Journal Entry #98: Trek through the planes

  The Protector removed his greatsword from the marbled ground. The doll that had plagued us now disintegrated. The god was a tall figure clad in a blue and gold-trimmed plate. He had long, wavy, curly hair and deep, warm brown skin. Tyreos' blue feathery wings retracted as he looked at us. 
 
It was surreal looking at one of the Shards made whole. Thankfully, he does not seem to hold a grudge against us for our actions against his wife that led to the fusion of Blade and Gem. In fact, we had gained a powerful ally by returning him to his former self. Though he had no intentions of championing someone after his return to life. He seems like a kind soul from our small interaction. There was a fondness I recognized when he spoke of his wife, and a sadness I knew as well. One that makes me want to separate those shards even more now.
 
I was more than a little amused that, while originally from Heaven, Tyreos currently resides in Nirvana. That was where his wife once lived.  Which, upon thinking about it. I wonder if Celuriel and I will ever move out of Ironfalls?
 
I wonder what laws bind him so he cannot speak on topics regarding the Shards. Is it something inherent to the very nature of being a god? He fought against so many deities, and now he must play by these rules?
 
I wonder if he can even say her name? That must be frustrating if true. To live with memories. I mean, Tyreos had to rebuild their home. I doubt any relics of their life together remain after four millennia. We had learned that information when we asked what his plans were now. 
 
As Azyel was still recovering, Tyreos offered to watch the elf till our trek through the planes to our god. We agree, and only in retrospect, one of us should have warned Tyreos about the archer. The elf was whisked off the Nivinra. We should have apologies next time we see him, especially if what Azyel said was true about painting a 'fuck Asmodeus" across one of his walls.  I'm pretty sure he got kicked out of the Sanctum of Graceful Tide.
 
Having been released into Heaven proper. Keema left to speak with their god, and wanted to speak to Ragathiel privately. Which left us with some time before we all went to Torag's portion of Heaven. A few of us found a cafe that served coffee. I had given it an attempt to find a knife for Celuriel, but I must have been in the wrong portion of Heaven for blades. Keema's return was uneventful and seemed to have a conversation with her god. Whether it is good or not, Keema would not tell us. 
 
Our trip to Torag's portion of Heaven, a large, imposing forge meant to outfit Heaven's armies in case the unthinkable happened and the upper planes were invaded. We learned much while there, and I will not lie. I was a bit jealous of the relationship Burdyr shares with Torag. It seemed a lot warmer than my bond with Death. I wonder what Celuriel's relationship is like with Maghd. I've heard her speak about the Eldest. I have not seen her interact with her demigod in person. 
 
Torag told us about the importance of the Heartforge, our next location, if we wish to fix another shard. A leyline nexus and one with the body and power of a dead god. That dead god being his brother. Burdyr was handed a key to the Heartforge, which apparently had been sealed for years. Early in Istralar's history there had been a wound driven into the earth, to seal its Magrim died to stop further demonic corruption. The Heartforge is also where dwarves were made, as in the first dwarves. The template for dwarfs was made on Istralar. 
 
On a different note, leave it to a dwarven god to take every chance to make fun of anyone with pointed ears. I had asked the god of forging if he knew where I could find a good knife for my wife here in Heaven. Torag asked if I could get him one of the templates from over there, gesturing to another portion of his forge. Given that this was a godly forge, and he was a god that was three times my height in his current form, everything was huge, including the templates for a knife. It had to be nearly three thousand pounds. I swear I could hear the amusement in Torag's and Burdyr's faces as they chatted as I went to grab the template. 
 
After trying to push it once, I immediately called over Ashlyn and Kraia. I am not a physically strong person, never have been. I am pretty sure most women in my life could toss me over their shoulder without issue. Ashlyn, Kraia, and Artemis helped drag the template out to Torag.
 
The work done to forge this dagger was awe-inspiring, though I think Torag was just showing off. The dagger that was forged was truly a work of art. The art in question was the metalwork forged and inlaid with a story. In its sheath was a little drow without the strength to make her a dagger for his elf wife. Though the hilt had the whole story written in it, it was dwarven. Celuriel enjoyed that gift, but had to have me read her the story that was made into the blade. Dwarven is not one of the several languages she knew. Having thanked the god of the forge for the gift, I pocketed the gift for later. 
 
From Torag's realm, we went to Desna's realm in the Sevenfold Cynosure, and her palace was trashed. Destroyed. Clothes everywhere, food, and plates littered the grounds. I swear this place might have looked beautiful once, if not for the tornado that seemingly went through this place. Off in the distance, the faint sounds of a party were raging. On second thought, it seemed like a party had torn through this place, and everyone had left. 
 
We had found Desna alone in a large room where most of the party took place. The goddess was overjoyed to see Licia. Desna seemed like a doting mother to her champion. Our conversation turned to our dreams as of late. With the amount we've been getting, Desna was not made aware of them. Implying they could be shielded from us. I had to keep my mouth shut during our conversation with Desna. As I had promised Celu, I would not be smitten by the gods. My smart mouth would only get me in trouble.
Then the sun arrived.
 
Or at least that's what I assume happened when we collectively heard "My Champion!" and the world went white for me. 
 
Sarenrae had arrived and gushed over Ashlyn, who completely shut down as the angelic goddess wrapped her up in an embrace. After my eyes recovered from the sun, it blinded me. I had gotten a look at the whole scene, and it was pretty amusing to see Ashlyn because as shy as a little girl. One of the few things Ashlyn had asked of her goddess was if there was anything she could do for her. Sarenrae asked Ashlyn if she could find a champion for her other partner, Shelyn. Ashlyn had mentioned Mery, but it wouldn't have worked. Lukas came to mind for me, but he is currently undead. (I still do not understand why undeath stops a person from being a champion, but at this point, I am thankful as Ludrissiel can never weird the powers of a god like a champion.)
 
Unsure on which god to turn to next, as we still had a few to mark off our lists to visit. Kraia suggested her god. Who was harder to find than we initially thought? Gozrah apparently likes the weather, which is constantly moving. Makes sense for a nature god. Kraia, trying to get a location on her god, was only getting impressions? Descriptions? Not being the one experiencing the forests and the trees Kraia saw made it difficult to know exactly where her god was. The rest of us put our heads together. We knew most gods cannot be on the material; they weren't in Desna's realm, and we had just been in Heaven. Unless they had forests, which we hadn't seen any of. The extremely large trees had left us with the idea that Gozreh might be in the First World. So that was our next stop.
 
We plane shifted into the First World, and as always, the plane was beautiful. Not that we've been often, but I have found myself enjoying the larger-than-life plane. I mean, compared to the gothic nature of the Boneyard. In truth, if I could combine the gothic architecture of the Boneyard and the way that nature in the First World feels more vibrant into a plane, I would like that very much.
 
Landing on a large platform surrounded by small Fey, they quickly rushed to their Queen. I will never not be amused by the Queen of the Fey, Titania, being Burdyr. I had failed to mention it but our entire trip through several planes we occasionally heard jingles. Nagti had become a stowaway hiding in our pacts. Having returned to the First World, they snuck out of hiding. I am sure he had hidden my pack and Keema's cape in at least. Flying over to Burdyr and sitting on his Queen's shoulder, as the Fey swarmed their Queen and King.
 
Kraia's impression she received from Gozreh had become strong; they were definitely in the First World, but given the morphic nature of the plane. It was hard to pinpoint where. Our attempts to find Kraia's god were put on hold as something caught our attention. 
 
Howling and horns. Panic immediately set in on most of the Lost Ones' members. Unsure where to go, they all agreed we needed to leave now before they arrived. Needing a place that would be completely safe from our pursuers, Nagti offered the idea of the Queen's Palace, which none of us had been to, save for Natgi.
 
Keema finally, through the panic of the others, said, "What's going on?"
 
In reply, Keema was told "The Wild Hunt" was the answer. Before we all were teleported away to the Queen's Palace. 
 
As one would expect from the fey Queen, their palace was immaculate. Tall ceilings and large, bright stained glass windows. The whole room felt bright as we appeared in the throne room. A single throne at the end of the room as the servants of the Queen greeted Titania. Nagti was promoted to Court jester, where they swapped hats, putting on a comical jester hat with three bells.
 
Burdyr had asked if they could lock down the palace to prevent the wild hunt from following us further. The Guards were raised, and the palace was locked down. Our attention was soon brought to the throne in the room. While empty, familiar objects lay at the feet of the throne: a dress from Licia's mother, something from Talinde's family, and a juice box of artificial blood from Lucas. 
 
Apparently, Licia's painted doppelganger has been busy with other faces. Being Oberon or Talinde has allowed them to control this faction. Raising an army of Fey. However, Burdyr fixed that quickly, placing rules upon who can create rules to run the kingdom. I am going with Court. Burdyr ensured that no one besides himself could control his Court. 
 
At this point, that painted doppelganger is becoming a problem. 
 
Now, as to Gozreh, Kraia had asked them to come to us instead of seeking out the god. Gozreh appeared, with no physical form. Nature and its various types of storms wrapped themselves, making the humanoid form appear. Let's just say Gozreh was overly pleased with our treatment of the world. Both in draining a Nexus to reform a god and our harm to an Avatar, causing irregular weather patterns across Istralar. Which would explain why the Gozreh is the first god who did not show enthusiasm for our question about cleaning up this mess. Then why would they even champion someone? Or were they on board until the Istralar started to get harmed for our cause? 
 
There will be a point where all this is over and we may rest. For now we must keep moving forward. Until that morning, I can wake next to Celuriel and Avariel and only have to worry about what we must do that day.