AN: Fushes- to chapter 14 "That made alot of sense." I can't tell what you are talking about. Or if you are being sarcastic about something, whatever it is you are referring to. So I am assuming you are serious, and just referring to my more in-depth faith system, or Olympus itself.
Imoneoldfart- chapter 14 "How do you plan on doing all machines eventually have a machine spirit? Something like any machine, tool, weapon or such made with something that has a machine spirit will naturally have one?" We'll get there. Soon. Soon all shall be shown.
The Machine God moved among the contraptions observing them and noting their designs within their memory. Some were simple, others contained dense amounts of gears. 'This is the first time we have seen gears outside of our own cog. After all, we remember great titans of machinery but all that has yet to happen.'
Some designs were mere toys, without use. But there were useful items to their immediate needs. All of them were committed to memory. As the lord of all machines passed each they gave the objects souls. More specifically each one they moved away from now had a machine spirit. Some more advanced than others but all of them more advanced than those he had bestowed so far.
They made it clear to each spirit that no aid was to be rendered to the smith or any other user. Nothing so as to cause investigation into why the contraptions were working better. Instead, they were to be like eyes and ears. If nothing else, it was a necessary step to the eventual goal of bestowing all machines with a machine spirit.
More and more machines were claimed. 'We shall have to thank him one day. His contributions have accelerated our plans' probable timeline.' They were happy, a decidedly less rare occasion than it was. Since they came to Hellas their minor joys have increased. Not that they can remember enough to know if that is the case.
It was not strictly necessary to bestow a spirit one by one, they could have just as easily reached out and done them all at once. 'But there is no need, we are in no rush.' They soon found themselves in a workshop of sorts. There were not just a few more contraptions but all the drawings on the walls and on the workbench itself.
Schematics and ideas, the writing was a bit messy but the presentation was neat and tidy. This was the first time the Omnissiah had seen the language of this land in written form. It was interesting, the alphabet was incredibly similar to High Gothic, Low Gothic, and Techna Lingua.
'Hmm, we have not thought of the written system of-' flashes, the letters brought back massive chunks of memory. Everything from what the letters meant in relation to code, the math that required formulae, to the uses in all three languages. What struck the deity the most however was their use in the symbology of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Divisions, battle Maniples, insignias, Skitarii robes the use of these characters went from top to bottom.
The flashes stopped, '...Well, at least we were right about it bringing back memories.' The designs on the papers were analyzed and then memorized. Once that was done, they searched the remainder of the palace. 'There are a few things of note but nothing groundbreaking. Well, except for the excavation equipment, but that isn't what we meant anyhow.'
They might have been startled if their senses did not reach so far outward, there was movement outside the palace near the front entrance. The deity immediately hid the floating robes higher up. Close to the ceiling out of normal sight. As the Olympian entered his home he was unknowingly observed. Said Olympian seemed annoyed.
Hephaestus held a minor frown on his face and he appeared to be a bit dirty. Grim and ash seemed to cling to his form. After entering the doorway he walked to a side room that contained a small bathhouse. Given it was so close to the door cleaning when entering was likely a common practice for the god.
The lord of Mars began to analyze and feel the lines of faith connected to the smith. Just like with the other Olympians he memorized the information regarding the faith so as to recognize it. 'All of the Olympians are now present. Is something happening, or do they all truly spend their time in this mountain's dimensional space, regardless of their domains?'
As the now clean smith exited his bathhouse with wet hair the trinity saw him enter his workshop. Almost immediately after the god started tinkering with his projects his frown melted into an almost content smile. It was small. But the upcurve in his mouth was not lost on the lord of production, they knew. 'We do not know what he is or rather was annoyed about. But he has relaxed, given what we know of him, not odd. But good, good.'
They watched the almost loving care that went into the crafting of the machine on the table. As the craftsman worked more they saw it, the smith's hammer at his belt. It was a simple tool. No truly fanciful ornaments, but it was without scratches and almost glowed. 'Magic, we suppose even the seemingly most physically orientated of these gods would use at least some.'
The Smith of Mount Aetna was focused on his work and did not notice the probing at his hammer. 'As much as we do not like the idea of our power having to squish into a hammer that has been… enchanted, perhaps. We can not allow an opportunity to have an eye on an Olympian almost all the time passes us by. Hopefully, we are not noticed.'
Slowly they began to grant the hammer a machine spirit, the magic was immediately an issue. Pondering for a moment they decided there wasn't time for this, and poured their power into finding the knowledge to manipulate the smith's magic. It took over a minute, magic being quite different from what the trinity was used to.
Once it was found through the lord of all knowledge set to work in giving the hammer a spirit. Though first, they had to compress the magic from the hammer's center to the edges. This wouldn't truly affect the implement, not with a machine spirit to take its place at the core. Its sight was muddled slightly but slowly the magic was worked to not be an issue for the machine spirit. The smith had not noticed.
'We would only notice a change in one of our spirits if we were focusing on them. So that is not too surprising. The hammer will cloak our influence from all but the greatest scrutiny.' The god's tool now a future window into the smith's goings-on. The deity withdrew from the palace and the robes trailed behind hidden as they did.
'The smith's projects will be ours to view, if they are worthy they shall be remembered. If nothing else, it may stir more memories. We can only hope.' it was odd, they had never needed to hope before. Or in the future from what they could remember. And yet they knew it was hope they felt. Just as they knew how to transfer electrons from atom to atom. Or how to sculpt flesh in a simple surgery. It was just known to them.
Once out of the palace they scanned their surroundings with their senses. 'This trip has made many things clear, but what is happening. We are certain something is going to happen given all of the Olympians being present.' The Machine God would have frowned if he had a body.
Without much thought, the lord of all knowledge drifted towards a certain palace. Without almost any remaining direction in their mind, they simply decided to see the goddess to whom Korban owed his loyalty. 'If nothing else perhaps I can share what she looks like with him.' After a pause and another moment of thought, 'No, maybe not. He would doubtless be disturbed that we intruded on this place.'
The thoughts continued, 'Even if he wasn't, he would almost certainly be disturbed by us admitting to spying on the gods, especially Athena, while hidden. Even if spying should be replaced with observing.' After they finished those thoughts the master of Mars found themselves at a palace which was filled with art of all kinds. Though some of the most prominent were tapestries.
Objectively they were beautiful, all of the art in these palaces, even Ares' had artistic merit. But these tapestries were almost like picto screens into another place. There was also a lot of art of things like discussions between mortals, writing, and what looked to be cleaner battles. 'She doesn't like violence for violence sake it seems, sibling differences.'
As they moved through the palace, robes hidden all the while, a thought struck the deity. Why had they not seen any servants? 'Surely, minor gods, nymphs, and the like are also on this mountain's alternate space? Why have none of them been present in the palaces? This does not bode well.'
The next room the deity entered was one that seemed to be quite open and contained many tools, and materials for tapestries. But that did not draw on their attention very much, for lord of all knowledge saw her.
They took in her form, 'Brown hair, tanned skin, sharp blue eyes, simple clothes, good material, most likely for comfort, the same as Ares.' they kept their robes outside the room and went closer to her. Inspecting and carefully probing.
'Though seemingly radiating her magic, perhaps she crafted them herself? No armor, but her helm is near to her. Curious, we do not know why she would keep only one piece of armor close if she keeps any close at all.' she was working on a tapestry.
From the looks of it, she was nearly done working on it. A pristine lake and an olive tree were the main focuses, each evoking a feeling of peace. Not that any deeper analysis was taken, as nice as the tapestry was the lord of hidden secrets did not need to look at it long. Their focus was on the goddess, because now that the trinity was close to her.
The resonance was ringing, for some odd reason, Hephaestus hadn't been this loud when they were near him. 'What is the difference?' there was in fact a factor that made it different. 'We have consumed her faith, while also sharing a domain. We shall have to test if that is the determining factor. Perhaps before we leave we shall take some of the smith's faith and listen for the ringing. Though perhaps there is something else, hmmm.'
The virgin goddess working without the knowledge of the observer over her shoulder. Though even if she had, she would not be able to tell for sure. As there was no sight, no sound, nor touch that could find anything there. Nothing but the metaphysical senses could find anything there.
At this point even though it was an almost separate space, the sun began to go down. As it did so she stood up from her work and grabbed her helmet. She left the room and out of curiosity, the trinity followed. She did not note the robes hidden above her as she passed the doorway.
She walked into a room that was clearly part of her personal chambers. More personal, as if the whole palace was not hers, the most often used. The lady of Athens began to bring out some armour. What looked to be a light amount, the master of Mars spied more armour left in her closets. She also pulled out what looked to be clothes to act as under armour.
Simple reasoning made the answer of the next proceeding events obvious, 'We should leave or at least limit our senses. If Korban as our friend were to ask us a question we should not tell a falsehood. That is not to say we would tell him everything. But saying honestly we did not defile his goddess' privacy to the extreme if asked, is better than not answering, and certainly better than lying.'
More and more the thoughts of etiquette came to mind these last few days. If they were to earn trust from humans following minor etiquette was key, one would hardly think kindly of someone who was rude with bluntness. So the simple act of not seeing light was made.
They would know how to follow the goddess through sound. Without having to see anything the lord of all machines could still follow their target. 'She is going somewhere, and we are curious about the reason.' After a few minutes with sounds of fabric and then metal the goddess left her room and began to move out of her palace.
Once outside the Machine God returned his own sight, as it was obvious she was either dressed or okay with being seen in her state. She now wore her helm and had a chest plate on. Her armour was all gold, the clothes beneath it was white and had blue edges. She also bore a shield and spear in her hands. She transformed into an owl and began to fly towards the highest palace on the fake mountain.
The lord of knowledge took a slightly different route. Not trusting it to chance she or another god would not see their flying robes. They flew low and fast just above buildings towards the summit of this alternate space. It seemed Atena was not the only god moving there.
This palace was actually the largest of the Olympian manors, about twice the size of the others. And at the center of the god manor was a large dome that had an entrance of its own. If the narrow running hall that led directly to it from the outside was any indication. There were only two stationary gods in that palace at the moment. A quick scan revealed them to be Zeus and Hera. 'Ah, the king's palace. Makes sense.'
They secretly entered the storm god's home and moved towards what was clearly the convergence point for the twelve Olympians. 'Hmmm,' the annoying thoughts came to the deity as they mulled that over, 'twelve, it is our number, but them being twelve in number sours it. If only slightly.'
More gods were joining Athena and the couple, 'Though again how they are still married defies my grasp.' Many were beaten to the dome chamber by the lord of manufacturing, the room was more of a throne room. Since it had thrones for each of the gods. Two thrones were at the top of a semicircle. The left one held a colour scheme of white and gold with a stylized bolt on the backrest.
To the throne's right was a throne of blue and gold, its symbol was a beautiful peafowl feather. To the right of what was clearly Zeus' throne was a throne which was light blue and green, a trident on the backrest. All of the others spilled out one after the other.
Demeter sat to Hera's right, Athena was to the right of Demeter. Next on this throne wing was Hephaestus' throne. Then the twins of Leto sat together with Artemis at the end of the wing on the left. The left when faced by the lord of forge worlds. As for the other wing of thrones. There was the previously mentioned Poseidon.
Next was Aphrodite, who was accompanied by Ares funnily enough, 'Clearly one could interpret her as a barrier between Ares and others. The last two thrones belonged to Dionysus and Hermes, in that order. Soon more gods entered and took to their seats.
Aside from the general appearances of the Olympians, the deity noted a few things. Hephaestus was muttering aloud now as he entered clearly irritable. As he took his seat Athena leaned over and asked in a whisper which the lord of Knowledge had to enhance their senses to hear, "Are you alright brother? Upset you had to come away from your forge?"
The smith mildly nodded, "Yes, but it is also that these councils often have little of consequence. It can get annoying to be pulled away even once a month for the council, and even when I know it is always at the start of the month." the mood of the forge working now better understood they noticed that Ares also came in.
A smile on his face as he entered, an almost imperceptible spring in his step. 'Odd, is he just in a good mood from the afternoon, or does the boost truly last so long?' As the gods, all came and the seats filled they talked among themselves. Zeus and Hera were both facing the other dep in conversation, a worried expression on both of their faces. Not that anyone but the lord of Mars seemed to notice, 'Hmmm'.
"What are you smiling about Ares? Another war start?" scratch that Hephaestus had indeed seen, the war god turned to his half brother and then cracked a wider smile as he spoke back in a neutral tone.
"I have had a nice day Hephaestus but no, I am enjoying my day because I had a rather large uptick in sacrifices, and prayer today. It was a bit short-lived but it lasted over an hour. It has set my mood as it were." as he explained to across the chamber the smith frowned.
The smith responded in an almost sarcastic tone, "Hard to believe that, but if you were lying you wouldn't look that way. You are no actor after all."
Ares smirked, "And neither are you." The two brothers turned away from one another and spoke to those closest to them.
As the last gods took their seats Hermes almost flew into the throne room given his speed. He landed onto his throne then spoke, "Sorry, I had to finish a few tasks and I figured the last moment was acceptable given their importance."
Zeus seemed to internally sigh, and his face showed annoyance, "Well, I can see all of us are here. And as much as I did not want to delay the council to the evening instead of the morning, I also did want to have it sooner still. But all of you insisted on not having it early." The king of the gods spoke. The others listened each looking at him.
"Regardless, I was able to use that time to seek counsel from others." He put his hand out to Hera who surprisingly took it after a moment. His face was now less annoyed and more worried; a somewhat mirror expression was on Hera, "As well as doing a short search of my own. Now I am going to tell you all what I have been told, and what I have found. Or the lack thereof, as it were."
AN: Okay guys be straight with me here, only like two or three days have passed right? Like it was kinda morning on the first day, then after talking with Korban it was evening. Then the Machine God met with Mairus early in the morning after flying at night, that morning led to going back to Dimitis, building the Temple, and then this chapter took it till evening right? So like two days. I ask cause I just don't know for sure. I would like you to confirm. Wow, only two days. Busy fella. Also don't worry I'll describe each of the gods later, just didn't want to make this too long.
AN 2: Changed it so Hephaestus and Aphrodite are no longer married, they were (in a myth), but that marriage got annulled. Let me know if I missed something related to this somewhere.
