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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nerdytenor" data-source="post: 4875839" data-attributes="member: 74526">[sblock=Tander's God Revealed! (warning - long)]Tander suddenly finds himself seated in a plush, tan-colored reclining chair. There is a loud noise like static in the air, and as Tander adjusts to his surroundings he realizes that it is the sound of applause. He is in the audience section of a large auditorium, and it is packed with humans. Tander is nestled between two very large middle-aged humans in strange clothes. In fact, everyone in the audience is wearing strange clothes, except for Tander, who remains in his chainmail.On the stage of the auditorium is a single man holding a small black cylindrical object in one hand. The stage is decked out in orange and tan carpets, and a symbol - a strange green capital-s with a line through it  - ($) dots the walls. A large sign to the right of the stage says APPLAUSE. To his amazement, Tander looks down to find himself applauding along with the other people.Suddenly, the text of the sign changes from APPLAUSE to QUIET. Tander stops applauding, but is a bit late and his applause fills the silence for a second longer than those around him.The man on stage bends his head slightly and begins to speak towards the cylinder in his hand. Somehow, his voice is amplified throughout the theater."OK folks," he says, grinning and gesticulating. "Our next guest is very special, and we've got a very special game for him to play tonight. You see, he's a very devout fellow - got all sorts of fancy powers. Only there's one problem..." The man pauses for dramatic effect. "He doesn't know who his God is!" The audience chuckles appreciatively. "So today, we're going to play... Who's My God?"The sign changes to read APPLAUSE again and the audience complies eagerly. When the audience is silenced again, the man reaches into his pocket and takes out an envelope. He rips it open and reads a small card on the inside."Tander Oaksmith, you're the next contestant on the God is Right! Come on down!" The applause sign lights up again, and Tander's neighbors in the audience, who guess who he is from his reaction, begin shoving him encouragingly toward the aisle. "Come on Tander, up on the stage." Another man in the audience, wearing all black, gently leads Tander towards the stage and up a set of stairs. Tander walks awkwardly towards the host, and the host smiles kindly at Tander before whipping him around to face the audience. A row of powerful lights in the ceiling nearly blinds Tander, and the sound of the applause is deafening. The host whipers in Tander's ear "Look down towards the seats - lights won't blind you that way."The applause stops suddenly, and Tander can only guess that the QUIET light has been illuminated on the sign that it is now out of his view."OK Tander. Come with me." Tander and the host walk upstage a bit, and a large curtain is opened to reveal a set of large, beautifully ornate doors, each at least 8 feet tall. Atop each are intricately carved faces, and Tander quickly identifies each of these as one of the 12 Gods."The game is simple, Tander. You get three chances. Behind one of these doors is your God. Choose well, and all will be revealed.""Tander, are you ready to make your first choice?"Tander looks to consider that Gods. He has given the question of his God considerable thought, so he doesn't hesitate."Yes. I choose... Mireva!"The audience applauds and cheers. "A good choice, a good choice! Also known as Palladys," he says, while striding towards the corresponding door. "Wisdom - protection - that would certainly fit your profile, eh Tander?" The audience titters. "Let's see what's behind the door!"The host steps grasps the large oak handle, swings the door wide, and reveals... a duck. A small, duck. The duck begins to quack. "Quack. Quack quack." The audience is filled with laughter."Oh no, no! Sorry Tander, wrong guess. You have two more chances. What will your next  guess be?""Peresefa!" he shouts. The audience cheers."Yes yes, another good choice," the host says. "Land and fertility - renewal - everybody knows about your healing gifts, Tander. That much fits. And you have a bit of darkness too. You've done some dabbling with darker powers haven't you, Tander? Come on, admit it..." He punches Tander in the shoulder in a jocular fashion. "And... let's not forget her gloomy nature. You've had some experience with that too, eh bud?" The audience giggles at this."Let's have us a look, shall we?" The host walks over to the second door, and reaches for the handle. This time he opens the door slowly to reveal... another duck."Oh boy, Tander. That's two doors down and only one left! What to do? What to do? Think Tander. Take your time. Take your time!"Tander feels his pulse racing. Only one guess remaining! But where was he exactly? What crazy trickery was this, anyway? He had been transported to strange locations by his mystery god, but this was surely the strangest. Trickery... portals...  Tander knows a god that meets this profile, but is was hesitant. Could this really be his god?"M.. Mer... Merkari?" Tander manages, tentatively.The audience lets out a collective gasp, followed by a giggle. "An interesting choice, Tander! Very interesting. Let's take a look." The host walks over to the large door at the far right edge of the stage and opens it with a dramatic flourish. At first, there seems to be nothing on the other side, and then, with a loud ZAP, the host disappears and reappears on the other side of the open door."Congratulations, Tander. You've won!" The audience yells and shrieks, and everyone stands up, cheering and applauding. A slow, rhythmic chant, rises, getting louder and louder. "Tander! Tander! Tander!" Tander can't help but grin sheepishly.Suddenly, the cheering stops, and everything disappears. Tander and the host are suddenly in a room filled with nothingness. The host looks down at his magical amplifier, shrugs, and tosses it aside. It disappears."Tander, you've been in the darkness too long, and I can't wait for you to figure everything out. I felt is was time we had a heart to heart talk." The host/god puts his arm around Tander. "I'm sure you're wondering what's going on, so I thought I'd just lay it out for you.""Lay it out?" Tander says, confused."You see, I know you were expecting some goody-goody God. And I know you're probably a little disappointed. But here's the thing - I can give you the power to do what you do best - be a goody-goody little Tander. Heal the sick! Protect the weak! Punish evildoers!""But... but why?" Tander asks."P.R.," the host says. Tander stares at him blankly. "Public relations." More blank stares. The host sighs. "Tander, I'm not an evil god, you know that from your studies. But I do get into, erm, trouble every now and again," he continues, smiling. "You are a force for good, Tander. Every good deed you do makes me look good in the eyes of some of the other more 'wholesome' gods.""So here's the deal. I will continue to give you power to do good things. You do them. And, here's the kicker - you make sure everybody knows the I, Merkari, gave you the power."Tander nods uncomfortably."There's just one thing. If you go all darky-darky on me again and make me look bad, our agreement is over.""And so is your life. Got it?"[/sblock]OOC: Parents coming over and work emergency - I'll post Tander's move later today.</blockquote>

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