezaleel raised an eyebrow, "Express your ignorance in not knowing who they were, apologize, and give the teeth. You can also refuse but I do not know what would happen."

Ulfur sighed, a frown setting in; he could be stubborn, as a mountain it was said. He forced a smile, turning the conversation instead, "And what of the Dream realm? Is that another tree or another set of branches or roots or what have you? How metaphorical is this Taelstrin?"

Theadeacus let Bezaleel take over the educational seminar and instead opted to recline into his seat. He studied the foreign god intently and stifled a smirk when he mentioned opening a volcano in the council chambers of the Pantheon. Oh how vexed Vex would be. Oh how very dead he would be.

A small part of him thought it might just be worth it to let him do it. But it was a small and juvenile part of himself.

Bezaleel tapped his chin, "Metaphorical? Ha, I suppose that depends who you are asking. Going to have to figure that one out yourself! This dream tree you speak about, I know nothing about. It very well may have it's entire set branches and roots. It may be an entire different tree from Taeltresin, or it's counter part even. Who knows." with that, Bezaleel continued to drink.

Ulfur took a further swig of his mead, muttering as he thought, "And what of you both? What brings you here, to this place of ... parley? You seem little in need of such questions as turn my head..."

"This is where we were drawn when we first awoke, during our first life, and it has remained a meeting place for us new gods. There are other meeting places but none as...secure as The Buoy."

He gestured to the map which doubled as the table, within the expansive and wonderous Valley Divine.

"This map shows another common locale for divinities, recently revealed from the mists which once consumed it and so many worlds. We have yet to explore its riches and wonders. Its perils are also unknown to us."

Bezaleel nodded as he yawned. Stretching back.

"Took a nice long nap we did.

Noticing the map for the first time - or perhaps realising it is a map of somewhere he might go - Ulfur grunted, even as he wondered if similar places existed within the Dream Tree, "Is this Valley Divine a place even a new Divine may visit? Do you need an invitation?"

He nearly missed the comment from Bezaleel, "Like the Old Man of the Mountains?"

"All are welcome in the Valley but beware the rule of the Pantheon. We have yet to come to terms with them. They see themselves as the legitimate rulers of Taelstrin and perhaps that was true sometime ago. Today, however, their numbers have dwindled and the gods who once followed them have passed into Final Death."

Theadeacus allowed a moment to pass before continuing.

"Be mindful that this when you deal with them. If you wish to curry favor with them I would suggest announcing your arrival. It may prove beneficial if you can navigate the political arena."

Bezaleel nodded in agreement with Theadeacus. Adding on to it some as well, "That or they might be inclined to eat you as they have done to others. Even without meeting you first."

Rocking the chair he balanced on, he continued, "Curry their favor if you'd wish as well. May hold you in their graces. They are old and powerful, if nothing else."

Smiling, perhaps wolfishly though perhaps that is simply an echo of his earlier appearance, Ulfur lent back, "Neither of you strikes me as those who would curry favour...?"

Bezaleel's eyes widden some and he laughs "That's where you'd be wrong. Who knows, maybe they aren't all bad, I'm still trying to figure that one out myself. I doubt they all are. Just a whole lot of differences between us and them. I'll leave it at that."

Ulfur considered their words carefully, his gaze thoughtful; once more he changed tack, "And this ... meeting place. What exists beyond its walls? Are its extents known?"