[video] UNSEELIE LOCKED;

[fulminants]

So, guys. You remember when we lost all the fire magic in the world to the Void because of reasons?

Well, we've got some hope here. Well, a small, puppy-like, really adorable hope, and his name is Kaio. He's a new god forged from some god of the forge and a shardbearer, and I'm sure some of you have seen him around, because I sure have.

But more importantly, he's going to need shrines, and offerings. I know a lot of you lost those powers and want them back, or even if you just want to get the ability to learn those powers. He's our chance to bring back fire magic into this world again.

I've currently got one in my castle, and I'll be setting up a large shrine to him at Spire Four itself, but he'll need more. So if you guys can set up something of your own, burn offerings in his name, spread the word, you know the drill.

And hey, if he comes by, remember to give him plenty of tummy rubs and ear scratches, he really loves those.

Comments

[erythristic]

Would you be in possession of any advice on how to construct him a shrine? I'm afraid to say I don't know offhand how to create a place of worship for a fire deity, besides incorporate fire into it.

[a puppy for a god. charming.]

[fulminants]

[ Oh hey, it's you again. ]

It's simple, really. You can put up a likeness of him somewhere in an empty space, and just dedicate whatever you burn to him. Incense, maybe a chicken, probably lots of bones...

You're gonna put one up, huh?

[erythristic]

It can't hurt, and it's not a trouble for me. An infant god needs belief from as many of us as you can reach.

Do you have a likeness of him I could look at, to remember and then attempt to recreate?

[digophelia]

Ah, well.

[ She almost comments that fire is good, because it destroyed the Jabberwock, then she remembers that it may anger some of her fellow Unseelie. Awkward. ]

That's... that's good to hear? That some of those things lost can be eventually restored again.

[ She looks visibly uncomfortable with this, despite her words. ]

[fulminants]

Yeah!

[ Johnny's nothing if not fiercely hopeful; what's broken can be rebuilt, what's lost can be found again, and if this can help bring back more fire magic into the world, why not, right? He's still not sure how it'll work, exactly, but he knows it's tied in to Kaio becoming stronger. ]

And you should've seen him, Alice, he was adorable. And so small. He could talk, too.

[digophelia]

I am sure that he is, but I... I honestly do not like fire.

[ Terrified of it, actually, but not that she's going to verbally admit to it. ]

[conqueress]

[ What would the red priests have thought of a pup god? For a moment, Dany fears she'll giggle. ]

I have no wish to give offense to Kaio, but ear-scratching is no tribute I would have expected to give a fire god.

[ Disbelief and amusement and hope are all warring in her heart. ]

All the same, I shall inform the villagers I pass to light fires in his name. In my world, there was another fire god, and priests prayed to him for protection each night. Perhaps I can honor Kaio similarly.

[fulminants]

[ Oh hey, if it isn't the beautiful queen he's met before! Johnny brightens when he sees her, evidently pleased. ]

Try it, Your Highness. You'll have him wagging all over the place. [ He winks. ] And that sounds really wonderful, I'm sure he'd love that the villagers would light fires in his name.

[ He tilts his head, curious. ] Wow, you had priests to do that? What's that god like?

[conqueress]

[ She's visibly cheered--both that he remembers her station, and that, if he is right, fire magic is returning. ]

How will I recognize him? He must be very beautiful, to be born of flame. [ She's entirely unaware that she's also complimenting him, by extension. ]

As for the Red God, I have only passed his temples and heard the sermons. He, ah-- [ she hesitates, politely deciding against ruining their small measure of joy with her rumors of human sacrifice. ] --R'hllor's is not a tale that would please you, I fear. Our gods have no stomach for belly rubs.

[ Trust her, Johnny; she's ensuring you don't have nightmares. ]

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[boutant]

A puppy god? That's adorable.

I'm sure the people at Diasbaile will be happy to hear about him, and to get to work on shrines and worship. Even though I don't use fire magic, it's... well, it's something that'll bring hope.

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[fulminants]

Very! [ Ah, just the person he wants to see. He's heard some things from Kaio that doesn't sit well with him, and he's worried about her. Shardbearer gods going to war, and she's one of them. ]

You'd love him, he leaps everywhere and cuddles up. He's still so little. [ What goes unspoken but obvious: Kaio might not survive the war, and Johnny wants to save him. And her, too. He's going to build a shrine to her as well, in the halls of the castle. ]

Do you think he can have a bigger one, Ari?

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[boutant]

I wonder if all young gods are like that. Actual- children, you know?

[ Ariadne wasn't, but Ariadne turned into one on accident. ]

Probably.

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[huntedby]

I'll make a small shrine in my Spire as well.

[Vanessa smiles softly.]

It would be fitting that you would find the small thing.

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[fulminants]

[ Oh. Vanessa, this is not helping the tiny crush he may have on you. ]

I'd be really grateful for that, Baroness. [ Wait -- ] Is that a good or bad thing?

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[huntedby]

[That crush may be smashed when she's possessed in a few days.]

You know you can at least use my last name, Baron Storm. [A tease.]

A good thing, obviously. Fire is part of you, is it not?

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[benumbing]

Do you think he'll be content with his shrine, should he make an appearance?

[Or should Jack expect a fire god puppy to be crawling into bed at some point? That's really what he wants to know.]

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[fulminants]

[ Johnny thinks about that for a long time, and maybe he invitation he'd made to Kaio that one time. ]

I think we should look into investing in fireproof covers. And sheets.

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[benumbing]

Those were already necessities. But there is something that can't be made fireproof.

[Namely, him.]

[survivra]

...I could use fire magic again?

[ a strange sort of hope. katsa doesn't need it, and she'd decided not to learn any other magic since, but it had been fun to have and she'd put in work to learning to fight with it. and with po learning ice... it's a tempting thought... ]

...By rubbing a god's stomach.

[fulminants]

By making shrines, and offerings!

[ Johnny grins at her, at the hope he could practically see on her face. ] Every offering makes him stronger, and the quicker word spreads about this new fire god, the better.

Can you help, Katsa?

[survivra]

What sorts of things does he wish to be offered? Are we sure he's the one who will be behind the magic?

[ she has to be skeptical, as she is, but the questions come with a note of truly wanting to believe that it's possible. ]

[needmetoo]

A puppy god?

[Because that's clearly the most important thing to take away from this.]

How do shrines help?

[People here seem to put a lot of importance on them... she remembers how Lightning went on a quest during their traveling to Redgate to build shrines, if she's remembering correctly.]

[fulminants]

Yep, a puppy god.

[ He knows how you feel, kid; he's become terribly fond of Kaio, too. ]

Shrines and belief help make gods stronger; it's like food to them. The more you make, and the more you spread the word and people believe in him, the bigger he gets.

[ Johnny tilts his head at her, openly curious. ] Are you new here?

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[zerotohiro]

[...oh. There...are several key clues here that tune Hiro into a few things, but he'll keep all of that to himself. Instead, he's going to focus on a few other things.]

Think fire-proof dog toys count as an offering? [It's mostly a joke, but he looks a little excited about the idea of a puppy god.] I can probably set up a small shrine somewhere near the castle. How're you handling the one at the spire?

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[fulminants]

You mean like chewtoys?

[ Johnny looks quite taken with that idea, obviously amused at the idea of Kaio gnawing on a fireproof bone. ] Well, yeah, imagine if you could get him to come by and play with it. That'll be cool.

[ He gestures to the construction site -- there's been progress since the last time Hiro was there, so there isn't quite anything yet, but he's negotiated for a shrine to be built in Kaio's honor, carving out a large space for the god. ]

Ground floor, right wing -- it faces the setting sun, and I'm planning for the torches in it to be constantly lit in his honor. Offerings, probably three times a day. Jack's helping to take care of that.