Post by thenoveliststrikes on Mar 20, 2003 22:44:35 GMT -5
<b>The Gift</b>
<p>Furis, the head god of Thieves, Robbers, Tricksters, and Gambling, sat on his chair in the smoky room of an in called “Thief’s Path” that housed the criminal gods. Mostly dice and cards, both of which were in plentiful design, decided the fates of their followers. Ferta, his sister and the goddess of birth, prostitutes, and dancers, was about to bring a baby boy into the mortal world. Suddenly the door of the room burst open and a figure bathed in burning light walked in. Furis shaded his eyes until the light faded. The figure sat down opposite Furis and began to speak to him.
<p>As he began, Furis could see that it was Accendere, high god of fire and the magicartis tactus, or magic touched. He specifically dealt with the ignis tactus, the fire touched. He didn’t leave his home of fire very often, so Furis knew it must be important. Accendere was a very busy god and the Thief’s Path was far out of the way for him. He focused his energetic eyes on Furis and said,
<p>“I need to do something important to a child under your rule. I need to touch him with the beginnings of a very strong brand of magic. If the overall plan is to work, it must be now!”
<p>“What overall plan is this?” Furis drawled with a small snicker.
<p>Accendere jumped up and surrounded himself with rising flames. “That is none of your concern!” he yelled.
<p>“Okay, okay, name the kid.” Furis said quickly, beginning to sweat.
<p>He looked around quickly and pointed at the globe, which Ferta was using to bring in the child, and smiled. “That one.” He said simply. Ferta moved over and Accendere touched the globe. A bright light flared over the newborn infant for a moment and then settled into his skin. Only a small glow, visible only to mages and gods remained.
* * *
<p>Acula, the goddess of the Moon Temples and those that resided in them, sat looking at a small pool of water that showed her followers. Now it showed two young girls who resided in High Moon Temple. The elder of the girls was blond with deep green eyes. She looked to be about two years old. The other was a girl with soft brown curly tufts of hair and crystal blue eyes.
<p>A fog of mist materialized next to Acula. When it faded Aquaria, High goddess of water and the aqua tactus, the water touched, stood in its place. She looked at the pool and smiled.
“You know why it is I come, do you not?” she said.
<p>Acula sighed. “It’s in the air. I can feel it. The high gods have begun to touch mortal lives profoundly again. You wish to bless one of these girls.”
<p>“Yes, it is so.” Aquaria said solemnly. “That is what I wish to do. However, there is more. Do you see the crystal-eyed girl? I will bless her, but the other girl requires a different blessing. An extra special blessing. She is destined to be greater than all, and my power alone cannot do it. I will get help from all the other high gods of nature. Also, I want you to use your power too.”
<p>“Mine?” Acula asked in surprise.
Aquaria smiled. “The girl will need the power of the moon as well. You are her patron goddess and if you don’t contribute, we could fail. I will bless the crystal eyed one now. Afterwards, I will empower the flaxen haired girl with the High Gods’ powers. Finally will come your power.
<p>Acula nodded her consent and stood aside as Aquaria touched the surface of the water. Power that looked like braking waves flowed into the crystal-eyed girl, casting a light only the most powerful of mages would see. A rainbow of colors flowed into the other girl, blinding them both with magic. Her magic would be discovered the next time they were checked, when she was 11. Only the weakest of beginning mages wouldn’t recognize it in her. The other girl, Cassandra was her name, would have to wait a little longer. Aquaria smiled. This would be interesting.
* * *
<p>Ferta, thief goddess of birth, has already been mentioned. “Thief’s Path” was not her only home. Ferta was goddess of the birth of all peasants, even honest ones. One such baby was being born now. Ferta was sweating with concentration. Suddenly she sighed mournfully. The baby had been successfully birthed, but the mother had died. The child would be on the streets, where it was most likely she would belong to her brother’s rule. Meaning, of course, that she would become a thief.
<p>It was these thoughts that Ferta pondered when the wind blew in a female figure. Aera, chief Goddess of The Wind and, as I’m sure by now you’ve guessed, of the ventus tactus, the wind blessed. She turned to Ferta and was reasonably surprised to see the goddess smiling.
<p>“Let me guess!” Ferta exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm. “You wish to bestow your power upon the girl for the fate of the mortal world or something.”
<p>“Well yes, how did you guess?” Aera exclaimed in shock.
<p>“Oh, that” Ferta said lightly. “Your little fire buddy already did it to a boy under my brother’s protection.”
<p>“Well then…” Aera said thinking quickly. She had planned to make a stirring speech, and was slightly miffed that Ferta already knew. “Will you move so that I can do it?”
Ferta complied and breezes swirled around the baby settling into her skin. Aera made sure the power was closer to the skin than the others were. Fire magic would come up on it’s own and the others would be tested for magic. This girl most likely wouldn’t. The girl giggled at the winds and Aera smiled.
* * *
<p>The manor belonging to the Lord and Lady of Docket was a bustle of activity. A beautiful baby girl had been born, named Hayleea. Parta, supreme Goddess of women and birth, had personally looked into the birth.
<p>The nobles worshiped only the Supreme Gods, so they had no fertility goddess of their own. Parta sat in the chamber of the great gods on the sapphire and gold throne all the Supreme Gods rested on.
<p>All of the Great Gods of Nature and Magic, such as those mentioned earlier had their own, slightly lower chamber. They were worried. Up until that point, they had been able to use high-handed superior attitudes to bestow their gifts. Now they were dealing with gods higher than themselves. If it had been a polite god, or a powerful yet cautious god, they wouldn’t be so worried. Unluckily, Tempestas, god of weather, lightning, and those who controlled them, was very contrary and tactless. He wouldn’t show the proper respect for a Supreme Goddess and would offend Parta. They needed her co-operation.
<p>You see, the girl mentioned above, Hayleea, was needed in the plan. Tempestas had to grant her control over lightning and other storms. Otherwise, the plan would surely fall through. By this point, you might wonder what this important plan was. The winds of change wanted to come in. It all depended on having young people from different social circles. The gods, however great, could only set this great change in motion. Only time, chance, and luck would be able to push it further and lead to success or failure.
<p>Tempestas walked into the throne room of the Supreme Gods and turned to Parta. In his blunt way he said, “We need to see a child under your banner.”
<p>“Humph.” Parta sniffed. “If you wish to address me at all, you must show proper respect.
<p>Tempestas resisted the strong urge to singe Parta’s carefully arranged hair and mockingly bowed. “Your Supreme Goddessness” he said with a smirk. “We, the Gods of Nature, wish to ask you a favor. We, specifically myself, wish to grant control of lightning and other weather to a young noble girl, Hayleea.”
<p>“No.” she said simply. “You may go now.”
<p>At that, Tempestas lost it. “The winds of change are in the air! They require this. Do you think that they will rest quietly if they do not get what they need? I don’t!”
<p>Parta sighed impatiently. “Fine then. Do what you must. Then leave my presence.”
<p>Tempestas threw a lightning bolt of magic into the girl’s heart, where it buried itself. Then he stormed out.
* * *
<p>Finally Licitari, Head God of Merchants worked at the high stall in the marketplace of Merchant Gods. He had just haggled over the birth of a merchant’s son, Eric Price. The Prices were a prominent Merchant family in Majiner. Merchant children were born in an interesting way. Certain amounts of items that the family haggles are burned as a sacrifice. After each sacrifice is a ten-minute wait. The theory is that when Licitari is satisfied, the baby will be born.
<p>The Marketplace of The Gods was bustling with activity. Arboris, High God of Green Plants and, you guessed it, the planta tactus, or plant touched. He quickly sought out Licitari and posed the now familiar question.
<p>Licitari thought for a second and smiled. “Well… it does sound like a worthy idea, but I can’t just give him to you for free.”
<p>“What?!?” Arboris yelled. “You can’t be serious! You want me to bargain with you?”
<p>“Now don’t throw a hissy fit on me.” Licitari said in a falsely soothing voice. “I’ll give you a perfectly fair deal.”
<p>Arboris sighed in disgust. “What do you want?” he asked wearily.
<p>“Hmmm…” Licitari said as he thought. “I want you to grow me a huge boquet of flowers the size of a lady’s face. The goddesses will love them!”
<p>“All right.” Arboris said as he heaved a sigh. He called to the plants, commanding them to expand. The plants couldn’t resist a god, and they shot to a huge size. “Now?” he inquired or Licitari.
<p>Licitari smiled and moved out of the way of Arboris. Arboris called onto the power of the trees and plants, and they buried themselves into the boy, radiating a green light.
* * *
<p>Now the lives had been set up. Six children bore special gifts for the Great Plan. The gods were not all powerful, and could only do so much. All they could do now was wait and see what the mortals made of their amazing gifts.
<p>Furis, the head god of Thieves, Robbers, Tricksters, and Gambling, sat on his chair in the smoky room of an in called “Thief’s Path” that housed the criminal gods. Mostly dice and cards, both of which were in plentiful design, decided the fates of their followers. Ferta, his sister and the goddess of birth, prostitutes, and dancers, was about to bring a baby boy into the mortal world. Suddenly the door of the room burst open and a figure bathed in burning light walked in. Furis shaded his eyes until the light faded. The figure sat down opposite Furis and began to speak to him.
<p>As he began, Furis could see that it was Accendere, high god of fire and the magicartis tactus, or magic touched. He specifically dealt with the ignis tactus, the fire touched. He didn’t leave his home of fire very often, so Furis knew it must be important. Accendere was a very busy god and the Thief’s Path was far out of the way for him. He focused his energetic eyes on Furis and said,
<p>“I need to do something important to a child under your rule. I need to touch him with the beginnings of a very strong brand of magic. If the overall plan is to work, it must be now!”
<p>“What overall plan is this?” Furis drawled with a small snicker.
<p>Accendere jumped up and surrounded himself with rising flames. “That is none of your concern!” he yelled.
<p>“Okay, okay, name the kid.” Furis said quickly, beginning to sweat.
<p>He looked around quickly and pointed at the globe, which Ferta was using to bring in the child, and smiled. “That one.” He said simply. Ferta moved over and Accendere touched the globe. A bright light flared over the newborn infant for a moment and then settled into his skin. Only a small glow, visible only to mages and gods remained.
* * *
<p>Acula, the goddess of the Moon Temples and those that resided in them, sat looking at a small pool of water that showed her followers. Now it showed two young girls who resided in High Moon Temple. The elder of the girls was blond with deep green eyes. She looked to be about two years old. The other was a girl with soft brown curly tufts of hair and crystal blue eyes.
<p>A fog of mist materialized next to Acula. When it faded Aquaria, High goddess of water and the aqua tactus, the water touched, stood in its place. She looked at the pool and smiled.
“You know why it is I come, do you not?” she said.
<p>Acula sighed. “It’s in the air. I can feel it. The high gods have begun to touch mortal lives profoundly again. You wish to bless one of these girls.”
<p>“Yes, it is so.” Aquaria said solemnly. “That is what I wish to do. However, there is more. Do you see the crystal-eyed girl? I will bless her, but the other girl requires a different blessing. An extra special blessing. She is destined to be greater than all, and my power alone cannot do it. I will get help from all the other high gods of nature. Also, I want you to use your power too.”
<p>“Mine?” Acula asked in surprise.
Aquaria smiled. “The girl will need the power of the moon as well. You are her patron goddess and if you don’t contribute, we could fail. I will bless the crystal eyed one now. Afterwards, I will empower the flaxen haired girl with the High Gods’ powers. Finally will come your power.
<p>Acula nodded her consent and stood aside as Aquaria touched the surface of the water. Power that looked like braking waves flowed into the crystal-eyed girl, casting a light only the most powerful of mages would see. A rainbow of colors flowed into the other girl, blinding them both with magic. Her magic would be discovered the next time they were checked, when she was 11. Only the weakest of beginning mages wouldn’t recognize it in her. The other girl, Cassandra was her name, would have to wait a little longer. Aquaria smiled. This would be interesting.
* * *
<p>Ferta, thief goddess of birth, has already been mentioned. “Thief’s Path” was not her only home. Ferta was goddess of the birth of all peasants, even honest ones. One such baby was being born now. Ferta was sweating with concentration. Suddenly she sighed mournfully. The baby had been successfully birthed, but the mother had died. The child would be on the streets, where it was most likely she would belong to her brother’s rule. Meaning, of course, that she would become a thief.
<p>It was these thoughts that Ferta pondered when the wind blew in a female figure. Aera, chief Goddess of The Wind and, as I’m sure by now you’ve guessed, of the ventus tactus, the wind blessed. She turned to Ferta and was reasonably surprised to see the goddess smiling.
<p>“Let me guess!” Ferta exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm. “You wish to bestow your power upon the girl for the fate of the mortal world or something.”
<p>“Well yes, how did you guess?” Aera exclaimed in shock.
<p>“Oh, that” Ferta said lightly. “Your little fire buddy already did it to a boy under my brother’s protection.”
<p>“Well then…” Aera said thinking quickly. She had planned to make a stirring speech, and was slightly miffed that Ferta already knew. “Will you move so that I can do it?”
Ferta complied and breezes swirled around the baby settling into her skin. Aera made sure the power was closer to the skin than the others were. Fire magic would come up on it’s own and the others would be tested for magic. This girl most likely wouldn’t. The girl giggled at the winds and Aera smiled.
* * *
<p>The manor belonging to the Lord and Lady of Docket was a bustle of activity. A beautiful baby girl had been born, named Hayleea. Parta, supreme Goddess of women and birth, had personally looked into the birth.
<p>The nobles worshiped only the Supreme Gods, so they had no fertility goddess of their own. Parta sat in the chamber of the great gods on the sapphire and gold throne all the Supreme Gods rested on.
<p>All of the Great Gods of Nature and Magic, such as those mentioned earlier had their own, slightly lower chamber. They were worried. Up until that point, they had been able to use high-handed superior attitudes to bestow their gifts. Now they were dealing with gods higher than themselves. If it had been a polite god, or a powerful yet cautious god, they wouldn’t be so worried. Unluckily, Tempestas, god of weather, lightning, and those who controlled them, was very contrary and tactless. He wouldn’t show the proper respect for a Supreme Goddess and would offend Parta. They needed her co-operation.
<p>You see, the girl mentioned above, Hayleea, was needed in the plan. Tempestas had to grant her control over lightning and other storms. Otherwise, the plan would surely fall through. By this point, you might wonder what this important plan was. The winds of change wanted to come in. It all depended on having young people from different social circles. The gods, however great, could only set this great change in motion. Only time, chance, and luck would be able to push it further and lead to success or failure.
<p>Tempestas walked into the throne room of the Supreme Gods and turned to Parta. In his blunt way he said, “We need to see a child under your banner.”
<p>“Humph.” Parta sniffed. “If you wish to address me at all, you must show proper respect.
<p>Tempestas resisted the strong urge to singe Parta’s carefully arranged hair and mockingly bowed. “Your Supreme Goddessness” he said with a smirk. “We, the Gods of Nature, wish to ask you a favor. We, specifically myself, wish to grant control of lightning and other weather to a young noble girl, Hayleea.”
<p>“No.” she said simply. “You may go now.”
<p>At that, Tempestas lost it. “The winds of change are in the air! They require this. Do you think that they will rest quietly if they do not get what they need? I don’t!”
<p>Parta sighed impatiently. “Fine then. Do what you must. Then leave my presence.”
<p>Tempestas threw a lightning bolt of magic into the girl’s heart, where it buried itself. Then he stormed out.
* * *
<p>Finally Licitari, Head God of Merchants worked at the high stall in the marketplace of Merchant Gods. He had just haggled over the birth of a merchant’s son, Eric Price. The Prices were a prominent Merchant family in Majiner. Merchant children were born in an interesting way. Certain amounts of items that the family haggles are burned as a sacrifice. After each sacrifice is a ten-minute wait. The theory is that when Licitari is satisfied, the baby will be born.
<p>The Marketplace of The Gods was bustling with activity. Arboris, High God of Green Plants and, you guessed it, the planta tactus, or plant touched. He quickly sought out Licitari and posed the now familiar question.
<p>Licitari thought for a second and smiled. “Well… it does sound like a worthy idea, but I can’t just give him to you for free.”
<p>“What?!?” Arboris yelled. “You can’t be serious! You want me to bargain with you?”
<p>“Now don’t throw a hissy fit on me.” Licitari said in a falsely soothing voice. “I’ll give you a perfectly fair deal.”
<p>Arboris sighed in disgust. “What do you want?” he asked wearily.
<p>“Hmmm…” Licitari said as he thought. “I want you to grow me a huge boquet of flowers the size of a lady’s face. The goddesses will love them!”
<p>“All right.” Arboris said as he heaved a sigh. He called to the plants, commanding them to expand. The plants couldn’t resist a god, and they shot to a huge size. “Now?” he inquired or Licitari.
<p>Licitari smiled and moved out of the way of Arboris. Arboris called onto the power of the trees and plants, and they buried themselves into the boy, radiating a green light.
* * *
<p>Now the lives had been set up. Six children bore special gifts for the Great Plan. The gods were not all powerful, and could only do so much. All they could do now was wait and see what the mortals made of their amazing gifts.