The Fire and the Storm - Metric Pro Edition: Fiction, Dragons, Elves, Unicorns, Magic (59 page)

“That’s the other side of the coin.” Val interjected.  “Unless your command ability is vastly superior to that of any mortal and is urgently needed at the time, it may be better to leave a mortal in command so as to not waste any of your immense potential as front-line fighters.”

“Personally, I think you should all take part in the tournament, if that’s possible.” Fire stated.  “And regardless of whether or not you’re in command, the rest of us need to know exactly what you’re capable of.  About how many average Journeyman wizards is a god equal to on the field of battle?  Or how many well-equipped soldiers, or ships full of sailors?  What spells can you cast, and how quickly, and how many at once?

“Because there are three broad choices for you when the war comes; either you’ll act completely independently from us, or you’ll command us, or you’ll be under our command through the Assembly and military structure of The Just Alliance.  You tried acting independently during the first demon war, and look what that got you; you lost the chance for victory early in the war because there were people in the way when you could have blasted the demons to bits otherwise.  Any rational assessment of that war has to conclude that your conduct during the entire affair was far less than optimum.  And that’s putting it as politely as it’s possible to say it.

“So, you should all decide now; either try for command and enter the tournament, or give us enough information on your abilities to allow us to effectively command you.  At the very least we’ll need far more effective communication and co-ordination between the gods and mortals than we had last time.”

“To be honest, we still don’t know our capabilities.”
Falgaroth explained. 
“In all of history, the first demon war was the only occasion when any of us truly exerted ourselves, and even then we were very careful not to tear reality.  None of us had ever done it, and we thought it might destroy all of reality in an unending chain reaction if we did.  So none of the gods have ever fought one another, and only the demons ever presented any challenge to our power.

“Now we know from the Triax that tears in reality are self-limiting and self-healing.  Almost every one of the gods of the Triax have utilized far more power on one occasion by themselves than all of the gods of Kellaran exerted together at any given time during the first demon war.  That is despite the fact that Triax gods inherently have far less power as individuals than we do, because of the fundamental differences in their natures.  Most of their biggest battles have been fought in the deep void, far from any inhabited world, and they’ve been willing to strike with their utmost, and to cause immense tears in reality in doing so.

“We have been carefully testing our limitations in co-operation with the Triax, but it’s difficult to do so in a way that would not be obvious to the demons, even at their great distance.  And we don’t want them to know our true abilities until we strike them.

“Beyond that, we know with great certainty that your father and others will soon be joining us in divinity, and that will change the balance of power and influence among our pantheon immensely.  So it’s difficult to say whether we we’ll lead, follow, or fight independently.

“Be assured that we won’t make the same mistakes we made last time.  However we proceed, our every major action will be fully discussed and agreed upon by The Assembly and the military commanders of The Just Alliance to the greatest extent possible before action is taken.

“For now, we assume that the war will begin in the void, and will be conducted there by the Triax, the gods, and the senior mortal spell casters.  We hope that it can be ended there, without directly affecting Kellaran or any of the mortals on it.

“If the demons reach Kellaran while warfare still continues in the void, we expect that most gods and the Triax will continue fighting in the void, while a few of us and a few gods of the Triax will join all mortal Kellarani in defending the world.

“If all of the demons reach Kellaran, all of us and the gods of the Triax will fight them here, while the mortal Triax fire down upon the demons from their worldlets in the void.”

“Your plans are about to change.” Six firmly stated, and cast a detailed cut-away model Illusion of The Void Hunter, while psionicly revealing to the gods and Zarkog the details of its workings.  “I intend that we’ll have several million of these built and staffed with trained crew within the next ten months.  With these, the people of Kellaran will be able to bring most of our Strike Force to bear against the demons in the void, and if the fight comes to Kellaran, these will make fine aerial dreadnoughts.”

“This is most strange.” Amirgath growled.

“Oh?  How so?” Six asked, considering the model anew.

“Not that.” Amirgath stated as he looked at each of the four youngsters and Zarkog in turn.  “That is actually brilliant work, so much so that I wondered if you were Candidates for Divinity, and I checked you for it.  I cannot tell.  I have never encountered any beings like you, though you share traits with your father and with Glup of the Zurb.  You may be Candidates, but if so, you are unlike any that have been before.

“Zarkog, you are most definitely a Candidate, but I cannot tell how strong your Candidacy is or how soon you may ascend.  That may be due to the unique influences of these four youths.”

“With respect, Lord, I doubt it.  My interaction with them has been minimal, and I doubt very much that their mere presence could cloud your evaluation.  I think it far more likely that it is my own unique characteristics that have led to your uncertainty.  As you will assist me, so I will share all with you, so that you may evaluate the question further.”

Even Amirgath required almost two full seconds to take a complete Reading of Zarkog.

“I am impressed.” Amirgath stated.  “Though the strength of your Candidacy is no more clear, I am very impressed.  If my religion were still intact, I would make you my First Disciple.  As things are, I offer you my friendship.”

“Thank you, My Lord.” Zarkog replied, and bowed his head a little deeper than he had the last time.

“I’m curious, Amirgath.” Fire giggled.  “If I share all with you, will you offer me your friendship?”

“That would depend on how impressive you are.” Amirgath replied, with a chuckle of his own.  “And I would refuse your offer until after the tournament.  Since I am already committed to helping Zarkog with that, it would be unjust of me to do so.  If I gave Zarkog what I learned from you, it would be unjust to you, and if I failed to do so, it would be unjust to him.”

“Ah.  Then I’ll have to wait until after the tournament.” she grinned.  “Thank you for your most honorable response.

“You’re a very incredible being, Amirgath, and while we’d like to get to know all the gods eventually, your status as the second-eldest god, and the eldest that we can actually communicate with effectively, along with the strong possibility that you’re the most powerful of the gods, make you especially fascinating to us.  Besides, you’re the most beautiful dragon, mortal or divine.

“Like most of the gods, as well as the eldest of the mortals of the long-lived races, your exploits have never been well-known outside your own race, and even to most of the dragons your adventures have been lost to the far-distant past.

“After the demon war, and before we go to hunt them in the void, we intend to publicize a great many of the achievements of those who are Great Elders, including the gods.  Starting with Somonik, who is Most Noble, at least as far as we know, though I doubt very much that we’ll find anyone who can match his record of altruism and self-sacrifice, even among the gods.

“There’s too much history for any mortal to learn all of it, but still, we think that the most important events of the distant past should be known, so that those of us of every race who are younger can enjoy and learn from those great histories.”

“A most admirable plan.” Amirgath admitted with a smile.  “And I am very surprised that you are so eager to have my friendship, considering that I and my faction supported Zarkog against your father and The Just Alliance during the War of The Founding.”

Fire shrugged.  “We know you were doing what you thought was right for your people and for all Kellarani.  And your positions make a lot of sense to those who know how to think like a dragon.”

“And you know how to think like a dragon?” Amirgath asked in amused surprise.

Fire shrugged again.  “Me and Six became fully psionic while still in the womb, and one night while our parents were sleeping we sent our awareness out and went exploring.  I met the mind of a Sylvan, and he attacked me.  I didn’t know what I was doing because I was still an unborn babe, so I broke his mind rather thoroughly in defending myself, and I took all that I found there.  While I was doing that, Six met the mind of Kragorram, broke his shields, and took all that he had.  Since we were still so undeveloped, these experiences had a far more powerful effect on us than they would have otherwise.  And Six and I fully share all that we are.  So yes, I know how to think like a dragon.”

She resumed her fiery-looking dragon Simulacrum in a quick flash and continued in Grand High Draconian.  “And we know how to converse properly in The True Tongue as well.” she snarled.

“Well spoken.” Amirgath observed in the same language, and turned to Quewanak.

“You have remained uncharacteristically quiet on this occasion.  I wonder how much of these youngsters’ development is your doing?”

“Almost none.” Quewanak stated, a bit smugly.  “I have spent about two hours training them in their dreams, but it was nothing that I could not have accomplished in a month as a mortal before my long slumber.  And I have given them a few hours of conventional training.  Still, they are my protégés, even moreso than their parents, so I thought to let them make their own impression on this occasion.”

“And they have.” Amirgath chuckled.  “Even without Reading them, they are impressive.  Moreso considering their ages.  While I doubt that they will win the tournament, I will admit that they do seem to be legitimate contenders.  And that is high praise for beings such as these.”

Surprisingly, Falgaroth suddenly grew blue dragon wings and held his tail out almost horizontally so that he could properly communicate the body language of Draconian while he psionicly ‘spoke’ that tongue. 
“They are magnificent, the four of them.  They cast a great shadow on the future, I can see that much quite clearly.  But not much else concerning them.”

Not to be outdone, Visinniria cast a small white simplified dragon figure only a meter long beside her to convey Draconian gestures, but managed to reproduce the difficult vocal component with no apparent magical augmentation at all.  Seldom had that snarling, growling language been pronounced by such a high-pitched voice, but she was very fluent and easily understandable.

“It is as if the four of them are a nexus, all on their own.” she declared.  “Everything and everyone they come in contact with are significantly affected.  Their first act in the wider world has already apprehended every murderer who was at large, and in two days it will have eliminated unlawful murder completely, until such time as a player finds a way to defeat their Punishment Cube.  And I do not anticipate that occurring any time soon.  It is truly original, brilliant, and vicious spellcraft.  As well as being fiendishly complex.

“Their second act in the wider world was this meeting with Zarkog, and see what has become of it.  All of us have been affected, and we will initiate their tournament at their request, which may significantly alter the balance of power on Kellaran.  They are the only official Governors serving on Kellaran right now, since that term has fallen out of favor in political circles over the last few centuries, so I suggest we call it The Tournament of Governors, in their honor.”

“I agree.” Amirgath stated with some obvious amusement, then addressed Six.

“I feel that this meeting is almost at an end.  There are still almost ten hours remaining before the scheduled meeting of The Assembly of The Just Alliance.  I am curious; what will you do during that time?”

Six resumed his dragon simulacrum and continued the  use of their language.  “We will have a meeting with Father, Povon, and Zwak Deathbringer, since he is still the administrator of the position of Prince of The Sylvan Nation, even if he does not actually hold the position anymore.  We will consult with those three and borrow some money from our parents, then we will go to Serminak and take over the youth training programs there.  We will reconfigure them to match what we have on Hiliani.  Once we have them running reliably, we will expand them to include as many of the adult Sylvan as we can entice to join.  Hopefully all of them.  That will also relieve the social pressure that has been building since the Sylvan started losing everything to a fourteen-year-old gnome.”

“And meeting that gnome is high on my list of interesting things I want to do!” Fire growled enthusiastically.  “Since he is presently Prince of The Sylvan Nation, I hope he will be at the Assembly tonight!”

“I imagine that the encounter may prove to be quite amusing.” Visinniria opined, and added an elven laugh.  “I will do what I can to ensure his attendance.  Farewell until then.”

“Can I have a hug?” Val asked in Common, smiling and holding her arms out.

“You may!” Visinniria laughed and stepped over to hug the girl.  Six and Fire changed back to Simulacrums of their normal selves and joined their hug, as did Karz in his small and fuzzy Simulacrum.

“Until tonight then.” Visinniria smiled as she stepped back, then disappeared.

“Thanks, that was really nice!” Val stated.  Though the goddess was already gone, she didn’t even raise her voice.  She knew she’d been heard.

“It’s been an honor meeting you all.” Six stated with a polite bow.  “Amirgath, Falgaroth, it’s been wonderful sharing your presence and speaking with you.  We thank you most sincerely for agreeing to organize the tournament.