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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 279087" data-attributes="member: 2012">The Third Era begins...THE THIRD ERAThe Divinity WarHiisi had indeed come to steal Cronn’s godsoul and increase his own power as a result.  To this end he joined forces with Mussin, Nether and Xuar to form a new dark pantheon that would become known to mortals as the Pantheon of Swords.  He corrupted the hearts of men and turned brother against brother, father against son, and nation against nation.  And war ravaged across the countryside and Cronn knew great sorrow as Hiisi’s evil spread.The gods too, were not immune to the effects of the war, as Hiisi spawned his own twisted godlings and sent them against the Pantheon of the North.  Thus it was that the Dark Children - Amand, Ces, Deltum, Emcey, Enduma, Shoku, Teve, Thera, Vespin, and Zell lead the charge against Cronn’s family and allies in what would become known as the Divinity War.The two pantheons fought in the heavens, as war raged through the land below.  Gods and mortals fell on both sides as the two wars, one of mortal against mortal… the other god versus god, lasted for centuries.In the mortal world, a great dark kingdom rose and dominated all that stood in its way in the name of Hiisi, their dark patron.  They spread as far south as the desert known as the Great Expanse and darkness ruled the land.  The Ne Mei‘neav stood their ground against the dark hordes and prayed that their human allies would not give up the war and surrender to the minions of the Lord of Darkness.To the PlanesCronn’s power diminished over the decades, as Hiisi’s power grew stronger.  One by one he watched as friends and his godchildren fell.  Anacoro, Anon, Nessus, Santè, Sialic, Thorn, Tulle – all gone, taking only three of the Dark Children with them – Ces, Shoku, and Zell.---------------Cronn watched from Jalivier’s Citadel of Light in the Seven Heavens, as the war on the mortal plane raged on.  He had become less jovial as the years past… more sad… more grim.  The pantheon had lost the Hall of the Northlands early on in the war against the Pantheon of Swords.  Hades had suggested that the Pantheon take the fight with the dark gods to the Outer Planes.“If we go there, the dark gods will follow.  Yes, the war between the mortals will continue but less damage will be done to the mortal world without us battling in the sky, godfire descending on the lands below.”Cronn was loath to leave his people and let them fend for themselves against the dark followers of Hiisi. But he knew that Hiisi would follow him into the planes, afraid that his prize would escape him.  Thus, the Divinity War shifted to the planes.“Enough!  I’ve seen enough,” Cronn smashed the mirror that showed his people suffering under tyranny.  “Will this madness never end!”Corellon looked at the broken mirror.  Cronn had become more and more unstable in the last few decades. His pain was great; he truly did love his people, as much as he boasted.  “It’s hard to watch, I know.  But it is the way it has always been so, since time began.”“I don’t care, it’s not my way!”Corellon tried not to smile.  Not at Cronn’s pain, but at the image in his mind of a neophyte elven god raging in pain at the site of his people being butchered by orcs and goblins.  Forced to watch helplessly, while the Olympian Thunderer, Zeus, gave the same speech.  It felt like only yesterday, but was in fact a long time ago.  Cronn reminded him so much of himself at the beginning of his godhood.“Well, maybe Jalivier will return from Baator with good news.  There must always be hope.”As if on cue in a great celestial play, Jalivier came through the giant oak doors of his Citadel.  He was battered and bruised, but whole.  He knelt in front of his Father and began to speak.  “Great Cronn, we have won a great victory this day.”“Stand Jalivier, and tell us of this great victory.”  Cronn’s voice was slightly passive.  Jalivier was the ultimate optimist and always said the same thing, no matter what the outcome was.Jalivier stood, beaming with pride.  “We took Gaoterlog.”“Yes!” Cronn’s voice shook the heavens and his heart soared.  Gaoterlog was Amand’s realm, Hiisi’s oldest godchild, in the third layer of the Nine Hells.  “At last my child you are avenged!”Cronn referred to Anon who had been killed by Amand at the beginning of the War.  Corellon knew that Hiisi wouldn’t care about losing his godson, but he would care about losing the power that Amand wielded – a pantheon that loses its God of War usually does not survive long.  “Indeed this is good news.”Soon the Citadel was filling with other pantheon members as the news spread around the Outer Planes.“My Lord,” Inanna appeared next to the Lord of the North and embraced him.  “I came as soon as I heard.  Is Hades here yet?”“Here,” Hades appeared out of shadows.  “I am happy for you, my friend.  I respected your grandson very much and I am glad his godsoul is finally at rest.”“Uncle! “ Hela appeared from her realm in Arborea.  She was growing up so fast and had become very beautiful, so much so that the god Apollo petitioned Cronn to court the goddess.  He had told the Olympian god that his granddaughter’s heart was her own and that if he wanted to court her that he’d have to ask her himself.The Olympian did just that, after he recovered from the shock, and had begged Hela to be his consort.  Being a strong willed goddess she played his strings for a while and he followed like a lovesick puppy.  Of course, Ramara had helped Hela with that, yet Hela was so good at it that Zeus had originally thought that she must be the Goddess of Beauty and Love’s daughter.  When he found out that Hela was in fact, the Hunting Princesses daughter he had exclaimed that Apollo was out of his mind with love for sure.Hela glided on the marble floors like a ghost through the air.  She hugged Cronn, Inanna and then her uncle.  “I heard you were back, is it true… your army took Gaoterlog?”“Yes child, Anon was avenged today.”She became sad for a moment at the mention of her dead brother.  Then Hela brightened up and ran back towards where she had first appeared.  “I must tell mother, she will be so happy that Anon’s pain is finally over.”  She vanished as quickly as she came, obviously on her way to her mother’s realm, Hunter’s Rest, in Elysium.“Still the same impulsive girl, even after all these years.”  Moradin had spoken the words.  He and Garl entered the Citadel of Light, appearing near the oak doors.  “Jalivier, I here you kicked some Sword tail today.  Why didn’t you tell me you were going, I would have gone with you.”“It never came up, I was gone so quickly this time that I didn’t even have time to bring Cull with me.”“You laid siege to Gaoterlog without the God of Strategy.  You did perform a miracle, didn’t you?”  Moradin was inspired by his friend’s dedication to the cause.“Ha, you could say that.”  Jalivier had become aware that he was a mess and quick replenished his power so that his armor gleamed and his skin looked untarnished.  No one said anything, allowing the Sun God his one vanity.  “However, this battle might be won but the War is not.  I lost some of my best followers today, celestial and mortal.”The mood sobered a little and the Gods started to shift back to their own realms until only Cronn, Jalivier, Inanna, Hades, Corellon, Moradin, Garl, and Rel were left in the Citadel.“I’m sure we can find the time to honor the dead,” Cronn put his hand on the Sun Gods shoulder.  “But first we must be prepared for a counterattack from Hiisi’s brood.  He won’t take this lightly and will probably send his troops into the Upper Planes to enact his revenge.”“Demons and dark knights attacking the Upper Planes.”  Hades words echoed through the Citadel.  “The rest of the Olympians are not going to like that one bit, except maybe Ares.  He’d love to test his troops in such a battle.”“Do you think he would throw in with Hiisi?”  Cronn didn’t like the idea of facing both the Lord of Darkness and the Unfortunate One.“No, he’s not likely to trust Hiisi or any other god with an agenda.  More than likely, he’d send his troops in on no one's side and simple fight for the love of it.”“Ugh, Ares… no strategy, no honor, no brains.”  Inanna stared at the ceiling shaking her head in disbelief.  “How any war god could just throw away good troops, for no other reason than the love of blood, is beyond me.”“Cronn looked at his beloved and smiled.  “Not every war god has your good sense, my dear, or your beauty.”“Flatterer.” Inanna and Cronn had originally joined together and beget children to solidify her joining the pantheon.  Eventually, they became friends and now, had become much more than that.  So much so that Inanna’s realm had shifted over the years, from Baator to Mechanus then from there to Arcadia.She had then renamed it the Heart of Battle and left Enlil and the Sumerian Pantheon altogether, tired of being ignored by her former husband.  Cronn was much more to her liking.  He was passionate and treated her with the respect he knew she deserved.  Of course, Enlil had been incensed.  But Inanna did not care… she was in love.  How could she deny her very nature?  “I’d hardly call Ares a good comparison, my love.”“How true, he’s not much to look at is he.  Hades?”“No comment.”Cronn roared with laughter.  “I guess your right.  Zeus would probably hear about it if you degraded his son.”“It’s not Zeus that concerns me.”“Ah yes, I seem to remember hearing that Hera has quite the temper.”“Again, no comment.” Hades let a small smile creep onto his face.This time, they all laughed.“You keep this up Hades and the Great Ring might learn you have a sense of humor.”  Cronn was beside himself with mirth.  Hades could always make him laugh and he really appreciated the Death God’s dry wit. “But let’s not forget why we’re here.  Hades, do you think you can keep Ares and his troops out of the battle to come?”“Definitely, he owes me a favor.  I can’t say more than that.”“Good enough,” Cronn was satisfied.  He then turned to address the God of the Rakasta.  “Rel how do your people fare in the southern lands of our home?  And where is Euphoria, I haven’t seen her in over a cycle?”The cat god held up his head with pride.  “My people have held the followers of Hiisi to the northern side of the Expanse, Lord Cronn.  The darkness will not spread to the southern lands, I assure you.  But it is not Hiisi’s minions that I am worried about, it’s the blasted tabaxi!”“The tabaxi… not again.  I thought we settled this dispute.  They can have the Storm Jungle and settle in the southern parts of the North but the southern lands are for your people.  If only Tu would see reason, I don’t understand why he won’t speak with me regarding this matter.”“No offence Great Lord but you are not a cat god.”“Really, he doesn’t think I’m good enough for him?  Is that it?  Well you tell this cat god, no offence to you my friend…”“None taken.”“You tell Tu that if he makes trouble, I will personally skin his hide off his back.”Rel bowed to his patron.  “It will be a pleasure.”  Rel straightened himself and smiled at Cronn.  “And… Euphoria has been at the Seelie Court.  Damh took her to introduce her to his queen.  Titania absolutely adores her.”Corellon smiled at the mention of his Sylvan friends.  “Damh wishes to make Euphoria his bride in the Seelie Court.  It’s getting serious.”Cronn’s mood brightened at the mention of his granddaughter.  “Ah yes, young love.  It is wonderful to here of such bliss in such troubling times.  Rel, you be sure to let Damh know that Titania and Oberon are welcome here anytime they want to visit.”Yes, Great Cronn.”  Rel lifted his arms as a signal that he was about to transfer his Avatar back to his realm, the Savanna of the Rain, in the Beastlands but Cronn raised his hand and spoke again.“Just remember to tell Damh that Oberon’s little trickster friend Puck must be kept on a short leash if he comes along.  I’ve heard too many tales to let him roam free around here.  The last thing I need is for him and Lokun to get together and cause mischief.”“I will.” Rel dropped down his arms to his side in a flourish transferring his Avatar to his realm.“If you will excuse me Father, Mother,” Jalivier had become fond of Inanna and when she had left the Sumar Gods he had told her that he would be honored if she would let him address her as his Divine Mother.  Inanna had agreed wholeheartedly and would have probably cried if she had been a mortal woman.  “I must find Cull and prepare our defences for the battle to come.”“Of course my son.” Cronn was happy that his godson and new wife had learned to respect and care about each other.Jalivier bowed to them both and then turned and addressed Moradin and Garl.  “I take you two are going to want to come too.”“Ha, you just try and stop us, my boy!”  Moradin rubbed his hands together and elbowed Garl.  “We’d been wanting a crack at those Hiisi spawn for cycles.  Ain’t that right Garl?”“Damn, right!  Those Hiisi bastards have been giving my people nothing but trouble since they showed up on Harqual.  It’s time for some major payback.”Jalivier turned to Corellon.  “What about you Elf Lord, do you wish to join in on the strategy session?”“Unfortunately, no,” Corellon looked at Cronn.  “I have matters to attend to in Arvandor, if you will excuse me, my friend.”Cronn nodded and Corellon’s Avatar vanished.“Alright then,” Jalivier stepped to one side and beckoned for Moradin and Garl to proceed ahead of him.  “Gentlemen, after you.”Moradin and Garl tromped out the door with the clomping of their heavy boots resounding throughout the hall.  Jalivier followed closely behind, telling them all about the taking of Gaoterlog, and how he had led the final onslaught himself.  “It was glorious.”Cronn watched them go and wished his godson would boast a little less about such things.  Yes, the battle was a great victory but Hiisi’s forces are bound to pay it back in blood.  Boasting too much can make one careless on the battlefield the next time round.“I must go,” Hades walked back towards the shadows.  “I must speak to Ares and cash-in that favor he owes me.”After the Death God had gone, Inanna wrapped her hand in her husband's. Then the two gods wandered out of the Citadel of Light, seeking a quiet place to be alone.</blockquote>

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