The land was wild, the land was dangerous, the Kolune hunted everywhere they went.

But the great father, the protector, kept the worst away, and guided the chosen from the Hunter’s blades. They traveled, they hid, they ran, always fleeing from the Hunter.

But it kept coming, it and its own kit, small creatures wielding hurting tools. Hunters were everywhere, no place was safe, no home lasting.

They traveled, they hid, they ran. The Hunters closing in, brothers and sisters lost every new rise.

It is told, at our lowest moment, the great father reflecting upon what to do. That the Harbinger appeared, and foretold all that was to unfold. He showed the Hunter’s works, revealed its kin, and their thriving numbers.

The Great father was distraught, and unsure of what paths there were left to take.

“What am I to do?” The Father asked, his thoughts on his people.

The Harbinger answered, for it was not a messenger of doom, it was the bearer of salvation, and with him came the light of Wonder.

It pierced the dark, and the hidden horrors lying in wait. The light reached out, guiding forth all the lost sons and daughters of the great father.

“Champion Wonder,” the Harbinger spoke, his voice soothing, his words calming. “And all of its bounty shall be yours.”

The Hunter was closing, the light revealed all its schemes, it knew fear, it knew end.

The great father kneeled, and reached out towards the light held within the Harbinger’s hands.

It was on that day, the night cast away, that Wonder first flowed through our veins.

Great works were formed, the light spreading, the dark of the Hunter, the vail of ignorance, fading.

Wonder bloomed and unraveled the Hunter’s schemes. It guided and the Kolune followed, the family of the father united once more.

Together they fought, standing defiant against a force they once feared. The Hunter howled and roared, raged, but Wonder was there. The Harbinger watching, and judging, saw the commitment of the Kolune and as foretold, delivered to them the promised salvation.

The Hunter died, vanquished by their combined might, its kin purged. The night ended, the times of ignorance dead.

The land was tame, the land was safe, and Kolune free to settle everyplace.

The Hunter’s End

------------------------

Forests were quelled, lands tilled, farms spread, and animals bred. Their kingdom of Wonder was prospering, while the rest of the continent remained locked and drowned in war.

It was a tide of carnage, the sights trying to distract his mind. But for the moment, he ignored the visions, instead gazing at the growth of his people.

The promised land, the name shortened and more often than not, called Promise. Was a growing settlement, one that had taken to the surface. With Glor removed, the need to stay underground had no longer been necessary, to the cheer of Kolune. They weren’t like the Verm, who enjoyed the tight and dimly lit terrain. The Kolune, for all the oddness Glor had brought for a time, were hunters. They preferred large open spaces and the grand expanse of the oceanic sky.

As such, the Kolune, free to move as they pleased, had spread out.

Farming, mostly of the animal variety, was a growing trend and stable livelihood. Small, but numerous communities dotted the lands around the city of Promise. All helping to serve as a means to feed the soring population. The Heons end, and the jovial mood it brought, had, and still caused, a great tide of pregnancies. It didn’t help that all gods were encouraging this.

Even the most simplistic of deities could see the source of Glor’s rise.

The Heon had numbers, bred like weeds.

To survive, to thrive, the pantheon of Kolune had sought to copy Glor. Large families were encouraged, even worked into the developing religion taking the city.

Wonder was its heart, naturally, with him mentioned many times, but the broad aspects of the beliefs centered around the Kolune.

Though not in the kind that caused crusades, given his involvement.

After some meddling, he got the Kolune to embrace the belief of taking care of their own people first, before lending aid to others. Rather than ignoring or being hostile to all not Kolune.

He couldn’t have such a separation growing within their followers, given how Wonder was going to be worshipped by all races.

The sentiment had been shared with all the gods of Wonder. Cooperation with as many would be allies was the only way to survive. After all, the Heon populations weren’t slowing in their rise. However, thanks to everyone’s work, especially the gods of fertility, the Kolune population had grown immensely in the last five months. And that wasn’t including the new members that had arrived a month ago. Those Kolune of the South, fleeing the Heon and their raging numbers, had made it thanks to the guidance of one of his shards.

Though there had been losses.

Almost half had been quelled due to the constant raids from Heon. But after reaching lands of cooling temperatures, the Heon with their thin fur coats had stopped following. It also helped that the appearance of Vengeful, and their ability to slaughter Heon raiders with ease, had caused reckless gods to pause and reconsider their actions.

Pursuing Heon, either from sense, or godly dictate, had fled the area in a hurry, when the gods of the Father moved their attention and power to defend the fleeing Kolune.

The moments after, tired and awestruck, Kolune staring at the manifestations of so many gods presenting their race, had been a warming sight. The gods of the refugees kneeled when the offering of Wonder was presented. The invitation to join a cause and place of creation that would raise them above the mundane ways of survival.

Their commitment had shined bright, given the many examples Wonder had come to display. It had become a blaze when knowledge was given to them freely, and Artifacts that broaden their abilities.

The addition of those from the South had birth another holy day. A celebration of union, the Kolune collectively cheering the joining of so many of their kind.

If any rival gods had been aware of the steep climb in numbers, and the overall advancement of Wonder’s Kolune, the gods of the lands would have screamed. Then summarily stopped fighting with each other and joined together to put down the blatant threat.

But that hadn’t, and wasn’t going to happen, he made sure of it.

While the Kolune gods wanted to expand more, take as much land as possible. He’d enlightened them of what would happen if they grew too quickly, showed themselves too openly to the many gods calling the lands their home. It had been almost effortless to change their minds on the matter, given that fate is how Glor had ended up defeated.

So, the pantheon of the Father was not being expansionist. They only broadened their borders when it was necessary, and it was never much. This allowed nearby tribes, which were few, to leave at a calm pace. Because of this, and Wonder’s open arms of granting knowledge. Promise, the city, had the appearance and workings of a civilized settlement. Roads, structures of stone, aqueducts, gardens, sanitation lanes, and places of open learning were common.

He’d even introduced metallurgy, causing the first generation of forges to be created. Slowly, feeding knowledge to those who’d chosen that path in life, Kolune were bringing back that all important trade.

It hadn’t been easy; the mortals were stunted in terms of the mind. But the newer generations were picking up on the changes far faster, and acting more closely with those of a civil make.

With this new trade, plus aid from him and other gods. Fortifications had been built around Promise, solid imposing walls of stone and metal. They even included runes of creation, ones that bestowed further structural strength. No savage, even with the backing of simple gods. Would be able to easily pierce the defenses that were continually being added to every day.

A necessity, given some of the Heon of the South knew of Promise, and the many Kolune that dwelled there. There would be those foolish enough to try and end it, so precautions had been taken. Knowing where the threats were most likely to come from. Gods, and dead, had begun the construction of a great wall in the south. The full scale of it would take years to complete, but they had only focused on blocking the ways the Kolune of the south had used to reach Promise. Not the easiest of tasks given much was forest. But it was considerably smaller than the full scope of what he wanted.

At that moment, all he and the other gods sought was the means to slow Heon from migrating northward. Plus, to make things difficult enough that perhaps mortals and gods alike, would turn their eyes elsewhere in the hopes of finding easier prey to reach.

If not that outcome, then it would instead buy them extra time to conjure up forces able to face the hordes of the South.

There was only so many dead to call upon, since the quality of life, and safe nature of Promise had made dying unlikely. Even then, resurrection was not out of reach. So when it came to a large force, it would have to be made of mortals, and such armies needed to be supplied and trained.

It was a potent problem, one compounded upon from the demands of a growing city. There needed to be those with the minds capable of planning, leading, and organizing all that needed to be fulfilled.

While most gods of other pantheons would have been content with the mortals being dependent on them, deciding their every decision. He was not, Wonder was about growth, the pushing of limits, and the act of rising beyond forced limitations. Their followers had to be able to govern themselves, to maintain a higher state of existence, and reach ever upward. Because of this, he plied his trade on the Kolune, as he had done to those residing within Aronta.

Selecting from those Prost considered the leaders of his following. He’d begun improving their minds, changes that would be transferred to their children. An enlightened class was being born; its members smarter than the average Kolune.

Even with their collective rise in followers and the Devotion born from it. Malan didn’t have the means to improve everyone. Upliftment would be slow and use the rules of creation against itself.

Still, results had already shown themselves, those new litters born from the improved, displayed mental faculties well above their parents. In time they would make for adequate leaders that could help govern continuous growth.

However, they also would need to be watched, and taught that they weren’t rulers, or tyrants. The delusion that all were to obey their commands, had to be crushed quickly. They were at most custodians, there to help their fellow brothers and sisters maintain the complexity of a thriving society.

And they were, Aronta and Promise, the first two cities of Wonder, shining examples of what was to come.

The sight of them, and then the wandering bands of tribes, was quite jarring. It constantly dashed the illusion forming, that the continent had been uplifted. A reminder that the lands were held by savages. A truth that became ever more blatant with every advance of his followers.

It caused an itch of sorts, a feeling of wrongness under his skin and fur. An urge to fix the slight, it was the same as when he wanted to mend a wound, or undo harmful mutations to a mortal.

The feeling was shared. Kolune deities spoke of it whenever they were shown sights of possible rivals and witnessed the state of the mortals not under their sway. It was the same for his fellow gods within Aronta, with Derrin and Axel showing the most discontent.

The crater, Aronta, had caused a veil of sanity and dignity to blind the gods. Understandable, given the advances taking hold. All the villages had been connected with finely crafted paths of stone. Most led to the heart of Aronta, the divine library, but many branched out, and were marked with glyphs detailing where they went.

None of the mortals had used them at first, avoiding the other tribes and sticking to their own areas. But the forced council meetings between tribe leaders at the library, slowly had the races meeting each other.

It had been tense, with only those with adventurous hearts willing to see where the roads led.

Talks had been short and guarded, with gods watching from the Glen, waiting to intervene the moment any physical altercations started. But none had come, the mortals were trying, slowly accepting the fact that Wonder carried little for the appearance of its followers.

It helped that by the time they’d introduced the races to each other, his craft to mend them was yielding results. The Heon, compared to those beyond the crater, were docile and less fearful of other races. He’d even increased their lifespan. Eventually, once the improvements had been seeded into future generations. The Heon of Wonder would live twice as long as their normal cousins, and have superior intelligences.

The other races were also gaining from his attention. The Dargown were less zealous in their belief that they were better than everyone else. At the same time their intelligence threshold and interest in learning had been raised. The changes bringing them closer to the Dargown of old, and then some. To the joy of Derrin and Axel, he’d increased the litter size their race could handle. Not much, but from then on it would be normal for them to produce an extra pup or two.

The Kolune had been worked upon as well, made smarter, larger, more robust, and inlaid with a desired to protect others. As for the Verm, he’d dimmed the trait in them causing their apathetic behaviors.

Altogether, his work, with the help of the other gods had Aronta turning into a paradise. Every village was self-sufficient, crops growing, un-ascended beasts domesticated and providing bounty. The Library was expanding, as well as the small settlements each tribe were living in. Same with Promise, the forest in the crater was being trimmed, the trees transformed into building materials and the exposed land tilled.

The place was becoming the Aronta of old, structures and monuments of granite, gold, and gems grew more common every day. Underground, tunnels spread and went deeper. The roots of Wonder returning as they relinked with those from the past session. Within them, as before, plants, such as mushrooms were being grown. It allowed the mortals to have an easy means of substance year-round. As well as serve as a place of refuge if the lands above ever became lost to chaos.

The Verm spent most of their time down in the depths, leaving the village on the surface empty, save for a few guards. In typical fashion, their numbers were blooming, but not as fast as the Heon. Yet, they had already become the stewards of the underground, just like the session before.

Life was good, life was comfortable and abundant. The population was soring, and the mortals, freed from spending most of their days hunting for substance. Now had the time and guidance to turn their minds to higher forms of existence. Trades had come back, same as it had happened in Promise. They introduced metallurgy, literacy, the arts, cloth weaving. Civilization breathed deep, returning to life and beginning the process to wither the age of Savagery.

Secrets hidden during the session before, were openly discussed and practiced. Growing amounts of mortals were becoming able to perform some miracles all on their own. Schools of arcane, the mastery of certain arts, were starting to take root.

Wonder, sweet, ever bountiful Wonder, had taken the mortals, saturating them with the endless possibilities within their reach. If they were willing to commit, to study and marvel at the realm around them.

It brought tears to his eyes, all of it so beautiful. It was as all should be, learning championed, arrogance cast down. But there would those, chaos and order, that would see his work undone, and while now they were safe. He knew better, had learned from the horrors of past mistakes.

The mortals had to be ready for war, structures and doctrine drilled into their minds. Plans had already been made, many of which revolving around the dead. Their performance against Glor, especially the Shades, made them a perfect first stage assault against any force sent to harm the progress of Wonder. As well as for defense, ghostly sentinels aimed at protecting the living that dwelled within the crater.

There was also the Stonemen, which he was already making dozens around Aronta. None were housed with a soul, but they were ready. The one downside, if it could really be called such a thing, was they didn’t have an abundance of dead. The way of Wonder prevented or undid the deaths of mortals. Leaving little in the way of wandering souls aligned with them. To counter this, he and the Wonderbringers of Aronta, had begun selecting mortals through visions, testing to see if they were interested in becoming guardians.

A list was being compiled, when the time was needed, those selected would allow themselves to embrace death, and move into a construct better made to protect the living. The number of volunteers had steadily climbed once mortals had talked about it amongst themselves. And then shown the wonders they would inhabit. The abilities bestowed to them, and the shear fact, they would be resurrected when they desired to live again.

Some had been so enthused, mainly Kolune, with the prospect of guarding their people. They had requested to begin the transition right then.

Seeing as he needed watchmen within the Glen to guard the crater. He’d accepted their requests, bringing forth a new generation of Shadows, but now days were only referred to as Guardians.

They wandered the crater, checking on every village and constantly seeking out intruders. Occasionally, when their minds weren’t frayed from over learning, they journeyed to the Library. There they learned what they could, slowly mastering the works of gods and their hold over creation.

Their presence, and the Kolune steadfast commitment to protecting others. Allowed him a measure of peace as he gazed through his shards; watching the madness of the savage realm.

The South was lost.

The constant warmth of the climate, and overabundance of game, had made the Heon population explode. The other races never had a chance, the matter only worsened, given they had been warring with themselves. The Dargown, Kolune, even Verm, who’d traveled further south, thinking to avoid the local Heon. Had only ended up coming into contact with greater numbers of the race. In turn, those tribes had been completely wiped out, and consumed.

The Verm who had listened to his warnings, and traveled North, just as Kolune had done. Had survived, and settled in lands he had told them were safe. The gods were grateful, and while they were not particularly impressive, had been given, and accepted his offer of joining. Yet another city of Wonder had been started, but it would not see the light of day for a time. After the troubles with the Heon, those Verm were wary of being on the surface, thus preferring, like their cousins in Aronta, to stay underground.

So the city of Verm would be a underground labyrinth, rather than a commonly seen settlement of rising stone. As with everyone else pledging themselves to Wonder. He’d sent everything they needed, knowledge wise, for them to thrive. Underground crops were sowed and already bearing their bounty. The Verm had also followed his instructions, they’d gathered animals and begun the process of milk and egg production.

Teachings, especially regarding tunnel construction, had been passed down. Along with the means to make forges and smelt ores into useful items of survival.

A blade was still deadly even in the hands of a lethargic halfhearted wielder after all. The Heon, if they ever did find them, would have to deal with Verm, for once, armed and dangerous. And while the Verm couldn’t keep pace with the Heon in number, they were a close second, and would have the means to cause a great deal of harm if pressed.

But it wouldn’t come to that, the Verm of the third city were digging deep, the underground spreading, no Heon would dare traverse the depths, at least not the savage kind.

Work was already underway to link with the Roots of Wonder under Aronta, thus making passage between the two cities a peaceful voyage. The same was being done to Promise, in less than a year all would be connected. The best part, is none of the outsiders would ever know, be utterly clueless of the forces joined together under layers of rock.

A needed advantage, with how events were flowing.

To the west, where the first signs of order had dared shown itself, had been reduced to a devoured and picked clean corpse. The Kolune were gone, their alliance of survival not enough to withstand the hordes of informed and hungry Heon sent against them. It had been a bloody last stand though, the gods, especially the one that had clearly been controlled by a Sovereign with many perks. Made the Heon, and their gods, pay dearly for their victory. Altogether, thousands had died, a laughable sum when thinking of the session of old. But during these times, the session fresh, it was a staggering number.

It showed just how dangerous that pantheon could have become, if allowed the time to grow. But it was gone, and he breathed contently. That problem had been settled, now there was just the Heon of the West to contend with. The loss in numbers hindered them, and they had begun to turn on each other, fighting over the corpses of the Kolune. But they would recover and turn their collective attention elsewhere. Promise would gain their attention, if or when they become aware of it. The Horde would come for them, same as those of the south.

At least in the East matters were relatively stable. The twins, death and life, were being kept in check. Other gods ruling over Heon had banded together, and formed a large coalition. The twins advance over the region had stalled, even began to reverse thanks to him. He ferried visions to savage gods, kept them aware of the Twins movements, where their followers went, and more importantly how many there were.

Still, neither side showed signs of winning, both forces were stuck in a stalemate, which was perfectly fine in his opinion. It bought him, and the other gods in that region time to prepare. Kolune, Verm, even Dargown, to his shock, had banded together.

An uneasy alliance was forming, brought about by the sights of two mighty Heon forces battling each other over the region. No matter which side won, it meant the death and slaughter of the other races.

Same as he was doing, the other races used this chance to gather their strength. And seeing the Heon problems growing in the West and South, he sent Shards to them.

The gods of that pact accepted his visions, the Dargown most of all, giving they marveled over his appearance. But due to their distance, and the forces in their way. He didn’t tell them of Wonder’s cities, he did however provide them aid. He gave them the knowledge of weaponry, spears, swords, axes, bows and arrows. A detailed list of their creation and uses had been provided, doubly so for the latter two. The making of armors followed after, the gods and mortals alike struggling to hold onto all his gifts.

They had, after repeated sendings, and while Heon forces carved into each other, the third force was readying itself. When it was time for them to strike, it would be a sundering blow.

Either way, the large threats of the East were handled. What remained to garner his attention was the forces arrayed in the upper North.

Winter had spread there, frost and the first dustings of snow blanketing the lands. A boon, and a miracle. It helped slow Irame, the cold and wetness dampening his growth, but he was still growing. The lands under his sway were a burnt charcoaled mass, everything consumed by his touch. The god, followed by his Heon, spread where they could, eager to destroy more in order to maintain their strength.

If the fire god had been born in the south, the lands hot, and forests lush, his blaze would have swept the continent. Only those underground, where fire would find little purchase, would have been safe. And a place where Wonder could have waited for the god of fire to die out.

But that fate had been avoided, the cold and rising opposition, had stalled the god’s advance southward.

With his tender care, the pantheon of water had become a force worthy of respect. A power able to face the burning god’s might and survive. The two opposing forces were locked in a bitter duel, yet another threat kept in check, while Wonder swelled in might.

To them, those aquatic gods, he offered his services, whispered works of Wonder that helped them fight the flame. The people, and gods, adored him in those parts, the Harbinger of salvation, the bringer of ways. It mattered not to them that his appearance was that of a Dargown, while they were Kolune. to them he was a sign of luck, goodwill, and promised safety.

He was tempted to tell them of the works down south, the city of Promise, the marvel of Aronta, the places they could have, if they all championed Wonder. But the need of Irame being kept contained, outweighed their enlightenment. None of them could afford such a distraction, or the fact there were places they could flee to, instead of fighting the fire god.

For all the benefits winter was bringing to weaken the god. Irame was still a threat, his works and disciples a force to be wary of. The people of these times, savages, were ill-suited to fight flame. Normal weaponry and armor were useless against fire spewing folk.

Miracles had to be fought with Miracles.

Warriors had little place in the arena of war between water and fire. That field called for wielders of the elements, and the Kolune were answering it.

Novice prophets and priests were used as conduits for their gods, the lands of war filled with preaching and murmuring incantations as elements crashed into each other.

He enjoyed the sights and display of godly might. The way Creation could be bent even by simple gods. It was amusing to feel Creation’s irritation around those battlefields, how it was forced to bow, and watch normalcy be thrown away as two sides destroyed each other.

It was a glimpse of the future, one only he could see. A time where mortals would be dueling in similar ways, all educated in the arcane and able to bend creation to their wills. A time of Wonder, of marvel, of continued ascension.

How he long for it, craved it, but he kept the force building in him contained. He would not fall prey to the rush of quick upliftment again. It would be slow and stable, focused and nurtured. It would not crumble apart like before, his hordes of followers forsaking him the moment his endless power became finite. They would love Wonder this time, cherish it.

They would see the truth, witness how Wonder held all the answers, could solve every problem. They would understand the sin of limitations, the wrongness of stagnation and entropy, they would know order’s folly.

That is what he told himself, as his shards expanded outward.

Some would have become distracted by the local events, not he, he wanted a broad picture, needed it. Thus his shards moved past the lands Irame dwelt, heading deeper into the cold north, until it was a harsh frozen plane.

It was there he came upon his enemy.

In the lands of snow, the place barren of Heon, given they didn’t have the fur to handle the environment. He found the growing holds of Kolune, the masters of those lands. Their tribes were numerable, and contesting each other over the limited game. But it was not a butchery like the Heon, it was duels, civil, orderly.

The nature of the Kolune was causing natural cooperation, civilization was forming on its own without him. The harshness of the environment causing the need for unity.

Already the beginnings of stable settlements were forming. One in particular had drawn his attention. Enclosed within a large crevice of a mountain side, was the largest encampment, the heart of the problem.

Shifting the spectrum of his eyes with miracle knowledge, he peered through layers of plain rock. He noticed that hundreds of Kolune dwelled near the entrance, so they could use the natural light of Sun, rather than makeshift torches. But there were still dozens deep in the dark, using flames to guide them, and see the craftsmanship of the cavern. The detail and fact it linked with tunnels that led deep below the crust of the realm, had his memory kick in.

The Kolune had found a root of Wonder. The stompings of the Warper’s great flesh beasts must have sundered rock enough for it to be revealed. And then followed with time failing to re-hide the way down completely.

He saw the entrance that led deeper down had been turned into a shrine, a place of worship. His jaw clenched, and teeth clinked, when he saw the works of Wonder had been misinterpreted. Naturally to the savages, the craftsmanship of the halls had to be linked with something divine, something to idolize. However, they had viewed the work wrong, picturing something of order, rather than the awe of Wonder.

He wrestled with the urge to reveal himself, to tell the truth these fools failed to notice. But the damage was done, he could feel it, the place, the entity that resided there was opposed to him. And rather than announcing himself, and being seen as a threat, rather than a passing quirk, he remained distant.

His shard remained, watching the habits of the Kolune, the spread of order as the entity, through its followers, converted others.

If Heon had been around he could have ended the threat, had the savages do his work and remain hidden. But these lands were ruled by ascended wolves, and the other races were too few in number to be of worth.

The situation required a direct approach, but there was only him. He refused the option of manifestation, and the risk that came with fighting an unknown foe.

He’d begun to grind his teeth, order was right in front of him, the enemy budding in safe and fertile land for it. Yet he couldn’t reach out, couldn’t end it swiftly. To many, and pressing matters, fought for the use of his Devotion.

Huffing, he did the only safe choice available, he collected information, while he readied a small force. Shades had a new target, and Foy’s poison a new victim. But the distance was long, weeks of travel for them, since the dead would have to remain manifested to use the cloaks of Shadow.

It would have to do.

With the find of another sprout of order, he’d focused on the outer limits of his reach. Shards spread, searching the lands passed those of found threats.

The South only got worse the further he traveled, the lands Heon ridden. Wild game was being hunted to the point of extinction, even in those overly abundant lands. Conflict was stirring… well more of it anyways.

After living with an easy supply of meat, any decline seemed to be intolerable to those of the South. The matter made worse as incompatible gods pushed on their followers to war with infidels. Same as the West, with all other races gone, the Heon appeared to be losing their reservation at hunting their own. Heon slaughtered each other with the same eagerness they normally saved for other races.

After searching for a time and finding the South apparently empty of orderly gods. Most of his attention turned Westward, since that region had already sprouted order once. Past the Heon, and the remains of the Kolune tribe, he found a mixing of races.

The region was cooler, and less plentiful, so the Heon hadn’t swarmed everyone yet. Everything seemed balanced, no one god or group threatening the existence of others, which made it difficult to try and spot potent rivals.

Looking to the East yield similar results at first. Then a week of extra running, had him finding another sprout. Worse the culprit race was his own people, the distorted Dargown.

Counter to everywhere else, the tribe was thriving under the guidance of their god. It seemed focused around hierarchy, the order of things, with the Dargown at the top. He couldn’t get much, since the Dargown were constructing a lasting settlement, and watched closely by their god. He’d avoided taking the risk of a closer look, and contented himself with distant observation.

the Dargown had a heighten intelligence compared to those in other lands. Plus a breeding cycle on par with the advances he’d done with those of Aronta. Which meant the Sovereign in control of the Dargownain god was one with many, or potent, perks unlocked.

Threat found, he’d went to work contacting Shades. They were given visions and their mission, then the necessary supplies to see the job done.

Foy had gotten her wish. Her poisons were going to spread and deliver death to rivals long before they had the chance to become a threat to Wonder.

--------------------------

Within a high tower attached to the Library of Aronta, Malan worked on a large slab of rock. Manipulating the stone, he made the under part into a table that easily held the weight of the rest. Then taking all the knowledge he’d gained from his many Shards, he plied his will on the material.

A perfect map of the realm he’d surveyed was formed. Every detail added, down to blades of grass. Flicks of his will caused stone to change its properties. The grass, leaves, and foliage in general, became emeralds of varied hues. Ponds, and lakes were depicted with blue quartz, then repeated for every material in the realm. Once done, and appraising his work, he noted that anyone taking a glancing look would believe they had gazed upon a miniature realm. Only closer and careful observation would have them notice nothing moved. Still, it was pleasing to his eyes and served his uses.

A quick sending caused Bronduff and Foy to arrive within the large ornate chamber moments later.

Both instantly gazed upon the map.

“Show off,” Foy immediately replied in her Heon form, it caused him to smile.

“I’ve earned the right.” He said back, after centuries of practice why wouldn’t he flaunt his skill?

“It will be treasured.” Bronduff added and stood next to him, while Foy rolled her eyes and took a position on the opposite side of the map. “I didn’t realize,” the towering Kolune of white said a breath later. “That you had traveled so far.”

“It’s not perfect,” he said. “My shards are running outward, taking brief looks of the surrounding planes while they hunt for order.” Motion from him had two orbs of light appearing above the locations he wished to discuss.

“I found our enemy here and here.” The two other gods leaned closer to the map, a mortal habit, rather than physical need.

“You want us to handle them.” Foy stated.

“Please,” he said, and added. “I have already sent Shades; I merely need you two to help them succeed.”

Bronduff and Foy shared a glance, then nodded. “We understand,” Bronduff replied.

“Good,” he said as he continued to stare at the map, he motioned to the orb in the far north. “That one specifically needs to go, the mortals somehow confused our work, the roots, with something of order.” He sent them visions of the place to illustrate.

“They’re dimwits,” Foy helpfully added. “And your work, while beautiful,’ she held up her hands. “Is also orderly.” She shrugged. “You can’t blame them too much for bringing about a god aligned against us.”

He frowned at her, his opinion clear.

“This transgression will be erased,” Bronduff added. “And the misunderstanding corrected for the Kolune that remain.” He paused, leaned closer to him. “Unless you want the tunnel covered.”

Malan nodded. “For now, I don’t want us spread out too much on the surface. It’s better for everyone that we do so underground, away from prying eyes.”

“Shall we send shards through the roots of wonder?” Bronduff asked. “See if more parts have been revealed to the surface.”

“I’ve already begun,” he answered. “But I would appreciate the aid, that way I can focus more of my efforts on reviving some of the Preserved.”

The mention of them had Foy looking up from the map. “Oh yeah,” she chuckled. “They’re still down there aren’t they, gosh, do you really think anything remains of them?”

“The runes we put them within would have run out of Devotion at least a century ago. But their containments were made to last.” Stone, and crystal for the outer shell, then a life preserving mixture within made by him and Rimean. “The remains will be well kept, and even if not, I need very little to work with.”

“You’re seeking out the Dargown of the past.” Bronduff more stated than asked, and Foy smirked at him.

“That blatant, is it?”

Bronduff gave a slight nod, while Foy sharply laughed. “Derrin moans to me almost daily about the unfairness of his kinds slow reproduction.”

Malan knew it was in fact not unfair, everything was a give and take. For the Dargown’s superiority when it came to the mental, and arcane mastery, something had to be traded. Fewer pups and a longer birth cycle had been deemed the payment. One he was circumventing, but that too came with a cost. They ate more, a lot more actually, but that was nothing for Wonder, its lands ever bountiful.

“While true their numbers will be a boon,” he voiced. “I’m also interested with getting pure Dargown breeding with the current session variants, thus speeding up the process of fixing them.”

Even if there was only one able to be resurrected, that alone would be a giant leap in restoring the Dargown back to their former glory.

“How’s that going to work?” Foy asked, and twirled a wrist. “The resurrection part, you know, with the souls memories being completely wiped.”

“The original soul, if available, will be pulled back into the body once its breathing again. And have the mentality of an infant.” There wasn’t anything he could do to restore the memories, given his lack of experimentation within that field. “If not, it will be up to me to decide what soul goes in.” The dead would be lured to the body as if it were a conceived infant.

“Oh,” Foy added. “A whole bunch of adult pups, that’s going to be interesting to handle.”

“They’re Dargown, the souls within will learn quickly,” He commented and added. “I, Derrin and Axel will be there to nurture them as well.”

“Are you going to bring back the other races?” Bronduff voiced.

“All but the Kolune,” he answered. “They’re the only ones to be improved by this session, no need to bring back past flaws.”

“Now that’s what’s truly unfair.” Foy said with a smile. “The Kolune getting treated so kindly.”

Bronduff grunted, and voiced bluntly. “Yes, being the cattle for Heon, truly, such kindness.”

“I know,” Foy said placing a hand over her heart. “Your lot should be more grateful for such a wonderous position to be in.”

Partially rolling his eyes, Bronduff tilted his head and leaned close. “Is there anything else you need from us?”

“No, dealing with the misaligned tribes is the only situation I can’t handle myself.” Not well anyways, dealing with Glor’s tribe had been a reminder of his…weakness. It hadn’t caused a problem, thanks to the Rage-air’s indiscriminate nature, but that wouldn’t always be the case, and he knew a situation would arise where he would have to make a choice.

One that wouldn’t be beneficial for him.

“Then I shall begin surveying the underground,” Bronduff said as he straightened himself. “Me and some of the Guardians, it will be good for them to see the marvels waiting to be reclaimed.”

“Bothering you, are they?” Foy playfully asked. “Because mine are, they want to explore, or seek out heretics.”

“Have you shown them visions of what the realm is like outside the cradle of Aronta?” He asked.

“Of course,” she answered. “That’s the problem, they want to strike now, keep the threats in disarray, and far away from their descendants. They’re not rebellious though,” she added. “They stay in their spots and keep to their patrols, they’re just jumpy, don’t like the concept of threats growing unhindered.”

“The sentiment is shared with the Kolune, though not as strongly.” Bronduff said. “They’re firm in their work of defending Aronta above all else, but, the visions trouble them.”

“I understand.” He voiced, gaze returning to the map, seeing all the threats, all the problems close or out of reach. “But we can’t act openly, most don’t even know we exist. That blindness must remain, else they’re rally against us.” Word would travel, it always does, stories of a great force destroying all in its path would spread.

“The only reason I’m going after those depicted on the map, is because of the great distance, and the lack of outside forces that can be used. Thankfully even if there are survivors, none will ever realize it was us.”

“They will be reminded of your reasons.” Bronduff spoke. “And be kept distracted with work and learning.”

“For the best,” he commented. “With how events are flowing, defense will be our best offense. High walls, controlled paths, limiting their use in numbers, and waiting them out.”

So long as the savages remained dependent on tribal methods for food gathering, their populations could only get so large. And their ability to maintain them would be fleeting.

Studying the map, and overlaying visions from Shards, he saw the movements of chaos, of beasts.

It had no ultimate goal, no plan beyond the present moments of gratification. They would swell like a parasite in a host, uncaring of their acts and how it ultimately led to their own end.

The host, the lands, were going to be turned barren of game based off the actions of the Heon. Starvation was going to sweep the lands under the control by misaligned gods. Great wars were going to be birth as mortals desperately searched for food.

Large migrations were on the horizon, the worst of which would be coming from the South and West.

Heon hordes raiding the lands, their acts only making matters worse.

‘Chaos only provides opportunity.’

It doesn’t maintain its following, doesn’t shelter, or nurture.

It is a tide of nonsense sweeping all to the depths of ruin.

‘And when it does, the lands being crushed in its embrace. Wonder will be there, salvation promised, salvation given.’

They will rise and take the lands, the continent, the realm. And when the likes of order show’s its face, they would be there to crush it, to stop all aimed at limiting ascension.

“We only have to keep to our current path,” he told them, the three gazing at the map depicting a fallen realm. “And our following will get through the times ahead, and reach the age of Wonder.”