Abyssal Road Trip

Amdirlain’s PoV - Outlands

At Amdirlain’s question about her discovery of the world, Livia waved a hand absently to her left.

“Its Portal is out in the forest beyond the fields; its manifestation caught me by surprise,” admitted Livia. “I stepped around a tree, which had formed an arch with its canopy linking to another, and stepped through it. I could have sworn it wasn’t there until I passed between the trees. There wasn’t any sign of an aura or Mana.”

Amdirlain isolated the planet’s connection in Livia’s theme and used Analysis on the element.

[World: Círbann

Age: 2.1 billion years

Sun: G-Type (yellow dwarf)

Landmass Type: Large continents connected by land bridges (Ice Age - aggravated by planar connections)

Average diameter: 14.2 thousand kilometres (Earth-type)

Planetary Orbit: 361.2 days

Tilt: 28.2%

Environmental range: Semi-temperate to permanent ice packs

Status: Stable

Local civilisation advancement levels:

Cultural: Tribal groups and packs (local), kingdom (invaders)

Technology achieved: Stone-age (local), magical metals (invaders)

Magical advancement: none (local), multiple spell lists (invaders)

Local primary species (averaged population percentage of total sapient species):

Giants, planar intruders and local variants (72%)

Ogre-kin, local variants (10%)

Skrel, local variant (7%)

Other groups (< 1%)

Population: 3.7 million

Incursion Status: Major Elemental Event - Para-Elemental Plane of Ice

Local Pantheon Status:-

Classification: Isolated individuals

Priest Types: Priests, witch-doctors

Worship Types: Individual prayers]

[Círbann - Giant groups:

Frost giants (86%) (Incursion: Invaders)

Ocean giants (7%)

Stone giants (4%)

Hill giants (3%)]

“It just appeared?” asked Amdirlain curiously.

Is that how they are for young worlds in the Outlands, or was Nexus playing games with Livia?

Livia nodded and continued. “Anyway, it left me on a ledge high above a cavern floor, and I heard sobbing and screaming. When I approached the edge, I saw giants snatching prisoners to eat from their penned captives.”

Kadaklan tilted his head towards Livia. “Livia takes after you, rushing in when children are in danger.”

“Kadaklan, we share a mutual belief that children are precious,” retorted Livia.

“That’s why you keep going to check on them, despite your guides keeping an eye on them,” said Kadaklan.

“Stepping forward to protect another without expectation of benefit is a good thing,” said Amdirlain, and Livia gave a sharp nod.

The slight smile that flickered across Kadaklan’s lips didn’t match the satisfaction Amdirlain heard within his theme, and she made a mental note to ask later.

“Anyway, when I killed the giants, my use of Ki left an impression, and with my appearance so alien to their own, they dropped to their knees,” continued Livia. “That’s when I felt the Mantle settled around me. Gideon even gave me a black and gold note, similar to the Gods’ War notice. They congratulated me on being the strongest entity to gain a Mantle on that world and complimented your peculiar Ki’s effect on me.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Amdirlain. “I was wondering how you’d have been able to gain a Mantle outside a Gods’ War. I’d thought possessing the Immortal Spirit Power might have allowed you to receive it.”

Livia smiled. “Your Ki has given me more than one rebirth since you cleansed my Soul.”

“That’s a poetic way to put it,” commented Kadaklan.

“Hush,” Livia murmured gently before Kadaklan could continue. ”When they got underway, I summoned some hound archons and employed them to monitor the tribe and let me know if danger came close.”

Silpar restrained his curiosity but sat across the table from Livia; his words turned the room’s focus back to Livia’s tale instead. “You left a lot out of the tale. Shall I assume you used some flashy Ki powers that Master Cyrus didn’t call upon in our sparring?”

“You’d be correct, plus spells and some healing afterwards,” explained Livia. “And no, they had neither tribal adepts nor shamans.”

“I can see why they immediately believed you to be a divine being,” allowed Silpar. “Did you descend from the ledge using Ki Flight or something else?”

“Not Ki Flight, but Ki Blast is flashy,” clarified Livia.

“Do they have any spellcasting abilities?” asked Silpar.

“No, but their invaders do. The skrels’ planet has an incursion ongoing,” interjected Amdirlain. “Fortunately, it is not an Eldritch incursion but from the Para-Elemental Plane of Ice. I guess the question is, do you want to hunt them, or should we?”

Livia sat ramrod straight, and her gaze tightened in concern. “How many giants are you talking about, Móðir?”

“Just under two million three hundred thousand,” replied Amdirlain, and she tapped the side of her cup. “There are three types of giants native to the world, but the frost giants aren’t.”

“And there you just increased your Cold Resistance. Maybe they can pose a test for you,” commented Silpar. “Except they’re mortals.”

“And?” asked Amdirlain. “I’ll hunt them with Sarah if you don’t want to be involved. They’re invaders, and they’re preying on the natives. While I’ll give them a chance to go home, 'no' won’t be an acceptable answer.”

“Dismissal spells,” countered Silpar.

“Which won’t work on any born on Círbann,” argued Amdirlain.

A frown had tightened Livia’s lips during their exchange. “Círbann? That sounds elvish.”

Amdirlain nodded. “It means ‘haven’ in at least two dialects, but it could be how the local name translates. Anyway, the world is in an ice age. After we remove the ice giants in one fashion or another, I can close off all the planar links and see if the place warms up.”

Silpar’s gaze snapped to her. “What? What about the other deities?”

“The entities with worshippers won’t get cut off from the world,” said Amdirlain.

“You don’t even know what the giants are like,” cautioned Silpar. “You’re risking your progress on the path.”

Amdirlain motioned to Livia. “What did their auras look like?”

“Violent and sadistic, focused purely on themselves,” replied Livia.

Silpar grunted. “Many species have individuals that possess such a nature.”

“How many species look to take another’s world? Gideon reports they’ve got an invader status, which means they’re looking to drive out and crush any other species in their way,” replied Amdirlain. “If I hear individuals with nice melodies, I’ll handle them through gentler means.”

“Are there other types of ‘incursions’, as you called it?” asked Silpar.

Amdirlain nodded tightly. “Indeed, some can benefit the native populace, like a cloister group visiting. Besides me taking direct action, another option is to recruit some metallic dragons to hunt the frost giants.”

“I’d prefer we take that one,” stated Livia. “I don’t want you risking your freedom for me.”

“We’ll see what the situation is first, but I can do something else to ensure you don’t fade if that species goes extinct,” said Amdirlain.

Livia’s mouth tightened in concern. “What?”

Motioning to Silpar, Amdirlain smiled. “Gideon’s list led me to correct some issues in a world where we found a tribe of orcs. Silpar spent some time observing them and found them fairly peaceful. We could spread the word of your existence to them and cause a few demonstrations of divine majesty. There are also a couple of worlds where there were primitive elven species whose only form of worship was ancestral spirits. Their lives would be improved by a Deity who could grant them proper Blessing paths.”

“I’ve been discussing similar options, but it’s not that simple, is it?” observed Livia. “Why don’t I show you the Portal?”

Amdirlain shrugged. “Guiding us won’t be necessary, as it’s audible from here.”

Kadaklan smiled in anticipation. “Another world trip? Livia hasn’t shown us yet.”

“No, you can come along another time,” said Amdirlain. “We won’t be looking to settle down anywhere until the giants are under control.”

I wanted Silpar to show me how the cloister would undertake an education effort, but perhaps one where I’ve got too personal an interest isn’t the best starting point.

Kadaklan sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

“Are you deliberately playing up to get under Master Cyrus’ skin?” asked Amdirlain.

“Far too much yin calm about this place at times,” advised Kadaklan.

“Let’s move past that, shall we,” suggested Amdirlain.

“When you said ‘primitive tribes’, what did you mean?” asked Silpar.

“Stone age; the only metal they have is raw nuggets fashioned among their jewellery,” replied Livia.

Silpar nodded. “We have approaches for introducing suitable forms of agriculture and other things to provide a stable way of life. That is if they are open to it and we find them suitable.”

Those tribes dying out isn’t an option. I’ll ensure they’re guided if they have social issues the cloister won’t touch.

“What teachings do you want them to have?” asked Amdirlain. “Putting down a pack of giants in front of them, their view of you could be fairly violent.”

“The Mantle’s principal focus is protection, but I’ve not yet got an associated title,” replied Livia.

“Deities of protection are important to tribes and civilised folk alike,” offered Silpar. “I hope they do not abandon you as they did to my Liege.”

Livia winced. “Did they turn completely from worshipping deities as on Qil Tris or pay tribute to another?”

“They found her purpose irrelevant to their city lifestyle. When the number of her worshippers diminished to a point where their tribute couldn’t support even a meagre shrine, the last of her priests left her service,” clarified Silpar. “Might I ask you a question?”

“Of course,” agreed Livia.

“Did you find the appearance of this species appealing?” asked Silpar.

Livia set her tea cup aside and grimaced slightly. “Externally, they’re not anything I once would have found attractive, but their auras are another matter. Indeed, I once would have believed the Skrel monsters that come to steal me away. Instead, the monstrous beings in that cavern shared an appearance closer to my species, just on a larger scale with a different hue of skin.”

“What do the Skrel look like?” asked Amdirlain.

“They’re only vaguely humanoid, but their arms are longer and have seven spindly fingers. They have four eyes, one pair high on the forehead and angled outwards,” explained Livia, pointing to the inner edge of her temples. “Their skin is an orangish-grey hue that looks sickly to me, and their mouth is sideways in their face with no apparent nose.”

“Yet, you still went to their aid,” murmured Silpar.

Livia frowned in confusion. “Of course I did. A malicious group was eating them, so I would never have left them.”

“And the Portal was still there,” enquired Silpar. “And it wasn’t blocked in any way.”

Amdirlain looked at him sideways, wondering what he was up to.

“Its absence wouldn’t have stopped me if I wanted to leave, as I can cast Gate spells,” stated Livia.

“I take it your Immortal Spirit Power ensures you were at no genuine risk,” said Silpar.

“It’s not quite that simple. Judge Po presides over when, or even if, I gain a new body; I’d also still experience that death, or worse, if they captured me,” corrected Livia. “You can’t assess all of us according to Móðir’s ability to disregard pain or danger.”

Silpar conceded her point with a nod. “You don’t have her ability to assess the strength of others?”

“No, I don’t,” said Livia.

“And against twelve giants whose strength you didn’t know, you still acted against them alone?”

“People were dying. I’m a strong combatant, and I’ve killed frost giants previously, so I acted,” replied Livia with a determined smile.

“I’m not saying you were in the wrong. I merely seek to understand your motivation,” explained Silpar. “Am displays the same behaviour.”

Amdirlain tossed about options among the worlds she’d visited. “What did Týr say about your new situation?”

The question caused a fraction of Týr’s attention to focus their way, and when the unfamiliar divine energies touched the room, Silpar stiffened beside Amdirlain.

Livia smiled. “He’s been advising me on how to set up my Domain, divide it into regions to keep petitioners safe from visitors‌, plus other practical matters. It’s the outer boundary of my Domain that covers it.”

“Though, why here?” asked Amdirlain.

“Móðir, if it was anywhere else, I couldn’t provide a place of safety when you needed a rest,” said Livia. “Even though Kadaklan’s been eager to ply you with his ginger beer, I hope you’ll try the tea. This blend has a lovely taste.”

Fine, I’ll shut up and enjoy my drink.

Amdirlain sipped at her drink. The ginger brought forth memories of playing in the yard, helping her folks with the gardening or cutting the lawn with a cold drink afterwards, and the bitterness eased from her smile.

“Ginger is said to be an excellent remedy for many things, as well as bolstering the body,” noted Kadaklan, observing the shift in her smile.

“It is indeed, and very effective at that. The monastery has some pretty fancy buildings. Why don’t you tell me about your plans?” repeated Amdirlain, determined to move the conversation along.

Livia laughed. “Some students need the trappings of success to motivate them initially. They can’t understand the worth of a master’s teachings when they see said master living in a hovel.”

“Those students who don’t need such luxury to motivate them can easily look past the fancy dwellings. In more practical terms, they all provide the various masters a teaching hall for personal students. It allows them to teach at their own schedule without conflicts over facilities. Though there are common halls and areas laid out for wider lessons,” advised Cyrus.

“For those students that haven’t achieved enough to receive personal lessons?” questioned Amdirlain.

“There are fundamental lessons and a roster for masters to teach,” clarified Kadaklan.

“Are you enjoying seeding bamboo forests of knowledge here as well?”

Kadaklan nodded. “The Western traditions under the White Tiger have some differences in brews, so it’s been a mutually beneficial exchange. When you return, I’ll take you through some meditation exercises I’ve learnt that might help you.”

“How is monastery life for you?” asked Amdirlain. “Since their ways are so different.”

Cyrus, Livia, and Kadaklan spent a few hours explaining the monastery's plans and daily operations without drawing further attention from divine beings.

After saying their goodbyes, Amdirlain teleported herself, Livia, and Silpar out to the Portal; her accuracy caused Livia to smile ruefully.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that you didn’t need any guidance. Your Resonance’s reach has certainly increased. We’re nearly a hundred kilometres from the monastery here,” noted Livia.

“Oh ye of little faith,” teased Amdirlain.

“Very droll, Móðir,” huffed Livia. “Your apartment on Qil Tris was near the campus to study the Eldritch threat. It was hard to wrap my mind around you hearing something so far away with the vague guidance I provided.”

“My Resonance evolved, which jumped‌ the range and detail it reveals,” said Amdirlain.

Amdirlain opened a Gate that matched the planet’s connection and released a set of surveyors. The planet beyond the threshold showed regions of glaciers and snow with only a narrow band around the planet’s middle with greenery on display.

Motioning to the northern polar region, Amdirlain hummed thoughtfully. “The details Gideon provided indicated an ice age, so I’d expect the polar caps to shrink back in time. Once I remove the elemental connections, I’ll see if he can provide me a timeline for their retreat.”

“I know you’re worried,” said Livia. ”But if I end up in the Maze, I know enough to avoid its traps.”

“Livia, you’re not a pseudo-power. Your Mantle has formed fully. If you lose all your priests, you’ll start to fade, not end up in the Maze,” explained Amdirlain.

“How did it manage that?” asked Livia.

Amdirlain grimaced. “I don’t know. If it hadn’t, I could have gotten into the Maze somehow to rescue you.”

Livia frowned. “You’d need a Deity to sponsor your Trial, which would impact their worshippers when you didn’t complete the Trial. You shouldn’t treat me as a higher priority than others.”

“That’s pointless to talk about since that won’t be an available fallback plan,” sighed Amdirlain.

“Why wouldn’t you complete it?” enquired Silpar.

“My Soul would have an issue converting to a Celestial essence, apparently,” explained Amdirlain. “Ori injured her Soul, then had it mauled, and, putting everything together, it would have trouble converting to a Celestial’s essence. If I went through with completing the trial, I would be unlikely to come out with my memories or personality intact.”

Silpar’s brows furrowed. “Who told you this?”

“The Titan himself,” replied Amdirlain.

Her answer caused Silpar to squeeze his eyes shut and slowly shake his head in disbelief. “Is this why you believe you might have an issue when you complete the Redemption’s Path?”

Amdirlain’s gaze flickered to Livia. “Yes.”

“Given your former Mantle, Móðir, I have to believe there is some hope,” said Livia. “Are you sure you should spread the word of my tenets to other worlds? Some might be concerned about your involvement.”

Amdirlain smiled. “I didn’t say I’d have to do it, but gaining connections to multiple groups of faithful is the surest way to ensure nothing happens to you. However, we need to develop a plan so you strengthen your classes and don’t get dependent on the Mantle. When you get a transition that combines classes, make sure not to take any offered classes with names like Goddess of Defenders. You’ll be safer with ones like Divine Protector.”

Livia lifted an eyebrow. “Some wise advice from old memories?”

“Indeed,” agreed Amdirlain.

“Why does it matter?” asked Silpar.

“It might seem like it doesn’t unless you look closely at the attitudes within the classes,” said Amdirlain. “It’s classes where it seems like you’re being rewarded because of what you are versus the ones where you earn more strength if you work for it. The second set lets you deactivate the Mantle and retain more strength, but initially seem weaker.”

“I can see how they’d attract individuals with different mindsets,” acknowledged Livia.

A sudden thought crossed her mind, and Amdirlain tilted her head curiously. “What has Ebusuku said about the worlds she’s involved with? I know some of them had very small pantheons.”

Livia coughed, and a sheepish half-smile replaced her usual composed expression.

“You haven’t spoken to her!” exclaimed Amdirlain.

“I didn’t want to put her under any obligation through our relationship,” sighed Livia.

“I’m going to strangle you,” grumbled Amdirlain. “What would have happened if someone had slaughtered those tribes before I visited?”

“Strangely, strangling me won’t work now,” quipped Livia.

Amdirlain mock growled. “I should have taken the opportunities I had when you were younger.”

“Kadaklan mentioned I take after you,” riposted Livia. “How often do you still try to do things yourself instead of letting others help? You get to be hard-headed about things. It didn’t feel right to use your relationships.”

“You’ve been trying to do this entirely solo?”

“I discussed it with Týr, but the worlds he has connected with all have protection deities,” replied Livia. “His tenets haven’t spread to as many worlds.”

“Bahamut, can you please help Livia out? If one of your worlds has a developing Pantheon and needs a Goddess of Protection, can you pass along some hints that include her name and sigil?”

Livia huffed. “Móðir!”

“Livia!” exclaimed Amdirlain, and she dramatically planted her hands on her hips.

“You do too much for me,” protested Livia. “Now you’re casually involving a Primordial being in my problem.”

“I’m not the one that earned your Tier 7 or unlocked Immortal Spirit. Heck, I don’t even know how to do that last one. Asking Bahamut to help is the least embarrassing and dangerous way I could handle it. You certainly don’t want me going in person and inspiring people with how great a being I think you are,” countered Amdirlain. “I might leave other deities with a fraction of their worshipers.”

Livia went wide-eyed and slightly lifted her hand. “Let’s not do that.”

“It would be rude,” agreed Amdirlain, and she handed over a crystal plate to Livia. “I’m sure you still remember how to use one of these.”

Accepting the plate, Livia picked a surveyor’s icon. The selected surveyor caused the display to present an ocean covered in icebergs, and she quickly picked her way through others. Livia stopped once the plate presented a band of greenery and zoomed in. “It is straightforward.”

“There aren’t many Skrel, so finding them visually with the surveyors would have been hard. Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is enough trace residue to track their species,” said Amdirlain.

“Trace residue?”

“The giants spilled enough of their blood in the cavern,” replied Amdirlain. She tapped a symbol on the plate’s corner, and tiny smears of colour appeared in places across the display, bringing out a frown. “Now you can see the migration routes they occupy, and the colour will get more precise the further you zoom.”

I don’t need to tell her I can put a bloodhound to shame now.

“That is helpful,” said Livia. "I considered travelling with them, but they were too awestruck by my presence."

“Once I’ve met a living one, I’ll be able to fine-tune the surveyors further and let you locate them easily. However, you can use it now to look for habitable regions,” advised Amdirlain, and she nodded towards the Portal. “I can hear the songs of the frost giants’ corpses through the Portal. They’re not natives of another world migrating to this one, and their breed doesn’t need food. Mana fuels their bodies, so they ate those prisoners for fun.”

“Thank you for your help, Móðir. It means a lot, especially since I didn’t know what trouble they were in. Come back when you’re done, and we’ll help you work out a path to evolve your Monk abilities,” said Livia, gently squeezing Amdirlain’s hand. “I’ll talk to Bahamut since you’ve involved him in my trouble.”

“If I didn’t help others, I really would be worthy of staying a Fallen forever,” replied Amdirlain. “Bahamut might seem fearsome, but he is a nice fellow.”

“I’m here to listen if you want to talk about the path’s outcome,” noted Livia.

“I’d hoped you’d ignored that. Others have pointed out I could be paranoid about what will happen. In the meantime, there are things to do and getting stronger helps me accomplish them.”

Amdirlain closed her high-altitude Gate above the planet and stepped through Livia’s Portal. Silpar sighed in concern but followed her nonetheless.