Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

It takes a few days before the golden queen has much interaction with the connected reality again, though she senses the new presence before it's visible; an immense force of life accompanied by a being that reeks of death heading through the rift.

 

A guard waits by the rift, hailing the duo once they step through.

 

As Gaia and Mortius step through, so does a small group of forest guardians and demons with them. The forest guardians all look fairly similar - following their human design - though the demons vary from more humanoid succubi and incubi to barely human horrors.

 

The guard keeps his focus on the two gods, looking towards Gaia.
“Um... Lady Gaia, was it?” They ask, seeming a bit uneasy with their words.

 

"Yes?" Gaia asks sweetly.

 

“Forgive me, there is such a stigma around speaking common tongue from my homeland. I was ordered to speak it to you, but I just couldn’t stomach it.” He says in perfect guardian tongue. “I hoped speaking the language of your children would be an acceptable substitute.”

He stands up from his chair and starts out into the hall.
“The Golden Queen was not expecting you yet, but I was posted in case any visitors came. She is currently free, and another guard has notified her of your presence to prepare her chambers should you be here to speak with her.”

 

"We shall speak with her when she is ready for us, then." Gaia nods, responding in a comparatively slightly accented guardian tongue; seeming to be the more correct way of speaking it.

One of the demons lets out an ear-piercing screech upon hearing the change in language, though a larger demon shuts it up by grabbing it's head and covering it with it's hand.

 

It takes about a minute before another guard shows up.
“She is ready, you may enter as soon as you are ready.” They say in common tongue, bowing slightly.

 

The gods and their followers head toward the golden queen's chambers, Gaia's followers seeming to try and keep their distance from Mortius'.

 

The doors are already open, Golden sitting on her throne idly with a harpy hanging like a bat from the ceiling.
“Is something wrong?” She asks, in common tongue. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from any of you for a week.”

 

"We had some time to spare, and Tenebrae and Lux were quite insistent we see you. We heard that you were looking to us to provide you with our children to assist work?" Gaia asks, Mortius remaining silent.

 

“You and your children have no place in my mettle over the loss of my son, but the work of your children is notable. I hoped a few might be willing to join reconstruction efforts and other general tasks some towns find themselves short-staffed on.” She says, nodding.

 

"We've brought those most energetic about such a cause with us, to show them what they'd be working for," Gaia says, motioning to her followers, "I hope they'd be properly cared for and rewarded for their work?"

 

“All will be cared for as if our own, though I cannot guarantee their safety. Between planetary conditions and the Hive Master, I can only do so much to ensure they remain unharmed.” Golden explains. “As for your children specifically, yes they will be rewarded. Tenebrae and Lux’s children are a... different story, in terms of rewards. Yours will be given steadily more freedom in terms of where they go, the sort of jobs they do, and means to make their home away from home as quaint or as lavish as they wish.”

 

There's discussion between the forest guardians and demons, seeming to be quite receptive to the offer.

"If they were to fall under such unavoidable harm, which is expected, would they be free to return to me - as well as any other time they felt their safety may be compromised?" Gaia asks.

 

“They will be held in my court briefly for screening and confirmation they wish to leave. Any reports during the screening will be chronologically cross-checked to derive any potentially necessary adjustments. As for occupational hazards, such as regulating volcanic vents - well, they won’t be allowed in those scenarios before passing workplace safety exams. Aside from basic queries, yes they are free to leave should they not wish to remain in my domain.” Golden explains.

 

"How will you handle those that perish?" Mortius says in the golden queen's mind.

 

“Ideally, their bodies will be recovered and mended with the intent to permit any natural reincarnation or reconstruction. Failing that, the council will decide if there is enough of them left to send a body back. If not, minimum their souls will be sent back along with a report on the cause of death. Obviously, if a body is missing, there is only so much we can do in terms of documentation.”

 

Mortius is silent, but seems satisfied.

"How soon were you thinking of starting this...reconstruction?" Gaia asks.

 

"No, no, reconstruction has been going on for centuries. Your children would simply be assisting as extra workers on job sites that may need them - be it rebuilding what was destroyed by Tenebrae and Lux's child or... less heavy tasks."