The Star of Torheim.

According to the NPCs we gods were birthed of the memory and ambient energies in the realm. Given sentience by the energy of the mortal realms. At least that was all they knew

The memories though did not extend to all gods. Creating the known gods and the unknown gods. The Known were as Daedalus figured NPCs. The unknown was the players.

Their birth was quite different from ours it seems as if their hardships were paved in another way. Yet unlike us, they already had a quest. Testing the known gods.

And it seemed that we had passed.

"What was the result of failure?" Porteis had asked. The NPCs had been unsure. We all knew though, while unsaid it was a certainty that we had managed to avoid some sort of punishment. From whom it was unclear but still we remained glad to have passed this unknown test.

It made sense in a way now. Why we had received no quest. Our test to guard and protect the NPCs would not have been useful if we had done the guarding under the strings of the quest.

Mariet, Jondu, Fosta, and Nudan, all four known gods led the way this time. It was surreal. I and the rest prodded them more for information and learned a few more things.

The known gods had memories of the activities in the realms all gotten from the energies ambient in the atmosphere. They were gods who had received the memories more than we did. It was a strange differentiation.

The journey through the fields and into the next forest was filled with conversations and small tales that the known gods gave. Their memories start apparently from the onset of the realms. Present yet not. Energies that swirled about perceiving and seeing but unable to react.

Nuda told them of the mother who had placed the star shining upfront. The spoke of how she created several doorways as they saw them leading into terrains filled with battle, blood, and violence.

This gave the players an idea that this might be dungeons but none spoke. We ran as they told us of the other realms. Of Feyryire bounding the mortal realms. Of the rivers of the dead which teemed with souls. Known as the star river.

They informed us of what truly the star was. A construct which they were unsure what it truly stood for. Yet they were certain of yet another in Feyryire.

We crossed the forest and waded through a stream that flowed west. Our guards were raised as we slowly moved watchful for any strikes.

"Great mother was rumored to be heard placing these beasts of violence for us. No one knows why." Mariet stated.

"I think she loves the violence and fights." Nuda offered with a smirk. "Which is probable seeing as the lands as I remember were bland and lonesome."

"True. A little skirmish here and there is a good price to pay for liveliness" Jondu nodded.

"I guess." Porteis just agreed. He and Jean had been acting as the inquisitors of our group. While we always had a question or two to add, the two threw all sorts of questions at them.

They shared a lot of the happenings they had managed to get knowledge of thanks to the memories until we finally appeared in a wide field of flowers. Golden was rhe background color not green as suspected. Flora of different colors dotted the fields. Some lilies glowed, and some flowers floated.

"The Field of Immortals." Mariet sighed with a longing look. "It's even better with sight than the memories of the energy". The others nodded.

" Is that?" Gertrude shivered as her finger pointed.

To the far end of the field stood what they had thought was a star. A huge towering behemoth of a building. Like someone had taken the long Pentagon and turned it into a fantasy structure. But taller. It loomed like a pyramid wall. Its walls shone white with sparkles and a bright glare that didn't affect their sight.

"We're here. The Star of Torheim." Nuda spoke.

"Let's go" Daedalus whispered and pushed forward. The entire group followed slowly. One by one they dragged their eyes off the magnificent sight to watch their steps.

*****

The stairs were grand and wide. It would not have been farfetched to think they were forged for giants if not for them being just the right height for our size.

Everything here radiated power. Great power. It thickened the air, radiated off the ground, and stung our eyes. The more we neared the tall gates the more we could feel the pressure around us.

The sight of several birds floating above the other's heads made me realize all of them were streaming. While I considered doing so I decided to wait until I found something worthwhile. There had been a lot of things that could have gotten me a good number of views. Like the assistant or the sun eagle, heck even Mariet slaying the bird would have made for a good show.

The moment we got to the gates we noticed a crowd of players gathered at the base of it. The first thing I thought of was how my first assumption of the place being made for giants might be true.

The gates were tall. Over 100ft tall. It was not metallic or wooden. Just made of singular silver rods with white glowing spots on them.

It was amazing to witness. Joining the crowd we realized that the gates were yet to open. It seemed to be waiting on all the other gods both NPCs and players to arrive.

My little group hunkered together as did most groups as we waited. My eyes went from group to group. I was glad to note that I wasn't the only Argonne here. There were quite a number of us. Yet as I took a better look I realized that the higher population went more to the Undules and Evershus.

"Makes sense. " Porteis stated when I brought it up to them. My curious gaze had him looking at Jean.

"Care to explain why you took your race and not the higher valued Argonne or Elosas?" she had an ohh face before she spoke matter-factly.

"They're the best warrior race available. And before you ask Gertrude I'm betting it's because of her near capacity to be balanced. Assassins would pick the Elosas race. The monk-styled classes or hand-to-hand would prefer the Argatans due to their muscular builds. The Lomries have their speed and craft for them. What build does the Argonne have exactly?"

The last question had me wondering. Why exactly had I chosen the Argonne?

Our conversation was broken up by the sound of the silver gates whirring open. There was no crank of gears or the screech of hinges. The opening was smooth and the whirring came from rhe wind pressure created by the movement of the titanic gates.

No one moved at first as we realized that the entrance even with all the bright lights was dark. Like a wall of black blocking off vision.

Just when we were getting psyched to just head in the black wall shimmered like it was a wall of black liquid water. Then it vanished. Behind it stood an armored knight. Red cape, silver armor, a white glow emitted from its chest, and several lines all over its body. The same white light glared from the holes in its helm.

Without a word, It turned and walked back motioning for us to follow.

Like school kids on an excursion, the crowd of gods followed. It was astounding how no one tried anything stupid. I genuinely assumed some pompous brat would try to be stupid with an NPC. It seemed everyone was smart enough to not anger their chance in this game. Apparently, Jameson's warning was still fresh in everyone's minds.

The knight led us through a stunning temple. The ground was made of marble and walls of an unknown metal which called for sightseeing. Even more birds appeared as the streamers multiplied.

We were led deep into what we assume was the innermost section and there the knight stepped away to the side where he joined a row of similar-looking knights.

It was only now I noticed we stood at the entrance of what was a grand throne room. A circular opening at the ceiling gave a good view of the black nothingness above as the NPC gods called it.

The hall was long as it was wide with several of the knights standing at intervals of 5ft. There were at least a hundred of them just in the throne room.

A whisper reached my ears that the knights all lacked levels but were classified strangely. It piqued my interest and made me sneak a gaze.

[Living Armor] [Zeukite Knights]

[Tier ???? [ADVANCED]

Nothing but glorified paladins. Picking a fight with one is signing a death wish. The chances of surviving a dragon are higher than a Zeukite. After all, dragons might not even exist.

[?????][?????][?????]

[+6 exp to Inspect]

[- 3 Intent]

"Word of advice". Yarrow hissed. " Don't mess with the knights." it seems I wasn't the only one daring to inspect them.

We all watched feeling like petulant children gathered for punishment. There was nothing around or even within the throne room. The walkway to a large silver throne was higher and made of black stone. The throne itself sat atop a black dais. On both sides of the throne, a bit forward and low were two Knights.

This ones felt even more powerful. Their helms had a golden tint to them and a ring of gold like an insignia was emblazoned eight around the white light on its chest.

We felt it before we saw it.

The same pressure that pervaded this temple suddenly thickened. Like it went from liquid weight to congealed material. A few gods were pushed to their knees.

Lightning flashed in the circular opening. White and chaotic. Then a thick beam of lighting descended onto the throne. Rather than an explosion the lightning scattered again crashing everywhere within a five-meter radius of the throne.

I noted how the knights seemed unharmed and unbothered by the bolts. Yet there was the pressure.

Finally, the lightning condensed on itself and abated revealing a female seated on the silver throne.