mangullthemangler

One gull finds himself at the center of a great struggle for control of the Greater Universe.

Verbose synopsis:
Roughly 3 million years B.M. (Before Mangull), the Greater Universe consisted of the nothing except four 'pools' of mana existing within what is known as the Null Realm.

Over time, and for reasons not quite understood by modern sages, these pools began to spew their mana outward into this realm, creating long and branching channels of the four mana types: fire, water, air, and earth. 

The leading theory by most modern sages is that these channels then began to intermingle, creating complex natural systems and compounds. It is also theorized that at about 2 million B.M. the first sentient being arose from this primordial soup of mana, and that being aided in the creation of the other realms within the Null Realm. Those realms were then populated by gods, who, in turn, populated the realms with lower beings (mortals and 'demi-gods').

During the time of Mangull the Mangler, the power balance of the beings populating the Greater Universe is going through a major shift. Over the eons the various mana pools have waned in power, with some pools nearing their depletion. Still, other pools run strong, and various groups of beings have been vying for control of realms. 

Enter one simple gull, who, through the interaction of those around him, just may be the variable needed to tip the scales (but in what direction?).

Mangull the Mangler

Scene: Misty docks of The Spirit Realm. A lone boat slowly floats towards a couple of figures that can barely be seen among an almost innumerable number docks. While the boat appears empty from afar, inside lies a sleeping gull. View changes to the two figures walking along the docks.


"Now docks 34 to 38 are for arrivals from the Realm of Fish. Honestly, we never get arrivals from there, so don't worry TOO much about remembering this section just yet."


"Yeah, I've never even heard of that realm."


"I know it by name only. Now, docks 35 to 67 are for..."


The lanky and bedraggled pelican, Donka, continues for a second before he registers the query


Fuba, the shorter but also quite bedraggled pelican, points towards the sea.


"I don't see anythi- oh! A boat? A boat! Definitely a boat."


The boat slowly docks itself at dock #34. The two pelicans move in to investigate.


"Is it empty? Wait, no, there's a gull in there!", says Fuba.


"Hm, I guess there's still life on Fish after-all. Anyway, this is a good training opportunity for you, Fuba. Take out your seer stone there and hover it above the gull, then you must 'will it' to give you the information you desire. It'll only speak to you, so relay the info back to me once it speaks to you."


"Okay. Yeah, I vaguely remember them covering seer stones in my Field Magic course at the academy", Fuba says as he bends over the gull and focuses on querying the stone.


The seer stone responds to Fuba's thoughts: "This is a gull, an air being created by Darren, the Air God. It has been enchanted with powerful magic."


"Uh, well, it said it is a gull... that has been enchanted with powerful magic?"


"Ah? Let me check; you may have thought the wrong question.."


Donka hovers his seer stone above the gull. He pauses for a second while he appears to listen to the seer stone's response.


"... Uh. I-I have to report this. This gull was enchanted by magic from Karen, the Water Goddess. We are under standing orders to report all such arrivals to the captain."


"You're training will need to wait, Fuba. I need to ask you a favor; stand here and guard this gull. I'm going to find Captain Pikadu, but I'll be back."


Donka runs off, leaving Fuba alone with the gull. He carefully peeks in the boat.


"Okay... senpai Donka. Man, I sure hope this gull stays asleep."


A Gull is Reborn