"Really, guys, thank you so much," Brenner was trying to not cry again. Even shrunk to normal he was holding his Bible to his chest rather tightly, as if letting go of it would make it disappear suddenly.
Reed rubbed him on the head. "You can put it in your list. She put her second favorite spell on it." Brenner blinked a question, his eyes finally no longer filmed over. "The Never-Lose-It one."
"Oh." Brenner thought about it, then shook his head. "Not until I've put a Never-Destruct on it."
"I think that counts under the same umbrella?" Reed was a bit confused.
"Not the way I wear them out," Brenner said. "I have to order a new military Bible almost every month. There are pages scattered between home and every port of duty I've been to, and no one can read the pages, I've worn out the words so much."
Reed and Michael both laughed. "No wonder you have whole chapters memorized." They left him to begin leafing through his new present, his eyes lit up. His best Christmas present ever, or drop anyway. Since it benefited the rest of them given his Class upgrade to Archangel, they'd take it, too. Their other drop was the death of that aspect of Night Sun and the likely high number of sanity points he'd taken. That payback was nice.
"So...why are you here, and why does it sound like there's more to come?" Michael asked Reed.
Reed had taken him to the gate of the pen again. He pointed towards the Adventurer City. "That's Panama City. Those are the two armies," he pointed to the chaos still going on.
"After you left, the Caretaker asked us to come back in time to protect all the People of the Land. We were fighting in all spaces they're being treated like this, but at this one time. That was an interesting planning meeting you and Shiroe might like to review sometime for grins and giggles, and to fill holes in your various theories about the AIs.
"From another clue she let drop, I think she told Shiroe about this battle plan, too, at least enough, so we weren't unknown or unplanned for on the larger scale."
"Likely took a weight off his plate, actually," Michael said.
Reed agreed with a nod. "I would think. Izanami told me it was my turn to be tested, so I wasn't allowed to call you until I did - at the final need for the God Cleaver. I didn't expect Purrcy to turn it into a family quarrel, but I suppose getting the two of you together anywhen or -where I should have." Reed glared at Michael from the corner of his eye, scolding him.
Michael looked away, then patted Reed's shoulder. "Even you needed that break," he pointed out.
Reed was silent for a moment, then shrugged. "It had it's uses, but just ending it and falling on the ground to rest is nice, too." He looked towards the fighting. "However, given there is no rest for the weary, I'll take it. I'm expecting them to arrive again shortly, demanding more sacrifices as they become hard pressed to keep moving forward. They can't have them, so we'll be fighting again.
"Likely I'll call on you three-some again. I'd like to get this part over quickly as well. If they come back over here, they're finally low enough that between both sides they might just cave properly."
Michael stood and pondered on that. "Let me do some research and work up a few things. I'm willing to take your requests as the needs come up, and let you keep directing things here since you're the boss this round." Reed nodded. Switch-overs happened, but could be confusing underneath the action. Sadly, it would also keep the High Priest - god roles between the two of them going properly for Adventurer deity play Michael had set up.
"Get your rest while you can, boys," Reed said on the full party chat. "The High Priest and his men will be knocking at the gate soon enough."
"What, we're not done?" a grumble came.
"Not until we get the Adventurers calmed down," he answered back.
There was a quiet collective groan and people collapsed all around the pen. Reed sat down, too, not needing it so badly now as he had before Purrcy had worked on him. He wasn't sure why she knew what was still coming up, unless it was because she also knew that the Adventurers had to be settled separately - which she probably did as a Master Strategist in her own right. Shiroe would have pointed it out in their conversation if she hadn't mentioned it.
Reed sat cross-legged, his fingers clasped and thumbs pressed lightly together as he rested his elbows on his knees. He listened to the quiet conversations around the pen and between the men. He wasn't surprised to hear the People of the Land working up the courage to ask about the Guardian and Caretaker. He wasn't surprised to have the explanations from both the Eagles and Twin Falls people focus just a little more on their support of the Guardian and merely simple acknowledgement of the Caretaker.
He rather expected that the religion and worship of the Guardian of the Caretaker would spread over the entire Western Hemisphere. For some reason, Izanami wanted Michael to be the main god over here. Reed dropped his head and slumped in defeat. Even if they killed the flavor text for deities, men were men, even if they were People of the Land and not Adventurers. The stories of today, of the Guardian and his ultimate defense of the terrified intended sacrifices, would spread the entire continents over eventually.
When times got hard, when things happened they didn't understand, people turned to things outside themselves and greater than them. Whether to appease them to "please prevent a bad thing from happening", or giving them gifts and praise in gratitude for granting those desires, men and women reached for that "something" bigger than themselves. Sometimes the hole was never filled and incessant gnawing greed was the result. Sometimes it was found in the solace of belief that sometimes brought results.
Reed couldn't say if there was a God that wasn't capricious, that did grant and bless according to faith and need, but he did recognize that the hole existed. He'd seen what that hole in humanity had done over and over, even here in Theldesia. The driving need to get home, to not be on Theldesia, to have whatever level of strict control over random life could be attained, to feel strong enough to not ever have the rug swept out from under one again. All these things they'd seen or fought against were all driven by that hole. Holding on to a God that might grant you peace and comfort for being kind to others wasn't near as bad as a lot of the other options.
"Thank you," he said quietly. He meant it for all the deities that had helped them on this battlefield this day. Regardless of levels of faith and belief, one could always spare the time and expense to be grateful for real and useful help.
-:-:-:-:-
When Michael got back to Reed, the poor man was sleeping rather soundly, his head hanging down and his snores rather gentle, for Reed. He'd been pushed hard, but Michael had to say he'd give Reed a definite passing grade on that exam.
If he could, he'd just handle the next one and let them all sleep. They all needed it. This was like the last time through the Sect War, though. It had to be seen through all the way to the end, and Adventurers in battle against Adventurers could go a long time. He hoped the side strategy he'd planned would help shorten it a bit.
Michael leaned back against the post he was sure was Reed's, since Reed was sitting in front of it. He'd taken the main dirty duty on himself and been the one to consign innocent creatures and men to deaths they'd all wished they could prevent. He knew that, and it was part of Reed's passing grade in his book. That was too hard a thing to make younger officers take on. It was another sign Reed was about ready to really graduate up to Commander.
Michael closed his eyes and sighed a bit. "Please...you are the Guardian of the Caretaker?" he was asked timidly from behind.
He turned his head and almost bit his tongue in his surprise. There were rather a lot of men with lost looks on their faces looking at him. "Well, I am, among other things," he said. "Sorry to be late to the party, but Reed was under requirements until then."
"Is he your...," the men looked at each other a bit confused.
"He's my second in command. When I'm not around the rest of the Eagles follow his orders," Michael said. "He's done very well to have kept you all alive this long."
They gave him strong nods for that. Then they all fell on their faces and said, "Thank you, to you and your second in command, Guardian."
"You're welcome...but we're not done." Michael was frowning at them just a little. He wasn't sure he liked them going quite that far, but they'd also come from extreme circumstances. "We'll be fighting the Adventurers off from getting to you next. So please be patient a while longer."
The men nodded and scuttled back to their places in the pen. Michael had a sudden thought. "Hey, Records, when were these guys last fed and given water? Reed neglected to tell me just how long you've all been here."
"Ah, good point. Water at the very least would be a good idea while we've got a moment. Food can wait, although I'm sure they're hungry. One meal a day is all they ever get and it's then. I'll get that going. You'll have to get the Commander up. It's locked to his cover avatar."
"Alright, although I'd rather not," Michael said, softly.
"Yeah," Records agreed. "He's worked hard."
That was high praise and Michael smiled softly to himself. He put his hand on Reed's shoulder. "Time to get the preliminary's done, I'm afraid," he said as bleary eyes looked up at him.
Reed straightened up slowly and rubbed his neck. "When sleep catches you by surprise, it's often a painful awakening."
"True, that," Michael agreed.
"At least it wasn't a knife to the gut this time."
"When was it ever that?" Michael asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Never. Not yet anyway. I keep wondering when that time will be," Reed held out his hand and Michael helped him get up on his feet.
Michael didn't let go. Instead he clasped Reed's hand more tightly. "Thank you, Reed, for passing your exam."
Reed's face went a little dark and he wrinkled his nose a bit. "Say that later, after we're home."
"No," Michael said softly. "You've reached where I needed you to reach at just the right time."
"You're not leaving? You keep saying things like that and making me suspicious you're going to be snatched away from us." It was accusing.
Michael shook his head. "Not that I know of. When we reach the end of this battle we've reached the end of what I knew and know. I stopped reading the highlights of her and my history when I hit the final battle in the Gate of Time. I didn't know how this one fit in with the rest since I was reading along her straight line.
"And...most particularly, thank you for cleaning up the loose end on the second timeline."
At that Reed almost couldn't keep looking him in the eyes. "That one was concerning," Reed agreed. "I'm glad it worked out well enough." He finally did have to drop his eyes. "I'd like there to be no more time travel after this. It's just too damn dangerous. I had to leave a gaping hole for Inari to wiggle around in to make sure he took care of the loose ends. We just haven't got the capacity for it. What I did was all I could work out."
Michael let go of Reed's hand and patted him on the shoulder. "You did fine, and were intelligent about how to handle it. For all Izanagi may trust me enough to wander around in Time for God knows what reason, I'm really very terrible with it...as you well know or you wouldn't have had to throw that in at the end."
Reed shook his head. "I'm pretty sure there wasn't any other way but to create a second timeline since we'd already lived it once."
"Well...I suppose," Michael allowed. A small group of men arrived next to them. Michael waved at them. "Thought we should at least give them water before we got going again."
Reed nodded. "Good idea. Sorry to sleep instead of -"
Michael had held up his hand. "You needed it. We took care of it as long as we could. You're the key."
"Right." Reed stepped to the gate and put on just enough of the illusion to get the gate opened so water could be passed in and around.
While that went on, Michael told Reed what he'd worked out with Brenner and BillyBoy. It wasn't dramatic, but they wanted to go first, so he needed to know.
The word came in from the watch up on the dragon above about the same time the water bearers were coming back out of the pen. "They're in high spirits, for them," came back the report.
"Hope that's not destroyed by what's next," one commented a bit pessimistically. It couldn't be helped. They'd not enjoyed the last Adventurer vs. Adventurer battle much. These guys were just as hard-hearted and past feeling.
-:-:-:-:-
The Central Amerkan Adventurers didn't come friendly. Someone had watched their fight earlier. Plus the party wasn't in their disguises any more, so looked like the enemy, being of more North American average avatar. The three lead party members stepped forward into the breach between the army and the pen, Brenner in the middle this time. "Why have you come here?" Michael asked.
"We require more strength for the ending of the battle. You will let us pass."
"No, that is the wrong kind of strength for Adventurers to have," Michael refused. "Why have you willingly given in to evil methods to get false levels? There's no real strength or self-worth in that. Only by personal effort comes true strength and confidence."
They were growled at. "Please, stop now," BillyBoy begged. "We're going to go home where this kind of thing isn't even acceptable. Please. No more killing in such horrendous ways. The People of the Land are living beings. Stop the murders and agree to live peacefully."
"It isn't murder, it's how we gain levels without having to fight," was spat at him.
"It is murder, and it isn't how Adventurers were created to fight. What you do is even worse than the fighting. How can you even sleep at night with such horrible visions of what your own hands have done in front of you in the dark?"
Weapons were already out from them coming from the battle and now they were raised threateningly. "Don't, please," Brenner warned quickly but firmly. He was ignored and the first wave crashed on them and was thrown back. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them," he quoted quietly to the two with him and he was growing, but not into the giant form, just the larger form he always went into when calling on his skill.(A)
As before, with Night Sun, Brenner opened with a warning and a call to repentance, opening his scriptures. His voice rolled over the entire battlefield, although it was still some distance to reach it, causing the fighting to pause for just long enough for his words to be heard. Michael was quite sure Purrcy was helping that part, too.
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.
"You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Brenner looked up from his Bible. "Thus sayeth the Lord in James, chapter four, verses one through ten. He is calling to you now. Can those of you who might have once professed a faith in God on Earth now still claim to be his children? Or do you have cause to repent and turn away from the awful things you've been doing to the creations of Theldesia? Please, stop the fighting. To sacrifice living things to false gods who are mere creations for false gifts is wrong and evil. Please, relent and put away your weapons. Choose to live in peace."
The dark priests among the Adventurers of Central Amerka threw themselves at the three of them again, and once again they were repelled. They could only hope that some of the ones in the army had heard what had been said and would reconsider.
The dark priests started chanting and Michael bowed. "Please, Caretaker, help us hold to patience and allow our efforts to turn to the good of those who might be willing to change their ways. We don't want to fight them."
BillyBoy's fingers were now placed at a point in a smaller book than the one Brenner was holding and his face was very sad. "Hear the Oracle of the Caretaker and of God to those who will fight and choose such great wickedness." The chants were silenced, although lips moved, so that BillyBoy's words rolled over the battlefield. As he read, he glowed slightly.
"Behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.
"It is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, ...and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually. And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Earth, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people.
"...and their women and children were again sacrificed unto idols. For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with them; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind. They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father. But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they."(B)
Tears were dripping down BillyBoy's face. "Please. Repent. This has happened every time a people has begun to believe that their own desires are more important than the lives of others around them. Death and complete destruction brought by your own hands is the only final result. Don't let this also be said of all of you. Surely there are some of you who were horrified at the beginning, who can feel some remorse still, and wish to turn away from what was never your real desire from the beginning."
Michael had a sudden understanding of how it was the Twin Falls boys had been able to face all the things they'd had to see without flinching, although often with tears. Their own religion recognized it happened and had it written in their scriptures. Michael was rather surprised how specific it had been to the case in point.
It was so specific, in fact, that when the silenced chants of the priests in front of them finished, they bounced off the reflecting shield and turned against their casters (not surprising given it happened with those shields). It was, however, surprising and concerning to the guards who were with the priests and who had come to watch over the next sets of sacrifices.
Many Adventurers of Central Amerka had turned to look towards them, and were pointing them out to their fellows. There was a stirring as the message was passed into the army. Michael was quite certain that had been a call for the High Priest.
Brenner had found his next scripture and was also looking towards the battlefield. He waited until the back of the crowd finally opened and a dark robed man striding angrily came through. "Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, 'I am strong!' Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there.
"Bring down your warriors, LORD! Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness! Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
"The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her."(C)
The party behind the three got ready for the battle. The scripture had increased their alertness (Perception bonus), and Speed by just a little bit. Michael all of a sudden felt something familiar and he froze and held his breath.
BillyBoy took his turn. "My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free. And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed. We would not shed the blood of the Adventurers if they would stay their own hands. We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us. We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do.
"But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust in him, and he will deliver us. Therefore, my beloved brethren, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God."(D)
As Fortitude settled over Michael and Righteous Anger replaced doubt, he was sure of it. This was the event that had changed the face of the battle they'd fought in South Amerka. Purrcy had used this over the entire world to strengthen the flagging Adventurers who'd fought for her and Inari in the cause of cleaning up the darkness.
He bowed his head and prayed, "Thank you, Caretaker, for now and for then which is also now. Let our strength find the pathway to bring as many Adventurers back to reality and away from the insanity they've come to live here as possible."
-:-:-:-:-
As they stood on the cusp of the battles all across the face of Theldesia, Purrcy having used the cheat of the opening in space at the penned-in People of the Land to make the words of BillyBoy and Brenner echo the blessing over all of the weary Adventurers who fought for reason and right living, the High Priestess turned to her. "Purrcy?"
"Yes, Izanami?" she bowed, then looked herself in the eye, although it wasn't her that looked out through those eyes.
"Why do you reward the reading of passages from those books?"
"Those are the words of my God, and Brenner's God, and many of the Adventurers of the American continents' God. We treasure them because they in total teach us how to live peacefully, in harmony with our fellowmen. Our God is a merciful God, but even He has had to allow us to war against one another when some of us choose wickedness, as the scripture read by Billy put so well.
"Scriptures are a written history of the hand of God in the lives of the people who've lived on Earth over a long time. They've changed a little here and there as wicked people have changed passages to suit them, but in the main they try to teach us to be kinder, more sympathetic, humble, selfless, giving, and other positive traits we tend to forget to live otherwise."
Purrcy turned and spread her hand to point to another part of Theldesia. "I've given those kinds of words to every culture of Adventurers. As I explained earlier, each culture has its own faith, its own religion, its own gods. I've given to those who desire good in life and to help others who wish to be good become better, the words they treasure. They've all missed them terribly, because those words give them hope that we can all be better than we are.
"India has the Veda, Arabia and much of Africa have the Koran or the Bible also. Europe has the Bible, Israel the Torah. Even in China, Russia, and Japan," she pointed to them, "and the other Asian countries, they have words they treasure, although they wouldn't be called scripture there. Only wise words of great men to lead one to peaceful and calm living with others.
"Many cultures have the stories and tales that teach right living. Those cultures who have only that - usually passed on by oral traditions - I've also given them written versions so they can remember from this time on. This is how humanity does not kill itself generation after generation.
"We will also forget our own gods, and will change them, save a few such as is taught in the ancient records. Even then we can find it difficult when they become so old as to lose some of the original meaning as the language itself changes. But we do our best because the majority of us don't wish to live in fear, causing evil.
"Civilization is built upon agreed upon concepts of right living. When those are compromised, civilization begins to fall. If that fall isn't stopped, chaos ensues and we must begin again. You've asked me to help prevent that sort of ending.
"That's what I'm doing. Reminding the Adventurers of their own lessons of Earth on how to live rightly, and I'm having them teach and remind each other. That is how we continue to move forward rightly. Thus, I reward them for continuing that teaching and walking in that path.
"Besides, I also find them filled with hope applicable to me, and my gratitude spills over back to them again." Purrcy put her hands together in front of her skirt and waited humbly.
Izanami considered that for a bit, then asked, "Why are those words different? Why is appeasement lacking?"
"Because God our Father doesn't want to be appeased. He is not a vengeful and angry God, until we've become so wicked as to do what is being done here on Theldesia. Then it's his righteous anger that asks us to move, again as they read in those passages just now. Like you and Izanagi have asked for my patience for so long, He also is patient, calling and asking us to live more rightly.
"Only when He must, will he allow us - even require us - to go to war to correct the errors. Like the two of you have required now at this point. He also is watching over his creations and knows when it must happen versus when others would like it to happen. It's what the words 'ready to harvest' mean.
"Please go and study, looking for references to 'wheat and tares', and 'patience'. Some of my favorites include 'how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chicks'. The saddest ones of those end with: 'yet ye would not'." Purrcy's ear fell sadly at that. She understood that very well today. She took a deep breath and tried to not let that get to her. She still needed to be strong.
"Is that why you refuse to follow the rules of deities?" Izanami asked.
"Yes. They are incorrect principles. You already have your example to that," Purrcy looked at Izanami soberly. "It is the error we're correcting today. It's also incorrect to deify a mortal, imperfect person or creature. Only a perfect example can show us the path to walk, and only one ever lived on the Earth, according to my traditions - and honestly in all of them. The who varies to some degree.
"Those cultures who can't point to a perfect example must show many examples of the subsets of ways to be in order to teach it properly, but in all cultures and civilizations that have survived over time, there was always a path of right living to follow. When it was strayed from and lies crept in to hide the way, there was eventually death and chaos of that civilization unless there was proper correction."
"Thus why you are angry to be considered a deity yourself."
"Yes. I'll play the game to help everyone get the points, but I am mortal and imperfect. I am not the perfect example, although I try my best because I also wish for peace for myself and others."
"Others consider you-"
Purrcy held up her hand. "They consider me an example of the example I try to follow. That's one or two steps too far away. Only the one true example can hold everyone to the path over the test of the life of a planet.
"It's sufficient for the moment, however, to help others stay on that path we all wish to walk, as their examples help me to also walk that path. That is community, which is another lesson altogether." She hadn't even delved into churches or congregations yet, although she knew that confused them too, so likely would be a future lesson eventually. At least they had guilds as an example to build an understanding off from in that area.
Sometimes she felt exhausted by the AIs recently. They'd returned for this battle with even more questions than ever before. She was pleased they'd come back more willing to learn and be taught and not question her veracity like they had before. She knew they still sampled and tested and confirmed. Humans did too, when they were trying to discover something, so she let it happen without comment.
"It is sufficient for now," Izanami said.
Purrcy bowed and turned back to watching over the battlefield, patiently waiting for the next thing to happen on this world she'd been made Caretaker over, all because she'd felt inadequate to be one. It really was very humbling and difficult. Her mikasi shivered in Nyanta's arms in their bedroom, and he held her to his cheek. "Mew can do this," he said soothingly. "It's the final exam. They are always difficult, but mew've been purreparing for it, and meowr friends are helping mew. Mew can do this."
She buried her head in his neck, shivered, then took a breath and nodded and tried again to keep walking forward, regardless of her imperfections.
-:-:-:-:-
Purrcy had another ulterior motive in gifting the words of wisdom of the ages to the supporters of civilization around the world. Her ear turned to hear for them as her eyes watched the deities she'd appeared to ignore these past thirteen years. Her eyes and brain wanted her to exult that they were finally getting their due, to be glad she was finally going to be rid of them and the evil they caused in the world, to be relieved she'd get to not have to hear their words of derision that on occasion did hurt her as they would anyone who was unsure of their footsteps in a strange new place that didn't want her there.
Rejection was hard on anyone in any situation. It had been hard to live in the Gate of Time. Only Nyanta and the children had been her consolation and often Izanagi her only restraint when the grief for herself or the children and how they were treated hit her, or the anger overwhelmed her at their complete insensitivity and uncaring.
Sometimes only Ceridwen's kindness over tea, even if it held confusion, had been any balm at all. Not being able to truly commiserate with anyone on Theldesia hadn't helped. Even the friends she'd made at Water Maple, though a brief thing to her, would have been a relief, a moment to relax. The times they had thought of her with kindness and concern, she'd been there to soak it up, glad they did still have the occasional kind thought for her since so few did. Those few moments were the only times she had to relax in the company of other females.
She'd never been able to get Meghan to relax and none of the other females in the temple were willing to face her as anything other than the High Priestess and goddess, although they did smile when she was being Hahaue with her children. When they spoke with the heads of the house they were formal. It was as hard to be a goddess as a noble, although it being her own house, they had to put up with her informalities and quirks, so did.
The whole temple had considered her a goddess from the time she'd been formally introduced and she'd made the steps disappear and then reappear without harming the staff standing on them. Nothing had made them believe otherwise, even her protestations and the other deities' disbelief. They were where they could watch what she did minute by minute, and her Adventurer differentness was all the proof they felt they needed. It was a harsh thing to have Michael force it to become a titular reality.
Her ear turned again. "The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident." It was a priest in South Africa who had also broken down and cried to have received a copy of the Bible.
"Psalms 27. Verses one through...seven," she whispered to herself. It was one of her favorite psalms to quote to herself when she was feeling alone, particularly as this very battle had approached. She was glad P/R had finally been high enough level to help her create the texts. The swelling of gratitude she'd received from gifting them had caught her off guard. She supposed it shouldn't have. She'd been able to write all of the early spells to tuck away for use later on that gift from them all.
"But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
"All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."(E)
That was a chazzan in the Middle East. His partner in this battle was an imam. They'd set aside their differences for this opportunity to be rid of the evil they'd not expected at all in the form of Ba'alim. That had been a dark deity both religions and cultures had to fight against from many thousands of years before they became enemies.
Abraham himself had been on an altar of that deity when he'd called upon the Lord and an angel had appeared and saved him, much like the spies in Central Amerka had been. He was the father of both nations and finally two sons had joined forces and were joining scriptures like Brenner and BillyBoy were to fight against the evil. It made her humbly grateful to hear those voices. It wasn't hard to pass on that gratitude to them and the men fighting with them to help them in that fight.
With a bit of stress to her voice, the Protestant pastor in Europa read: "Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
"Can a corrupt throne be allied with you— a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them."(F)
Things weren't going well there, surprisingly since not many deities there required open blood sacrifice, and the ones that did were fine with animals over people. It was that most of them had demihumans, and a lot of them, and that was where the majority of the deities had come from.
A majority of Adventurers in that area were agnostic or atheist, so had played the Druid or other similar things to the hilt, not caring much. The few Adventurers who were both humble and pious were hard pressed to balance against those who didn't care.
Purrcy was tempted to send the Eagles over there, but she hadn't seen them tripled there yet. She studied the various battles going on, then sent a chat to Shiroe and a comforting hug to the poor woman who was trying hard. "Europa's still struggling."
"Negotiate with Ceridwen."
Purrcy sighed. She'd been trying not to get Ceridwen involved, although she'd known it was on the list of options. More Adventures who worshiped the non-aligned deities had joined in with the side of the dark deities and had become a problem. The addition of any worshipers and deities from the non-aligned to the side of Creation would increase the strength of the fighters and add that many more deities to fight with her.
Purrcy sent her pre-written letter to Ceridwen's desk and dropped a living gerbera daisy on the desk with it. Just having it appear at all when all temples were currently locked up would be frightening. Perhaps the joint friendly request and gift would balance the threat the act and the hidden message would be.
She watched as Ceridwen stared at the flower, then slowly reached out and picked up the letter. She read it, then without expression sat for another long time considering her options. Finally with a sigh she closed her eyes. "Alright, Purrcy. I'll do it, although I don't know how many will side with me."
"Even three or four would be sufficient," Purrcy answered.
"It might only be three, with me the fourth."
"I'll accept," Purrcy said. "Thank you."
Ceridwen put her head in her hands, then finally picked up her pen. She wrote her own letter that Purrcy reviewed over her shoulder, copied the letter Purrcy had sent, then called for runners. She gave them the letters and ordered them to go to the temples she thought might be willing to change just enough to keep their divinity a little longer and sent them on.
Then she rose and walked down to her audience chamber, calling all her staff to meet with her there. This day Ceridwen would change because Purrcy willed it and would make it happen, and she would renounce those followers who were creating chaos, conflict, and death on the face of Theldesia in her name.
When Ceridwen had made the proper announcements and renunciation and given her orders, Purrcy sent the waiting small spell to rewrite her database data to remove the darkness the flavor text had left in. She also put a decay on the divinity of Ceridwen.
That had been Izanagi's requirement. None of the gods and goddesses of the Gate of Time or outside of it, for that matter, that had been programmed in were to remain such by the time this cleansing was over. The AIs wanted to start with a new slate and no requirements attached to the planet.
Purrcy was also watching the other letters. Most had reached their intended deities and were being read. Two agreed after brief thought. A third waffled. Purrcy put a frog that blinked at her on her desk. The goddess stared at it, then picked it up in her hands. It shuffled and croaked a little nervously. A tear ran down her cheek. "I don't want to die," she whispered.
Purrcy didn't have an answer for her. Neither did the frog. It was die painfully now in the near future, but suddenly, or die peacefully later after living another long bit to enjoy life on Theldesia. The frog had been to tempt her to the latter. Her favorite place on Theldesia was a pond with many frogs living on and around it.
The goddess bowed her head, then whispered. "I'll do it, but I want to live there peacefully for the remainder of my days. And I want my people cared for properly."
"I promise," Purrcy said quietly.
That goddess stood up and also called for her staff, like the others before her. Purrcy sent the required three spells to the temples, then watched the others. Rather uniformly they tore Ceridwen's letter up and disintegrated hers. Purrcy bowed her head. "It is sufficient," she said quietly.
Adding those four names to a waiting spell, she sent it out into the base realm of the planet. The followers who worshiped the four that had changed to side with Creation, who had sided with the dark deities were labeled as cursed from that point on. The spell was effective for Person of the Land, demihuman, and Adventurer alike. If they recanted, they would be able to erase that cursing slowly, but only if they played nicely from this point on. She hoped that would be enough of a change to the balance of the region.
As her attention turned to scan through all of the battlefields she was watching over. A familiar voice was speaking, reading again. Her ear listened as her eyes watched. "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.
"I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears."
Her attention was caught by a request in India and she answered it appropriately. Surprisingly the voice was still going when her attention was relaxed again. "He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
She turned to look and see why Brenner was still reading, although she knew he was probably looking for any excuse to. "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
"You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way."(G)
Purrcy had finally seen and understood and she trembled slightly. Her daikini was beside Timberel immediately. "My sons stand in need and I may not act. Pray for Night Sun or the death of his High Priest will be his own death when I strike him down in my anger."
Timberel was immediately faithful to the position she'd given him. "Please, Caretaker, remember your grief over all of the children of Theldesia extends even to those children of the Gate of Time who've acted without full comprehension of what they've done because they couldn't see from your perspective. Please, have mercy a little longer.
"The Adventurers fight well and fight hard and your hand won't allow them to remain dead any longer than they ask it. They will answer it for themselves or they will ask you and you'll then be able to act in their behalf. Remember your essence contains mercy a while longer, please, Holiness, so that you don't grieve even more at the end. It will be but a moment."
Timberel prayed and Nyanta spoke to and pet her mikasi that also trembled and hissed in anger. Purrcy took deep breaths to have the patience to wait upon those bull headed Eagles who preferred to do hard things on their own when she was standing right here having to hurt for them, instead of being able to what she wanted to do.
It was hard sometimes to remember that she wasn't the Adventurer and they were, particularly when she'd forgotten because she'd been caught up in her other roles. It was becoming a burden very difficult to bear on her two very weak and mortal shoulders.
"Thank you, Caretaker," came another quiet voice. "It looks like Europa will be stable now and has the chance it needs to win out."
Purrcy almost cried to hear Shiroe's voice and receive his quiet gratitude and support. She knew he was under stress, too, but still wanted to help her in her place. "Scold the Eagles in Central Amerka for me. They've forgotten me again and it hurts to watch them."
"They're fine, Hahaue," Shiroe soothed her. "That's how they build their strength, you know that. Of all of us they'll die a million deaths and still rise to their feet again. You taught it to them - that they could. As den mother it's your own fault. Smile and be proud of them.
"It's a blessing to only be called upon when critically needed. Minutia is difficult to deal with, particularly when unneeded. And I know you don't have the patience for that either." He was laughing at her as at the same time scolding her.
It was what she needed, and she finally was able to sigh. She took her need to help them and blessed the them in South Amerka who really did need her blessings because it was so hard for them there, their first time around against Adventurers who wouldn't relent.
She supposed she should really trust they knew what they were doing since it was their second time around the block, but she still worried. And since she was their den mother she was allowed to, she decided suddenly on the spot. That made her feel a lot better.
A: 2 Kings 6:16, Holy Bible, NIV.
B: Mormon 4:5, 11-12, 21; 5:16-18, Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, pub. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013.
C: Joel 3:9-11,13-14, 16-17, Holy Bible, NIV.
D: Alma 61:9-14, Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, pub. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013.
E: Isaiah 41:8-13, Holy Bible.
F: Psalm 94:16-23, Holy Bible, NIV.
G: 2 Samuel 22:2-7, 18-21,26-37, ibid.