Parts 1 and 2:
“This has been the 6th time in this week of people being killed in my shrine. We need to put a stop to them. Innocent lives are being lost due to their foolishness.” Morrigan the Goddess of Death remarked when at the counsel meeting with the other deities. Concerned murmurs and whispers broke out as Tovldir the night sky tone God of Night and Dreams and Levtar the black tone God of Duty and Justice attempted to restore order to the growing concerned crowd of deities from the various countries and cultures. “The same thing has been occurring at my shrines as well.” An infuriated Ophine the pure white tone Goddess of Fertility, Childbirth, and Motherhood announced as a hush fell across the room. “What about the temples and churches? Are they unscathed?” Samira, the pure red tone Goddess with the same title, who hailed from Namaru questioned in a whisper as Ophine glanced away with pain in her emerald green eyes.
“No. The places that should be sacred to those in need, especially abandoned children or mothers who cannot care for their child, have been desecrated as well.” Ophine replied coldly as a collective gasp came from everyone, except for Terinea the Goddess of Health and Mental Health as the same thing had been happening to her buildings as well. “Terinea? Is everything alright?” Ophine questioned when she noticed something was off with her. The gold tone goddess shook her head. “No. My shrines, sanctuaries, and Healer Houses have experienced the same thing.” A hush fell across the room as all eyes fell onto the Goddess of Health and Mental Health as she spoke. “The Healers Association has been pleading with the Kings and Queens to send Guards and Mages of all ranks to protect them and their patients along with ensuring no one else is injured. It’s been a struggle for them to keep up with everything. Including keeping tabs on their own mental sanity. It’s been an utter mess.” Terinea continued as the room exploded into horrified gasps.
“Order, order. Any suggestions, Tovldir, on what we can do about Aletha and Nephele? There has to be something we can do about this.” Levtar bellowed while trying to calm the growing panicked room filled with deities. “Corrus may be the only one that can do anything about those two.” Levtar said while leaning back in his chair with a frustrated sigh. “There’s the problem with that idea.” Tovldir replied as Levtar raised an eyebrow. “Out with it.” The God of Justice ordered. “Corrus is just our universe’s embodiment. He can’t do anything except create black holes and deities if he so desired.” The God of Night replied as Levtar growled under his breath while slamming a fist onto the desk.
“The Kaeyama Cores. They might be able to assist us.” Yokoi, the orange War God of Huisong boldly stated while folding his giant arms with frustration across his face. It was clear from the War God’s demeanor he was growing sick of the twin Goddesses behavior just as much as everyone else. “It might be a long shot, but we need to do something and fast. Half the populace has been destroyed because of their childish and petty behaviors.” He said in a calm yet threatening tone as the Huisong God of Death nodded in silence. Tovldir let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine. Morrigan? Umbra? Could you two please get the Cores and bring them back here if possible?” Levtar asked as the Goddesses silently agreed before leaving.
When they arrived in Faenkadi to head into Nundorth Forest, the two walked side by side in silence while trying to wrap their heads around what had been going for the last several years. “Why is this happening? What caused those two to become like this?” Morrigan said breaking the silence between them as she stared at the Lifeblood Tree that eclipsed all the other trees in both height and oddity. The tree was multicolored both with the trunk and leaves. Each other represented life colors: gold, green, pink, and blue. It is also known to house the Kaeyama Cores. “I wish I had an answer to your question, agapi. The only thing I know is that they need to be stopped and jealousy is a dangerous thing.” Umbra, the Goddess of Shadows replied as they drew closer to the forest.
A strong smell of burning wood and screams of terror assaulted their senses as they grew closer to the main hub of the forest where a group of Dwarves lived and watched over the woodlands. The two goddesses hurried their pace as the screams of innocent rose along with battlecries. They soon recognized the battlecries belonged to one of the twin Goddesses’ armies and they needed to hurry to get to those in need. Upon their arrival they were greeted to burning buildings and trees as people fled their attackers - the Huvin, a group of four legged beasts with wings that could breathe fire, attacked. Umbra and Morrigan gasped as one summoned their War Death Scythe and the other charged her hands with a black ethereal glow. “Protect the tree and people. I’ll worry about these spawns from wherever they came from.” Morrigan shouted over the chaos as Umbra gave her a short nod before doing her task.
As Morrigan fought back the Huvin, Umbra placed a special protective shadow barrier around the Lifeblood Tree, and Dwarves. Morrigan snarled in rage at the whole affair; “enough of this!” She shouted before twirling her scythe and slamming it into the ground to open a fissure. The monsters let out a surprised gasp as they fell into the now newly established Punishment Realms. As the land became whole again, the Goddess of Death had a perplexed gaze on her face as she stared up at the tree, which was glowing a iridescent color after the protective barrier disappeared. Before Umbra or anyone could say a word, the light fired into the sky, covered the Kaeyama for several minutes before the light faded, and silence fell across the lands.
As the fires faded and the surrounding area slowly returned anew again, the goddesses along with the dwarves walked cautiously over to the tree, which was still glowing, but with a dark, ominous color at the center of the base. When the two Goddesses peered into the center, they saw the twin goddesses before they were sent to wherever the Huvin went before the light faded, and the Cores became present to Umbra and Morrigan. “Protect them and watch over those two. My power along with the cores power will only hold them for so long. Keep an eye out for the man that hails from the Desert.” The tree announced before falling silent as the two looked at one another with confusion by the statement. “There’s no desert anywhere near here.” Morrigan remarked as a Dwarf spoke up. “To the West there’s a desert now. Thanks to those wretched Goddesses.” He said as the others grumbled in agreement.
After the day’s events the Goddesses did as they were told and protected the cores while keeping an eye on the twins. As time marched on, multiple occurrences happened between man, elves, dwarves, and other non-humans. A war between humans and faes, a slave trade, an uprising, corruption of a shifter, and a near release of the twin goddesses. And the gods were powerless to step in to do anything as it had occurred all too quickly for them, except for stopping the twin goddesses which drained the cores of their powers. The cores, except for one scattered across the country once called Efira now called Bolyra. Then everything fell silent for several centuries until a fateful day at the temple occurred.
“I wonder who in their right mind has the money to upkeep a place like this.” Kailu questioned as he and his fellow thieves walked around the lone temple at the edge of the town now called Stoneguard. Everyone ignored the Moon Elf/Vernmer as they went about their business. The group knew they didn’t have time to screw around even though they wanted to explore the vast building more. Aerilaya the Snow Elf walked over towards a lone statue with something green in the hands. The former princess’ face became perplexed when seeing the strange object as she reached out and grabbed it. The item was round, smooth, and cool to the touch. As she was about to exam the round thing with some Light Magic, Thornton Sr. called out. “We have to go. It is midnight and there’s no telling who lives here and when they’re going to return. And besides this place gives me the creeps.” He mumbled that last line to himself as she swiftly put the item away in a spare belt pouch she had before meeting up with the others to head back to the Thieves’ Guild.
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