Torus, Hall of Creation
When Torus came into being, he had a slight but fading awareness of some past unknown to him. He only knew that he was not the first to emerge, nor would he be the last. But such thoughts quickly were pushed away, for he was filled with a driving curiosity and desire to see it satisfied.
What was he? He did not know. But he knew what were not like he was, those who lived in a world separate from his own. For such different existences that blinked in and out of their realities like sparks of light, what hope had they? Torus did not understand, yet he wanted to see what could become of such things.
First, though, he had to separate himself from this oppressive plane. This place that felt ancient and oppressive, with histories he could not comprehend. Too rigid, too sturdy, it was a fortress to Torus' mind, one that had stood and will stand constant for eternity, whatever such a concept entailed.
He focused, but when he finished forging his own space, away from the Hall of Creation, Torus could not understand how, only that it felt natural. (Create Plane: The Metamorphoses)
Torus, The Metamorphoses
It was dark, though occasionally faint white glows would illuminate some areas. There was no perceptible ceiling, for it was simply an expanse of blackness. The ground was smooth and flat, though everywhere tall, smooth walls of glossy texture and highly reflective surfaces broke the floor. It was clear that this was a labyrinth, though its walls never remained the same. Torus was unconcerned. The space he determined would be his sanctuary would always appear to him no matter how complex the path. And so, he entered, a wispy entity of gray smoke. He had much to do and no time to waste, even if he had a long time. And he mustn't be disturbed. Not yet, at least. (Lock Plane: The Metamorphoses
What to do first? He wondered about the mortals whose presence he had sensed while in the Hall of Creation. But they were too close, and Torus had no interest in them yet. Perhaps some other creations would suffice as his initial test subjects, for he was not keen on making any mistakes on anything too valuable. Through the worlds, he extended his senses, observing for seconds that passed in his sanctuary, but for decades his non-interacting observation lasted in the mortal world. He had seen his first candidate to attempt "transcendence".
The Urdimkal appeared to be an adaptable people. They already forged things of metals and minerals, cold things and artificial. Why not push them a bit further? Like many mortals, they killed each other, but they were limited in their progress because they would always become too emotional about their losses. No more. Let them understand the true power of fire. Let them become as cold as their creations of steel and stone, and then in that passionless existence, would there finally be room for them to advance beyond the chains binding them to their pitiful existence.
And so his influence infiltrated the minds of two Urdimkal: A young warrior named Argent, and a veteran smith, named Blackhammer. (Raise Hero: Blackhammer the Clockwork Smith, Urdimkal)
Through this gifted smith's hands, Torus subtly guided his hands to forge a vessel of steel and diamond, and through the many planes, the artifact Torus had concurrently forged in his own study took residence in that mortal-crafted vessel. A steel-framed lantern with diamond panes, glowed with a fierce crimson flame that never flickered in the wind, nor was ever quenched by water. A bright red pattern depicting a stylized lotus that burned brightly, seared into the base of the lantern. (Create Artifact: Lantern of Enlightenment, Mortal)
But it was not quite enough. The smith alone could not rally followers to his cause. He was simply a craftsman, though supremely useful, for he would pass to the future, blueprints of weapons beyond the imaginations of his current generation. Thus with the whispers of a faraway god in the deepest reaches of his mortal mind, Blackhammer passed the lantern to the young warrior Argent, who immediately changed, though subtly. His manner became more bold, his eyes, where once were unsure and darting, now looked set and forward (Raise Hero: Argent of Crimson Flame, Urdimkal). He and the smith made their move, and Torus saw through the many years that passed like seconds to him, their expulsion, their exile, their journey across foreign and frightening lands. He saw that they had begun to use the knowledge of the unpredictable fire, to create impersonal methods of death and destruction. (Lead Populace: Gunpowder Research and Application, 20 years)
Outcasts, every one of them. But that was fine, for the few who followed the exiled warrior and smith pair soon grew once tales of their powerful weapons reached the territories under the Kalvaz Kingdoms. In short order, the former outcasts declared themselves a separate identity from the Urdimkal in their fortresses far away from the surface world. These dwarves were wanderers, but hardy visionaries beyond their time, who could understand the changes in the world around them. And they would seek to make their own changes as well. And so they called themselves the Dwarves of the Red Lotus and moved through the surface world, recruiting other Urdimkal who also adapted the ideals of effecting changes to their surroundings, and gaining a place in their world such that they would never have to fear from other lifeforms. (Create Society: Dwarves of the Red Lotus)
Still, they could not continue to be nomads. Torus, in his own world, understood this. And so, through hints in the minds of the dwarves who became his unwitting test subjects, he led them to a vast forest, thick with trees. The native life was quickly exterminated for these Dwarves to replace. Most of the forest was cleared and burned, and with some assistance, a single, self-sustaining, self-contained, white-walled city of marble emerged in the clearing, surrounded by some lightly populated villages. (Create Terrain: The Ivory City)
That was more like it. Torus was pleased that now his experiment would have a place of their own, like he had The Metamorphoses, to pursue their research in earnest. And so he had the now settled Urdimkal outcasts begin the next phase of their existences. (Lead Populace: Basic Scientific Research, Advanced Scientific Research, Fringe Research; Ongoing in series for around 100 years each)
And so the day would come when the legendary smith, Blackhammer the Clockwork Smith, would die, though his fearsome weapon plans would be recorded and researched in the decades, even centuries, following his death. Then too would follow in death Argent of the Crimson Flame, first of the Leaders to rule over the Ivory City. And after his death, the Lantern of Enlightenment passed on to the next Leader, who would see to it that the original ideas of Argent and Blackhammer would continue on.
But such a future was only a vision Torus imagined. The reality, so far as he could see, was that the Dwarves were continuing to build their white-walled city in the midst of the forest. Slipping out of his plane, Torus decided he had enough meddling in the mortal world for the time being, and sought to see what had occurred among those he sensed were like him, in the Void.
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AP = 12
AP 9 = 12 - 3: Create Plane: The Metamorphoses
AP 7 = 9 - 2: Lock Plane: The Metamorphoses
AP 7 = 7 - 0: Raise Hero: Blackhammer the Clockwork Smith (Free from Mythic)
AP 4 = 7 - 3: Create Artifact: Lantern of Enlighenment, Mortal
AP 4 = 4 - 0: Raise Hero: Argent of Crimson Flame (Free from Artifact)
AP 4 = 4 - 0: Lead Populace: Gunpowder Research and Application (Free from Artifact)
AP 4 = 4 - 0: Create Society: Dwarves of the Red Lotus (Free from Organized)
AP 3 = 4 - 1: Create Terrain: The Ivory City (SR:1)
AP 0 = 3 - 3: Lead Populace (Basic Scientific Research, Advanced Scientific Research, Fringe Research)
GP 12 -> 0
DR 1 -> 2, DR up, GP zeroed
