Underground Informer
Volume 5 Issue 18
November 5, 1994
Page 11


                      -=[]  HARROWING OF THE GODS 2  []=-
                               G O D K I L L E R

                                                  Copyright (c) 1994 StarStorm

  The Story so far...
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     One hundred years before the Age of Ascension, there was a time when the  
oldest of the Second Heavenly Host was but a child in his immortal life, still  
learning the ways and means of godhood so that, in time, he might ultimately  
lead his divine generation into the new age.  Northwyn was free of the cares  
of rule, for all such questions and burdens fell to the shoulders of his  
father, the Kai, Arayas.  Northwyn's days were, instead, filled with the  
lessons of the universe, taught to him by the brothers and sisters of his  
parents.  He was occupied with learning the fundamental powers of the universe  
and the faces of creation even before he would ascend to his true role as Lord  
of the Heavens.

     It was little wonder, then, that when confronted with the prospect of an  
expansive lecture from the Mountain Lord, Dro'Naya, Northwyn would seek out a  
chance to escape to the wiles of the world of mortals, Baudea.  And so he did,  
eluding the young offspring of the Guardian of Chantanea, Quixot, at every  
opportunity, until at last, Northwyn had secured his privacy to properly seek  
excitement.

     When a faint prayer, borne on the winds, reached his ear, Northwyn  
decided that there would be his excitement -- to seek out and fulfill the  
prayers of the voice he could scarcely discern.  Thus did he find himself  
sitting in the window of the mournful Na'vayn Zaer.  When Northwyn explained  
his intentions, Na'vayn declared that his prayer was merely the result of  
being lonely.  Na'vayn, however, was a mage, whose child and wife had been  
lost in an attack by daemons.  As a mage, he was to be reviled by all those  
who adhered to the ways of the Bah Achel.

     Northwyn, however, was yet young, even for a god, and agreed to tarry  
with Na'vayn for a while longer, in part to alleviate Na'vayn's loneliness,  
but more to satisfy his own boredom.  Quixot, in the meantime, continues his  
pursuit for the godling, hoping he can find him before troubles ensue -- even 
as Arayas Kai and Shaina learn of their son's absence from home and begin 
their own search.

     "And now is the 7th Year of Ascension."


  Chapter 10  
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     "Honiir, attend us."

     Neshava Romo, Temple Lord of Strozz, stiffened visibly and instinctively 
at the address.  Of all the lords in the heavens, only one god would use that 
title -- Arayas Kai.  Other lords might use the standard mortal appellation, 
but only the lord of the gods would use her formal title.

     She turned and bowed.  "Arayas Kai tono'kopa nei.  How may I be of 
service to you?"  Rising, she noticed the stern glare on the god's face and 
discerned the source of the consternation.  "Northwyn?"

     "He has been missing from Chantanea for quite some time.  He would have 
come here, no doubt," Shaina said.  "Have you seen him?"

     "Certainly, my lords.  Your son passed through here not more than a day 
ago."  Among the honors that being first among the devoted brought came the 
responsibility of knowing and recording the various appearances and 
incarnations of the gods on Baudea as one became aware of them.  Further, 
though, was the burden of being answerable to the Kai when questions of 
locality came about.  "I do not, however, know where he has gone.  He was 
followed here by young Quixot."

     Arayas' hot temper shone radiantly across his tanned features and  
furrowed brow.  His muscles tensed and flexed spasmodically in a dance across 
his chest and arms.  Shaina, in contrast, remained as composed as ever.  One 
might even have thought the goddess to be the antithema of her sister, Renaud, 
by all appearance.  The two gods most unlikely to couple had successfully done 
so only to sire the most aggravating of godlings.

     "And neither gave you any indication as to what they intended to do  
here?" Arayas fumed, bending forward across Shaina's interposing arm.

     Neshava bowed humbly once more.  "No, my Kai.  I will initiate a search 
immediately if that is your wish.  The cavaliers and acolytes will find young 
Northwyn quickly enough."

     "Northwyn has yet to master the ability to walk amongst the mortalkin, 
Temple Lord.  He should be readily apparent to even the most lax of the 
devoted," Shaina said, placing a solitary finger to Arayas' lips to quiet his 
anger.  "Do initiate the search at once while we survey this world from the 
heavens."

     "It shall be as you command, lord."  Neshava rose and, receiving a nod of 
dismissal from the Goddess of the Moon, departed to make plans for the search.

     Shaina turned to Arayas, her deep violet eyes dispelling his fury into 
silent acceptance.  "Come, my Kai, and let us search for our child."

                                   *   *   *

     "This," Na'Vayn said, waving his hand out beyond the edge of the catwalk 
upon which he stood, "is my garden.  Here I have gathered a thousand plants 
from all across the world so that I might study and understand them."

     "Kalikatris would be proud.  Is he your nemokai'as?" Northwyn asked, 
peering over the catwalk edge at the mass of green foliage below him.  He had 
learned about a few of the plants from the Harvest Lord, but had never 
actually committed them all to memory.  Mostly, he knew the names ascribed by 
the gods and a few of the mortal terms as well, but limited as his knowledge 
might be, he'd defy any being -- god or mortal -- to name the thousand names 
for the winds.  "Your devotion must be quite high."

     "Indeed," Na'Vayn said, a faint hint of sarcasm at the edge of his  
voice.  "Would you care for a closer look, young Skylord?  I will take you 
down to the --"

     Na'Vayn's words, however, were cut short as the air in the hothouse 
swirled about him, sweeping him from the catwalk with a mighty gust.  Northwyn 
hovered above the small copse of trees at the western edge of the chamber, and 
together, the young god and his host descended to the dirt path that wound 
throughout the garden area and out into the open grounds beyond the glass 
wall.

     "Impressive," Northwyn remarked as he inspected the bark of a nearby 
tree.  "You must be quite proud."

     "I am.  The garden is the source of a great deal of entertainment to me 
in my daily routine."  There was no harm in such a confession and a touch of 
sincerity went a long way towards maintaining the godling's trust -- for his 
plan required Northwyn's trust.  If he was to return Arel to life, he  would 
need to learn the secrets of life and death from the gods themselves, and 
Northwyn was integral to that lesson.  "I come here in order to relax."

     "You have such an odd collection, though."  Northwyn's mind grasped at 
the little information he had retained from his lessons with Kalikatris.  
"This tree, for example -- its bark is a hallucinogen, isn't it?  What do you 
call it?  Tharnyvine?"

(Continued on next page)

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