What is a God?, Topic Status: Private

[Siege]

((OOC: Gonna update his profile to go over how he successfully got the fruit of knowledge to avoid any confusion))

Things were moving, Vincent was acting again, Damien was sowing the seeds of chaos, he knew all of this, he knew the Marquis was waiting impatiently for the wolves arrival, he knew of the destruction in Tristan, he heard rumors of what happened in the forest, all things were his spies, all magical and psychic forces were his to track. Everything could be seen, little could be hidden, was this how the Aesir felt sitting upon his throne? Morganus laughed at the thought throwing one of his scrolls across Marcus's private room. After his return to Anur he had been holed up in the study trying to figure out what he was gonna do, he knew how to separate souls, he found a way to destroy them, but he lacked the components, he lacked knowledge of each of the souls. These scrolls did him nothing, watching them did him nothing, he needed someone who knew Luthe while he was just a man and yet he could not find such a person.

" I doubt throwing the scrolls will help you any Morganus."

" We have been trying to convince him to vent by nuking this wretched city and the mongrels."

" We have yet to succeed though"

" If everyone vented like that mortals would be facing extinction."

" At least I would not be without amusement."

Yes he had retrieved the emerald from Vincent as payment for procedure he had Damien use to recreate the abyssal's body. There was no point leaving it with Vincent anymore, his human body was more susceptible to the gem's power and Morganus knew he would need all the power he could muster for the next few months, the time of being passive was over he had to act. Sadly unknown to Vincent his body was only temporary, using dark magic to create life was unheard of and even though they succeeded it was unstable and would probably wear out in a few years. It bothered Morganus but it was what the woman requested and Vincent was willing to accept the other price to meet with her wishes.

"Calm down you three we will eventually have the corpses of angels beneath our feet that should be enough to satisfy us all."

Morganus stopped caring about those around him in his weeks in solitude, so what if they thought he was crazy, he was above all of them. He was immortal, all seeing, almost rivaling the combined capabilities of the Aesir and yet he knew that his power was dwarfed by the three of them, probably why he was still bothering to research a way to complete the noble's and lady's request. Then came a thought.

"What is a god?"

Silence, they had been having this conversation a lot lately and none of them could come up with a answer that Morganus would accept. At this point they just refused to respond to the question though due to that Morganus start asking it more frequently, probably as a way to keep them quiet.

"No answer? Then maybe that failure of a king knows."

His personality was becoming warped, maybe being influenced by the gems or maybe this was how he always was beneath the twisted smiles and fabrications. Maybe he was beginning to become honest, though if that was true people would probably begin to fear him, no one likes a truthfully honest man.

" Lord Marcus I have a request concerning the Aesir situation, while you are on your way up here maybe you can think of a solid definition of the word god, we have yet to agree on what that word means."

((OOC: Right now I will be only expecting Marcus, if anyone else is interested toss me a pm.))

[-Marcus]

(OOC: I'll have my Marcus posts shorter to keep my focus in Joseph and Elyon. Playing too many NPCs is detrimental to my RP experience.)

"Don't call me that. The guards know you as the court mage. I don't expect you to treat me as your king when we're alone. The mockery is a little insulting."

Smoke poured from a bookshelf along the wall and coagulated in the room into a gently swirling portal of dark energies. Purple and black trailed away from the King when he stepped through, leaving trace wisps of it in the air even after the spellway pulled into itself and closed behind him. They were in his private quarters. As such, the old wolf felt comfortable enough to sweep away his shadowweave cloak from his shoulders and remove the clawed green iron gauntlet from his paw. The gauntlet's fingers clattered together when it crashed down on the table. The cloak across the back of the chair made no sound at all. The chair, though, inherited the powers of the cloak as the bearer, becoming distorted and shrouded in shadow, all over indistinguishable except as a nondescript piece of furniture. Marcus took a seat, he himself not quite able to understand what exactly he was sitting on, anymore. the power of shadowweave cloth to disguise was a trick against mental and physical perceptions, so to both thoughts and vision, it was immediately effective, even if the object was known to be a chair before the cloak was lain upon it.

"God is a title that the vain and the immortal give themselves. Those two groupings are not mutually exclusive. Often, they are the same." He was quick with his words. He didn't enjoy the topic. Talking about people who had held him captive for years and fed him constant agony... His skin held the scars, burned through his fur and close to the bone in his wrists and ankles. Shackles made of silver, and holy water to bathe in - that's how they kept him. Of course he would not think kindly. Not for the rest of his days.

"The Aesir is known to have a soul, similar to the mortal races. Even if gods have surpassed the normal laws of life and death and can control the fate of their souls, the Aesir has been shown to be defeatable. He... It... Has a mortal body. The only difference between us and them is that they developed an uncommon control over their own soul." Truly, he didn't know the true nature of the dark wizard's power, yet, or the extent to which he had already surpassed human potential. Marcus considered him a competent, even impressive, dark magician. That was all.

[Siege]

"That so? Well what is your opinion Suldarius, Elymer? "

" A rather boring definition but fitting for that winged rat.

" I still say god is just a symbol of beliefs created by those unable to cope with everyday life"

" The mongrel's opinion is close enough to my own."

"Well at least one of you agree with him, I still say gods are suppose to lead the people down a better path shaping the world into a better one and laying down their fists if the people stray too far, seen yet unknown, powerful and yet modest, simply in my opinion it is a state of being hard to obtain and even I have doubts about my definition since it was made by a mortal which everyone knows was born around making wrong decisions time and again."

A tangent, Morganus didn't mind not like the wolf king had anything better to do, a king taking a vacation it was honestly very irritating, hmm maybe something else was better fitting, he did almost fit Morganus's definition of a god. It was truly odd now that he thought about it, Morganus slowly wandered towards where Marcus was sitting scratching his chin with one hand while raising his other to snap, in response to his snap a chain of magical bone appeared and in said chair he took a seat not bothering to look at the wolf quite yet still lost in thought somewhere.

"I have need of a black smith and a glass blower, here is the general idea."

With that he waved both hands, both feel off and form a pair of rather small crows which flew off to opposite ends of the room. He had been practicing with some things obviously though this sort of practic really didn't help in a fight, but in all honesty his fights were hit and runs so combat training never really mattered. Both the birds returned with a slip of paper in thier beaks, they reformed with Morganus's body, recreating his hands which now held the slips of paper which the birds once held.

"I need a small dagger, material doesn't really matter but try not to have them make it something magic resistant that would just be foolish," he pushed one paper forward, it showed a small dagger, simple enough, only oddity was the orb at the end of the weapon's hilt. It was then he pushed the other slip of paper forward," I need there runes embedded along blade." Two separate runes, both fairly intricate in their own right but overly not too difficult, he had to try to keep them simple since engraving intricate designs was not very easy in his opinion.

"I need two of these weapons prepared, also make sure to return that the notes are returned to me afterwards, I have no intention of letting this knowledge go public nor to have the weapons remain in existence after their purposes had been served. That said I should probably explain the procedure to you if anything happens to me by some miracle. Basically these daggers are made for removing souls and imprisoning them sort of like the demon gems though the spell isn't powerful enough to absorb their power as well. I had to avoid a ritual idea in case something went wrong and we were interrupted in the process. The extra rune on the dagger was made to resonate with a person's memories and emotions, basically the only person who can use the weapon effectively is someone who knows the target personally. It allows the separation of the aesir soul from the human soul, once separated I can go about destroying the soul in a more normal manner. The runes work with key words though I won't give those to you now cause in all honesty I don't trust you or anyone for that matter."

A deep breath, god that was long winded, he needed a glass of water now and yet there was none around, how irritating. A sigh and Morganus went back to the matter at hand.

"As you heard it is fairly simple, the problem is that the subject has to be willing or subdued, which means the Lady will be the easy target, I am going after the Noble first since he might be the most complicated considering I could never read him. That said I want the daggers made right but in a hurry if at all possible, if you don't have people in this city who can do this then tell me quickly so that i can find someone who can."

More gasps of air and some fanning of himself as he waited for a response, though as he was waiting a glass of ice filled with water appeared before him. He smiled as he took up the glass and took a drink which did quench his thirst though in all honesty he did it for a more amusing reason.

"Thank you Suldarius."

Maggot.

[-Marcus]

The old man was speaking with demons. They had infected his mind, and he willingly held court with them, there. It was a worry that Marcus couldn't afford to address right now. The same concerns could be said of Ranghall, though he took strenuous steps to prevent demonic possession from the Topaz.

"Within Anur's walls are craftsmen who work the finest truesilver, and created the pin hole hinges in my glove," he flicked the green iron gauntlets with his claw. "I believe they can craft your pretty knives."

The King slung his arm across the back of the chair, and let his hand thud down on the table. He was tired, and mores o more often of each passing day. And making appearances in front of Morganus were as useful as begging love from a snake. He would think what he pleased. It was both the most reassuring and unsettling thing about him. A man, not shaken by other men. He only hoped that they would remain friends when all of this was over.

"Glass, you may have to look elsewhere for. There is an expedition moving towards Alegrarse. You'll find what you need in that city. No doubt."

More chatter that Marcus couldn't hear between the demons and the mage. He shook his head, and covered his face with his paw. "Please stop that."

[Siege]

"Why? It is easier to coexist with them then deny them, a weight of my mind."

A smile, a large toothy one, Morganus's normal smile, he was mocking the wolf at this point. He knew it annoyed him and yet he also knew that the wolf truly did not know what was going on in his head. He knew that the power the gems offered would be needed, he knew the only reason he was in a poor state before was because he denied them and thus now he isn't denying them at all.

"That said I thank you for the assistance, though this will better both of us so it isn't hard to believe that you did help me, with the Aesir gone I can go about my business and your people will be safe. Though I will warn you that I am still seeking the gems, your boy has one and in all honesty after this is over I will be coming for it since you all will have no reason to keep it since the war will be over."

A friendly warning in a way, he did respect Marcus enough for that though Raghnal was a different matter, the boy was expendable in his mind. He didn't care though how Marcus would react, even if the wolf took it poorly Morganus knew that no one in this city could stop him.

"Hopefully we can remain on good terms."

[-Marcus]

"You're too self centered," he said. Time and again, Morganus's comments made him wary, weary, and caused the old wolf to roll his eyes.

"Like you've slept the last six decades. Maturity normally comes with age. I think some day you'll regret the ease with which you slough off others."

He had no idea how old Morganus actually was, and assumed only what he could of the man's human age based on appearance and his supposed knowledge of the dark arts. A guess was a guess, no matter how inaccurate. He wouldn't fault himself if he was a little off because of extenuating circumstances.

Anyhow, the point had been made.

Morganus had juvenile attributes that staunched Marcus's ability to come to full and complete respect for the man. Were it not so, perhaps maybe they could have been real friends - old men who could entertain each other as the world turned over and over around them, and the young grew strong, and the days dragged by until the death goddess finally overcame them and took their spirits on to the eternal hunting grounds.

"You don't have to fight everyone." Marcus sighed. Pity would best describe how he felt. "It's okay to trust some people. Love is not a myth." At one point in his life, Marcus would have scoffed at his own comment. A younger Marcus would shout down the old wolf, declare him weak, and tell him that he knows nothing of the world. A senile dog, not worth his weight in kindling.

[Siege]

"No I just refuse to change I guess, like this world is unchanging, people fight pointless wars, they lie, cheat and steal, past mistakes are always repeated. Why bother relating to such people? Honestly it doesn't make any sense to trust them, all people care about is themselves, they will betray you in the end Marcus. "

Morganus laughed, his smile vanished and his eyes became distant, he watched a mother get murdered before her child, some old man getting mugged, a man cheating on his wife with some two bit Nazca whore. Yes his views were different from the wolf's but that was cause he only accepted one thing about mortals, they were all capable of great evil.

"But that is just my opinion. I am self centered as you say, I have not cared for another in a little over a decade."

A pause, his eyes went to a plant in a windowsill, he watched a teenage girl asleep in her bed without a worry in the world. Unknown to him a smile crossed his face, a gentle one, it was still there when his eyes returned to the room which he sat though it faded away over a few seconds.

"That is a lie I guess, though even that feeling is selfish."

" That feeling isn't what you think Morganus."

"Shut it dragon."

A hint of anger and confusion, it was not a look Morganus normally wore, if anything the gems made him more honest or rather he lacked the control of his emotions which he once had, it was rather irritating. His face straightened out and he glanced at Marcus and shrugged.

"Excuse the outburst, How long do you think it will be until your people can get those ready?"

[-Marcus]

"The potential always exists." An admission, or the opening that he needed to bring his philosophy full circle? He couldn't convince Morganus that there was goodness in the world. The man would have to learn for himself. He hoped that it wouldn't dawn on him after it was already too late. "All are not that way."

But such was the way. In the world, there were villains, and heroes. There were also people in between. Most fell under this category. What they became was hardly based on perspective, or history's writings of each of them. It was based in morality, and Marcus believed that there was such a thing as right and wrong, and honor, and he believed in hate and love as well. He couldn't define these things, and he embodied a bit of each of them. He couldn't define himself. At what point he reconciled with that fact, he couldn't say, but in doing so he became much more at ease with the world, and with his own outlook on it. Actions made the man, and words, too. It mattered most, though, not what one did with his own life, but how many other lives he touched and made better, knowing full well that everything was temporary, and that to savor the life in motion was the greatest gift one could cause or could be given. Savor it before it ended forever.

That was the sort of king he wanted to be. That was also the eternal problem of kings. When they were young, they were strong, but stupid. When they grew old, they knew how the world worked, and could lead with all the wisdom of the ancients, but they were weak, and the bloodlust had fled them.

"Two days," he said, and nodded towards the sketches of Morganus's daggers. "Half a day for the smelting and construction. A day and a half for the inscriptions."

[Siege]

"Everyone has potential, the statistics just prove a majority chose incorrectly. Or should I ignore the majority cause the few are worth fighting for? Interesting point though I'll make a note."

Morganus then stood and summoned a portal with the wave of his hand, with Marcus's estimations he knew that there was no further reason to be here. He had things that needed to be done but mostly he needed to speak with the Noble, he was too be first but he still needed somebody who was related with the human soul within the noble. Simply they had much to discuss.

"I'll be back then Marcus, make sure that they are done by then."

With that Morganus stepped through the portal a wicked grin cross his face as he did.

" His time will end soon enough."

No response, it wasn't needed for they all knew his thoughts on the matter.