Ardul'ssysn listened to what Brigh had to say about her gaining such power would be too much, but when a god in the form of Gnome walked up to her and offered her something she looked at it ???

"That you.

I have been away far too long and I don't know of  your name. she said as she extend her hand to take the item.

Shadowdale steps forward.  I will follow you willingly.  Teach me to understand magic better, as much as you can without it coursing problem for me and the seal.
He follows the figure and waits for it's guidance.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

"You'll get the hang of everything again, soon enough.  Safe travels."  With a swish of a cloak, he melds into the crowd.

The others seemed to be waiting for her to ask a question, so Elera rolled her words over for a few moments before she decided that knowing where they would arrive would likely help the group integrate themselves with the mortals. She asked, "Do you know anything about where we will arrive after we pass the seal. I imagine that the world has changed in these 500 years, but even outdated information is better than nothing."

Shadowdale appeared back in site.  He turns to the shadowy figure that had beckoned him.
Thank you for your education and training.  It has been most interesting.  I will do my best to put it to good use.
He returns to the group.  He has a large plain black book in his arms.
His owl has move to his other shoulder and is looking at the book with disdain.
Shadowdale taps the book.
Not quite what I had ask for but we have to be careful what we bring with ourselves.  This should not upset the seal.  I now have my own wizard spell book.  Which I can use alongside my other spells stored in snowy here.  I could have gone for the one with all red and blue gems on the front or one with forest landscape.  This I felt was more inline with who I am.

"Varnield was once a simple country," Korada explains, "with farms in the north and gem mines in the south, many roads connecting the kingdoms to the east and west.  Dwarves and hobbits mostly, although all peoples were welcome there."  He pauses, his eyes glowing.  "The farms and mines are still run by the same peoples, but now as slaves to their goblin masters.  Above the goblins are the bugbears, and above the bugbears the Ogre Lords rule supreme.  They do not bother with names, and their only laws are their whims."

Korada faces the assembled gods. "All those in Varnield who defy their betters are eaten, and many who obey are eaten just the same. The souls of the devoured feed the power of the Seal and bolster the life of the Ogre King. There is no hope in Varnield, and you will find no light there."

Skeeve considered, then added his question, "Who will oppose us, that is, which alliances and individuals, knowingly or through their own self-interest...?"

Korada meditates for some time before giving an answer.

"I can only see as far as Varnield, and that but darkly," he frowns.  "You will be opposed by all who do not understand you, including those you would think your allies.  Slaves and masters alike will strike out at you.  Outlaws and rulers both will be your enemy.  Five times you will be offered the hand of peace in Varnield: three will be genuine, and two will be false."  He looks at the smallest god.  "If you can complete your task in Varnield without falling to despair, your courage shall not falter again."

Ardul'ssysn looked to Shadowdale as he comes back and speaks of what he received. "Interesting.  Neither did I but the warrior got a nice belt and the smallest of us got a nice tailring. a slight smirk came to her lips on the comment about tailring.

She had not lost love for most of these gods were humans.  The other races were fewer but still they didn't stand up against them.  The whole Elven race was supposedly extincted.  Such a foul thing to allow to happen.

There is more to this then they were willing to share with her or Shadowdale.  Most of those assembled for this mission are forgotten or lost Gods.

Listening to Korada's warning only made her even more on edge.

Still she wouldn't allow her race's memories to be wiped so easily.  She will not dishonor them and walk in a world where they were killed.

Thaddeus was already busy buckling the belt around his waist, smirking as he felt the power grow within him. As the Gods spoke more about Varnield the God of War smirked. Not because of the cruel practices that occured in the mortal realm but because Thaddeus felt more than justified in what he felt about the vile enemies he and his companions were about to fight.

That Varnield was a province of slave ruled over by goblins and ogres was news that boded ill with Elera. That they would be betrayed twice was even grimmer news, but at least they'd find three allies. She appreciatively returns, "Thank you for the information, Kodara." Before she turns to the others with a little bit of apprehension and asks, "Are we ready? I know that I am prepared, but it will be a long time before we return here."

A deep crimson flags hanging from above - perhaps thought to be in honor of Thaddeus - suddenly shuddered.  The color shifted, and to the surprise of some, fell quickly away, leaving a plain grey flag.  The color nearly reached the floor, when it halted in midair.  The color was crimson itself.  It changed shapes and textures as it gradually pulsed, but its deep crimson color remained the same.

"I will go as well."  A voice emanated from the color, as its form pulsed in coordination with the sound, directed to the trio of gods running the ceremony.  "I am Ziklag, or Crimson in the common tongue.  I once held sway over everything that made mortal blood flow.  The heart-throb of love, the red veil of rage, the ear-pounding rush of higher purpose.  But the abstract fades from the mind of mortals most quickly."

It's attention seemed to turn to Thaddeus, though it would be difficult to say what made that seem to be so.  "You may, of course, keep the epithet, and the color.  You represent on facet of myself that I am willing to grow out of.  I will focus on the more positive bent."

As the attention of the crimson cloud fell upon the pool, where wave after wave of crimson, red, and orange creature stirred as the crimson mind wandered.

Pharasma and Bligh seem surprised by Ziklag's arrival, but Korada just nods.

Finally, Bligh speaks, "If you intend to descend to the mortal realm, you will need to choose a mortal form.  What you appear as now will not pass the Seal."

"The paths will narrow quickly," Pharasma declares.  "We must depart. Do what you must with haste."

Elera was internally surprised to see a god peel themselves out of a flag, but she maintained an external calm. She crossed her arms loosely and leaned forward slightly as she watched with some interest to see what shape the flag-god would adopt. Perhaps some sort of mortal form just as odd and esoteric as their current misty composition?

Nodding his head twice, Skeeve's bewhiskered nose twitched before he declared, "Let's be about it; I am ready"

Shadowdale puts his new book in his backpack.  Check he got all his weapons and general items with him.
Then turns to the other gods.
I am ready.

Ludo nodded as he was already ready and stated so before. He still pointed at the lady of fate, "Think kindly on me fate weaver. I will be ready to take you to dinner once we get the world opened back up."

Pharasma gazes back placidly. "Restore the paths, oh disruptive one, and I shall permit it."

The crimson aura flickered merrily at the interaction between Ludovic.

He then addressed their patrons.  "For my gift, I will accept whatever you believe to be most helpful to me in my mission.  For my question: What languages will be the most important to imbue into the finite mind of the creature I'm making?"

As he gazed at the pool, he willed the forms he was considering to winnow down until two were left.  Both flaming beings, one red-orange and trim, one white-orange and muscled.  "I will take my first - and perhaps only - form.  I will an Ifrit.  A granter of wishes and a teller of tales."  As he resolved himself, the white-orange form disappeared and only the red-orange one remained, its details wavering as he tried out a variety of appearances before finally settling on one. "I am ready as well."

Ziklag hesitated, then cast his gaze over the pool once more.  "Perhaps it should be a bit less conspicuous, though."

The flames on the head settled into a bright, but plausibly natural, red hair.  The skin softened to the white of a hot ember, and the glowing eyes dimmed to a yellow-brown.  "Wouldn't want to make it too easy for our enemies to identify us once we begin to act.."  He commented.

OOC: Sorry for the double-post.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:03, Thu 12 Jan 2023.

Pharasma leads the forgotten gods to a nearby pool.  With a wave of her hand, the surface glows and then the liquid retreats, leaving a slightly glowing stairway down.  She descends wordlessly, trusting the others to follow.

Elera watched as the flag-god coalesced into the form of an ifrit, and then eventually took on a mostly human appearance. The contrast between themselves was interesting at least. She moved to follow Pharasma down the newly opened passageway before she gestured to the rest of the party, beckoning them forward.

Smiling at Elara, Skeeve slipped swiftly ahead and down the stairs; he was comfortable in the role - purpose even - of being the seeker and pathfinder

Thaddeus stomped closely behind Elera after giving Ziklag the stink eye for what he told Thaddeus. A hesistant smile returned once the little rat skipped ahead.

Shadowdale looked around a little unsure but did not show it.
Ardul'ssysn was gone.  A god named Ziklag was in her place.
Nobody had said anything or given a reason for this.  It was as if she was forgotten.  Which he could see the irony of.
Ardul'ssysn may time give you what you want and to be who you are.  He said to himself in his mind.  He was the sane god of Fools, The Mad and Traitors.  His reason for being here was gone.  This open up thing in a way he was going to have to think about carefully.

He focused on what he could keep and take with him.  Left the rest in the place he come from.
He wait, ready to go forward.