Outbreak

Day 1-- It was 8 months after zyr escaped and apocalypse became known.  Jade had worked tirelessly and became head of the blight project.  Constantly fighting for resources among the over stretched mage corps she finally had success.  The virus was viable.  To ensure it would spread the golemns would take over the drow brain and kill it leaving only base instincts.  The golemns were built with a desire to reproduce but needed protiens specific to drow brains to do so. Therefore they controlled their host bodies to seek after and infect other drow. She called it the t-1 strain and today it would be released. The empress may she live forever wanted it used in jong gou to eliminate the drow occupation and allow the empire to return. Jade watched as the vial was injected into a captured drow and she was then released to the under dark.

Day 2- the tracking device showed patient zero did as expected and went right to main city.  There a temple took her in and was unable to diagnosis any curse spell or sickness.  She fell to insanity and bit two priests before they killed her.

Day 3- the priestesses have contracted the t1 virus.  Attacking other sick at the temple before dieing themselves.

Day 4 - the dead from the temple were expelled to burial plots and reanimated as per lab results expected.

Day 12 - massive spread of the virus had led to attempts to isolate the city. Isolation has failed due to guards enforcing the border being bit and afraid of execution not reporting it.  Estimate death toll 12000 current infected 16000

Day 15 first indications of t1 on surface.  The drow have pulled fighters from there surface posts to fight the blight infected.  Also today a wondering band of infected overran an outpost to the surface and spilled into the ruined city of jong.

Day 18 - four drow cities completely over ran.  The drow court has.moved into exile, their infastructure command completely destroyed.  Bands of drow fight extinction in isolation one from another.  The aggressive and exponential expansion of the infected is beyond our projections.  Yet we are seeing the infected die off. Mathmatic calculations and models show this is not an extinction level event.  The drow can out think them and defend until the infected die off.

28 days later- while remnants of the drow in jong survive the blight has purged 98%.  The land is empty now ready for the empire to return.  Yet a new delivery method is needed.  Bite to bite has limited the range, no drow outside of jong will be infected, and those who have secured themselves will outlast it. The genocide machine is not perfect, and the voices in my head push for more.  I will make it carried on the air, give the golemns tba ability to fly and hunt over great distances, let it stay dormant for a week to spread in silence them strike.  No bite required. Yes, yes, that will make the voices very happy. All the drow will die.

Ooc happy Halloween.

We built this city

Tirelessly and without fail the golemns had been rebuilding and cleaning up trade city for weeks.  As perfect workers they made astounding progress. As news of apocalypse spread, people already nervous about golemns living among them broke into full panic.  Despite the merchant councils attempt to calm the city the citizens believed the golemns were fooling everyone just as the green lanterns had.  Panic and hatred turned to rioting.

Rioting turned to armed attacks on the golemns while they worked.  The golemns hesitated to even defend themselves and only did so after days of attack.  With genevas army stretched in an attempt to shield the innocent from zyr they could not help.  When the first golemn attacked a human he easily killed the frail biological being.  In that killing blow the golemns realized the humans were made of bones, the golemns currency.  No longer working for bones they more easily could kill the aggressive humans and harvest their own.

Magic proved wholly ineffective and while the city guard continually attempted to kill the machines they were out matched not only in skill buy in sheer longevity. The same attributes that made them great workers, no need for food sleep and singleness of focus, made them ideal warriors for slow methodical war.

While the council of Geneva debated the moral answer to such a plight, the empire prepared a strike.  The den intercepted the spirit bomb before detonation.

It was then that Atrocitis appeared and taught his golemn brethren of their savior and leader apocalypse.  The red lanterns helped the golemns escape the persecution and leave trade city.

They would put their newly learned engineering skills to good use in building their new hidden city--01

Trail of Tears

With in a week of his release the Demon Dragon Zyr had brought his amry in force against Bei Shir. The best defenses the Genevan Army of the South could muster were put in place.  Well fortified and defended positions well trained troops and even volunteers from the native population to plug in where needed.  The defenses held despite ever growing numbers of demons rallying to his cause.  Through his old temple, now made into some sort of Abyssal gateway, wave after wave arrived to serve the Vegeta.

General Reinier was a man of faith, courage and strength. Despite the murmuring of the people and the troops questioning the Keepers directive to let Zyr escape, he never wavered.  The Keeper had ordered and so obeyed.

Serif was still trailing the Demon they had code named Jagger.  He was elusive with his ability to jump bodies but he had found him.  His orders were just to keep a tail on him unless he was forced to act. Reiner just wanted to know where he was.  That worked fine until Jagger took over a Colonel and started giving field orders, orders that would have openned the defenses to attack.  Serif emerged from the shadows and denounced the demon.  "this is not the colonel its a demon." The soliders were silent while the colonel responded, "that is a bold accusation." There was a moment of silence followed by a sgt in the back continued, "no he's not, I am." Then there was silence before another man said, "tiiiime is on my side." Silence another spoke, "yes it is." Silence then another man lept at Serif weapons drawn. The struggle was only a moment before the skilled assasian finished the attacker. Rolling the dead body to the side Serif jumped up. Silence and he saw another officer resting his hands in his collar wink at Serif...silence... Then Serif spoke, "here are your orders from the general..." He instructed as he rested his hands holding his lapels.
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The defenses easily caved as zyr struck exactly the right spots in the line. As the general saw his men start to fall he orderred a second line of defense.  Zyr himself crested the ridge and with magically amplified voice proclaimed, "I am here for ganondorf.  He has betrayed me, once he is dead, I will leave you in peace, for vegeta is the bringer of peace. "

Despite reiniers objections the crimson king walked out to meet him saying the virtue of love compelled him.  Kneeling before zyr he pleaded, " I turned to you in desperation.  the virtue of nobility demands I expound the truth of the virtue of wisdom, I must pay for that but let my people go."

"Your people can join me or die."
In one fluid motion he swallowed the crimson king whole then released a tidal wave of sand heat and fire into the battlements." The battle was heated reinstate held faith until he saw entire platoons of his men fall to control and compulsion.  As the lines buckled and demons started to poor into the city reiner summoned the crimson princess, "we need to evaciate, I can't hold the city." She replied, "this is our home."

" it is no longer their choice, I'm orderred to protect them, I can't do that here, mages have teleport gates set up, well hold them as long as we can get your people out." "As long as the virtues live on, hyrule lives it does not matter where." The.people of bei shir followed a trail of tears to their new home in the forests of enron, where the previous attacks of maximus had left empty cities to start anew.

Darkness within

The sun set and Darkness rose.  At long last the fire of the red saint would fall to ashes -- as all lights which try to cast back the Darkness do.  No matter the brightness of the day it would always end, and the shadow of darkness always waited on the fringe out waiting the day.

Darkness closed his eyes and traveled through the dream world then opened them to look down at the legions of angel statues surrounding the Red Saint's Cathedral as it strained for the heavens among the dead forest, that was Tatyana's make.  He admired her craftsmanship.  For days in any direction the land had been stripped of life and only death remained.  Why would the Saint have chosen this place?  Perhaps he wanted to hide?  It did not matter.

The Merovingians agent was there as well. The Red Saint's soldiers patrolled and guarded the Cathedral.  They were experienced, well trained, dedicated and well equipped.  Though they posed no threat Darkness -- they did not have the urn.  He took upon himself the form of mist and went to clear the way for the Merovingian's key maker.

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Court was in session all formalities were to be observed.  Elizabeth had been captured finally and brought to court.  The evil was in the cursed doll she was bound too.  It told her to do unjust things, it was bounded to her soul and could not be physically removed.  The Red Saint would find a way to break the bound but until that moment came Elizabeth and her doll needed to be restrained.  The immortal little girl spoke in a sweet high pitched tone, "What's the matter Kira? Don't want to play? Bloody Mary is a fun game."

The Red Saint motioned to Exodus, "Escort the prisoner to the catacomb where they are to be entombed until their bond is broke and Elizabeth can be executed for her crimes." Exodus responded the the affirmative and took the prisoner.

  It was in that moment that all Darkness Fell.  Guards come in to warn the Saint that his men were dieing outside and something had got into the tower.  Before the Saint could stand to address their report, a man with cloak blacker than the void which seemed to pull the warmth from the air around him and make the magical light of the flames flicker stepped forward.  "You summoned me have you not, you invited me to your court to stand trial did you not?" Darkness said in slow threatening tones. "Well now I am here lich and I bring your end."  

"There is no end to Justice.  Their is no end to the Saint.  But your coming here does save the resources needed to bring you."

"You should have staid away, I will however give you one last chance.  Join me, your abilities will be greatly useful in writing my antilife equation.  Imagine a world where you can make them all be just."

"I would rather Die that help you." The Red Saint barked.

"Oh, don't be boreing," Darkness turned his head and took in a panorama of the room, all guards willing to die for their Lord, wish granted, "Everyone who says that dies."

He drew the threads that held the planes together and bored a hole to the Celestial realm.  Guards and the Saint himself showered him with attacks, arrows spears, curses, and spells all with out the blessing of the urn did nothing to even phase Darkness.  It took a few moments until the Celestial realm was reached.  The backlash of touching the realm of pure good struck him harder than he would have expected.  He knew he was wounded and drained.  Summoning his last bit of energy he closed his eyes and walked through the dream back to his coffin where he would find rest and healing until the mage Mordin grew too greedy. (But that is a different story)

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While the blow didn't kill Darkness it was the doom of the Saint.  For centuries he had kept the god Tyre at bay with his layers of spells and wards.  He had out positioned even the gods which allowed him to exercise perfect justice without interference from their prejudice and power.  But when the villain Darkness bored through those protections using knowledge he had gained from the sacred Vega creating a path from the heart of the Saint's court to the highest realm of the celestial plane it allowed all their fury to unfold unfiltered.  I, Exodus, had not myself finished sealing Elizabeth in her prison when the retribution struck.  She was lost to me.  The gods destroyed all we had done and built.  The Saint was left cursed, insane and decrepit within his own prison.  The Merovingian's key maker locked the Cathedral from the outside with his key so there was no escape.  Over the passing centuries the Saint's once mighty fortress, prison, and temple fell into ill repair, using what little power was left me I could only make one small room safe for myself but even that now begins to fade.  I write that in the hopes that someone in the future may find it, now our cause and take up the Red Saint's banner.  

Justice is Eternal.  Exodus - Archon of Kira.

Devils Deal in Deals

"Its good to speak again to an old friend." The Merovingian said as Darkness sat down across from him.

"I am not often surprised but this visit does just that.  Tell me what can I do for you."

Darkness stared at the man and spoke, "It is for the sake of both of us that I have come.  The Red Saint's interference is slowing the work on the Anti-life equation.  Something we have both worked on together for a long time."

"Yes yes, when are you going to give up that obsession.  You've been puzzling that thing out for nearly all of your 8,000 years.  It can't be done.  You see it is based on false assumptions.  You strive to take away peoples ability to chose, you can not destroy something that does not exist. People and gods only do what they must.  The one universal truth--causality.  One thing leads to another and in the end were are all where we must be.  This world with the Saint after you, and you here in my bar is the inevitable conclusion of a million causes.  There is no will to steal."

"You are wrong.  I know because unlike you which puppets from a distance I have reached into someones soul, as life leaves them and I fill it to become their world their will, to compell another and take their choices from them."

"Well if you do succeed I trust you'll remember our deal the price for helping you.  You will leave me unaffected and will do anything I ask, so long as I say ...."

"Please, Yes I remember.  But the great new world of Darkness is delayed by the same man you tormented you but a century earlier.  You should join me to destroy him."

"He has pardoned me of all crime, what cause do I have in this fight?"

"I know the gods have already come to you for help.  You have the keys to his Cathederal and the secrets to how to keeps their powers from affecting him.  The Vega.  They must have offered you enough already."

"They have offered a prize but it was not enough alone. I need something else.  Specifically you."

"I know the gods want me, but Darkness will not agree to turn himself over to the gods.  There is no profit for me." Darkness used the frenchmen's own words against him.

"NO no my friend, it is not the gods that want you but Trevor.  Has he not already promised you power and position.  The Black Raven calls and you ignore him."

"Darkness is no man's servant.  No Lich be they Raven or Saint will bring the Eternal to their bidding."

"How long before the Red Saint finds the Urn Derrick?  He studies and accumulates knowledge it is only a matter of time.  Now he is an annoyance but someday he will be your undoing.  You must agree to join the Raven.  In exchange I will give the gods the knowledge they need break through his defenses, and you the key to his Cathederal, to borrow.  From the inside you could use your powers to open a conduit for the Gods to curse and destroy the Saint.  Or you fight this war for centuries more as I did and even if you win, delay the antilife by a millennium,  Do what you must do."

"I will join Trevor, but only after the Saint is dealt with."

"DEAL!"

Afterlife there is Darkness

Darkness watched the fire caress and consume the logs.  The sturdy thick trees once held massive canopys of leaves teaming with life and were able to support hundreds of pounds of weight.  Now, the hungry flame slowly licked the small cracks digging deeper and deeper past the bark meant to protect it and into the heart of the wood.  It growed by consuming what was around it.  It produced heat and light by means and destruction and then eventually it would burn out and fade and only darkness would remain.  After all this time he knew he would live forever.

The soldiers of the Red Saints army had struck quickly, like a fire burning too fast, their passion drove them to consume ever more or fall in on themselves.  They would find Darkness less than amused at their interruption to his plans.  He heard them strike on his door. No doubt if they had made it this far his brides were already dead it would take time to replace them but time he had.  Patience he was out of.

The doors sprung open and the fabled Red Saint flanked by his Archon companion Exodus dared to step into the Lord's personal chamber. He could sense them there was no need to face them so he continued sitting in his chair staring into the fire.  Exodus had a heart beat though different than most mortals and with no trace of fear.  The Red Saint did not, despite the magic used to cover it death hung on his scent.  Ah so that was the secret.  Darkness thought as he welcomed his guests, "Gentlemen, I trust you have been attended by my servants and your needs have been met."

The Red Saint spoke forth in tones of command, "We are here to exercise your just reward.  Our only needs are to met justice to the unworthy."

"And I trust my servants gave you plenty of opportunity to do so.  Consider that my gift to you."

"You claim to let me kill those loyal to you as a gift to me?  You are mad and are sentenced to an eternity or imprisonment or immediate death."

Still looking into the fire Darkness responds, "Death?  You speak of it far to casually for one who has experienced it Saint.  I find the many concepts of death fascinating and perplexing.  Mortals fear it, strive the entirety of their meaningless lives to avoid it, yet in the same breath they long for the afterlife.  The life where lights are brighter and joys and sensations so marvelous their mortal bodies dare not comprehend.  I can witness to you that such an afterlife does exist.  I am living it now.  As are you Saint.  Though unlike the mortals you cling to their souls to be transported to another realm for such a life, we live it here.  Here is all we have, there is no Elysian field for us.  Nor would I want one, I enjoy my afterlife...do you?"

The Red Saint leveled his staff and cast torrents of ice and snow striking Darkness destroying his chair and extinguishing the fire.  Exodus sprang to the air lifted by a celestial wind and calling forth a symbol of light in the shape of the Saints scales of justice demanded, "Foul souless creature by the power of the Saint Justice commands you to cower."

Darkness took one glimpse at his extinguished fire his patience exhausted. He spun screaming lightning into the chest of the fallen Archon then striding toward the saint, "You will find magic of no use against me." he stepped forward.

The saint summoned a direct channel to the celestial body and manifest a miniature sun between him and the Dark Lord.

 

Darkness stepped forward entering the floating orb of light. Then stepped through it seeming to be unaffected. "I've grown much to old to fear the sun."  He then wove with the strings a cacoon for Exodus binding him beyond movement.

The Red Saint channelled through his staff and cast Resurrection on the Lord of Darkness by touching him with with diamond point.  Darkness resisted the spell and grabbed the staff in his right hand hissing at the Saint.  The staff enabled a powerful force attack on the holder that was not the Saint and Darkness absorbed the blow unflinching. 

Darkness ripped the staff away and cast it to the far side of the room where Exodus lay bound. The with his other hand faster than lightning he grabbed the Saint by the throat, "If you value your after life, you take the gift I gave you, and never dare to cross my path again.  Do not be so foolish as to think I can not drain you from here and be done with you. Stay out of my afterlife and I'll stay clear of yours."

The saint spoke his breath uninhibited, no surprise since he did not need to breath, "I seek and serve only justice.  I will be your end.  I will never stop until your Darkness is cleansed from the earth."  

Exodus had somehow managed to get free, perhaps there was more to this one. He lifted the staff of the saint and engulfed the entire chamber with light.  The next moment both he and the Saint were gone.  

Darkness was going to war.

A new Darkness to fight.

The red Saint stood in council with David Sampson and Exodus. Azzazel the leader of the forsworn had been captured and locked in the prison, the war with the merovingion over, the purge of Tyrs followers completed by use of the death note. Yet, justice still waited for some and the Red Saint Kira would see it did not wait for long.
"It is time we turned our attention to what cursed this land so long ago and execute the deserved punishment.  Our searches have shown this wild land to once be the home of enchanted forests and a just and virtueos people.  It was destroyed by a brothers civil war, a war caused by a vampire woman."
David spoke, "yes I have been trying to find her as you commanded saint.  I have found similar stories throughout the world as she travelled leaving only death behind her.  I even found her, it was not till I gazed upon her that I realized she was not the true source of the evil.  I spoke to her and she told me of a man named derrick.  Her story tells of what may be the origin. Of vampires in out world, and the monster who drove her to evil.  This derrick is also known by Darkness the vampire of legend.  And from her story I know where he makes his liar.  I say we move at once."
The saint moved his eyes across his most trusted companions and said, "Tatyana will be next, first we dedicate our forces to defeating Darkness. Death if possible and imprisonment here if not.  How do we find the accursed?"
In unison they responded, "guilty."

Losing my religion

The sounds of battle raged around her.  Many good men would die today, but it would stab a wound at her father and rescue prince Gerzon...her half brother.

With her imperial troops and death guard creating a diversion Elaina went into Malekites stronghold on the 6th level of hell alone.  though not entirely alone, She was well equiped and had her faith--logar was always with her.

Slaying the guard to the dungeon, she stepped into the corridor and saw long rows of cells on either side.  These cells were the product of hellish craftmanship, designed not just to hold their prisoner but to induce great amounts of torture and pain and suffering. Despite the misery and heavy oppression she could have seen she saw only him.  Shisimaru landstarr, the witch king the great traitor.  He had forsaken the trappings of an imperial general and instead was adorned as a demon prince with a spike crown and faceless mask.  She could see Gerzon chained to the wall behind him.

He stride did not break nor did her pace waiver.  She was on the light's mission, the light would grant victory her faith was pure.  Blades clashed and the corridor rang with the music of battle.  Her heart beat to it.  The flashing of sparks as steel bit steel be it armor or blade cast Sharp violent shadows even if it was for brief seconds.  He had been taught trained and sculpted by Malekite for years, she the same by logar.  As the two represented light and dark the fight now occuring came to represent the battle between the two forces made flesh.

Her faith held strong despite his superior skill.  It paid off, she block a wild swing causing him to fall off balance and lining her a killing blow. "Stop!" Malekites voice reverberated through the corridor, other prisoners slunk deeper into their shadows to hide. "You'be proven yourself apprentice and I do not wish her dead."

Elaina looked around in surprise and found Shisimaru's stumble to be a ploy.  He had a cursed dagger drawn and ready to strike past all her defenses...in her zeal, she had not even seen it.

Malekite manifest amidst waves of flame and shades of black, on wicked black featherred wing embracing shadow. "Besides I tried to give gerzon back.  He can't be broken... Much too strong, like his father. You can take him."

She threw words at him, "what's the catch angel of death?"

"Nothing, but truth.  I hate that my children only have hatred for their father, yet that is the greatest gift I could give you...that of power. And your hatred makes you powerful."

"I gain my power from my faith from the light."

"You lie to yourself.  You were stolen from your crib and personally tutored by the lights champion logar and what did he teach you, compassion mercy tenderness charity...no, he taught what I teach, hate.  It is just that he taught you to hate me.  He created a weapon to use nothing more.  We are all the same, now that I am a god I see it.  The strong rule the weak, we destroy those whom serve no purpose and only forward our own goals. But they are worse, because they lie about who they are, they pretend to be good."

"There is a difference between someone pretend to be good and an imperfect person striving to be."

"Let me show you."

Through the flames images formed.  The temple of the demon dragon held shut by Luther.  Orders being given to the skyriders to arrest the sith aiding him and to give no assistance themselves. The demon dragon gaining freedom.  His demon horde clashing with the armies of men and the dragon killing thousands in seconds with sand and fire breath.  Then zyr his one reptilian wing stretching in power proclaims to the heroes fleeing from him, "I am vegeta, you will fall the council will fall the abyss and mount celestial will be mine."

The images vanished, "your isle let, no helped the real veteran to escape.  Why would they such and thing? Why would they risk so much and ensure the suffering of so many?  The answer is simple- to hurt me. They think with those demons who follow me as crystal leaving my service I will be weaker.  They are sacrificing the welfare of others to only forward their own goals.  I've always known he was the real vegeta and lied to keep the hordes from freeing him because I know the prophecy and what it means for everyone.  Yet I'm the villian.  Take your brother and leave."

Shaken she stood hesitating. He continued striking like a serpent, "Unless you wish to stay in your fathers embrace.  I will not offer you love or acceptance these things are lies, I will instead offer you truth.  To see there is no right or wrong side, just the winning and losing side. I would let you win with me."

Elaina sheathed her sword and feeling faith slip through her fingers like water she turned from her father and lifted her brother from his chains.  Slowly and sullen she carried him back to her forces and left.
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Khan looked from the scrying font toward the pit fiend on his left.  Does that satisfy you?  From his own mouth he has been lieing to you and your kind.  He is a false messiah.

Death note

It had taken nearly 50 years but it was done.  A new volume of holy scripture for the concecrated who followed the saint. 

The vega explained how to manipulate the divine power with arcane magic.  This new volume would be an even more effective weapon for justice.  He titled it the death note. 

Construction of the artifact was perfect.  When you wrote a mortals name in the book and thought of their face it cast a combination of divine slay living and arcane death.  It would avoid standard defenses and even penetrate most magic resistence.  Just as if it had been cast by a divine power its range was infinite, no mortal could hide from justice.  What he was most proud of was that the book could be used to describe how the mortal would die, if no reason was given a simple heart attack would claim the victim.

With this the red saint need no longer risk his men with the sword. Nor must he send exodus to collect them for trial, nor must he burden his full prison.  Death from a distance undefendable, undetectable. He know had total power over death. 
He was indeed a god. There were still those who pretended to be just. Still those gods who strove to stop him. 

He openned the death note and began listing the followers of tyr. To stand against the red saint was destruction.

Verdict

At long last the merovingian had fallen to justice.  Exodus and sampson brought him before the red saint in chains.  With all his holy vestements the red saint peered down in judgement against his enemy.

The merovingian spoke in smooth tones, though he was obviously insulted by his treatment he made his case clearly and rationally.

"You have done well to capture me saint, though your sacrifice unneeded.  Why do you do this thing? For justice?  I value justice above all else, it is justice and fairness which allows me to profit.  Never do I hunt someone out, and never to I offer deals that are not asked for.  It is not my fault nor is it unjust that people ask for what they should not nor agree to terms they can not meet.  I simply meet needs, no more no less, to show mercy as I am often asked would in fact rob justice, a crime I have never comitted."

With so few words he had done what no army or force previously had managed...stoped the red saint.

The saint was shocked, the frenchman was right.  The saint had been mistaken, his perspectives of good and evil had blurred his understanding of perfect justice.  The merovingian had comitted no crime.

"You are innocent of the charges against you.  Go now and see justice done."

"No no no, what about my justice, you have caused me much pain for your unjust acts need not I be made whole."

"Do not push me, you have your leave nothing else."

"No you gain your power as an infalliable dealer of justice, if that is lost all is lost.  You will atone to me because you must atone."

"What would make you whole."

"Not much, you have such a lovely home, and your ability to weilding divine through the arcane.  I require the key to your tower prison and a copy of your holy vega.  That should give me the power I need to make this injustice forgiven."

And thus did the frenchman arrive in chains and leave with all the keys of the saints kingdom.

No law higher than yourself

The defenses of this small city were considerable.  The red saints near century long campaign against the Frenchman had culminated in this.  For days his army of celestials clashed with his army of demons.  The saint sat in his chair reviewing the vega looking for something to tip the balance.

A courier arrived at that moment with a package.  He spoke, "I know the solution and carry it here." Then the courier placed an ornate book at the saints feet and all but fled.

The saint lifted the book and scanned its cover learning its title, "the ballad of kale"

The saint placed the book down and nearly snorted in disgust. What need have I for the gods? Does not my understanding of justice surpass theirs? Have I not found ways to emulate their power and enlist their angels? Have not their angels left their service for mine? Have not I gained my own immortality? Do I not sit in judgement of lesser mortals? What need have I of gods when I surpass them?