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 Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:27 pm
 (while under disguise he doesn't have wings or horns, of course. No back markings, his mane/tail is dark gray rather than white. I should totally draw up a ref of him sometime orz)
Having been settled about with the stormbornfor a while meant that Raiden was even quite accustomed to being Thorgnyr. Sure, sometimes he had to 'vanish' for a couple days, just to remind himself how much better than a mortal he was, but pretending to be one of these lions could be quite fun sometimes. Mortals were so silly, it was hilarious! With their little problems, and stupidtiy, and stuff.
He was even getting quite good at behaving more like one of these lions. Which was good! He knew Thorgnyr was hardly bound to be a lion loved by everyone, especially after... some things came out. But he hardly wanted Thorgnyr's actions to reflect badly on Raiden, the god. He'd already had a little mess up, but fortunately that secret was a secret. For now.
Today he was walking on his own, conveniently having transported himself a bit closer to the borders, to avoid attention of too many pridefolk. Sometimes priests liked to ask him questions. He was getting better at answering them, but more often than not he was just not in the mood.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:02 pm
 These lands were strange. Having adjusted to the desert, and the plains surrounding it, Mneme wasn’t sure what to make of the high rocky outcropping. Where her paws had grown used to sand and grass, here… the stone fought back against her body, making her exploration into a greater task than she’d expected. It had seemed, at the time, smart to hide herself up here to practice taking a mortal form. Now, however, she wasn’t so sure.
The wind from the nearby waters whipped at her fur, and vaguely, Mneme wondered if she ought to head back. This weather didn’t suit her; she was of a frail build, thin and dainty, and feared a plummet into the ocean. Sure, she could fly to keep herself alive, but… using her powers wasn’t the point. She was here to prove that she could handle mortal coils, not to be flung to her death at the first breeze!
Closing her eyes and bracing her body against the wind, she continued on, testing to see how long she could last. At the sight of another lion on the cliffs, her eyebrows shot up in confusion.
“H-hello!” She called, keeping a safe distance- just in case. Awemu had been kind when they met, but she wasn’t certain every lion would be. And if she needed to take off… a head start would certainly be her friend.
“I didn’t expect to see anyone else up here! Pray tell, what brings you here?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:28 pm
He hadn't really been expecting to run into anyone out here at this time. It was windy and some of the stormborn complained! Well, okay, they complained in the least whiny way possible. Or, on second thought, maybe some stormborn liked to come out on days like this just to prove toughness. Hm, he should have thought better.
But, anyways, this lioness didn't quite look like your run-of-the-mill reaver, or anything. She didn't seem to like the wind at all, like she didn't want to be there. She looked ordinary enough, though he could see her eyes were a little weird. Radien idly wondered if the lioness was blind, and somehow that didn't seem to bode well, considering she was on a cliff. Fortunately, she spotted him, which meant she couldn't be blind!
"Someday I'll kill you." He greeted, in typical stormborn fashion. She must not be a stormborn, he theorized, and he was glad he didn't say it angrily. Hopefully she wouldn't freak out or anything. If she wasn't, he wondered if he should try to capture her and make her a thrall. But he wasn't into that sort of thing, really. He'd give her a pass, if no one else showed up!
"I'm just walking, enjoying some wind!" He announced confidently, and made his way up closer. "How 'bout you? What're you doin' about here?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:56 pm
At the mention of being killed in the future, Mneme’s ears pinned back in confusion. It was such a jovial tone, and the lion seemed to mean her no harm… so why the harsh words? Though she attempted to seem nonplussed by his actions, her brow knitted as she attempted to figure out his intents. Perhaps it was a custom she wasn’t aware of? Something male lions did to show how tough they were. But then, why hadn’t Awemu done it? Maybe he’d just overlooked it, trying to make sure she was well.
“S-someday I’ll kill you,” she called back, tone betraying the uncertainty in her words. It was good enough, though, and she was going to stand by it. So long as the wind didn’t knock her over, at any rate. How he was enjoying this blustering monster of a wind, Mneme would never understand. But… he was a great deal larger than her, so that likely helped in staying upright.
When he approached, asking what Mneme was doing, her mind blanked entirely. Be normal, she told herself, making sure to blank her face. But what in the goddess’s name was she supposed to say?! Normal lions couldn’t fly! And she would’ve had to have made an active effort up here, as opposed to just… wandering around!
“I wanted to see the Ocean,” she lied, turning her gaze out to the aforementioned water. “You can see it from lower, but… the view up here is like nothing else in the world. It’s… freeing, really.”
It reminded her of something, somehow- something distant that she couldn’t quite put her paw on. Something from her past that she’d erased, perhaps. She’d ask Awemu about it, when she returned to him once more.
Still, despite her uncertainty, Mneme couldn’t help but smile softly at the ocean, unfurling from her tensed state.
“It makes me feel strong, for once. As opposed to… myself.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:03 pm
"Hah! So you really aren't one of us!" He laughed. that wasn't the proper response, how clever of Raiden to notice. He trotted a bit closer, seemingly unperturbed by the wind. Of course, h was quite accustomed to wind, and had become quite good at countering it. And yes, his current size did help! Not having wings [right now] was another boon.
"The ocean, eh? Well, you see it. You're in the lands of the Stormborn." He informed her, coolly. He really was feeling quite neat, Raiden had never had to inform someone they were trespassing before. The ocean made her feel strong? How interesting. He would have thought against something so big, she'd feel weak. "And who is yourself, then?" He asked. Then, just in case she was a bit slow to reply, filled in for himself. It's not like he felt he needed to hide his fake identity.
"I'm Thorgnyr, reaver and messenger of the gods."
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:18 pm
“Well, I suppose that effort fell short,” Mneme laughed softly, a bit embarrassed to have been made a fool of. “You can’t say I didn’t give it my best effort, though. I didn’t turn tail and run, like I’d been… considering doing.”
Turning her attentions towards the water once more, she ‘hmmed’ softly. The Stormborn? How interesting. This must’ve been… one of those prides she’d heard wind of, taking every chance she could to observe mortals. They’d have to be a tough group, to stand this kind of environment. The desert was harsh, certainly, but this was as well- just in a different say. How lions found the determination to live in such lands, she’d never understand. Mneme had, in her short time of this existence, realized she enjoyed plush grasslands and shady trees.
At the question of her name, Mneme turned and gave him a half-bow. While it wasn’t exactly a customary action, she figured… in such lands, it was best to be safe over sorry. Particularly when Thorgrim had such stature over her.
“I am Mneme. A wanderer, who is not lost,” she replied, before sitting down once more. Cocking her head to one side, she regarded him with her blank gaze, seemingly in thought.
“A messenger of the Gods? I wasn’t aware that Gods… had messengers,” she said coolly, considering the idea. Perhaps Awemu was her messenger, then? Closest thing to it, really. Though, considering her domain, and lack of influence, perhaps she didn't need a messenger at all.
“How does one become a messenger to the Gods?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:31 pm
"How brave!" He grinned. Very toothily, because Raiden was the toothy sort when he mocked people. The bow was a bit amusing. He liked being bowed to, because he was a god and all. But he supposed that didn't often happen to Thorgnyr, so he quirked a brow and made a face like she had done something really ridiculous looking. "Not lost? Are you sure?"
But perhaps she did really know where she was. Even if she hadn't really been looking it. Maybe this was a crazy lady with crazy plans. She did have weird eyes. Her question made him pause a bit. Not so much the question, but the way she went on about it. "...Aye, messenger of the gods." He confirmed. What, Thorgnyr might say. Do you doubt it? "Oh, well. I've been blessed, and all. They talk through me, give me messages and such." He shrugged nonchalantly, already trying to think up the ideal moment for Thorgnyr to perform his typical magic trick, for mortals of little faith.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:08 pm
“I like to think that all lands bear something good,” Mneme replied, smiling softly. It was not a condescending comment, even in tone; the Goddess tried to see the good of everywhere she went. And even in this harsh land of warriors, she could see where their strength came from. Perhaps, someday, she would return in a more suitable form. When her illusions were perfect once more, she could take strength and come speak with Thorgrim as equals. It was a very nice thought, once she entertained it more.
“Gods can bless mortals with power? I wasn’t aware of this at all!” Despite her attempt at neutrality, excitement bubbled up into Mneme’s tone. This was a wonderful discovery! She could gift Awemu as thanks for his kindness- maybe even give him a title! The thoughts raced through her mind, running away from Mneme at a ridiculous speed. Giggling to herself, it took the young Goddess a moment to compose herself. Wouldn’t do to have this stranger thinking she was crazy!
“My sincerest apologies! I don’t mean to confuse you with my actions, Thorgrim,” She said once she’d calmed herself, though the smile still played at her features. Flicking her ears, she looked away in embarrassment.
“I must admit, I have not been completely honest with you- and it is a great disservice to you, with the kindness you have shown me,” she sighed, closing her eyes. In an instant, the illusion had snapped away; before Thorgnyr was Mneme the Goddess, wings unfurled and blood red markings returned to her. Looking at him once more, she smiled nervously.
“I myself am… actually a Goddess. Mneme, Goddess of Forgetfulness. I apologize for deceiving you, but… I was hoping…” she pawed at the ground a bit uneasily.
“Perhaps you could teach me some of the customs of relations with mortals? My memory isn’t what it used to be, and I’d like to know if there’s any ceremony I’m meant to uphold.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:29 am
Her reaction to his words was very weird, and he quirked a brow at that. Mortals usually got all doubtful about these kinds of things, when they didn't believe him upright. He thought as she continued talking. The way she was going on... It was kind of like she had a lot of personal experience with gods, which could be quite annoying. Maybe he'd have to chase her off–
What the. Crap.
The first few moments after the reveal, he just froze, and looked at her, blankly. Then, a few things happened. "No, you're not." Thorgnyr closed the distance, but then just trotted behind her, and looked around to make sure no one was around. He must have circled the goddess at least once like that. Thunder rumbled, quietly, in the distance. All the while, he was talking. "No, you're not a goddess. Not right now. What are you doing, trying to blow my cover? Hide those things! Go on! Why do you still have them out? Your disguise, put it back on! Before someone sees you!"
He almost groaned, then stopped, then looked back at the goddess briefly. Ugh. "Just follow me, okay? And put those away!" He laid his ears back, then began to trot off in an apparently random direction.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:59 am
“Cover, wha-“ confused and scared that she’d been mistaken, Mneme snapped back to her mortal form the second the other lion seemed displeased. Great, there really was some protocol she hadn’t been following. This was all so complicated, maybe she should just wipe his memories of meeting her and be done with it.
When he trotted off, Mneme’s ears drooped, and the little goddess took off after Thorgnyr. Great, this was just… so great. She was horrifically embarrassed, and had likely done something to offend this poor lion. Sure, she didn’t quite understand what he meant about cover, or why nobody could see her, but… maybe Goddesses just didn’t reveal themselves. As a messenger of the Gods, he probably knew a great deal more on this subject than she did.
“I’m so sorry!” She called after him, quickening her pace to keep up with the larger lion. “I wasn’t aware that… there was a standard for revealing yourself, and I certainly didn’t mean to get you in any sort of trouble, and it was nothing malicious on my part, and are Gods not supposed to interact with mortals, and-“
Oh. Oh, she was rambling. Drawing a deep breath to silence herself, Mneme simply hung her head and sighed, figuring it best if she kept quiet and followed Thorgnyr… wherever he was going.
“If anyone… has seen, I am capable of making it so they haven’t. I can erase my presence from the mind of anyone who meets me; it will be as if I was never here at all.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:11 am
He was only idly listening to the goddess as she rambled on. Raiden was much more focused on finding a good place to hide and talk, properly. "That's not it!" He said, distractedly, as he managed to find a little pathway leading downwards along the cliff. It didn't really end up anywhere, but it was more or less out of sight.
He sighed and lead the way there, quietly taking note of whatever ability this was she had, but not reacting on it immediately. He positioned himself where he would be the least visible to anyone that wasn't right next to him, and turned to face the goddess. Once he was fully facing her, though, he had changed appearance. He wasn't Thorgnyr anymore, he was just plain ol' Raiden, god of thunder.
"If you just show up all willy-nilly like that, they might start questioning me, then figure out who I am! And I've put way too much time into this for you to just blow it up like that!" He huffed, wings spreading beside him for a moment before closing and vanishing. In the blink of an eye, he was back to being Thorgnyr.
"So who are you, really?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:50 am
At his reprimand that she wasn’t understanding the situation, Mneme winced and shrunk in on herself more. Somehow, in her attempts to be nice, she had doubly messed everything up. Absolutely terrific. Awemu was going to have to explain why everyone had gotten so weird, recently, and how on earth he managed to deal with it. Because if she didn’t catch on quickly, well. Mneme wasn’t sure what she would do with herself. Maybe go hide out somewhere, and observe mortals until things made more sense.
When Thorgnyr was no longer Thorgnyr, Mneme started worse than a spooked gazelle. Oh, lovely! She hadn’t just offended and potentially upset a mortal, she’d offended and potentially upset a God. A rather large God, at that, who probably had a far more direct domain than her.
Yes, she was definitely going into hiding if she survived this encounter. Hiding, and not talking to any strange lions on cliffs again.
Stupid, stupid Mneme.
“I didn’t know you were… attempting anything. I apologize,” she repeated once more, sounding completely and utterly defeated. Not looking him in the eye, Mneme sighed and started up her story.
“It is as I have told you. I am the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Mneme. Apparently… there was something in my past that upset me so, I drove myself to forget it. I cannot recall my family or friends, if I have any. All I know is my name, my domain, how to survive, and…” she paused a moment, and her ears flicked as she considered telling him that detail.
“I have a brother? I was apparently fond of him, but again, I cannot recall.” Finally, she turned to look at Thorgrim (were that even his name…), face seeming weary and exasperated.
“I came up here because it seemed isolated; I wasn’t aware anyone found life on these cliffs, and I wished to practice my magic. It is familiar to me, yet… not. And that is the truth of it.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:22 am
He briefly felt a little bad, because the other goddess seemed quite bothered. But she could have gotten him in some trouble there! "Uh, it's okay." He said, awkwardly, settling down a bit.
When she went on about her story, he briefly wondered if he had asked for her to say that much. But Raiden was a nice enough guy, he didn't go out of his way to be nasty to anyone. Just annoying! "Why would you do something like that?" Sounded silly to him. He wrinkled his nose slightly, but just shrugged. Weirdo.
Besides, according to her explanation, even she wouldn't know! "Seems silly to me. Anyways, I'm thunder, god of Raiden. I mean. You know what I mean." He frowned at his little gaffe, but stubbornly decided to move past it. "I've been staying at this pride for a while. They worship me, but I preferred to show up under disguise." He had his reasons, which he wouldn't bother to disclose now. A peculiar thing was that now that he was speaking as Raiden, even though outwardly he was now disguised, he had a rather different tone. Raiden the god was younger than whomever Thorgnyr was supposed to be!
"So I told them I'm a god messenger, and they all respect me and stuff. But you might mess thing up if you just go appearing on me like that." He shrugged. He needed to plan before such things happened!
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:57 am
“It does seem rather silly, doesn’t it?” Mneme smiled awkwardly, at least somewhat relieved that Thorg— Raiden. Raiden didn’t seem too horribly upset with her. She listened in on his explanation, nodding along to where it seemed appropriate, even if she didn’t really understand his motivations. If they worshipped him, why not just go as himself? Would it not be better, to have them revere him in the flesh?
Maybe she really was out of touch with the times…
“So you pretend to be your own messenger, so… they respect you?” She repeated, still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. Were all the Gods this confusing? If so, she had a great deal of work ahead of her in order to… be tricky, she supposed. Maybe she could get a pride to worship her, or something like that.
“Why not simply go as yourself?” Mneme asked, though her tone was hushed in nature. While she didn’t completely understand Raiden’s actions, she wasn’t cruel enough to uncover him. If this was something he wanted to do, that was his choice.
“I mean- not to be rude, but would you not gain more adoration that way? Since they worship you? I’m sorry to ask so many questions of you, but… this Gods and Mortals and prides business is all terribly confusing. I still don’t really understand what I’m meant to be doing with myself.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 11:03 am
Raiden's real reason was because he had to please the audience. This pride probably had their own idea of what the god of thunder should be like. He'd hardly be very impressive if he just showed up as himself, a god raised in the pridelands, of all places! He needed to know more about the stormborn so he could appear all properly impressive.
It did mean a bit to him. This was probably a pride he'd been involved with in the past, and he preferred not to lose worshipers. "Um... well, this is fun." He shrugged, not wanting to let on that maybe, sometimes, even he could be insecure. "I mean really, it is. You should try it." At least here he wasn't even lying! He did have quite a bit of fun.
"What you're supposed to do with yourself?" Hmph, this lady had really done a number on herself! Raiden wasn't sure he knew how to treat a god that didn't know how to be godly. "You're a goddess. You really just sort of do what you want." He was such a good influence!
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