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[Part-Time Gods] Shaking it Loose [1.0]


Krul

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Los Angelos, the City of Angels, the second largest city in the united states, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the US and the jewel of the west coast, a hub of travel for both sky and sea. A place where thousands of stories are created and told across the world, from the center of Hollywood, and thousand dreams live thrive or fail and die. The nightlife is intense, the city is filled with secret truths and creative dreams, a place where children grow and thrive, and where beauty in all of it’s aspects are worshiped..

Most folks thought this was just the nature of the city, but those in the know realized it was due to the dominant gods, four incredibly powerful deities around a pantheon, the most powerful gods of the city had formed into a single pantheon, and whose influence colored the entire area, without them even trying..

Sorayumi Isesaki, direct decendent of the Japanese god of sky and sea, the mighty Susan-o, goddess of Sky and Sea, brought power over the elements to them, as their lead deity, the All-Mother of the pantheon, though the term was a bit ridiculous in her eyes, a wealthy heiress to a company, and a marine biologist . Penman Wright, god of Stories and Creativity, the owner of the cities largest bookstore and rarest books, Windy, the child goddess of Children, Cuteness, and Truth, orphaned daughter of the former goddess of beauty and god of truth. Krista Pelter, goddess of the Dreams, Night and Secrets, a woman who had forged her own way and found herself blocked here and there, until she had become a goddess..

Each of them bound in their own ways, biding themselves together against the various different problems that were growing in the world, as the Coming Storm brought great changes in it’s wake.. Today the four gods were speaking quietly together within a room in Penman’s store.. To respond to a letter, a plea from the Mountain King, a powerful being who’s forces around the san adreaus fault sought to fight other hidden supernaturals and prevent the worst earthquakes from ravaging this part of California..

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The six year old little girl with brown pigtails clung to her Tinkerbell doll as she sat in a rolling chair, her little legs kicking to keep the seat swinging side to side. She was aware that she was hear for a reason. Tinkerbell had told her that it was important and she was trying to pay attention.

But quite honestly, Windy didn't really understand what was being asked of her. But she had twelve nickles in her pocket and when they were done she was going to get a dollar ice cream cone. If she was good.

So she tried to listen and understand. Windy knows what an earthquake is, how scary it is. But somehow someone was trying to make a big one and someone else was trying to stop it and these grown ups were talking about helping. Tinkerbell told Windy that if a big earthquake happened lots of children would be hurt or killed or become orphans like all the kids at St. Joseph's Children's Home. And even though St Joseph's was a nice place, not all orphanages were nice. And a family was better than an orphanage, or so she had heard.

So Windy tried to understand, but she didn't say anything yet. Children didn't talk unless they were asked a question or needed to ask a question. But she did swing the chair around as she listened. There weren't any chairs like this at St. Joseph's so while she knew that it was important to sit still in chapel and school, this chair was obviously built for fun, so she didn't see any need to be still here.

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Penman spoke, his natural flair for drama coloring his words. "Long has the Mountain King fought to keep the shifts of the Earth slow and gentle so those who build shifting sand have time to move and build again. But once did he lose this fight, and oh, so many died. If we can help prevent such tragedy from befalling again, then 'twould be rank cowardice to do anything but help."

He turned to Windy, translating for her benefit, "Just as some like us draw our strength from books, or from helping children, or from learning secrets, or wind and wave, so do some feed on pain and fear and destruction. It has been the job of those like us to stop those who break things just to see them break for a very, very long time. Knocking over some Lego's so you have the pieces to build something is fun, knocking over houses with people in them is something we should stop. Do you understand, my young friend?"

He pauses for her response, then directs his words to the entire group again, a grim sadness in his words, "If this is Puck, or Monster, or Deity who holds dominion over destruction, we will likely have to remove his dominion to stop him. This is not something I want to do, but we should agree on if it should be accepted as possibly needed now. If we are lucky we can talk them out of it and into something that will fulfill their needs without harming so many, but from the sounds of things, this is something that should be broached early."

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Windy nods at the question from the 'book man'. She continues to listen and finally whispers to her Tinkerbell doll. 'What is remove a domain?' She listened to the doll's response, expression thoughtful. If the others listened they could hear the faint tinkling of bells from the doll, but no words. Finally Windy nodded and looked up at Penman.

"If someone has a book and is using it to hit people and hurt them you take the book away but book isn't bad cause book can be read and shared and not hit with and then it isn't bad but maybe it isn't a book maybe it's a ruler and the nun is using it to teach about bad sins and dangerous stuff then you don't take the nun's ruler because that would be bad too and we don't know if it's a book or a ruler or something else and how are suppose to decide what to do when we don't know and even if we did know then maybe we still wouldn't see the way it should be because it isn't our book or our ruler and maybe there's a reason to hit besides just because and maybe there isn't and maybe we should ask someone who knows about the book or the ruler and the best way to ask is to pray or that's what Sister Frances Grace says and she's very smart so you should listen to her and . . . Tinkerbell thinks I've said enough." And she falls silent, hugging the doll to her chest.

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Penman smiles at her, effortlessly translating the child-spak after the number of children's story sessions he has done. "I hope we don't have to take it away. I want a peaceful way to end this. I much prefer to be nice. But I also thought that we need to consider that taking it might have to happen, even though it means hurting the person who has it, to stop them from hurting other people. We need to know more before we decide what to do. We shouldn't decide until we face the one who is causing trouble, but I wanted to know what all of us thought. Taking a dominion should never be the choice of just one person, as that is how good guys can become bad guys while thinking they are still doing good."

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"The fact is," said Krista, in full on 'Whisper' mode with her violet, twilight-shaded cloak shrouding her face in starry darkness, and speaking in a stage whisper, "we won't know enough to make real decisions until we go meet the man in the mountain personally. Until we hear him, there's not much to discuss except when we can all make time for the trip."

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Penman turns to Whisper, saying, "Let me be very clear here. I do not want to do what is necessary to strip a dominion, and I really hope that it will not be necessary. But, should it happen, we will likely have mere moments to act before the point becomes moot. That is why I want to discuss this now, before we go into this situation, before we are amongst people who have been the good guys in the past but may not be so now. If nobody is willing to discuss this now, it can be tabled for later, but I fear the consequences if the discussion is saved until too late. As far as time goes, owning your own business has its perks, so I can be free whenever you all have the time."

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"When we go, we go to stop this. As far as I'm concerned, that means we're signing on for whatever it takes to stop it. If that means taking a dominion...so be it. Though that's an unimaginative way to dispose of a renegade god in my opinion." She grinned, her teeth floating in the black shadow of her face.

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Sorayumi sat there, prim and proper in her business suit, and listened. Finally she spoke, in clear unaccented English. "We will help him, and do all we can to resolve this situation peaceably. If it becomes necessary that a dominion be stripped away, then that is unfortunate, but the safety of many outweighs the desires of the few." She spoke as someone who fully understood the burdens of responsibility, both in the mortal world, and in that of the Gods."

She nodded. "I agree, it does have perks to be the undisputed boss."

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The letter read as follows

To the True Lord and Ladies of the City of Lost Angels..

I am presently in dire straits, recently a group of Oni and a dozen score pucks have descended upon the heart of the the San Andreas fault, but I see the hand of at least one deity behind this. As you know, I rule over a group of cyclops, mountain giants, dwarves and others who seek to protect the earth along the rocky mountains, and release the nessary stresses in the safest way possible for all living things. Unfortunately, my forces and I are doing all we can to keep things under control, but matters are reaching beyond us, we have too many responsibilities as it is.

As this matter concerns you more then most deities, for should we fail, the loss of life will be greater then when the battle of Mount Saint Helens.. where a god of volcano's and a dozen fire giants managed to drive my forces into a retreat.. I fear much of the coast in this area will change. As you are the closest pantheon able to help, I call upon you for aid.. and offer a boon of your request should you answer it..

I respectfully request the aid of the goddesses of sky, truth and dreams, and the god of creativity.. should you agree, here is the number, please meet my envoy's and they will direct you to the Mountain Kingdom

Sincerly, King Andrais..

There is a phone number at the bottom of the paper, to call..

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" 'ello, Darby here.. whas' than.. youse wan' to meet wit' the king.. well, now, old Darby can 'elp youse within than.. " The accent of the man on the other side of the phone is so thick that if if wasn't for the fact Penman was a master of language, he might have trouble understanding what the man was saying, even though it was a certain dialect of English. "Hold onto them horses of youse, Darby, god of racing will be there in no time..and will see you to the king." Within five minutes, old Darby, who did appear to be a elderly gentleman showed up on the front of Penman's store.. on a horse and carriage, no less..

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"Darby, the god of racing," Whisper muttered sardonically. "This should be interesting. There's few things sadder than old gods who can't keep up with new times."

She left the store and went to the side of the carriage to drop a curtsy.

"Welcome, Darby, god of racing, to the realm of Los Angeles," she said formally, with much more courtesy than her mutter before walking out. "You may call me Whisper."

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Windy picked up Tinkerbell and bounced out of her chair. About halfway to the door she stopped, "Is this a field trip? Do I need to tell one of the Sisters where I'm going?" Her question seems directed mostly towards Wright. She had 'wandered' before and gotten into trouble for doing so. This time she wanted to be sure she could go without having to say fifty Hail Marys and an extra turn cleaning the bathrooms.

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Penman smiled down at his young companion. "It is alright, young friend. You are allowed to go with us." An arrangement had been reached with the orphanage where Windy lived thanks to the other members of the Cult of the Saints who had positions of power in the catholic Church that let Penman serve a mentor role to her and take her on short trips without having to get further permission. If it looked like they were going to be gone longer than that after speaking to the Mountain King, he'd make the necessary calls.

Before heading to the carriage, he stopped by his office to grab a satchel stuffed full of paperbacks and a Kindle for the books he couldn't bring with him. It never hurt to be properly prepared and armed, but he couldn't trust that the Kindle would always work wherever he was--or that he would be able to find the right story fast enough.

Penman started towards the carriage again before a thought struck him. Turning to Windy, who was bouncing along merrily, he asked, "Do you want something to eat or drink before we go, or to use the restroom? The older saints don't always grasp the idea of indoor plumbing," using the word she knew for what they were.

I hope you don't mind my assuming this 'big brother' stance for your character. It just seems appropriate, especially with our dominions and the nature of my business. If you do object, I will be happy to edit.

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As Penman assured Windy she could go, her smile got wider, her eyes twinkling. She was very happy to be able to go, it sounded interesting. Then he suggested a bathroom break and she stopped bouncing. Then, slowly, she nodded and trotted to the bathroom. She didn't even ask anyone to come with her and help her. She was old enough to do it herself now and it was something she took pride in, even if pride was a sin.

A little bit later Windy re-emerged from the restroom, her hands still a little wet from where she washed them but didn't take enough time drying them. Tinkerbell was no where to be seen as she hurried back to Mr. Wright and put her small hand out for his. Before the pair reached the door Tinkerbell was once more in Windy's spare hand.

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"Well, hello, young lady, it's a pleasure to meet you." He responded to Whisper's greeting, and opened the door for her to step into the coach, if he was a deity who was behind the times, at least he was a polite one, whatever else he might be. As the others came out to follow her, Sora trailing the others Darby gave each of them a similiar polite greeting, however, upon seeing the young child Windy, he smiled and knelt down to meet her at her own level. "Well, hello, little one, tell me, do you like horse's, and would you like to ride one?" At the slightest hint of affirmative from her, with a glance toward Penman to make sure it was alright, he'd whisk her up and set her atop one of the two horse's that were leading the buggy. "These two are Star and Jewel.. they are good friends of mine.." He lead the horse and buggy down to the edge of the road, walking next to Windy as he did..

He gave her about a minute or two to ride the horse, before lifting her off it. "Now, we're going to go faster, and they arn't equiped to carry little girls at that speed, so we'll join your friends in the carriage." He set her inside the carriage, and got up into the driver's spot, and sent the buggy forward at a rather breakneck speed, joining traffic and then racing along the road at a much quicker pace then a horse and buggy should go, he was matching or exceeding the speed of the cars on the road.

Increasing speed, he turned around a corner, and riding straight toward a glass window of a hotel, he jump the horses right into it, and the buggy bounced, but instead of crashing though the glass, they passed though a sudden shimmering portal, into what appeared to be a winding road that lead up toward a huge mountain, with a massive castle rising atop it..

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Speaking to the others in the carriage, Penman said, "Whatever else you might say about him, you've got to admit that the man has style." He then settled back to enjoy the ride, watching Windy's face as she beamed out the window. She really managed to live up to her position as a deity of children; he had never had children and was wary of having them now and watching them grow old and die while he stayed young, so he appreciated the way her company livened things up.

Well, he appreciated it most of the time. There were limits even for him, but most of the time she was a welcome ray of light.

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Windy didn't much care about what was happening in the cart, she had gotten to ride a horse. After that, the day couldn't be bad. With Tinkerbell on her lap, she watched the world race by outside the cart. Seeing the castle ahead of them, her smile grew. Maybe she'd get to be a princess next!

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As he road up the mountain, a ride that took about 15 minutes, Darby pointed out a few of the caverns and other spots along the way to the castle of the Mountain King, places where the dwarves and giants who owed allegiance to the Mountain King lived. "This mountain doesn't quite exist in the mortal world, but there are a number places that it is connected to there.. " He explained as they road around the top and stopped just outside of the rising stone castle, which appeared to have been carved directly from the mountain.

"And here we are." With that, Darby got out of the drivers spot on the coach and went over to open the door for four passengers, and as he did, a 10 foot tall man made of stone, with long robes, also made of stone approached, though he waited until they all got out of the coach before approaching.

"Greetings, to the Gods of the City of Lost Angels.. I am his majesty's Chancellor.. Welcome to the Hall of the Mountain King." He smiled at the gathered gods a moment. "I am here to escort you to him."

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Penman climbed out of the carriage and bowed to the Chancellor, saying, "It is a pleasure to meet you, good sir. It is my most fervent hope that we will be able to be of aid in this time of danger."

His greeting finished, he turned back to the carriage to offer help to the others climbing out. He knew they would likely refuse, but still, it was only polite to offer.

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Windy bounced out and waved, "Hi, I'm Windy and this is Tinkerbell!" Then, being the more or less well mannered little girl, she waited, bouncing in place, to see what came next. Despite all the questions buzzing around in her head about being made of rock and being so tall and how many princesses lived in the castle, she kept them to herself.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The large giant knelt down to look Windy in the eye and smiled. "Such a lovely child you are, I am Gareth Scepter, I am pleased me you and your friend tinkerbell." he reached into a pocket and brought out something.. "here, have some rock candy... now, if you and your friends would follow me." he lead the four gods inside the stone castle and down a hall into a room that seemed to be made of smooth and flawless marble, where a crown sat empty on the throne, the walls were of stone with polished gems sticking out partway of them.

"Welcome, to the Hall of the Mountain King." He spread his arms as he let them throne, which was empty, and he turned to look at it, then looked around, his manner a touch embarrassed.

Then a voice spoke up, as a man walked up behind you all, he appeared human, though his face seemed to be of sharp lines. "Didn't I tell you no grandstanding, to bring to my private chambers, not the throne room?"

"But sire..the dignity of your position"

"Gareth, I know you mean well, These are deities, there is no need to overawe them, they are mighty in their own right." He then approached each of you in turn, his manner polite and graceful as he took the hands of each of the ladies an kissed them in an old fashioned manner, and he shook Penman's hand firmly. "Thank you for coming."

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"It is an honor and a privilege to come to your aid. I have no objection to the formalities, either; some of us enjoying doing things a particular way, and unlike many Americans, I have no objection to the concept of a king." Penman bowed lightly to the king and continued, "I thank you for the hospitality of your home, and offer you the same courtesy should you ever wish to visit my domain."

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She'd enjoyed the ride, and had to admit the grand hall was awe inspiring. Sorayumi was however distinctly glad their host, the King, elected for human form, and allowed him to greet her in his fashion. She bowed at the waist, not to far, but a gesture of respect nonetheless, and smiled. "I too thank you, and would offer you what hospitality you require should you need it from my dominion."

She spoke as one grown accustomed to command, but not with presumption, everything about her screamed "earned."

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It took Windy a long moment to stop watching the play of lights around the room as the gems refracted the illumination. But with her hand being kissed she blinked and looked at him for a moment, "Oh, ah . . . Hi! I'm Windy. This place is really neat, do the color tell you secrets?" Distracted for a moment, she looks at her doll, "Tinkerbell says to say sorry, that was rude, I shouldn't ask about secrets." Looking down at the doll she manages a rather loud whisper, "Can I ask about princesses?"

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  • 2 weeks later...

The powerful ruler knelt down next to incredibly cute young girl and smiled at her. "A princess would have to be my daughter, and I am not even married, so I don't have a daughter... would you like to be a honorary princess while you are are here?" He winked at her while waiting for her answer, and on a yes, he would reach down and pull a tiara made of gold and diamonds directly from the earth beneath their feet and put it on her head.

He stood up once he had done that, and smiled at the other two ladies. "Of course, my people wanted me to suggest an ancient tradition be invoked, that earth marry the sky, and meet an ancient prophesy, but I also overruled them there." He gave Sorayomi a sort of embarrassed glance.

"If you will follow me, I will take you to the war room and we can discuss the problem of the pucks and oni, the children pure chaos, and what they are trying to do.. alternatively, we can move to one of the locations where we have been struggling against them and move against them directly?"

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Sorayumi looked at him, her face not betraying any of the shock she felt. It wasn't the suggestion, but more how he mentioned it so casually. Her father would probably have laughed at it, then struck him forcibly for it. Albeit her father was more chaotic she'd learned, still there were some things that demanded certain decorum.

You're in his kingdom, and it was obviously a compliment, maybe a tentative feeler, nothing more or less. "There's no telling exactly what the future holds, good King."

She smiled genuinely. "Something that could be revisited of course, once your kingdom is safe. Tradition is of great import, but for the moment our focus should be on the threat facing us all. If your war room would be the safest location I suggest there. I would like to go into battle knowing as much as there is to know about our foes, and the battleground on which I fight."

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Penman turned to Windy. "Don't worry, my dear, I doubt he means that they are children. You know how the nuns sometimes refer to all of us as children of God, no matter how old we are?" At her hesitant nod, he continued, "These creatures are sometimes called the children of chaos because they try to destroy things and make things chaotic. It has nothing to do with their actual age, more their beliefs and practices."

Returning his attention to the rest of the group, he addressed the King's question, "I agree that planning before facing your enemy is a good idea except when there is no time to plan. We do not seem quite that rushed at the moment, so please lead on to the war room so we can be properly prepared."

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Her ideals somewhat mollified, Windy calms down and is ready to move on with the others. A shiny crown on her head she would help however she could, as long as the Storyteller was right. If they were children, well . . . she'd just have to talk to them.

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  • 3 weeks later...

"The God of Stories is entirely correct, young goddess, they are not children, but they are linked to the essence of chaos.. they are monsters actually, so enemies of children in general." He lead the three goddesses and the god though the castle to his strategy room, within which is show several links from this realm to the mortal world, overlayed on a map of the earth under california where each of those spots were indicated, with the centers of battle indicated on it, a dozen spots, all of them where the issue of the San Andreas fault line was particularly dangerous. "As you can see, they are getting more more dangerous, if someone doesn't stop them, the earth will shake loose.. and millions will die.. if the sea goddess here acts quickly at the moment, LA will likely survive, but it's almost certain to end up an island.. However, it has not yet come to that, and we may put it off for many years yet, but not with these chaos born fighting my own forces."

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"Losing Los Angeles is not an option." There was a sound of great conviction in Sorayumi's voice. "We will stop these Chaos-born and save everyone. That is why we are here."

"Is there any location we can strike and get the most for our effort? A weakpoint in their offensive?"

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"Or if not a weakpoint," Penman chimed in, "then an obvious point of leadership? Pucks are too chaotic to work together for long. Remove the one bringing them all together, and we may weaken the rest of their offensive greatly, or even end it, though every puck who escapes is a problem that will come back to bother us later."

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