Peek: A Meeting of Gods (Patreon)

Despite his initial misgivings, Order has to admit Thedeim isn't all bad. The Mobius Trap was an interesting design, and even inspired his current fractal prison for the Harbinger. Oh, the former scion certainly tried to snap and bite at Order once he opened the trap, but draining it of the Maw's mana cowed it properly. It tried to flee to find a place to hide in the new fractal enclosure Order made for it, before the weight of comprehension of its status made it curl up and try not to think.

Order has already gleaned a wealth of concerning knowledge from the monster, but scratching the surface hasn't given him any true answers just yet. He has a suspicion, but even if its true, there is precious little he can do about it. So, for now, he opens his domain to a few other gods who seem to want to talk about the newest solo deity.

The first inside is no surprise, as the Crystal Shield hovers in and bobs in its version of a polite bow. "Greetings, Order. I see you have a... what do the mortals call it? A pet, yes?"

Order snorts at the attempt at humor and motions for the Shield to make itself comfortable, which it does by raising a crystaline armor stand to rest on.

"It's more of a specimen. Thedeim captured it and agreed to let me take it apart to figure out how it's subsuming my system."

The Shield tinkles like wind chimes in a quiet laugh, indulging in its odd sense of humor. "You see how beneficial Thedeim is now?"

Order snorts at that. "I suppose I'm coming around." Before the two can converse more, the next deity enters, taking the form of an elegant elven woman in comfortable scholarly robes of grey. She nods at the two.

"Order, Shield. I hope this new change isn't grating on you," she greets, her glowing white eyes managing to twinkle with mischief behind her glasses. Order fights the urge to sigh, hoping he won't be the butt of everyone's humor for this meeting.

"Laermali. I was surprised when you asked to meet. I thought you would be busy with your pantheon."

She waves the concern off and comes up beside the Shield, who raises a simple crystaline chair for her to sit on. "Oh, they're rambunctious, but I can leave them to their own devices for at least a few seconds without worry."

Order nods as the final expected guest flies in, settling on a perch provided by the Shield before the Raven gives a small bow of respect to all gathered.

"Order, Laermali, Shield. I hope all is going well for you."

They all nod as Order closes his domain, allowing him to elevate it above the ordinary flow of time outside. They all have time-sensitive business of one sort or another, especially the Raven. He wouldn't want to disrupt the order of those he would consider his friends.

"Oh, is that the Harbinger I've heard about?" asks Laermali, peering into the fractal prison. "Oh, I certainly hope so. Its magic feels so twisted, I wouldn't want there to be more than one of those around."

The Shield and Raven both quietly chuckle at that, earning a sigh from Order. "Straight to business, then. As you probably suspect, there are likely more of these around. Unfortunately, I haven't yet figured out where they may be, nor how many there could be."

"The Betrayer?" asks the Shield, which earns a nod from Order.

"That is my suspicion, but it hasn't made a move ever since it ensconced itself in the mantle, before my system locked it in place. It may have figured out something, but without any indications of a violation of Order, there is little I can do to take a closer look."

The Shield hums like a tuning fork for a few moments before responding. "Should I ask my followers to investigate? Many dwarves follow me, and they could brave the deeps just above the molten abyss, as they call it."

Order slowly shakes his head. "I don't think it'd be a bad idea, but I also doubt they'd find anything of interest. Worse, if they do, they might not be able to relay it to you."

The Raven nods. "I don't think there are too many more of those, or else they are particularly subtle. I believe the only souls I've had to gather because of that variety of monster were from Thedeim's fight with the Maw. I'd like to think that's the end of it, but I have my doubts that the Maw could have figured out how to manipulate the system like that."

Order nods once more. "Even my suspicions of the Betrayer are only circumstantial, with my only evidence being that the Harbinger did not originate from the Maw, and that it knew how to twist a spawner to stagnation."

They all look grim at that for a few moments, before Laermali speaks up. "Well, if all we have on the Harbinger are questions without answers, what about Thedeim? I understand you all have had interactions with him? I've noticed him expanding elemental affinities left and right, and that incredible Ice Sage class, but I haven't had the time to examine him properly."

The Shield gleams brightly before answering. "He also fostered a new paladin class for one of my young followers!" It dims a little as it continues. "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to glean much, either."

Laermali considers that for a few moments. "Do you think he would be willing to join my pantheon? A magical prodigy like that should leap at the chance to be closer to the goddess of magic."

"I doubt it," states Order plainly, and he continues before Laermali can get over sputtering at being so harshly denied. "The priest I sent to get the Harbinger brought it up, and it seems he prefers not to work too closely with other deities."

The Shield dims and brightens in a nod. "That is my understanding, too. He has been polite and cooperative, but seems to wish a bit of... I believe it's called professional distance?"

The Raven nods as well. "When I appeared before him, he seemed more uncomfortable with the fact I'm a god, rather than the fact that death is my domain."

Laermali folds her arms, unhappy at her defeat. "I really should try to make contact with him, though. The potential of the Ice Sage class is too much for me to just ignore."

"Then send someone," suggests Order, earning a frown from her.

"You just said he doesn't seem to want to work with us."

Order nods. "I did, but he still will, if he recognizes someone's ability. I believe he was preparing to destroy the Harbinger on his own, but accepted the quest to give it to me because he felt I could get better use out of it, and even possibly be better prepared to deal with others, if they turn out to exist."

"And he helped with the Phalanx Paladin without even knowing it was a path I had been trying to discover for some time, even after the mess with trying to purify his cemetery by one of my acolytes," adds the Shield.

She keeps her arms folded, but this time as she thinks, rather than being unhappy. "What would you suggest, then? Send my High Priest?"

The Shield chimes in mirth. "No. Send someone who won't know you're sending them. Once one of your followers sees Rocky, you won't need to do anything else. Just, as the mortals say, don't make it weird. Thedeim is friendly, but I don't think trying to force anything would be a good idea."

The Raven chuckles at that. "No, it would not be. At best, you would get politely ignored. At worst... you might join the list of challenges he's overcome from angles most wouldn't even consider."

Order nods. "He is Change. If he thinks working together will bring about a good change, he'll do it. If he thinks it could be bad, he'll refuse. I know you can feel the potential he has to change magic, for good and ill. He's going slow so he can guide it toward good. If he says speeding it up will be bad, I'd listen."

Laermali quietly hums and she considers that, before nodding. "I can work with that. Magical understanding has slowed considerably these last couple centuries. I think he might be just what the mortals need to break free from their established theories."

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Inspired by Blaze87b, who wanted to see a meeting of the gods, and also partially by Patrick McIntire, who wanted to see Order's opinion on Thedeim's apotheosis. I'll probably go deeper into that in a later peek. Thank you all for your support!