BM: Before Max

3,237 transmigrations and reincarnators...

When Sage found out about Neith's transgressions, a series of eruptions occurred across the planet simultaneously. One portal later, Sage arrived at Neith's palace, a place built of black marble, and bone, with bits of gold. It was an austere and more than a little foreboding, much like the goddess herself. Lovely design choices or not, that would not save her from the trouble that she found herself in.

Sage's form shifted, their appearance going from decadent to sultry as their curves grew lush. They cracked their neck and clicked their tongue against a sharpened canine in agitation over the change. Sometimes it was fine, others, Sage eyed burning plants the fire all too happy to dance to their mood and sighed internally. Well, sometimes a little fire was a good announcement of their arrival. As the fire spread, Sage poked the door, knocking it down. "Oh Neith, I found your transmigrators and your reincarnators!" They sang cheerily as they strode the foyer into the throne room.

Therein, they found the dark goddess upon her throne. A beauty in the prime of her womanhood, with rich dark skin, locks woven with fine threads of gold, and wrapped in bone trinkets. Her lean frame was clothed in ghostly shades of grey and black, much like a toga. The crown, a gift made by the first of her priestesses she wore was a gift, crafted from the fingerbones of men who had once pillaged a small village.

Neith, though a dark goddess was not made of stone, allowed the women a chance to exact their vengeance. The women rose, their bodies broken righting themselves with the unnaturalness of the dead partially brought back to life. The undead took a fortnight to track and slaughter them.

The women cut the fingers of their rapists and murderers and drizzled the gold they'd been so proud of stealing. Once their preparations were complete the women returned and prostrated themselves before Neith, crown lifted in tribute to the goddess of death. Not one of the undead women had sought to delay their end and so please was Neith that when she accepted their gift, she twisted their death. The shambling deteriorating bodies of the women fell to dust and in their place stood the first of her Shadows, beings that lived between the souls of the dead and the physical reality of the living.

This act of balance, had pleased Sage enough to give Neith some additional freedoms to move about in their Pantheon, but the amount souls she had brought over from other timelines, worlds, and even dimensions was too much. Such things had consequences and Neith's actions had tipped the scales in an undesirable manner.

"Sage, I did not realize that you were coming for a visit, it would have been nice if you had sent word ahead so I could have Minara prepare a pastime," Neith spoke, as she gestured a shooing motion over to her ghostly attendant. The attendant bowed in greetings, with a soft, "Primordial," and left the two deities alone.

"This is less of a social call and more of a chastening," Sage said leisurely. "When I gave you the room to act without watching you like a child as the others were, I had not anticipated that you'd choose such drastic actions." Sage watched as the Neith tensed then relaxed back into her throne.

"Unfortunately, it is not all there is to be done. I have yet to accomplish my ends and until then I request that you merely observe." Neith flicked some imaginary particle of dust off her ethereal dress and crossed her legs. "Besides, if all goes according to plan this will be a boon to our world. One that could not be accomplished without outside help as it were." Neith smiled.

Sage's eyes burned brighter as they sauntered across the black marble, cracks forming in the wake of their path from the heat that radiated off the primordial. "Tsk, tsk, lovely Neith." Sage purred, her hands gently carassing the armrests, and melting them from under the young goddess's arms. Sage may have had the time, but the patience they had not and the time it would take to sort everything out. Fix the souls that had broken when they had crossed, break the others down to seeds so that they'd hopefully grow one day, or even obliviate ones that should have never been. Sage felt a twinge of annoyance.

With that in mind, Sage began their interrogation. Neith resisted initially, but the young deity was simply no match for a primordial like Sage and it wasn't until the goddess begged for forgiveness, that the primordial relented. It was only then that Sage stood up, and wiped their delicate fingers on a cloth that was courteously provided by one of Neith's other servants, a skeleton dressed smartly in butler's attire. When they were done, Sage dropped it back onto the silver tray like refuse.

"Good." Sage nodded lazily as they leaned back. Neith opened her mouth to speak but the nature deity quirked an eyebrow and Neith shut her mouth. Sage crossed their legs, the slits on each side of their garment rode up revealing curvaceous hips, whilst dozens of fine raw metal strands and knee-length black hair barely hid their full chest. Sage rested their chin on their hand and looked down at the disheveled being below, nails tapping idly.

"Now this issue," Sage made sure to emphasize 'issue' as their burning gaze pinned Neith in place. The atmosphere inside the throne room grew so oppressive that Neith fell to her knees. Her small hands clenched together so tightly that her knuckles whitened. "That you've been having. I will fix it and help you bring Arin back."

"And the catch?" Neith asked warily. Sage was a primordial that had existed long before her. Unparalleled chaos, order, death, birth. That was what it meant to be a nature deity. As such, it was a death sentence to cross one such as them. Another issue was that even if one worked with a nature deity, it did not mean that their goals aligned and gave Neith pause for consideration in brokering a deal with the primordial.

Sage's lips turned up as they let out a gentle laugh, "Oh no need to be so wary of me. It is no fun if one accomplishes one's goals so easily." Sage sat up, "I will bring your Arin over, but for appearances' sake, I will also bring one over myself. Just to show that there will be no favoritism and all."

Neith nibbled on her lip as she contemplated the proposal and sensing her agreement was at hand, Sage added, "Neith, I understand that you going over every tiny bit of potential for your plan failing, but I am simply ensuring that everything is balanced as is my nature dictates." That was not necessarily true, but Neith was up to something and this gave Sage the excuse to nose about what would cause a goddess, even one as young as Neith to go through so much trouble to bring one person.

Neith's brows furrowed. On one hand, she could say yes and it would all be taken care of and this time there was no way Arin would be able to avoid Sage. However, if Neith said yes then Sage would bring another whoever it was that Sage chose would have the capability to disrupt all of her plans.

Sage waited, red eyes burning brightly. Ah what joy it was to make the young ones squirm, but this was a learning moment for Neith and an excellent opportunity to guide their junior in how 'it worked' and if Neith did not listen Sage could snuff her existence like a candle. After all, dark deities did tend to sprout into existence when they could. Whether Sage liked Neith or not, they would have some half-cocked deity running around portaling all kinds of beings into their world regardless of the outcome. If it had been such a dire problem then Neith should have called for a Gathering within the Pantheon

Sage let out an exasperated sigh, Neith had so much to learn still. It was obvious that she was frustrated when a shadow of her skull appeared under her skin, making her appear a devil with an angel's facade. Tsk. Tsk, still so much to learn in her dealings. Truly this kind of immaturity at this stage was a direct result of when deities were born during times of peace. No experience in plotting or holding cards to one's chest. If Sage was being honest though, they rather preferred this approach, but alas, that may not be to Neith's benefit and Neith was... Tolerable in comparison to others of their kind.

"Fine. You may bring your one over, but if that is the case Arin must be sent to wherever I am. They must be someone that Arin knows, and harbors no grudge against her." Neith agreed.

"Sounds fair." Sage agreed. "I will correct and balance the failures of your attempts to bring your mortal over as well. Consider it a reward for making a wise decision young one." Fire swirled into the room wrapping around the primordial and with that they were.

Left alone, Neith waved a skeletal hand and Minara passed through the walls to her master's side. "Ensure that Arin knows of this agreement. I believe she already has someone in mind." With a bow, the ghostly maid disappeared.