“Well, my scrying has shown the raising of two great statues in the kingdom, both wrought by Gods of the Upper Air.”
“And why should the raising of these effigies be of particular interest to us?”
“Umm…one is a statue of a mighty warrior, bearded and proud. It wears a manic grin upon its face. It is certainly inspiring but a bit disturbing to look at.”
“What do you make of that then Jeremy?”
“A tribute to Roax following his defence of the city, probably designed by Madness.”
“It was both Laetatio and Niobhan as it happens, but that was a good effort. Go on Tanya.”
“The other statue was made by Arenmei and is a vast construct of bronze. Those who look upon it know the Unreal to be thieves who would steal all that the Real possess.”
“That’s an... interesting way of putting it, though calling the Unreal thieves is certainly generous at best. Thieves can after all reform themselves, however the Unreal are by their nature the antithesis of all we hold dear; now hold that thought always in your mind and you’ll not go far wrong.
"And on that note, that should wrap up the work I set you. It is now time for our field trip. Please place your hands at the cardinal points of the Conflicted Pentagram of the Wind..."
A flash, some smoke, and the class is elsewhere.
“Right apprentices, we’ve travelled here to observe the activities of the Startouched. You can see that the reports of their constructing a temple were quite correct; perhaps, if we are fortunate, we will be permitted to speak to the High Priestess here and may partake of the wisdom of Destia’s favoured. Douglas, you have a question?”
“Is it not the God of Wisdom’s place to offer advice?” “It is indeed, however that is perhaps not sufficient reason to prevent other God’s from offering their own counsel. I’m sure that you are all quite aware of Earpenny’s dissatisfaction with Destia’s recent endeavour; or at least you would be if you had performed the simple incantations I demonstrated to you last week. Would you care to clarify things... Jeremy?”
“Well... I know that the One Hundred and errr Twelve Eyes of Wisdom have been wandering abroad...”
“Just so, and what have the Eyes been doing?”
“They advise that people should smash their mirrors to prevent the Unreal and other abominations from having access to their homes.”
“Well that advice is sound enough, though it is of course Destia’s role to ensure that we need not fear such incursions. Anyhow, let us move along; the road to the temple is a long one and I don’t intend to travel this mountain in darkness. Pick up my bags lads, and we’ll be off.”
I saw many scenes of great destruction brother.
- Indeed, Dolfod, we all saw these scenes. The seas and the skies rising in anger. Surely you saw more.
I did indeed brother. In the farthest north I saw the duel between Roax, God of War and Chekavee, Lord of the Dance. They fought with stone and fire, with the hearts of stars and with the very mountains of the earth. Roax rained a mountainside upon his foe, while the Lord of the Dance responded with a device of stone and fire. A fearsome weapon it was, so greath that the Aurora Borealis themselves, the great curtains of light which hang from the Upper Air, caught fire, and indeed look north brother, you will still see them burning.
- I do look north brother, and I see indeed. But are the Upper Air not displeased?
Somewhat, and the Underworld also, for Roax chose to tear up the land around their back gate for his weapon. Still there is more to trouble the Upper Air than a little careless fire.
- Is that so Dolfod?
Indeed it is brother, else I would not say it. The Lady Artemisia has grown wroth with the upstart Abyss, and her anger shakes the heavens. A great tree has come forth in the depths of the deepest forests, and its branches scrape the skies. The Upper Air must be displeased. After all, their leader spoke in favour of Abyss so recently.
- But what of the seas, Dolfod? They have been as strange as the skies.
Roax and Chekavee fought long, and fought hard, and although in the end the Loudest Lord stood victorious, there was great chaos. Meltwater swelled the seas all over the world, whilst the waves caused by the impact of Roax' mountains sewpt all across the north. But all was not done in the seas.
- Was it not, brother?
It was not. Have I not told you that the goddess Artemisia had grown most wroth with Abyss, and surely you know as well as any that the wrath of the lady of the forests is a terrible sight to behold. Even now the roots of her great tree draw up all the water of the oceans, and I have seen that the lady herself walks the dry seabed. Soon now Abyss will face the full fury of the forests, and that is a terrible thing brother.
- So she's going to smack him upside the head?
Aye, brother. If you insist on putting it so crassly.
- I affect a modern patter - in this way I come to know the new world better.
But we digress, for I have seen still more on my travels.
- More brother, can there truly have been more?
There can, and there is. Nychradellia has taken command of the rivers, as her father Arenmei once did before her, and as in her father's time, the rivers wander the land at will, save for where they are anchored by the hands of man, by bridges and cities.
- Is all so much in chaos brother?
Not all. It seems that rain is falling once more as it should be, but...
But, brother? Is something amiss?
It is a small thing but Arek, brother of Nychradellia, has only of late made his play for the estate of the rains, and it is strange that he has brought such order so soon. Still, we must give thanks for small mercies in such trying times as these.
- Truly an age has passed. Where do you go now, Dolfod?
I go back to the road - until the next time, brother.
"Welcome back listeners, you're listening to KNNY broadcasting live from Central Park, Newer New York. You might be noticing that the reception has been clearer over the past two days, that's because we've finally completed our new broadcast system. Folks, if you're anywhere in the eastern half of North America, come and join the hundreds of folks who have come to the eastern seaboard, and especially New York and Boston, where things are at last getting back to normal.
"Firstly we have to thank the efforts of the K Group. We don't know how half of their toys work but they've given us cheap power, sources of fuel and they've helped us co-ordinate reconstruction. They're even setting up a council for the eastern seaboard, with members drawn from each community.
"Of course - they couldn't do everything. After the floods and the tidal waves a few months back we thought we would have to rebuild everything they took out, but then the Makers came - a real disparate bunch of broken machines, ragged stuffed creatures, bodged-together chimera and incomplete statues. They rebuilt New York and Boston good as new, and threw in a few additions - the Statue of Liberty now looks like a masked bag lady, the Twin Towers are back and have been carved to look like large gateposts made of skulls, and the Empire State Building has been replaced with a cross between a Babylonian ziggurat and a geodesic dome.
"We also have word of developments in New Vegas. Here's a report from our West Coast correspondent, Doug."
"New Vegas has undergone an explosion of development over the past months. The city is still controlled by the mysterious `Mr Smith', but he seems to have delegated rulership to his assistant `Mr Jones'. The city has now established several sources of food, and has secured itself a water source - the river from Peaceful Valley, the grove just to the west of New Vegas, broke free and ran across the deserts. The people of New Vegas somehow managed to catch it when it got near, and forced it to flow through a channel dug in the city, fixing it in place.
"The New Vegas police have also become less strict over the past few months, all contributing to an explosion in its population as people across the midwest flock to join Mr Smith's enterprise. The claim of New Vegas to be the City of Sin is well bourne out - the restaurants serve mammoth servings, prostitution is legal, there is a delegated Riot Zone where looting, pillaging and violence are permitted, and of course gambling is the order of the day. If that's your bag, New Vegas might be a cool place to live. Back to you, Harry."
"That's all from tonights show. Remember, folks, the What Do We Do Now Show is sponsored by the K Group: Better Knowledge for a Better Future. Remember, Newer New York proudly upholds the revived traditions of hospitality - you've probably heard about them if you've met many refugees or travellers lately - and we welcome strangers who aren't with the Cockroach Gang with open arms. We also offer sanctuary to all those fleeing the cockroaches."
Recent stories from France indicate that a previously unknown police force has returned to restore order to the country. Rumours are rife concerning speculation over their origins, from fairies to disguised creatures of darkness, but whatever the truth, they are certainly making big changes. The newly regimented France has seen massive improvements from lowering crime rate and increasing productivity and repair of buildings all over the country.
More obviously in terms of direction, death cultists have resolutely moved into London seizing control of the capital in the dread name of the Underworld. While this caused some problems with suspicion and fear within the population at first, the people of England soon came round to this new ruler-ship and it has definitely had its advantages economically and in terms of infrastructure. This comes after London has been slowly rebuilding it’s infrastructure under an unknown woman’s guidance, but reports of the latest assertion of management do not seem to correlate with the developments reported by this paper nearly a year. But that is not all. There may be more than one presence at work there as recycled junk shrines are appearing through out the city and surrounding area where perportedly, advice may be sought out by any who worship there.
In other news, Underlondon has seen a buzz of activity at its entrance as a child of eight has been rumoured to possess the power of prophecy at Mornington Crescent, the entrance to the lower city. And in accordance with the rules of hospitality which have been delivered throughout the land this season, the Market of the Full Moon, which Trafalgar square is quickly becoming famous for is gathering more shoppers, earnest or merely browsing, each lunar month, eager to trade in safety.
Anyhow, could be worse friend, those Grace guys’ve got troubles of their own, you know? The other day this guy pulls up outside the bar on a big freaking bike, comes in a sits down right there were you are. He’s smiling like a loon but had tears trickling all over his face, I’m thinking ‘Oh crap, total wack job’, thought I might have to kick him out on his backside, right?
Anyways he starts telling me about how he just got married, says he bagged himself a real beauty. Probably weren’t lying either, the man looked like some sorta movie star; can’t have done a real day’s work in his life. Yeah, so this guy’s standing at the altar, and they’ve just said ‘I do’ and kissed, so far so good, right? But get this; the very next second some weirdo kicks the church doors down and shoots his wife with, and here’s the killer, a bow and bloody arrow! I mean jeeze, what’s the world coming to, eh? The poor sod must’ve been totally wasted by this point, ‘cause he starts blabbin’ on about how he couldn’t find the body, an’ how she’s probably with God now or somthin’.
So cheer up man, there’ll be other girls. That other guy, he up and left on his bike; all smiles and saying that he’s gonna find his lady. You gotta be like him, friend. Stay positive!
Simple, foolish flesh-thing. You seek to treat with Illisozt, but you know not the peril you face. For I am...
- Don't make me slap you.
Impudent mor...ow!... very well. Three questions and three questions alone. Then release me from your circle.
- Illisozt. I have travelled far from my homeland, the place of my ancestors. Tell me, how fares Nihon?
It has seen the coronation of a new child-emperor, and two gods have come. One to bring war, the other death.
- Such great and such grave news at once. Tell me of this god who brought war to the far shores of my homeland.
War it was and war was he. The war-god, the drunk. He blundered into the kingdom his breath stinking of ale, and he caused a mighty rumpus. He ravished the imperial geishas, tore up one of the great cherry trees and proceeded to use it to beat the imperial guardsmen over the head while singing a song about a pheasant plucker's daughter. The lord Kami soon game, garbed as a simple peasant, and saw off the interloper with great skill.
- Ah, the lord Kami, long-time protector of my people. But what of the second god, he who brought death?
The hunter was he, and he came pursuing his quarry. Iron lords and Iron men he sought, and he hounded them to the very gates of the imperial palace, his dread bow in his hand and a look of resolve in his eyes. At the gates he was met. He sought to slay the lord Kami's guests, but the Protector of Nihon met him at the castle gates.
- And then? What happened then?
Three questions, mortal. Three questions only.