Characters:
Pomegranite The Treefallen, The Spymaster
Mielikki The Field Marshal, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate
Thicket The Grandmaster Terramorpher, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate
NPC: Granmarg The Striking Vanguard, The Boulderstruck, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate
Preparations
The Triumvirate returned to the Highland Forests, but while the army continued home, they stopped in Socerne and Frilothurn to see the ongoing terramorphing and wait for the elves. It was several weeks before the exhausted elven refugees arrived, and though there were only several hundred, they were accompanied by scores of animals of all kinds. Mielikki did his best to conceal his distaste for the beasts while observing the elves, and realized that none bore any reflective items. Likely in response to Consus and his ability to appear in mirrors.
After some quick discussion, it was decided that they would settle in the rural northeast. As they did not need to eat, they would only minimally disrupt the earthlings in the region. As Triumvirate Emperor, Uthemar could also have just ordered them to accept this, but deliberately eschewed use of his authority. While they were getting settled, Pomegranite approached him and broached the subject of using the portal to the Path of Earth under Bedrock for the purpose of combating the Void Beast.
Considering their High Priest was currently indisposed and that the remaining priesthood tended to be more conservative, Uthemar noted that it might be difficult to get broader approval for such action, and decided that he should be the only non-earthling to enter initially. When these intentions were made public, Thicket insisted that this was overstepping his authority, and required that Uthemar get the other two Triumvirate Emperors' approval. Mielikki chimed in to request assistance from elves in exchange; those who knew about animals were to help bring back the hawk population that had collapsed in Socerne.
Both of these requests were fulfilled promptly, and accompanied by a still-fuming Thicket who insisted on being his escort, Uthemar prepared to enter the humming green portal below the ruined Mountain's Maw. Pomegranite, meanwhile, caught up on reports from his spy network. Friedrich Quarry had not tried anything while they were gone and the situation in the Highland Forests remained stable, but a new report from Baronde that had been intercepted by his moles in the Imperial Messengers was concerning.
Large numbers of halflings were migrating south into the former Elven Forest in response to a call for aid from Dagda (the halfling name for Carmenta), the goddess of Healing and Life. He informed the others and asked Uthemar for his opinion. The leader of the elves suggested that this was a double-edged sword. If Carmenta established a permanent base, it would mean they'd at least know where she was, but on the other hand, it meant that at least two gods were already there and more would likely join them soon. Given their difficulties with slaying the gods in the past, taking on as many as six at once would be challenging.
To try to strike before they could recruit more, Uthemar stated that they would be marching on the gods come spring. In private, Mielikki and Thicket conspired. They would rather ally with Mindartis against the Void Beast than allow non-believers into Terra's Realm, but doing so would be tricky. From earlier conversations, they knew that Uthemar, Barrend, and (surprisingly) Edelina were solidly against the gods (or "Outsiders", as those outside the Inner Circle knew them). That left Curzo, King Neville, Ulrich, and the ruling council of Wrost to be convinced, and they would have to sway all of them to carry the vote.
Pomegranite was still of the opinion that the gods could not be trusted, and fully expected them to continue to conquer the rest of the Empire, but respected that he was outvoted. With Uthemar in the Highland Forests, they couldn't reach out to Mindartis directly, so the Triumvirate coordinated with the ruling council of Wrost to set up a secret meeting with him in the spring. Mindartis, for his part, replied with a message that, despite dripping with condescension, explained he was open to an end to the bloodshed now that they had conquered their own territory.
Uthemar and Thicket went through the portal to Terra's realm. As the two fundamentally disagreed on cosmology, while Uthemar was polite, there was only so much they could discuss. Thicket showed him the crystal farm they'd found last time, where they both grabbed some of the humming blue crystals, and Thicket snacked on some (Uthemar politely declined). Uthemar himself was incapable of traveling on his own as he was not adept with earth magic, and so he suggested they bring in a scouting mission of dwarves.
Thicket relented but only on the condition that King Barrend go personally, and that they be accompanied by one earthling priest per dwarf. When it was brought before the rest of the Triumvirate, Pomegranite argued vociferously against, but Mielikki had already been paid off and supported Uthemar. The dwarven delegation took two months to arrive, not abnormal for mid-winter travel, and began their survey at once. After several weeks, they concluded that the portal's entry was in what the College called the "Path of Earth", but that it was a good distance from the "Path of the Void". It could serve as a staging ground, but it wouldn't be ideal.
The Last War
When Spring came, the march to the southeast began. In Halberst, the earthling, elven, and dwarven armies joined those from the College, Tauschen, Lumene, and Wrost. Mielikki made subtle overtures to Curzo of negotiating with Mindartis, but was surprised at how opposed he was and dropped it. Pomegranite had much more success convincing Ulrich, who acknowledged that they had already lost too much and were likely to lose far more if they continued warring with these gods.
Unfortunately, this meant that they could no longer sway the Empire through diplomatic means. All three Emperors were opposed, along with the dwarves, and with the League destroyed, that left a minimum four of eight provinces opposed. Mielikki suggested they take whoever they could convince and "defect" ("Betray is a strong word") to save their own skins. Pomegranite and Thicket would rather stick with their allies, at least until they heard what Mindartis was offering.
Close to the eastern border of Halberst, Veronika of Wrost informed them that they were nearing the location of the meeting with Mindartis. While their main armies continued the march down the road, the Triuvmirate and Veronika took a small detachment off into the woods, where a signal fire was raised. Sure enough, Mindartis floated in just over the canopy of a nearby stand of trees, and descended. Mielikki stepped forward and made an impassioned plea for peace in the face of greater threats, like the Void Beast.
Mindartis was acquiescent, viewing the bloodshed as "a massive waste of resources", but wanted to know more about this Void Beast. The earthlings looked at each other and explained it as best they knew, including the destruction of the Path of Prophecy. Though they were using the "wrong" terminology, he figured what they meant, but then asked why the destruction of the Godhomes would matter, as they weren't necessary to use magic.
That got the Pomegranite's attention and, preying on Mindartis' sense of smug superiority, got him to explain how magic actually worked. They'd have to take his word for it, but the so-called "Path of Prophecy" still existed, just outside of their framework. Similarly, the so-called "Forbidden Paths" were still entirely accessible. As proof, he created a ball of iron in one hand and then, in a flash of green flame, destroyed it. Creation and Destruction, both easily accessible. He suggested for Pomegranite to try it himself. Iron would be tough, so he should try creating a mound of dirt.
Pomegranite remembered a lesson from his time as an adept at the College where they had been told to try to access the Forbidden Paths, and confirmed that they couldn't, due to them being sealed. It was a part of every College magister's education. As had happened then, he failed to sense their energies. Mindartis observed his attempt, and realized what was wrong.
First, their understanding of the Godhomes was lacking, as the diagram they used was just a slice of a greater three-dimensional space; Mindartis waved his arm and a flower shape rose up out of the ground. He gestured at the flower and pointed out how the inner-most Godhomes were there, but only further "down" from the where the "slice" they used as their framework was. Similarly, Prophecy still existed, just not where they were looking.
Pomegranite also noticed that the so-called "Path of Forging" that was unique to the dwarves was connected to the Path of Creation via a branch, confirming his dwarven conspiracy! Similarly, the Paths of Life and Healing were connected, though through a narrow, pinched, and twisted branch. While Mindartis continued to ramble about how the model he'd made was itself a simplification and in reality there was more to it, Pomegranite concentrated, and suddenly a small lump of earth appeared in his hand.
The lecture complete, Mielikki asked why Mindartis didn't seem concerned about the Void Beast, and he admitted that he'd like to stop it to preserve the Godhomes, as they had historical significance and could still be useful, but did not view it as an immediate threat. This prompted Mielikki to ask why they'd left the Godhomes in the first place, and Mindartis was frank. They'd been imprisoned against their will for thousands of years by Uthemar and his ilk due to jealousy.
Further, while the Godhomes were great places to conduct magical research, they had tasks they'd been pursuing in reality as well. For instance, bringing life to the seas or the wasteland beyond the western mountains. Expanding not only their knowledge, but their world as well. They'd had some in-progress works at the time of their imprisonment, but after several thousand years of mismanagement, they'd presumably been halted.
They got down to "negotiations". First off, Uthemar would have to suffer "at least as much" as the gods had. Second, Korellis would probably want the heads of those who'd killed his lovers, but perhaps they could talk him down. Claramendra seemed to be doing well, and would probably just request a wide expanse of land. Sonveliss and Eloras, though he hadn't spoken to them, would likely also request domains to rule over. For his part, Mindartis had been happy at the College (before he was so rudely evicted) and did not much care for ruling.
Though they thought they knew anyway, Pomegranite asked for confirmation of who "Korellis'" lovers had been, but Mindartis respected their privacy and did not divulge. Perhaps they could ask him themselves. When asked what his relation to Sonveliss was, he was more open: he was his husband. Mielikki wanted to know why they had been sealed away, and Mindartis put the blame squarely on Uthemar. He had opposed progress, fearing their expansion and preferring a world in stasis.
Ever-devout Thicket wanted to know why they had slain their gods, and if Uthemar had opposed that as well. To hear Mindartis tell it, everyone had approved because their gods were cruel tyrants who had created the elves and made them their slaves. They had no more questions, and the meeting ended with both sides ostensibly agreeing to try to talk their side into negotiations. Pomegranite made sure to get the others to swear not to tell anyone else about his use of the Path of Creation.
After they had rejoined the main column, the Triumvirate had further conversation. While Mielikki valued the lives of all those about to die in this war far more than that of a single elf, Thicket did not believe the gods could be trusted. Despite believing that they would almost surely lose the upcoming battle, Pomegranite nonetheless sided with Thicket. At least they would have a chance, whereas if they made peace with the gods, it was only a matter of time until they ruled over everything.
Notes:
Part of the reason for settling the elves in the northeast was to keep them away from the dwarves.
Not that it's likely to matter, but Luana has now settled in Tauschun, her father's homeland.
Current known gods and their locations:
Consus: Last seen in the attack on the Elven Forest
Carmenta: The Elven Forest
Mindartis: Outside the Elven Forest
Somnus: Assumed to have fled the Battle of Segreta
Eros: Assumed to be the spooky ghost from the Battle of Segreta
Astraeus, Bellona, and Terra: Dead
Questionable/Unaccounted for gods:
Rock Terra aka "T-Posin' Terra": Last seen leaving the Highland Forests to go to the Demonwar in the south
Clio: Yet to appear. May have been the Flesh Orb.
Thicket discovered that the path(s) they had taken in Terra's Realm the last time they were there were gone, but the crystal farm remained as an open cavern due to the crystals themselves terramorphing the earth around them.
When it comes to elves, evil is stored in the ears, and so even if Curzo is a secret elf, he is no longer evil. Clearly.
There's some concern that the Forbidden Paths are morally corrupting. Mindartis rejects this, but isn't exactly an impartial source.
Pomegranite is going to attempt to use the Path of Prophecy the next time he sleeps.
We determined that Pomegranite and Granmarg kept the origins of the demons secret, as if they told the other two that Carmenta had made all forms of life except the earthlings, it would get them suspicious enough to ask questions.
This also means the other two don't know that she was the one who made the dwarves to be slaves to the elves.
Gods made elves to be slaves who made dwarves to be slaves who made earthlings to be slaves. According to Mindartis, anyway.
The PC's know that Korellis is the elven name for the god Consus, and highly suspect that his lovers were Astraeus and Terra, who were also married to each other.
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