A Man Made A God

She wasn't entirely certain how Targon fully fit into this, but the legends of the neigh-unscalable peaks were known, even to her. The diminutive mage was confident that it would be no easy task.

Beyond the gate was a mount as promised, though it was certainly no ordinary desert beast. In fact, the creature resembled a strange hybrid between a lizard and some sort of ape, with its overall anatomy being an unnatural mix of the two. If not for the saddle upon its back, one would hardly think it fit to be a mount.

"W-Wait, you are offering to aid me in finding the fragment?" Noelle asked, clearly surprised. She'd hoped for help to see what her scrying couldn't...and to learn of the trials she would face.

She did not expect a demigod, and a group of his acolytes to escort her.

"Targon's perils are many. The slopes are treacherous and inhabited by fearsome beasts, including primal dragons..." Xerath again looked up to the mountain. He'd never ascended all the way to the peak, at least not yet, but he knew the gist of what awaited him.

"It is certain we will encounter cultists who mean to bar our path, but for Targon's 'deities' themselves... Even I cannot be sure. Ideally, they will be too preoccupied with their usual petty squabbles amongst themselves to intervene, but I imagine at least a few of them will since the presence of my magic. No matter. Should a confrontation arise, I will ensure you are not caught in the crossfire."

We're looking to fix a gap of about 300 at the moment, and I know times are tough but if you'd be willing to share/contribute it'd mean the world to me.

paypal/cashapp: $mrkmanne (Yeah I made that one awhile ago...)

Any bit helps, but please consider sharing if you can as well. Thank you all.

"I'm certain the favor will shift to one of you, in time, with studious dedication, rather than remain on an outsider like myself." Noelle replied, hoping to placate them a little. "But until such a time occurs, you are right. I should make the most of this, while I remain."

Her eyes glowed a dull purple briefly when the other demonstrated the magic. It was a fairly pure display of the arcane, although she caught the distinction. There were other aspects here in this realm, it would seem. The demonstration was also...somewhat unfocused...or perhaps it was too focused on remaining without aspect. Not dissimilar from forcing a prism to always have all colors, when one aspect of it might provide sharper focus.

It was a peculiarity...but also somewhat refreshing for how different it was approached from her upbringing with magic.

Of course, this did little to soothe her discomfort with the...intense devotion the acolytes had to their master. Part of her wanted to quiz them on their spellcraft further, but she was worried that such questions might demand some manner of initiation rites.

"Then for now, rest. Lord Xerath will send for you when he is ready." With that, the acolyte drifted back the way they'd come from. Where Noelle's silence came from her curse, the acolyte offered no footsteps simply on account of no longer having feet. Indeed, one could question whether or not Xerath's devoted were even still human...

Noelle nodded as they took their leave of her, leaving her with her thoughts.

There was something eerie about this place. So many souls were here, but it was like standing amidst golems. They moved and devoted themselves to their purpose and the magic that flowed through them and their Master...it changed them; certainly physically...but what happened to their soul? The essence of their magic?

The gravity in this place was all focused at a single point: The grand magus, Xerath, himself.

It made her feel very small...and was almost suffocating, much like when she first arrived to Runeterra and felt the crushing presence of so much arcane magic in the air not being used as widely...not spread as thinly as her home.

Xerath noted her approach and turned to face her. "You are here. Good." Xerath motioned for his acolytes to back off a bit. "I have uncovered the location of one of your 'sound fragments,' but it rests upon the slopes of Targon. Retrieving it will be no simple matter..."

The Magus turned his gaze toward the mountain, which rose high enough that it was visible even from here. "Targon is home to a myriad of self-proclaimed gods who, while inferior to myself, are nonetheless a nuisance to contend with. They are extremely territorial, and are likely to be guarding your sound as we speak..."

"I'm certain the favor will shift to one of you, in time, with studious dedication, rather than remain on an outsider like myself." Noelle replied, hoping to placate them a little. "But until such a time occurs, you are right. I should make the most of this, while I remain."

Her eyes glowed a dull purple briefly when the other demonstrated the magic. It was a fairly pure display of the arcane, although she caught the distinction. There were other aspects here in this realm, it would seem. The demonstration was also...somewhat unfocused...or perhaps it was too focused on remaining without aspect. Not dissimilar from forcing a prism to always have all colors, when one aspect of it might provide sharper focus.

It was a peculiarity...but also somewhat refreshing for how different it was approached from her upbringing with magic.

Of course, this did little to soothe her discomfort with the...intense devotion the acolytes had to their master. Part of her wanted to quiz them on their spellcraft further, but she was worried that such questions might demand some manner of initiation rites.

"Then for now, rest. Lord Xerath will send for you when he is ready." With that, the acolyte drifted back the way they'd come from. Where Noelle's silence came from her curse, the acolyte offered no footsteps simply on account of no longer having feet. Indeed, one could question whether or not Xerath's devoted were even still human...

"Good morning! How are you doing today?" Although she wanted to start with a casual conversation, it seemed Xerath wasn't interested. So she just answered to his question.

"Ah, yes. If I may...what is this city? Who are these acolytes and what do they seek? And what can you tell me of your master?"

The acolyte gestured to their surroundings. "Now, it is is the domain of Lords Xerath, last and greatest of the Ascended beings, and the only one truly worthy of that title. Once a slave to the tyrant Azir, he reclaimed the secrets of divinity and used that knowledge to escape his shackles. Lord Xerath slew his master and gained freedom at long last... Alas, the False Gods feared the power he attained, and sought to imprison him beneath the earth."

That...unexpectedly gave her a lot of context. She'd done some studies of Shuriman history, and while she didn't recall Xerath being mentioned...but given the tone of this answer, she could tell they weren't on friendly terms. Even to a foreigner from this world, she could see the differences in historical interpretation. It wasn't for her to decipher the truth, but it was enough to understand this group's position in the wider world.

It wasn't much of a jump for her to put the rest together. She was dealing with one of the Ascended, beings of power far beyond mere mortals...and this one is seemingly infused with a cultivated arcane might. Acolytes flocking to the location with hopes of power and glory seemed understandable. It wasn't uncommon for powerful mages to have personal cults...cultivated or incidental. It was unclear how much their Master cared for their supplicants, but for the time being, it was clear they were permitted to bask in his power and glory.

"Ah, yes. If I may...what is this city? Who are these acolytes and what do they seek? And what can you tell me of your master?"

The acolyte gestured to their surroundings. "Now, it is is the domain of Lords Xerath, last and greatest of the Ascended beings, and the only one truly worthy of that title. Once a slave to the tyrant Azir, he reclaimed the secrets of divinity and used that knowledge to escape his shackles. Lord Xerath slew his master and gained freedom at long last... Alas, the False Gods feared the power he attained, and sought to imprison him beneath the earth."

Noelle hadn't expected that she would be accomodated, but she also couldn't help but note that it seemed like an afterthought to the magus.

She'd assumed that what she beheld was merely an avatar, used by the great magus. But the longer she observed, the more she was convinced that he might well simply BE the construct-like entity she beheld. Was he a sentient construct? Or did he make himself one? Or was it even his choice?

These questions swirled in her mind as she explored the city a little. She gave the servitors and locals a wide berth here. Despite being a mage herself, this place had a far more imposing atmosphere. The reception she received was business-like, and she was an intruder, initially.

Noelle observed the various looks of the locals. Were they once human? What were they ascending to? She felt woefully under-equipped to even speculate on such matters.

She looks up at the masked figure. "I am, yes. Thank you." She adds, with a bow to the entity before following along, stealing a glance or two at the locals as she walks by.

The Baccai spoke again, not even looking back at Noelle as they did so. "You may claim any vacant room here as your own. You may also speak with the other acolytes as you please, so long as you do not disrupt their training."

Noelle hadn't expected that she would be accomodated, but she also couldn't help but note that it seemed like an afterthought to the magus.

She'd assumed that what she beheld was merely an avatar, used by the great magus. But the longer she observed, the more she was convinced that he might well simply BE the construct-like entity she beheld. Was he a sentient construct? Or did he make himself one? Or was it even his choice?

These questions swirled in her mind as she explored the city a little. She gave the servitors and locals a wide berth here. Despite being a mage herself, this place had a far more imposing atmosphere. The reception she received was business-like, and she was an intruder, initially.