ST: Ten Hollow Tongues (2xp)

PC: Resplendent Wave

(Scrubbed and posted by Resplendent Wave: Note there are many pages of ooc rules discussion, dice rolls and calculations that are not included here.  I have them saved and can provided them on request.  Also, I made a gross miscalculation originally reducing the areas by more than half.  I've updated them below in the summary, and can provide the math for those interested.)

Water! Water! Reports from the far reaches of the East, past the borders of Creation, by terrified barbarians and wizened shamans all shout with one voice: it began as a great stream, bursting wholesale out of the earth, but swelled and grew into a tremendous body of water, a lake perhaps, or small sea, continuously growing and expanding in width. They say that it is already perhaps 2800 sq. miles, and it continuous to spread By the middle of the season it is poised to reach 5600 (November 18), and by the end nearly 8500 (November 30). Raksha gather at its edges with hateful eyes, whispering about a lone figure, Resplendant Wave, who wields clouds to act as his charioteers and seems to command the very Wyld to act as his ocean. Though it grows, the Water Elemental servants of the figure find little warmth in in the courts of sea-dwellers to his invitations.

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    Resplendent Wave reaches sleeps deeply within himself, dredging up memories from a life lived over three millennia ago. He sees his hands, though not /his/ his hands, but the hands of Preeminent Shore, who is Resplendent Wave, but also a distinctly different person from a distinctly different time. He watches while at the same time creating matter from the howling chaos. He stands and screams land into the foaming sea and the land begins to rise, steaming but fully formed from the oceans depths that solidify around it, made whole from the color and emotion that swirl in an endless cacophony of light and legend.

     Wave snaps out of his reverie, but still draws strength and understanding from it. It is a simple matter to reverse the essence flows, where the Solars of yore created land in the Western oceans, Wave will create ocean in the Eastern lands. Taking a deep breath and visualizing the essence flows of his surroundings he reaches out and begins reforging them to his own whims. Such is the privilege, nay! The duty of the chosen of the Unconquered Son. To bring order to chaos and expand the borders of creation.

     At first there is no sign of anything but as the seconds turn to minutes and then to hours the leaves, the trees the very ground itself begins to recede, melting away into salt water. A breeze whirls through, as driving winds now have freedom of movement, where once only the oppressive omnipresence of an all encompassing Wyld forest once stood. And for a season this continues, day in and day out, like the newly arrived tides the waters rise. There are occasional interruptions by visitors, both friendly and hostile, but the waters continue to spread, slowly and at least for now inexorably.

     Resplendent Wave's messengers spread out across the deeps, following the currents and talking with local small gods and the other elementals along the way to find the scattered settlements. Wave makes sure to send the water elementals to areas where they normally don't hold court. This both removes any notions of loss (in terms of parishioners) and also, for the more competitive types increases their incentive to get recruits (again in terms of parishioners, other elemental courts would be "losing out").

     The messengers bring word of new ocean being formed in the East. One that mirrors the ancient continent in the West, from the sea dwellers most distant legends. They tell of a returned lawgiver, who unlike those of first age, views all Gaia's children equally instead of so blatantly favoring those who her surface instead of swimming in her seas. Communities, resources, the very bedrock of the nascent sea itself can be shaped to desires and needs of a community. The extreme proximity of the pole of wood increases the fertility of people, plants and animals, so settlements can be expected to grow quickly, and be without want (further reinforced by promises of resources when needed) often a plus for some the dwindling populations.

     No particular group is favored over any other. People of the sea, pelagials aquatic Lunars and their fish beast men alike as well as many other species all receive messengers. The message is clear, As long as the can live underwater and can keep the peace with each other they are welcome in the new ocean.

     Most water Elementals return from their expedition with empty hands, offering polite but solid responses from those they went to. 'impractical' and 'too far,' and more plainly, 'no' come most of the words. A few spout 'dangerous', 'foolish', and one in particular, limping, bears the response 'we will not tolerate Sol's children's foolishness again': a warning of sorts. Some bring back conchs and shell-necklaces, trite trophies wishing you 'good luck, but no thanks', others more practical items such as iron knives. A few stragglers pour in, weak and homeless elementals who will take any water they can get, and give little or no thanks. Two water elementals do not return, lost to the red-eyed hyenas of the Wyld who lurk outside your camps and garrisons.