Two days before the Battle at Meru...


It was ironic that no one saw the coming disaster. A hundred Seers, half of them gathered in one of the rarest Conventions ever assembled, elders and senior Viziers of the Divisions and leaders of the Gold and Bronze factions, speaking on matters beyond merely who was wrong about the prophecy of bronze, on what was worth the lessened world.

They expected the arrival of Chejop Kejak, the oldest of them all, to begin and delve into what many considered a threat unlike any other. Even his rivals believed he would put aside personal grudges and slights in the name of protecting Creation. If there was anything above all that Kejak claimed to value, it was preserving everything.

He never arrived.

The chaos that followed as a god who was supposed to be their ally and those among them who had sold to the Yozis let in a force of green glowing Infernals ended within an hour. Many were dead, the few survivors loyal to. Yu-Shan fleeing, and as the Infernal Green Suns took the hidden ways toward the Jade Pleasure Dome, other enemies of Heaven would enter, using long forgotten passages between worlds to break into the celestial city, taking advantage of the destruction wrought by the Infernals and their allies.

Death had come to Heaven.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:19, Fri 02 Oct 2020.

The Dome was breached. Baleful green light and the blackness of oblivion shined across the chambers as angry and fearful gods and celestial lions fought to restore order, while the Incarna themselves mobilized for battle, the first they had engaged in themselves in millennia.

Demons and bound Akuma held the lesser gods and Lions while the fallen Exalts made the Incarna their own goals. Slain deities littered the field, cooling corpses of forming starmetal. Infernal champions tasked themselves with finding where the Maidens had fled to, Abyssal deathdealers fighting the savage fury of the unleashed Luna. None dared attack the Sun, who made no moves of his own, not yet.

Sol Invictus watched, still within his private seat in the great arena, observing patiently. It was as if he had become detached from everything, even with the interruption of the Games by these invaders. They didn't matter to him, for some reason. Even as both Infernal and Abyssal enemies of Heaven fought with Yu-Shan's defenders, they were also fighting each other. Was this why he did not raise his arms? To observe as his would be assailants fought amongst themselves, to see who would be left standing?

And then there was a piercing scream, the sound of air compressing into a vacuum, and then a desiccated body was flung to land in the center of everything and bring a momentary halt to the conflict as all sides stared in shock.

Heavy footsteps echoed as the tall white haired figure strode into the grand arena of the pleasure dome. Black soulsteel armor adorned his body, a helmet over his head that framed his face with soulsteel bones, while sharpened rainbow hued blades formed a spired series of crests rising up like a crown. In his right hand was a massive greatsword, no less than three fourths the length of his own body, with a blade that moaned with entrapped souls like soulsteel and shimmered tainted rainbow hues like starmetal.

And it was upon seeing this figure enter that the Unconquered Sun finally stirred. His bottom right hand took hold of the golden spear, his bottom left gripping the shining aegis. There was a rumble as he rose from his seat, his face stoic, yet his eyes were shining with sorrow.

"The Wheel must turn."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:49, Sat 03 Oct 2020.

"Please... don't hurt me!  I'm just a clerk.  I have a family..."

The Reveler of Night's Glamor rolled her eyes at the pathetic godling that begged at her feet.  She was pretty sure that there was no family involved.  The sniveling little man had totally misread the situation, but she did not have the time to explain nicely.  Instead she shoved some papers in the godling's face.

"Fine, just stop wetting my shoes.  Take me to this Uvanavu, god of health... and you'll be spared."

For the Reveler It had been an adventure just to get this far.  Her invading force had come in through the lightly defended Western gate and she had braved congested canals, dodged demons (who were killing just about anything they could catch), and evaded desperate gods who fought like cornered rats (which they technically were).  The Reveler was alone now, having divided and dispatched her force to other objectives.  Captain Daycurse and his warghosts were holding the Western gate, the Mortwrights and Nemisaries had been given leave to hunt in the slums, and the zombies had been whittled down or used to obstruct foes.  All in all, the force had been smaller than expected... when compared to some of the other Deathlord contributions.  It wasn't that the Silver Prince feared failure, but he bore a healthy distrust of his fellow Deathlords (and supposed Malfean 'allies').  Still his Neverborn patron had been most insistent and that had forced his hand to field 'something'.  Luckily one of his youngest (and more expendable) Deathknights had volunteered...

Godling and Deathknight marched through the Cerulean Lute of Harmony.  The blue jade structure was a chaotic mix of gods, showing various states of intoxication and nudity.  Important paperwork lay forgotten as the fleeing gods seemed more concerned about rescuing their drugs and valuables.  Those who had resigned themselves to their fate chose to spend their last hours copulating or reaching even further states of intoxication.  The Reveler would have laughed if it wasn't so tragic.  Eventually the godling clerk pointed to an opulent office.

"There.  Please let me go... I won't tell anyone, about anything."

The Reveler released the man's collar and then she did something unexpected in all the chaos... she knocked.  Predictably, there was no answer and she let herself in.  The room looked empty, but her gaze turned to a large wardrobe.  A sliver of channeled essence brought her bloodied castemark to life,  a dark sphere surrounded by a ring...  along with insight into the 'proper' etiquette that was expected.  The Reveler bowed.

"Esteemed Uvanavu, you may emerge.  I am not here to do battle with you.  Instead I offer a deal."

A most confused celestial being emerged from behind a row of hanging garments.  Reveler could feel a penetrating stare of suspicion, so she displayed her palms.  The God of Health was powerful indeed, but he was not a fighter.

"You.  Your a deathknight!  I know your kind and those you serve.  We are enemies..."

"... but today, we can be allies.  Yu-Shan is lost, your own window will verify that.  However you need not fall with the city.  I will escort you out of Heaven, to the best of my ability.  And in return, I only ask that you disseminate some information on my behalf.  It is all contained within this scroll."

As the Reveler respectfully presented the scroll to Uvanavu, the sun dimmed over the celestial city... signalling Sol's death in battle.  Uvanavu muttered some sort of prayer and snatched the scroll up, reading its contents and then shooting Reveler a most surprised look.

"You want this secret location exposed?  I've never even heard of this Island Five..."

"Nobody has.  But the Silver Prince needs to be stopped... and for me, it is personal.  I might add that saving your life will also hurt him."

For all the Silver Prince's worries about outside treachery, this time the betrayal came from within.  Reveler had turned loose her troops on inconsequential tasks.  The objectives of slaying Western gods had been ignored.  And now she was saving an enemy to bring shame upon her Liege.  No wonder she had volunteered for this assignment...

"... How can I trust you?  This could be an elaborate trick."

"I am prepared to seal our deal in a manner akin to an Eclipse caste of the Solar Exalted.  We don't have much time, Uvanavu.  Please allow me to help and we'll both benefit."

Without much choice, Uvanavu gave his consent... and the room was bathed in dark light as Reveler formalized the deal in the name of the Neverborn.  She still had to get him out of Yu-shan, but one thing at a time.

Much later the Reveler and her 'captive' were close to one of the northern celestial gates.  Uvanavu wore chains and a hood, but they were actually just 'courtesan toys' borrowed from the Cerulean Lute of Harmony (and the hood had a few eye-holes poked through).  And so far every demon or undead encountered had bought into the Reveler's act.  As a master performer, it had been a trivial affair to pull the wool over their eyes.  All she needed was a few barked orders and some shoving of her prisoner.

"... We're close, Uvanavu.  Just keep up the act for a little longer."

The trek had also allowed the Reveler to see more of the invasion's damage first hand.  So many dead gods and with no Sidereals about, she had to assume the worst.  However the Reveler couldn't expect any quarter from Heaven's defenders... they didn't know she had turned on her Deathlord.

"Let him go, Now!"

Spinning to face the demand, the Reveler found herself facing a man... bleeding crimson and glowing purple.  So much for not running into a Sidereal.  However, her assailant didn't look in very good condition at all.

"I don't want to fight you... and this is not my prisoner.  Uvanavu, can you shake off that chain to prove my good intentions?"

A quick turn of Uvanavu's wrist demonstrated how 'secure' the chains were.  Inwardly the Reveler was relieved that Uvanavu didn't turn on her now (clearly she was still his best chance at survival).  She moved aside his hood long enough for the stranger to get a look at her 'captive', before dropping it back into place.  And then the figure dropped to the ground.  Reveler scooped up the limp form and pulled him into a small alcove.  She wasn't much of a healer, but it looked very bad.  Uvanavu scanned the fallen Sidereal and shook his head sadly.

"This is 9 Still Winds.  He is poisoned by something beyond my abilities.  I'm amazed he is still alive."

As it was, the Sidereal only lasted a few seconds longer... just enough for a few more words.

"Uvanavu, I implore you *cough*.  Help my student.  Tell Righteous Palm that *cough* she is the Sifu now.  Hold fast to the Maidens..."

"Deathknight, You must take up 9 Still Wind's request.  I counted him as an ally and if you truly want to earn my trust beyond our deal... this is it."

The Reveler looked back across the city.  Taking on another quest was dangerous, especially when her plan had been to wait out the chaos in Creation (and hide from the ire of her former Master).  But she did have to consider a life beyond the Silver Prince.

"How would I even find this Righteous Palm?  I'm hardly a hero."

"I can guide you, in both aspects."

Malcrus stalked the edges of the battle for Heaven. Dressed like a scavenger with a helm shaped like a crow and twin tailed cloak that resembled feathers as they stirred in the wind caused by the fires of green and gold that dotted the cityscape, Malcrus intervened subtly.

A dying god was kicked out of the way, slamming into a fighting demon who was impaled by it's minor god opponent. A few steps later a sword of opal struck down at him and was deflected into the back of another demon. Malcrus slipped away from the fight bending down to absently pick up a fallen halberd. Twirling it end over end, he suddenly stopped and hefted it flinging it at a small group of gods and elementals who were forming up to make a fighting retreat. It's path intercepted that of a Akuma of the Silent Wind who had been assigned to hunt the Maidens down. The blurred figure was forced to dodge and was a moment later found herself in the middle of the forming up gods. With nowhere to run, she was ended messily.

With a quick step Malcrus twisted the neck of a fighting god and then threw the body at down. The three blood apes stumbled backwards only to be attacked by two lion dogs. He did not linger to see how that fight went.

Malcrus quickened his step and headed into the Jade Pleasure Dome, he had yet to see the Incarna and he wished to view the Sun.

A howl echoed through the halls as the heavy impacts of the Godspear against the death knight's blade could be heard. Each strike created a scream as the holy light of the Sun clashed with the abomination of undeath contained within that sword. The Aegis had been cast aside, cracked through by impossibility, and wounds bleed liquid orichalcum from the body of Sol Invictus. The Jade Dome was a ruin, the arena that held the Games of Divinity torn and broken, while the Games themselves were the only thing untouched.

Around the combatants of Light and Shadow, the other battles raged. Luna, in a form that could only be called primal fury, stood guard as she kept the assaulting Abyssals and Akuma from harming Gaia's jouten humiform in the lovers' escape. The Maidens were nowhere to be found, frustrating the Infernal Green Suns who had been tasked to slaughter them. Five draconian humanoid figures had entered the fray, each made of imperishable jade skin, one of each color, and their associated elements erupting around them each. They had made their way to assist Luna in her efforts to guard Gaia.

Which left the Sun as the one Incarna who refused to flee in his horrific battle with the death knight who challenged him.

"To see the Sun himself bleed," the death knight uttered as he stood back from their clash. He bore burns now in his white hair, bots of molten gold splattered on his armor. Bruises could be seen on his face, for no matter how powerful he was, the death knight still faced the greatest warrior in all Creation and Yu-Shan.

The Sun let out a sigh as he adjusted his grip with both his lower hands. He seemed, to anyone observing, to be less held by anger, and more possessed of resound resignation. "You still have a choice, child. The Third Age can be turned without a broken world."

The tip of the massive sword scraped against the cracked jade floor of the arena, eliciting the sound of cracking mountains even as further breaks formed in the normally imperishable tiles. "There won't be a Third Age."

"Is that what you truly want, or is that what your never living master would tell you in their lies and desires for all things to be part of them?"

The blade rose, dropped again to tap the jade tile, then bounced back as the death knight raced toward Sol Invictus and roared. The Godspear was brought forward, the golden eyes of the Sun narrowed as he readied himself,  and the horrific sound of light and shadow clashing once more filled the halls of the Jade Pleasure Dome.