Tag Archives: Gods

Post-Gate Reflections

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The group is almost back to E’armos from the First Gate. The group has traveled through the Howling Wastes, but has made it out of them. Alexis is walking beside Ca’armine.

“You know,” Alexis said, eyes on the horizon, “I keep thinking about the Gate. About what we walked away from.” He hooked a thumb toward the north-west without looking. “They knew Bandesingh’s name there. They knew his allies. We tracked the weapons being made to there. That wasn’t nothing; we had a trail, and we left it cooling.”

He glanced sideways. “You’ve said Raiden wanted you to turn back. Maybe. Or maybe… it wasn’t about turning at all. Maybe it was about where to put our eyes. We were looking one way, but the truth was sitting right there in front of us. Or maybe going to the First Gate wasn’t the most direct way to get to Bandesingh, but perhaps it could have been the quickest way, that Raiden knew-if asked, to disrupt his working, or to topple the Hand.” Alexis shrugs at his thought that will never be known and was never tested.

“And Drennos. You said he taunted you. Maybe he did. But it sticks with me—reminds me of that beggar in Sutheron. ‘You may have killed the snake, but the wolf still hunts, the spider weaves, the king behind the throne is coming.’” Alexis pauses to gather his thoughts. “Whatever that poor beggar was trying to say, Rask certainly took it as some sort of curse or threat. But sometimes messages come in ugly wrappers. Perhaps Raiden was working through Drennos.”

Alexis kicks a stone forward, watched it skitter. “And those visions—the ruins of Raiden’s long-gone armies? They don’t have to be warnings. That could have been a clue or an omen of both weal and woe. When his armies fell, they almost certainly left something behind. Power. Tools. Maybe even a key to tearing the Hand apart or to stop Bandy’s evil master plan.”

“So maybe the Gate was a pit.” Alexis nods his head towards Ethelred, to emphasize ‘pit.’ “Fine. And we climbed out. And we carried things with us when we did. Maybe doom wasn’t the only story written for us there.”

Alexis keeps walking beside Ca’armine. Letting the words hang between them as the group moves closer and closer to E’armos.

In Game 09072025: Ca’armine’s dream

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That night after the ritual, feeling deeply connected to Raiden, Ca’armine sleeps well and slips into dreams. 

You find yourself standing in the plains, stretching beyond sight in every direction, at night with the stars bright above. A warm wind from the east carries murmurs…”soon the false god shall ride again, clothed in shadow, born into this world on the blood of innocents. Time is running out. The sands in the hourglass are nearly spent and the gate of skulls will soon have a new lord. My time is nearly spent. If the shadow returns, the night will never end.”

Shadows grow and blots out the light of the stars. You awake, heart pounding.

A Moment Each Morning Praising the Protection of Raiden

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Red feels like the conversations the group has had about Raiden’s protection have been fruitful. Each morning after breakfast he gathers the faithful of Raiden to reflect on Raiden and recite the song Ca’armine has created (Alexis is welcome of course).

Red keeps a watchful eye on Rask, noting his tone, posture, tension. During Red’s watches at night he stays near Rask. Not wanting more dark murmurs to go noticed.

Red is tempted to ask Alexis to grant him the wisdom of the past, to recall more precisely what Rask was like before the encounter in the spiders area. But something stops Red, something seems off about such a step. This task must be done with the blessings of Raiden. And this thought, inspires Red.

Red takes a piece of the wood from Gustav’s Glade to Raiden from his pack. He carves a small shield with the symbol of Raiden’s protection on it. Make sure to keep all the shavings from the carving. He takes his time crafting this totem. The symbol must be just right, the shield shape just so. As he does this carving he recites to himself the song of protection to Raiden. The wood yields in way that seems odd, as if ready for the task.

The shield takes days to make. Red is not in a hurry. He continues to keep watch on Rask during his breaks from the scroll. He continues to gather the group. He continues to try and keep Raiden protection present.

Finally one morning after reciting the song Red offers the shield to Rask.

“Rask I have a small offering for you. The protection of Raiden takes many forms. But the shield seems the most fitting. Here is a small shield of Raiden I made of wood. I wish it was of metal, but I lack those tools at the moment. But the wood is from the Glade of trees Gustav created in honor of Raiden. It can be worn on the breast of your cloak, if you like?”

Raiden our Protector

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Ca’armine catches up with Rask as they walk along. “Alexis told me that he was asking you about the Protector aspect of our great god Raiden, and I came up with a song for you.  It is short, I’m not the bard, but maybe Alexis can spank it up for us a bit?”

Ra-a-aiden, brother, protector! 

Shield us from the foe!

We stand behind you, weak and vulnerable

Save us from the Blow!

Raised by Anashar,

blessed with glory

Resolute and Strong

Wield thy sword to help the lowly

As we make our way along!

Soul Pusher

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The group has started moving away from the tower of Ilceros’ spymaster. They have already crossed the bridge, but the traveling has barely started. The group is going slowly due to the slow speed of the wagon, especially over the broken ground.

Alexis falls into step beside Ca’armine, tone easy but deliberate.

“Priest,” he says with a half-smile. “That move you pulled with Zrithak—what was that? Looked like you and Rask had it rehearsed. The way the soul flowed from the body to the blade… clean, seamless. Almost too smooth to be an accident.”

Who Are The Allies of The Wilderness God?

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While the group travels across the Westlands away from the First Gate, Alexis addresses Gustav across the campfire one night.

“Gus, level with me.

Last time I asked why you’ll take favors from non-human gods but turn your back on the Grand-Matron of humanity. You sidestepped it, pressed the VahnYir bracers into my hands, and paid the price yourself—a brave move, but it felt like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Since then, you’ve kept refusing the Grand-Matron’s workings, and then turned down a solid tool against Bandesinge and blood magic, and yet you’re fine with the collegium’s spells and Ca’armine’s gifts. I’m not here to put you on trial—I’m here to get this team through the the trials we face in one piece. To do that, I need more than a yes-or-no list. I need your why. If there’s a line you won’t cross, show me where it runs and what it protects. Your compass matters.

Ca’armine takes blessings from the other human gods. I understand that map. Help me read yours.

So talk to me, Gus: why turn down help from allies? What do you trust, what don’t you, and how can I lead so your convictions make us stronger—not weaker?”

Alexis patiently waits for Gustav’s answer. There is no rush on his face or in his body.

Heard of Any Other Bells?

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The group has been traveling through the Westlands and they’ve started moving away from the coast heading back East. After camp has been set up Alexis sits next to Ca’armine. Alexis engages Ca’armine in polite discussions about the travels of the day and then turns the conversation to other things.

“Well, my taciturn friend, I’ve been meaning to ask you what rumors you might have heard regarding and of humanities lost artifacts. We have already found the mantle crafted, or re-crafted, with his power.”

Alexis looks at Ca’armine, waiting for a reply.

To Honor the Man Made God

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On a morning that everyone is preparing for the day Red approaches Rask. Rask is DOING SOME SORT OF MORNING EXERCISE. Everyone else is around.

“Morning Rask! For some reason I find my missing home today. I haven’t built anything in a while. Makes me miss the old shop in Aigier. Make me miss the grand city.

This got me thinking that maybe knowing more about Raiden might warm my spirits. My parents never really taught me too much about Raiden. I am curious about any stories about Raiden you might know?”

May Raiden Protect You

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During the midday, the sun high, Red approaches Gustav. The group is moving through the endless grasslands. Rask and Ca’armine are in conversation. As Red engages Gustav in conversation he slows his pace, forcing Gus to slow down.

“Gustav, it such a warm day should you not let your Crow fly free for a bit? That is where I would want to be, up in the breeze. Who knows what your Crow could see from such a lofty position…

As they move far back from Rask and Ca’armine Red lowers his voice, and side steps closer to Gus, shoulders almost touching.

“I am concerned about Rask and the soul that seems to be trapped within him. I sadly understand little of the whole mess. How it happened, and how can be resolved. But I had a thought. Rask is aligned with Raiden. Removing as soul from a body…”

Red’s seem stunned for a moment, has a slight shiver.

“What I am trying to say is Rask needs to lean into Raiden more now than ever. You have spoken of the protective Raiden powers that your mantel offers. Would you be willing to allow Rask the privilege of wearing the Mantle of Raiden?”

Red peers ahead and tries and sense if Rask suspects anything about his conversation with Gustav.

The Cycle of Neef

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A bit after their conversation about dwarves and mountains, Rask perks up suddenly, looks around and approached Alexis.

“Alexis, do you remember the song Grimsby Thorne was signing when we first met him? The Cycle of Neef? Neef was the squire right? But Igvar, his master, was a holy crusader of Raiden and founded Fellsbee… right? There was something about a wizard too…”