When the Gods' Meddle...

[Guest]

This story begins with Fate.
Doth not all stories begin so? I am Dramaticulous, a long-winded name I am aware, but hath me another name given to me, I would refuse.
I am the God of the Arts; writers worship me, dancers lithe and limber over me and poets muse. But this story is not about my and my merry tales!
No, this story is about what happens when the Gods meddle. Do no claim in Justica's presence that I doth do such things; for I am an honest god.
This story is what happens when a pretty sips from the cup of immortality and begs for more. When a girl prays to the Goddess of Lust and debauch that she wants to er, part with her sweet flower with Amagon, god of all things manly, who is she to refuse? Mayhap you know the beginning of this story? If so, please go on, for my throat is parched and in need of sweet mead and a honeyed girl's lips. I am awaiting your version of the story thus far...

 

[Guest]

Maria was lonely; she had no one but her money-lending father to keep her company, and he was no complany for her.
So one day she decided to run away.
"Where will you go?" Asked her maid. MAria shook her shoulders, then left. Who cares where she would go? She prayed to every God she knew that they would keep her safe. But one god, the god of the hunt, the Green Man was especially intentive of her prayers...

 

[Gateleader]

Connor sat on her horse looking out upon the fields. The Gods had been medling again. To find one whom knew what happened. Connor knew she would have to set it right.
"Forsuth, young man, tell me where is the nearest temple of the God Dram?"
The boy trembled in fear and pointed up the road. Connor urged her horse on.
She rode her hore into the temple not fearing the rath of the gods.
"Dram you old fool. Tell me quick what has been done so that I may fix it. Be quick for othe gods call for me and I ave little time to spare."

 

[Guest]

Mabis awoke with a start. Night had fallen and the only light came from a small cook fire she had started before night fall. She could tell by the embers that she had been unconscience for about three hours. Also, the tingling in her limbs and head lent to the idea that someone had tapped her powers again. If she could only get to the fabled Temple Of Dreamers, she might learn control of her powers and maybe even prevent these frequent bouts of "possession". She certainly hoped so.
Mabis looke to the stars and saw the Weaver had made her way across half of the night sky. This meant that five more hours remained of night. Five hours in which to sleep. She thought that she might actually rest this time as the "possessor", as she had come to know him, would leave her alone for the night.

 

[Guest]

As the high knight of the phelious order known only as Hentolous walked out of the Ares the god of war temple, he noticed a young pretty girl walking all alone through the streets. After asking her name, and findingo ut it was maria, he asked why would such a pretty yonug lass be out at night all alone, and if she needed protection.

 

[Ambrosious]

Hecate prompted the acolyte at the Temple of dreamers to refuse solace to the young girl currently making her way there. Mabis was too useful in Hecate's retributions to allow her the one thing that would provide a respite to the night wanderings.

Mabis started the day with a new outlook on life. She finished off the hare she had cooked the night before and buried the bonesto keep them from scavengers. After stirring the remains of her cook fire to make sure it was cold, she set out for the coast and the Temple.

Mabis had been walking for some time when she came upon evidence of a fire in the base of a gulley. The fire had been recently used, as evidenced by the glowing embers left carelessly by whoever had used the fire. She looked around cautiously, and couldn't see any one nearby. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up suddenly and the air grew thick with an electrical feeling, like one would experience in a thunderstorm. Some one or thing was near and she knew this with certainty, even though no physical evidence lent itself to this feeling. Mabis prepared herself for the worse.

[This message has been edited by ambrosious (edited 06-15-2000).]

 

[Lady_Aline]

Right before Mabis, in a swirl of smoke, came a man. A man clothed in nothing but a loin cloth. But he was no human, for he had antlers coming out of his head.
MAbis screamed, praying to the Goddess to help her. The man merely laughed.
"Do not fear, child. I am Huntus, or the Green Man. I am here to help you." He offer his hand. Would Mabis accept it?

 

[Ambrosious]

Some how Mabis retained the presence of mind not to lose control of her water; however, her sanity threatened to snap with the rustle of the leaves.

"What... " her mouth formed the words while her mind could not grasp the fact that a GOD stood before her.

Huntus threw back his head and a hearty laugh erupted from his throat. At least, Mabis thought that he laughed. The mirth clearly showed on his face, but his voice soounded at once like the sound of a granite boulder tumbling down the hill side, then it changed to sound like rain falling into a fast moving stream. The look of pure joy that showed on Huntus's face as he laughed was enough to disarm Mabis's defences, if only a little. Quickly taking stock of all that had transpired to her recently, she thought that maybe her salvation lay in this horned version of Godhood and not in the Temple.

"Forgive me lord," Mabis said, "could you help me, for the burden I bear is a heavy one?"

Huntus slightly smiled and the look in his eye was of pure mischief as he delivered the one word he knew he shouldn't. If he delivered the answer as you the reader expects, a war will start; not an ordinary war, mind you, but a war of the Gods. Power was stirring in the lands and in the heavens. It is a shame that blameless creatures such is our Mabis become involved, but when a God desires, mortals lose.

With a heavy heart and a flick of his impressive rack of antlers Huntus delivered his answer.

"Yes, my child. I will help you and you will learn to worship me and my kind. If you can survive three cycles of the sun to the south, I promise you will become Goddess of the Dreamhunters. It is a haughty task and a great burden to such a slip of a girl; the rewards will be great."

With these few words, Huntus plunged all of the Major and Minor Dieties into a battle that would tax many, least of all, humankind.

 

[Ambrosious]

With a clap of thunder and the sound of his laughter, Huntus left Mabis. She stood very still for quite a while and contemplated the Gods words to her. If what he told her was true, she would be a Goddess within three years! Mabis had never doubted herself in the past and she did not now doubt that she would be able to pass any test or overcome any obstacle that came to her. She saw only the possibility that she would become a Goddess and knew in her heart that a Goddess wouldn't be plauged by night wanderings like she had been recently experiencing lately.

Hecate viewed the episode between Huntus and Mabis with disinterest until Huntus agreed to help Mabis. Hecate let loose with a shriek that threatened to bring down mountains in the realm of the Gods. Her acolytes ran hither and yon, knowing the wrath of the Goddess of Justice had been invoked, though they knew not how. Hecate slowly calmed and took stock of the situation and finally started to plan. Mabis was a new source of Power and Hecate had every intention of keeping Mabis's Power to Herself. Now that Huntus has intervened, Hecate had to come up with a way to stop the girl and strip her Power, or if need be Hecate would have Mabis killed. With new resolve, Hecate set her plans in motion. First, Hecate had to call upon the Priest of the Temple and enlist their help. Hecate would keep Mabis occupied until a way could be found to steal the Power for herself.

Elsewhere, an ancient and mighty God stirred in his slumber. If he awakened after several milennia of sleep, the balance of power would surely tip. It was anyone's guess which way the scales would tip if he awoke.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Alenea, Guadian of the Innocent, and Goddess of Music, felt the Earth move. All was not well. Someone had upset the balance of power. Someone had upset Hecate. Only one truely had the power to do that, but he wouldn't. "HUNTUS!" Her call was a musically sound that could shatter glass. "Come to me! Tell me what is amiss." Someone would suffer the wrath of Hecate because of this. She looked down upon the land, looking for any signs of trouble.

 

[Ambrosious]

Huntus ignored the rambling and yelling that of all the other Gods were doing at the present time. Something was much more important. A stirring of Power both Ancient and Terrible was causing the hairs on the back of His neck to rise. Huntus was slightly afraid for himself, and terribly afraid for mankind. The Power that was stirring was scaring a God. Ridiculous! Impossible!

Huntus sat in a wooded area with wildlife circling his ankles for quite awhile before deciding on a plan of action. He knew that only if all of the Known Gods would unite the terrible Power that had stirred culd be vanquished. Thinking intently, Huntus never saw the visitor creeping up behind him. A visitor with malice in his heart and a magical dagger strapped to his side.

 

[ShyGoddess]

"Huntus!" Was that a screech to anyone else's ears, or just hers? "I'm not leaving you alone until you come and tell me what you've done! I know it's something big, I can feel it. I won't see anyone hurt because of this. I'll have your head before I let that happen." She didn't really mean it, but, by all that is being, she was frightened. The earth was quaking in it's fear, and the animals were in hiding. "I'll make your exsistence hell, HUNTUS! Tell me now! I'll start your ears ringing with the most awful music I can muster." Maybe that would bring him.

 

[Ambrosious]

Mabis continued along her journey. Though she had no need for the Brothers at the Temple, she really had no place else to go. She had been banished from her village for necromancy and really had no desire to return there anyway. Her village represented a chaper in her life that was now closed. Mabis had big plans for herself, she was to become a Goddess!

Mabis moved along the wood row north to the town of Ipsla. It would take her several days and nights to arrive at Ipsla, however Mabis was confidant in her ability to live off the land and she knew in her heart that a future Goddess as herself would find fame and fortune in a larger town, rather than a small village. She thought about her mother and father for while while walking. Her mother, Alba, would be in the kitchen now, preparing fish-cakes with a pea soup that would be thick enough to lay stones with. Her father, Baldin, would be arriving from the forest soon. He was a trapper and with the close of the trapping season, he only needed to be gone for short periods of the day. She missed her parents true enough, just not enough to return home.

Shaking these thought from her head, Mabis looked up and her heart froze. A troop of men were camped not five hundred yards from her. The worst part was that the sentries from the camp had seen her advance and were now making thier way toward her.

"This could be bad," she thought to herself, "if these men were dishonorable, what would she do?"

"Prat!" she thought " I'm soon to be a Goddess. Let these men come and state thier intentions. No harm can come to me."

 

[Darb]

"Hey there young lass!" shouted one of the soldiers.
"Why are travelingthis far away from the village all alone? It's a big dangerous world out here and you never know what could happen to a pretty little lass like yourself" the tall sentry said turning and winking at his partner who sizing up the the girl.
"I think that you should come with us back to our camp. We have uh...food, and clean water, and uh..." he began to walk closer to her as the other sentry made his away behind her, "uh...it sure has been awhile since the boys have seen a girl, especially one as pretty as yourself."

 

[ShyGoddess]

"Do you require my assitance?" Alenea whispered in Mabis's ear. The girl looked startled. "Do not be afraid. I am Alenea, Guardian of the innocent, and Goddess of Music. Do you require my assitance. If you wish it so, these men will bother you no more. Or if you wish me to go, I will do so. The choice is yours."

Alenea waited, wondering if it was wise of her to interfer. She usually didn't. Not for a grown woman like Mabis. She was strong, but Alenea sensed a innocence about her that she did not even think Mabis was aware of.

"I will not hurt them. I will only give them a new outlook on the situation. What shall it be, sweet Mabis?"

 

[Ambrosious]

"Well the games have begun," Hecate thought to herself.

She moved her impresive Self to the dias that She enjoyed recling on to think. If this was the start of the Godwars, much would need to be done, and quickly. First, She needed to dole out some responsibilities to some acolytes and priests. If she moved her Powers of Justice and Retribution to underlings, then She could concentrate on the Battle that was surely to come. Before she could do this, She wanted one last act of Retribution, just to sooth her nerves.

Hecate reached into Her own mind and found her own seat of Power. Tapping into a small portion of the primordial power that was Hers to command, Hecate set into motion a devious and deliciously evil spell. The mercenaries that were currently bothering Her pawn would soon find themselves transformed. They would pay a dear price for the malice they held in their hearts. In fact, when this spell was loosed, the only female action those poor men will find will be the amphibious kind. Juvinile, yes, satisfying, oh, yes!

Now Hecate tapped into a greater portion of her Power and loosed a spell that would not affect mortals at all. This spell was aimed at the Gods Themselves. If any future action was aimed at her or her pawns, there would be a price to pay.

 

[Darb]

The sentries began to move closer to Mabis. She could smell the nasty stench of their breath and their bodies. The taller one reached out to touch her hair and just before he had it in his hands a bolt of lightening shot across the clear sky. Mabis looked up to see where it had come from and by the time she looked back down the sentries were gone, and before her sat two large bull-frogs!
She giggled to herself and began to walk again.

Avery loosened the string he had pulled taught on his longbow. He had viewed the whole scene from his perch high in the trees. He was ready to take out the sentries that were harassing this helpless lady when suddenly they were gone. Obviously she wasn't as helpless as he assumed. Either she was strong in magic or she was someone special to the Gods. Either way he became quickly enchanted by her and decided he would continue this little voyeur adventure until he had a better understanding of who she was and where she was going. He knew that if this girl was marked by the gods than he had better treat her as honorable as possible.

 

[Ambrosious]

Huntus watched from his forest glen everyhing that had transpired recently. Hecate's spell aimed at the Gods was an inspiration in itself! It was woven in a way that masked it as a harmless inquiry, as if Hecate were really concerned with the other Gods and their well-being! The spell itself might prove an inconvenience in itself, but it only prevented Gods and their direct action. Huntus had plenty of agents to act in his stead.

The forest rippled with a discharge of Power and Huntus quickly reorientated hes perception to seek out the disturbance. He located Mabis quickly enough, fearing the worst. When He glimpsed what had happened to the mercenaries, He laughed out loud. His laughter disturbed a few of the forest denziens and a few of the smaller animals scurried out of harms way. The discharge of Power had come from Hecate, and the childish act made Huntus laugh even harder. Just for fun, Huntus commanded a few of the nearby female bullfrogs to introduce themselves to the newcomers. He nearly rolled with mirth as the females caught the first scent of the sentry/bullfrogs.

After a few hours had passed and Huntus had time to think, He realized that it was now time to form alliances. Both He and Mabis would need help if they were to overcome the hardships of the coming Godwars. Of course the young man currently keeping watch over Mabis was an obvious choice for her, but to whom could a God turn? Only another God could help Him was the obvious answer. The only details to be worked out involved finding a God or Goddess whose sympathies lay close to His own. Alena, Goddess of the Innocent seemed an obvious choice, for her sympathies always lay with the innocent or the opressed. Then there was the question of Might. Maybe Odin or his boy Thor could be persuaded to join Him. Yes, They were a little old, but their followers were real berserkers when it came to battle. Huntus even thought about the young upstart calling himself Jesu, but in battle the idea was to win at all cost. He didn't need a deity on the battle field that would stand rooted to one spot turning cheeks or dividing fishes. He need a battle tested Lord, not a chef!

Settling on a couple of choice possibilities, Huntus dissappeared form the forest glen in a cloud of purple smoke. This greatly disturbed the feral cat that was curled in Huntus's lap. His perch suddenly disappeared, leaving the feral being no way to maintain a dignified landing. The cat swiped at a nearby butterfly, hoping to gain back a trace of his dignity. Alas the butterfly escaped and the nearby forest creatures howled/barked/snapped/hissed their merriment. The cat slunk out of the glen with its tail tucked, just as Huntus was meeting with his first potential ally.

 

[ShyGoddess]

She hated it when he just popped in front of her like that. It disturbed her to no end. One moment thin air, the next, a cloud of purple smoke, and Hustus appeared. He looked as though he had just had a laugh at someone else's expense.

"I've been looking all over for you. You are not the easiest god to find, you know. Why is there an unsettling feeling in the air? And what has Hecate in such an uproar? What have you done?"

Her foot started to tap in her impatience.

 

[Lady_Aline]

Smoke filled the temple. A haggered woman -a crone- muttered into a pot, frowning. Carefully she pulled the bowl to her face, matted grey streaked hair falling across her face.
"Ack!" She sighed then in dispair.
The priestess of the God's House dragged a long nail into the terracotta pot. She spat in disgust into it, her spittle mixing in with the blood of a recently sacrificed ewe.
"The Gods are playing again," she muttered in her aged voice. "Garrreeeeeeeeeeennnn!!!!!!!!!" She bellowed, reaching for her walking stick.
"Yes mistress?" Asked her young assistant. He wore a leather apron and had several dried herbs in his hands. He peered at her with bright blue eyes that seemed so eager to please.
"Get your traveling gear. Pack mine too; we are to find a girl."
Garen nearly dropped all his herbs onto the floor, stooping his body akwardly to catch them all at the last minute.
"A-a-a girl, mistress?"
"Dare you question me, boy? Are you dumb? Need I explain myself again?" The priestess shouted. Garen blushed and put the herbs down. With a nod and a grumbled "no, mistress" he did as he asked, his hands shaky. To leave the temple- his home and prison since his birth. To see another person other then the priestess- a girl, no less- what destiny! But then, his destiny would be planned by his mistress and her alone, and he wasn't to forget it.
He hummed his favorite hymn, praising the Gods that he was going Outside. To see a girl! Why was this girl so important that they had to leave the temple? Garen stopped his work, his tune faltering; he to had felt the earth tremble with fear... what was happening?

 

[Ambrosious]

Mabis looked down at the bullfrogs that were formerly men and her heart filled with joy. She knew that the transformation had been because she had wished it. This Goddess thing was going to be fun. No longer a timid girl, Mabis looked upon the camp of mercernaries with disgust. She should do something about those men, she thought to herself. It would serve those self-serving men right to be turned into frogs, or maybe butterflies. She had always liked butterflies. Deciding on her course of action, Mabis stomped toward the camp, waving her arms and mumbling to herself. She didn't have any idea what this would get her, after all she was still learning her newfound powers. In all, she thought she looked very magical and mystical.

The mercernaries still at camp were surprised to say the least. They had been watching the encounter that this strange young lady had with their scouts and knew that great magic had happened. When the girl started to charge the camp, waving her arms and incanting another spell, the only recourse was to run, fast. All 16 men left took off in several directions at once, and a couple of the men tripped each other. The fallen mercernaries stared in fright, as Mabis made her way closer and closer. They knew that their last day was upon them and one even lost control of his bowels. Th smell of human feces permeated the camp. The fallen men finally regained control of their limbs and took off, joining their comrades in the safety of the woods. When Mabis raised her voice in a chant, new speed found it's way into the men's boots. By the time Mabis arrived at the camp, sweating and breathing heavily, the only trace of the mercenaries left in the camp was the smell of excrement and the belongings that the mercernaries left behind in their haste to leave.

Mabis sat upon a pallet made of hay wrapped in leathers and took stock of what had just happened. The mercernaries were terrified of her and justly. She could have erupted in fury and sent the men to a place that nightmares reigned real as life, had she wanted. She glanced around and a devilish thought entered her overtired mind. Laying all around her were the spoils of recent outings made by the mercernaries.There was enough road tack to keep her belly filled for moons, coins and jewelry strewn about, and horses tied to the edge of the tree line. She could take what she wanted and call it tribute to the Goddess Mabis. After all it was her due!

She stood and began collecting things into piles. First, she collected all the coins and jewelry she could find and wrapped it in a silk shirt. She placed this into a saddle bag she had found on the ground. She placed a leather jerkin in and around the coins to keep them from clinking together. She collected food into two piles, one for road suitable foods such as salt pork, smoked fish, and barley cakes. The other pile included the perishable items that would be eaten tonite and in the morning, like fresh greens, freshly killed meats, and fresh milk that had come from somewhere. The last pile included things that she found useful for her trip on the road, like replacement tack for the horses, knives, and traps and snares.

Mabis loaded up one of the best horses with supplies she had scavanged from the camp and saddled another fine looking horse for her juorney. She double padded the saddle on the horse more for the horses comfort than hers. She adjusted the stirrups to fit the length of her legs and mounted the horse. After all, it was time to go and face her destiny. he set out for the city of Ipsla with a song on her lips and a lightness in her soul. For the first time in her short life, Mabis felt at ease with herself and her powers. She had become focused on a goal and the horses started to eat up leagues under her.

She never noticed the good-looking young man that watched her every move.

 

[funny_guy]

Now that makes an odd pair, I thought, as an old crone and young boy walked along the road. Maybe even odd enought that they merit being followed... I slipped down silently from the tree I was perched in and slowly made my way to the path that they were traveling on. I am a dwarf, you see. (or a verticaly challenged human being) So manuevering through the low-lieing tree limbs was no problem for me. When I began to approach the path, I slowed and listened for the sounds of the two approaching...

 

[Moneytalks]

Lady of Luck... the most feared of all the Goddesses because of her uncanny way of dealing out fates... she decends to the earth in the form of a young pretty woman. Long silvery hair shimmered about her shoulders as she watched from afar her brother and sister, Huntus & Alenea talk.

They had such simple views... one totally good and the other full of mishief... she smiled to herself... as always... her expression the perfect poker face giving nothing away. She felt Hecate's spell and shivered a little in response. She frowned... well well well, she thought... it looks like the games have begun

 

[Lady_Aline]

"Boy! Stop loitering. And don't touch me, I'm quite capable of walking by myself." The temple priestess gave her apprentice an extra poke with her walking stick to enforce her words.
"Mistress, look... A strange little man. Over there." The blond haired boy fixed his naive eyes at the dwarf and pointed. The priestess whacked his finger away.
"Don't point! It's rude."
"Dwarf!" Yelled the priestess. The dwarf ambled over at his own pace, leaping down from the branches with a curse. They had spotted him; he underestimated their powers.
"Yes, my good women?" He bowed to the crone like a noble courtier to a queen.
"Don't you good woman me. I want to know why you was following us." The crone poked him with her stick impatiently. Her assistant merely gawped at him.
"I was interested. An odd pair; you wear the symbol of those favoured by the Gods." He shrugged his small shoulders and looked into the distance.
"Interested indeed!" She leaned on her stick, peering down at him. "All dwarves care about is gold. And of course their own lives. You wanted to rob us."
He shrugged his shoulders again. "I did not. I was merely interested. Besides, what would an old crone and a young idiot-"
"Hey!" Garen exclaimed, his innocent face distorted with shock.
"-have that I would be interested in?" The dwarf finished, dispite Garen's interuption. "And besides... if I rob you, I may end up turned into a bullfrog or something because your God was watching." The crone's mouth jerked in a half smile.
"I like you. And he's right, Garen, you do look like an idiot." Garen blushed. "If you're so interested, may I offer you to join out little mission?"
The dwarf eyes sharpened then. "What's in it for me?"
The crone cackled loudly. "You dwarves!" She then poked Garen in the ribs. Garen fell on the floor, winded. "I offer you... two silver pieces and the garentee that I will not kill you."
"Two gold, one silver."
"Two silver."
"One gold."
Garen watched the ball-game of words between the two as they both bartered, baffled.
"Alright, crone. Two silvers. I take it I will be hired as a bodyguard?"
The crone winced as her back creaked from stretching it.
"Yes." She jerked her head roughly in Garen's direction. "He won't be much use in a fight." Garen sunk his head, ashamed. Both walked ahead. Garen walked behind, holding the crone's things.
I'll show you, he thought. Someday I'll show you how good I am. And the Gods heard him. He fixed his eyes on a lovely lady loading a horse with goods. And Huntus laughed outright, viewing the scene wryly. A naive lad. Just right for his plans...

 

[Roland Gilliad]

Roland: after laughing at the fight of words bbetween to two adventurers i decided it is time to make my entrance, i know that getting in good graces with them will not be easy but it is imparitive i do this mission......