Ned carefully dropped to the alley below, avoiding landing directly in the mysterious debris piled up against the wall, complete with its own moat of some liquid of some sort pooling around it. This might be a backup costume but there was no reason to ruin it by stepping in whatever that was.
He glanced around to make sure no cameras were watching before he quickly tapped away a few commands on the device strapped to his forearm, causing his costume to shift in color and for patterns to emerge. What had previously been an incredibly simple yet colorful yellow and black outfit now more closely resembled his blue, white, and gold outfit that was still getting repaired, although it couldn’t replicate his glowing animated eyes so he had to make due with a set of eight static ones. Amberheart’s support teams were swamped with everything that had been going on the past few weeks, so Ned had to handle the fixes himself using some outside resources, which meant that he couldn’t trust it to just one place. That had left him waiting on a single shop for the final part he needed to assemble the whole thing himself, which the shop had promised would be done by end of day today. Today was the second day they’d promised that, having been delayed by a very important order coming in and pushing his seemingly less important job back. The rest of the parts were laid out on a table, most having been completed ahead of schedule, waiting for that one final piece.
Ned grumbled about that to himself as his escort landed. Without the legs he’d been forced to bum a ride here. While Ned had no qualms about catching a train, a bus, or a taxi, unlike quite a few heroes who somehow thought that was too embarrassing, one didn’t show up to a location like this without a quick escape plan just in case things got ugly.
“Did you truly require the disguise?” the heroine who had flown him here asked with a faint note of irritation in her voice.
“I’ve been in this job for almost fifteen years. In that time, countless ladies with the ability to fly have picked me up and carried me. I’m not embarrassed at having to get scooped up,” he explained as he fished out what he was looking for from the gutters, guessing at what she probably believed he was like. “I’d just rather my collection of foes not know that the legs are taking longer than normal to get fixed.”
Ned had no doubt that almost every single one of his rogues had seen the video of his crash by now. Probably even a few of the intranet’s more creative edits of it too. If watching those didn’t make his back ache, he might even be inclined to find the one with all the clown noises funny. Despite his claim, there was an admittedly a small part of him that also didn’t want to add fuel to his online mockery by getting photographed being bridal-carried to and fro at the moment, but for the most part he was truly honest about the fact that you learned to let that stop being emasculating quickly if you don’t have flight powers. He didn’t personally find it embarrassing as much as he just didn’t want to have to field more than one joke at his expense the next time he ran into Leckter or someone like him. The poor guy could barely manage one good zinger, it would be cruel to ask him to tackle multiple subjects just because the intranet had more than one video mocking Ned.
His answer seemed to satisfy her though, which was good because he wasn’t particularly in the mood to try and assuage her that he wasn’t intimidated by her.
Because he absolutely was.
“So is this the portal we seek?” Stormdaughter asked him as he set the door against the wall.
“Yep,” Ned affirmed as he looked at the sigil on it. “One of Fencer’s doors.”
Thana moved closer and studied it, “I had thought it to resemble the waygates of Ivvragaila from the stories told. This…”
“Is just a door,” Ned finished. “Yep, until we knock on it and Fencer opens the way for us. I think the symbol at the top just lets him know when someone is knocking on it to get his attention.”
“And this criminal will open the passage for us?” Thana looked at him in disbelief. “I find it hard to fathom he would welcome the presence of heroes in his domain.”
“Yeah… and nine times out of ten you’d be correct,” Ned grumbled. “Look, he’ll open it. Just, hold onto me or he will probably try to separate us.”
The Stormdaughter stood back from the door and examined him, searching him for something. When Mayor Cinderoak had asked him to do this, Amberheart’s top brass, including both Reflecta and Azure, had also added that they wanted Alsdottir to come along. Ned had obviously said “no” immediately only for them to advise that he should reconsider that answer. Obviously they couldn’t outright order him to do anything but Reflecta had done the polite verbal equivalent of getting on her hands and knees and begging him, and Ned supposed he did owe the Starlight Squad for the snacks…
As for Azure, he’d been oddly distant, even for him. Apparently something was going on with his team and he was busy with that. Ned had caught snatches and whispers from other heroes nearby but felt like it was gauche to outright ask. Given that there didn’t seem to be any changes to the New Aurora Champions’ patrol patterns, it was left a mystery to Ned for now.
Now, him agreeing to bring along the Stormdaughter and being comfortable with it weren’t the same thing. Ned stared at the door but made no effort to actually begin knocking. He’d spent the entire flight here trying to figure out how to broach the subject of an actual game plan and hadn’t figured out a good way to begin asking the goddess next to him to listen to his orders on this one and not go in fists (or worse, spears) at the ready. It wasn’t like he had no experience taking the lead, it’s just… how the hell do you begin laying ground rules when it comes to someone thousands of years old and who has been fighting evil since before true civilization existed?
“You are afraid,” the Stormdaughter’s voice broke Ned from his thoughts.
“Of Fencer?” Ned laughed off her comment, “No, he’s not that big a deal. In fact-”
“I was not referring to this criminal we are about to face,” she interrupted his attempt to segue into going over the plan, her voice serious.
Ah, okay then. She’s figured me out and wants to skip ahead to this part.
“Yep, I am afraid of you,” Ned joyfully told her.
His straightforwardness caught her off-guard for a moment but she quickly recovered, “I am familiar enough with that reaction. You are not used to being around my kind.”
“Gods? Yeah, no real experience with that,” Ned nodded. “But that’s not why I’m nervous.”
She was once again thrown by that comment and the flippant way he delivered it. Ned felt kind of bad but he figured the only way to make this sink in was to do his usual strategy when it came to talking, and that was making sure he didn’t let her have a single chance to actually think for a moment.
“It’s because I’m pretty sure you’re gonna kill me,” he dropped, fully expecting the explosive reaction.
“I-” the Vikor woman sputtered. “I am not going to kill you!”
“Oh, not on purpose, obviously!” Ned reassured her. “But I’m fairly sure that before you’re done in this city that I’m gonna be crispy fried and tossed in a casket.”
He saw the Stormdaughter’s anger building and smiled behind the mask.
“Do you mean to doubt my control?” she growled. “You believe I have spent the ages on countless battlefields simply letting my powers strike my allies without care? Must I remind you that my legend began by the taming of the Storm?”
“I’m not worried about friendly fire,” Ned told her. “I’m pretty sure you know how to not hit someone you’re not aiming at. It’s the aim I’m concerned with, cause I’m almost certain that you’re gonna kill me when I get between you and your enemies.”
Her hard glare softened, no longer attempting to pierce through him with unbridled rage, but it didn’t vanish, “You worry I will seek to harm others in my pursuit. And you will be honorbound to try and stay my hand.”
“‘Try’ is the operative word there,” Ned told her, fairly sure he knew how a no holds barred confrontation between the two of them would go down. “It’s not a matter of worry, it’s a matter of recognizing patterns. I know you’re here for revenge and I’ve seen where this leads.”
She huffed, “I have laid bare my intentions at Amberheart. I make no secret of that my goal is to bring the villain from Orion to heel and enact justice. I know the lecture you plan to give on these matters, but know that I am in no mood to hear it. Vengeance does not sully the soul as much as you might believe.”
“Yeah, I’m not about to try and convince a Vikor goddess to adhere to modern superhero sensibilities,” Ned waved her warning away. “I’m just saying that when you blow your top and decide that you’re going to zap someone because they’re not giving you answers that I’m going to probably jump in the way by instinct, and then you’ll kill me and feel bad about it.”
The two stared off for several more tense moments.
“I… I understand,” she finally lowered her eyes and looked away.
I was not expecting that…
“You seek to protect your city from my rage,” she continued. “And you would’ve been correct to do so. I feel as though the wound is still fresh on my heart and my every instinct is to do whatever I can to soothe it. My first thought upon hearing the dastard was alive and in this city was to batter my way through the knaves and brigands of this city for answers, but the words from one who I would call friend repeated in my mind.”
She flashed a tired smile, “You would be surprised how old ‘modern superhero sensibilities’ actually are, I might wager.”
“You’d lose that bet,” Ned shook his head, already figuring out who had managed to talk her down the first time.
“I chose to temper my anger and come to your city’s heroes in order to pursue my justice. I chose to believe in what my friend helped to start once more, just as I did so long ago when he asked me to join him to put an end to a great injustice. Still, I would know why you would throw yourself between my storm and those who would spread villainy while calling yourself a hero?”
Ned took a deep breath, “Because they’re still people. Because I have to hope they can be better.”
The demigoddess stared at him, her face unreadable as she seemed to process his answer. Then she finally spoke, “You possess the wisdom that forged your profession. When I came here, I could only see the pain such villains inflicted, but I have seen them to be… more than that. Having walked among them, I still see the shades of the Thelees and the League dance across them with how they justify their actions through their power, but I have also seen their capacity for kindness and their bonds in the private moments they share. It pains me to know they still choose the path they walk, especially knowing them to be capable of more.”
Ned sighed, “Yeah… me too.”
Stormdaughter held a hand out to her side, and a spear formed into existence in her hand out of trails of lightning which ran down her arm. She plunged the tip into the ground and knelt down before Ned could say a word.
“I would alleviate your worries. I shall give you my oath that I shall slay no one but my quarry while I dwell in this city and pursue them,” she said with a gravity that Ned knew meant something ancient and binding was being invoked here.
“I… This is a big deal, isn’t it?” Ned was fairly sure that a goddess kneeling and promising you something with words like this was the kind of thing that had massive repercussions. “Why are you promising this to me of all people?”
“I have gathered that you are considered one of this city’s true champions, from stories told among the heroes -even those who grumble your name- to the warnings told among villains in private still speaking of you with respect to the stories from the common man when I ask of this city’s protectors. For this reputation and for what it represents, I wish for your trust,” Thana told him, her head still bent. “I would have you assured that I mean no harm to you or those you seek to protect, the innocent or those who walk darker roads which you still hope to save. I have spent time amongst the rogues of this city and know them to be as you’ve described. That you have seen this as well tells me much of your character and marks you as a true guardian. I would wish for such a hero to believe in me, just as I have given my oath in the past to warriors of virtue.”
Ned risked patting her on the shoulder. As she looked up at him, he said, “Well, I’m afraid my mom always worshiped Likal Te, so I’m not sure I’m allowed to believe in some foreign god, but I’ll trust you.”1
That got her to laugh.
“I am no god desiring worship!” she told him in mock protest as she rose from her crouch. “My mother was of the Valkir! I am mortalborn and have never sought to claim the mantle of deity.”
“Fairly sure Valkir only barely count as mortal.”2
That earned him a glare, so Ned threw up his hands in surrender. He opted to change the subject, “So you’ve been infiltrating the villains in your spare time? How do they not immediately figure you out considering how you talk?”
“You believe me to speak in such a manner in disguise?” Thana flashed a grin.
Fair point.
She glanced down the alleyway, staring at the fragment of Victory’s streets visible at the mouth of the passage, a thoughtful expression stretching across her face, “I can see how you can love this city and even care for its ne'er-do-wells. I seek its safety as well, but will ensure my quest leaves no devastation in its wake.”
“I have got to know what villain bars you hung out that managed to cause this,” Ned rolled his eyes, bemoaning the fact that she couldn’t see it.
“Twas the Red Rum Pub, Misery’s Call, The Slam, Footprint Fall, and a dive by the name of Frankie’s,” she casually listed off the names.
“That’s like a quarter of the known ones!”
“I chose to busy myself. I saw many a face I thought familiar both from the files of Amberheart and my own patrols, and listened to their secret words. I did not find as much evil in them as I had thought to. Greed, envy, and pride, yes, but rarely true evil.” Ned saw a slight blush creep into her cheeks, “There were some… friendly faces.”
...Okay, she’s a grown woman, or demigoddess, or whatever, so I’m not going to touch on whatever that is, Ned thought. He decided it was time to go over the plan so they didn’t spend this entire trip waiting outside Fencer’s door chatting. She’d done a pretty good job convincing him that she wasn’t planning on being a loose cannon ripping through this city to find her target, even if Ned was still a little nervous about what was going to go down when the butt-head finally showed his face.
“Anyways,” he snapped her out of wherever her thoughts were, “I’d like to go over the plan before we go in this door.”
Thana nodded and retrieved her spear. Ned pointedly looked down at it.
“First off, would you please put that away? This is going to be awkward enough without bringing weapons out.”
“Right, I was warned this Fencer was craven and likely to flee if threatened,” she remarked, dismissing the spear into motes of light and stray arcs of electricity that danced in the air.
“…Again, you’d be right most of the time,” Ned sighed. “In this case though, I just really don’t want to encourage him. He might try to separate us but… there’s a chance he might try to provoke you given that you’re…”
Thana raised an eyebrow, “A godspawn?”
“Famous,” Ned corrected with the closest approximation he could come up with, earning him a confused look. “Look, Fencer has a thing about villains and about some of the heroes that fight them. Just… would you follow my lead and not engage him unless I ask you to?”
She snorted and nodded, “I believe I have experience with foes like him. I shall defer to your expertise, Sir Ned.”
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Satisfied, Ned turned to the door and knocked twice before trying the knob. There was allegedly a secret password or something, but Ned had never needed that.
As expected, the door swung inwards as he tested the knob, defying all logic as it leaned against the wall of the alleyway to welcome them into what awaited beyond. Ned felt a powerful hand grasp his shoulder, and with a deep breath he strolled through entryway with Thana following behind him.
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The two walked directly into an ostentatious stone arena lit by dozens of spotlights and braziers (those fires seemed more decorative than functional though). The square shaped platform was surrounded by rows of seats filled with mannequins in colorful outfits and masks. Four pillars marked the corners of the raised platform with a panoply of swords and other melee weapons arranged in racks against them.
“Ugh…” Ned stretched out his sigh for a solid ten seconds as Fencer’s voice cackled over hidden speakers.
“ARACHNED!” his boisterous voice called out. “AT LAST WE MEET AGAIN!”
“No.”
“FOOL! YOU HAVE COME TO CLAIM MY TREASURES BUT SHALL FIND ONLY DEATH HERE!” a shadow raced around the edges of the room, darting among the throng of fake heroes and villains seated around them.
“Nope.”
Thana glanced down at him, studying his static mask. Yeah, this is why Ned programmed “dead on the inside” animations for the eyes on his other mask. You could only look so “done” when you were concealing your whole face. He let himself slouch to compensate.
“NOW! YOU AND YOUR COMPANION SHALL FACE ME-”
“Fencer, I’m not doing this,” Ned interrupted as the half-armored form of the villain dropped onto the stage, his goggles gleaming in the spotlights.
“You think I’m giving you a choice?! Hero, you should know-” Farrow began to mock him.
“Nope, we’re not here to fight,” Ned cut him off. “We’re here to check on the artifacts from Reddins.”
Fencer laughed, bringing a foil up to a salute, “If you want to take back this city’s treasures, spider, then you should-”
“Nope, we’re not doing that.”
“We are not?” Thana asked and suddenly Fencer noticed her.
“You’re not? Wait, the Stormdaughter?! You brought a legend from Orion to fight your battle?” Fencer didn’t seem too off put by this, instead shifting to a ready stance with a look of glee on his face.
“No, we’re not,” Ned reiterated. “I’m here because the Mayor wants to see what was salvageable and wants an estimate.”
Ned really didn’t love helping the city pay villains for holding artifacts hostage, but unlike a lot of the compromises he’d learned came with the job, this one at least felt sort of justifiable. Fencer’s ability to repair almost anything (or locate experts who could be trusted with the repairs) and his insistence on authenticity was uniquely valuable in situations like these where a villain messed up their robbery and damaged important historical objects. Ned liked to rationalize this part of the job as just seeing an expert who was a little too reluctant to let go of a repair job.
Unfortunately for Ned, because Fencer would actually open the door for him, he was tapped to run middleman between Victory’s government and the helper of all hooligans in situations like this. And it usually meant a tussle.
“And I have accompanied him to both ensure his safe passage and to see first hand the workings of heroes in artifact retrieval,” Thana added.
“And no doubt to learn more of the one you seek,” Fencer laughed maliciously.
“Will you freely offer such information?” Thana’s eyes narrowed to focus on the villain.
“Nothing in life is free my dear,” Fencer’s goggles glinted dangerously.
“Then I am afraid I shall not seek answers today,” Thana shot Ned a grin as her posture relaxed, her answer surprising him just as much as Fencer.
“W-What? But you’re here to find answers! Hunt your target! Claim vengeance!” Fencer spat, infuriated.
“Indeed,” the demigoddess nodded. “But I have sworn myself to the goals of this champion here, and he has stated his desire for this to be peaceful and I shall honor his wishes.”
...I can’t tell if she’s messing with him or if she is honestly willing to put off her hunt just to prove herself to me.
Neither could Fencer, judging from the slack-jawed expression that quickly became indignant outrage.
“You come into my home,” he shouted, “and simply demand an itemized bill and dare to pretend you don’t want anything more? I know you’re lying! Admit it! You want to know about the mysterious villain you seek and will do anything to find him! And you! You want the Web of Anari back!”
“Well, yeah,” Ned answered first. “I want that back eventually but as you can see, I’m not exactly ready for our usual fights.”
He hooked a thumb towards his back, indicating the missing legs.
“And I wish to find my quarry while maintaining my honor,” Thana straightened her back, towering over Fencer even from across the arena.
Fencer looked between the two of them and then deflated, “Fine… we’ll settle this when you come to pick them up. Here.”
He sheathed his foil and strolled over to them, withdrawing something from his pauldron. It was a small door about a square foot in size that he opened and reached inside the resulting portal, withdrawing a set of documents which he offered to the heroes.
That’s… a clever use of those, Ned admitted to himself, having never seen this particular trick before.
As Ned walked over to retrieve it, he saw the villain smirk, “You know it’s dangerous to leave magical artifacts such as the Web with someone like me. Who knows who might make an offer? You might have another spider themed villain on your hands.”
Ned let his whole body express calling out Fencer’s cheap attempt to rile him up with an exasperated gesture that rode through his spine and down his arms, “Come on, we both know that the Web only works for the Katiri royal family. Considering that the last heir to the throne and his husband are in their hundred and fifties and haven’t even adopted, I think I’m safe.”3
Ned was close enough to see Fencer roll his eyes behind the goggles. The villain turned his attention towards Thana but didn’t needle her further when he noticed the woman pointedly looking away from him. Ned accepted the stack of papers and flipped through them, wincing at the numbers at the bottom of each.
“Tech Crash wasn’t gentle…” he muttered.
Fencer grinned, “You’ll be pleased to know that he’s hung up that mantle after this job.”
Well that was one less villain running around. Ned still had his suspicions since Crash seemed like he had some experience, but with a high profile blunder like that and enough of his kit damaged, unless he ran to the League this was probably going to be how that story ended. Still, Ned made a note to be on the lookout if he heard some new League flunky was in town. Guys like Crash didn’t often go gracefully into obscurity. At the very least if he did go slinking off to the world’s biggest collection of sore losers, he’d probably end up on the lowest rung possible with his resume.
Ned glanced back at Thana who was still pointedly ignoring Fencer. He decided to chance a whisper, “Do you actually know anything about the guy she’s hunting?”
Fencer’s smile widened, “I do indeed. However, while I may have dangled that bait out there for a chance to fight the Valkirborn, I’m afraid that information is… confidential at the moment. The Stormdaughter would need to pay quite the price to learn what I know.”
A shiver ran down Ned’s spine. He glanced back to make sure Thana hadn’t overheard. Fencer was playing with fire by teasing her into a fight already even with whatever collection of toys he no doubt had to even the playing field. Deciding to be close-lipped about it when she was really serious would probably test the limits of the Stormdaughter’s promise to Ned, especially since the room they were standing in probably wasn’t in Victory City at the moment and thus probably wouldn’t violate whatever oath she’d sworn. And if she chose the non-violent option? What would Fencer of all people ask an immortal like her to do as his fee for the most important thing in the world to her?
Ned studied the villain, seeing only horrible futures in his smile.
“I hope to see you soon, hero,” Fencer laughed as he retreated away, never breaking eye contact as he leapt backwards into the stands and eventually into the inky blackness at the edge of the room.
Ned turned back to look at Thana once more, “Are you sure about this?”
Not that he wanted her to go chasing after Fencer, but even though she’d promised to follow his lead, he was still somewhat surprised this had ended as peacefully as it had with Fencer trying to bait her like that.
“I have met his type many a time throughout the centuries,” she told him. “Men whose weapons are their poisonous tongues more so than any blade they might wield. I have learned not to try to meet them headfirst as over the ages I have fallen prey to too many traps of mortals who know what I am and still offer so called ‘straightforward’ clashes of the blade. If I try to play to his games, I will chase shadows and echoes. Better to learn from those familiar to his tricks than to chase blindly. I trust I shall learn what I need eventually for my true hunt. Just as I ask for your trust as I walk your city, I grant mine to you and the heroes of this city in surety of your assistance with my quest.”
Something heavy settled on Ned’s shoulders. It wasn’t just that Thana Alsdottir was expecting something from him, no small thing in and of itself. It was that she was hoping the heroes would lead her to OC3002116, and Ned knew what she wanted from that confrontation.
It was one thing to bring her to Fencer expecting a fight even if she’d smartly turned him down. Heck, it was one thing to go to Fencer in the first place to help the city pay a ransom. But to lead someone to the person they intended to kill?
That didn’t feel like what a hero did.
Nor, unfortunately, did letting this mystery killer vanish again.
Ned hadn’t promised her he’d find this guy, but it still felt like he was expected to. She was obviously still hurting and helping out with that is what heroes did. But like he told her earlier, if he tried to stop her when she was seeing red, he was probably dead and Ned knew that he just couldn’t stand by and watch her electrocute someone in cold blood until their heart stopped beating, even knowing what he’d done to her. He bit his lip, back to feeling like every step he took alongside this demigoddess was one step closer to his own death.
“So are we leaving now?” Stormdaughter asked, shaking him from his morbid thoughts.
“Yeah…” Ned replied as he made his way back to her. She put her hand on his shoulder again as they went back through the door that led them here, mercifully back into the same alleyway rather than dealing with any of Fencer’s shenanigans.
Ned altered his costume as they left and Thana wordlessly scooped him up to fly him back to Amberheart. As they flew, Ned continued to weigh what he should do.
A few blocks in the air, she spoke up, “This Fencer let us go without the fight he craved. I keep encountering honor amongst your thieves.”
Ned sighed, “As annoying as he is, you can trust him for some things. Truly though, I think we keep him around because we’re afraid something worse will take his place.”
“A fear that is not unwarranted,” Thana somberly remarked. “Without a man such as him, the villains of this city would be forced to seek aid elsewhere. The League preys on this.”
Ned nodded.
Thana was lost in thought for a moment. “...You say he can be trusted with some matters? I must ask: Was he honest with his taunts? Do you believe he knows crucial information about the dastard I hunt?”
Ned paused, considering. Time seemed to slow as he weighed everything that had happened on this trip: Thana’s oath, Fencer’s disgusting smile, and that one very important question he kept coming back to.
Am I pointing the gun here by leading her to the villain she’s chasing?
Finally, Ned told her, “Fencer can be trusted for almost anything you pay for... But at the end of the day he’s a villain. He will tell lies to get what he wants and he wanted to fight. Despite what he said, I doubt he knows anything of value, but I’ll try to needle out something during our upcoming rumble. I’ll let you know what I find but I wouldn’t put too much stock in him.”
Both of them were silent for awhile. Ned could feel beads of sweat being absorbed by the neck of his costume as he studied her stony expression, wondering if she’d bought it. After what felt like an agonizing eternity she nodded.
“I will trust your expertise on Fencer. Please, let me know what you find out.”
The remaining trip was filled with a little more chatting, but Ned couldn’t remember a single word of it. Even as he cheerfully added his own remarks to the conversation, every word felt hollow to him.
--------------------------------------------------
blue: i have information on victory
blue: i know you have spies here other than me but i figure ud want to hear this
blue: are my messages coming thru? its been days
…
blue: hello?
blue: seer?
…
blue: k im just gonna drop my intel here 4 whenever u check this
blue: if the payments stop tho im done
blue: maniacal’s buried at the heroes’ usual spot 4 villains, secret keeper is MIA n probably won’t come back, thanas been in victory a week and has somehow kept out of the news, running around in disguise all over the place when shes not butting into fights, some dipshit blew up reddins, and ikors running scared n bout to cut deals
SeeredSteaks: I know. I know all of that already.
blue: oh shit ur still here
SeeredSteaks: You do realize you’re the informant here? I don’t have to do weekly check-ins.
blue: eh u always did so ne ways
SeeredSteaks: I’ve been busy.
SeeredSteaks: You are about to be busy.
blue: what r u planning
SeeredSteaks: You will find out soon enough.
blue: no srsly what r u planning u need to give me a heads up if u got some1 coming
SeeredSteaks: I don’t NEED to do anything. What YOU need to do is get ready to receive my orders soon.
SeeredSteaks: Understood?
blue: crystal
1. Likal Te is a jaguar god from central Amera who saw the rise and fall of two separate empires in the region. Originally a harvest deity, then a war deity, he adopted many more roles throughout the ages and has remained a popular figure of worship even in northern regions of the continent.
2. Valkir are long lived, winged humanoids that originated on another of the Twelve Realms according to the Nurther gods. Allegedly all remained in their own realm when the Ivvragaila was shattered, leaving only Thana behind, who herself lost her wings to obtain the Storm Unending.
3. The nation of Katiri, located in eastern Azania, abandoned traditional monarchy for a democratic system over a century ago, and their royal family, formerly wielders of ancient artifacts of power they used to defend their land, have largely faded from prominence as more traditional heroes have arisen. The previous king did briefly attempt to make his name as a hero, but found the challenges of the job too demanding with the global rise of supervillains, donating the artifacts to symbolically put an end to an era.
