Deep in the swampy marshes of the Mississippi delta, a small group of strange, semi-aquatic creatures was slowly making their way towards their destination. The leader amongst this strange little group stood out by virtue of being just a little different. Not only in looks, those had slowly shifted as he had delved ever deeper into the murky depths of his element, but where he was truly different was on the inside. Amusingly, while his looks had shifted, his hair turning stringy and hanging limply off his skull, his numerous companions had started to regain a semblance of their intelligence.

And this semblance was the primary reason the young man, once known as Kevin, had let himself get dragged into the swamps, making his home amongst the drowned instead of living with others on the somewhat secure shores. Back home, where Shattered ruled the streets, creating an atmosphere where one either killed or was killed, he had happily acted as a cog in a bigger machine, providing the fuel, or rather, lubricant, that allowed other gears to turn smoothly. How many Shattered may have been transformed into beings similar to the drowned he was now associating with if they had been given the chance? Primitive the drowned may be, and in dire need of education and guidance, but they were alive, they had once been human and now, even if they weren’t any longer, that didn’t make them evil monsters.

They, just like any newborn, deserved a chance to learn, to evolve and to become something more than the strange monsters lurking in the swamp. And, if he had to sacrifice some of his comfort, he was quite willing and ready to do so; that much he had decided when realising just what the drowned were. Or maybe what they once had been, were at that time and could become in the future.

Letting out a soft, growling sound, he directed the other drowned to form up in a planned formation, allowing them to surround their target without getting too close. The language they all shared was a strange thing, partially an almost bestial growling, snarling and hissing, while other parts were purely magical, deeply rooted in Water Magic, allowing the speaker to convey deep, complex meaning with relatively simple noises. Sure, only those with a high affinity to Water Magic could comprehend those, but that might just be what made the language so fascinating. Just speaking it improved his magic, and using it while casting Water magic made those spells even stronger.

But for the moment, he didn’t need power; he, along with the other drowned, needed subtlety and a nice bit of luck. Also, courage, audacity and several other qualities, but the predominant one might just be luck.

Kevin’s pondering was interrupted by a sharp, loud noise almost directly on the opposite side of their encirclement, drawing the target’s attention away from him and those close to him. Their target, a massive reptile, enlarged to a horrific degree by the change, started to sprint forwards, already enraged by a potential attack on its nest. The thing was, quite frankly, an insane monster, as long as a bus had been before the change and probably just as heavy. As it charged forward, small trees were simply snapped off, while the group on the other side was hopefully scattering already, and others were making more noise to draw the monster off.

With a soft sigh, Kevin pushed himself forward, using his magic to mask the disturbance he made in the water, hopefully allowing him to sneak into the SuperCroc’s nest without being noticed. They really wanted those eggs; stealing them would hopefully allow them to add these giant crocs to their ever-growing roster of tamed beasts, just as they had with normal crocodiles during the last fall and winter. Slow and quiet did the trick, while, just as quietly, cursing that he had never learned proper stealth from the Pale Lady. Maybe She would bless his endeavour and hide his presence.

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“And remember, we do not need to fear the darkness of the night. Yes, there are creatures out there that want to exploit it, want to prey upon us while walking in the shadows. But the Mother is out there, too, holding us in Her protective embrace, sheltering us from those who would do us harm and guiding us, so we can embrace the darkness, just like we embrace the day,” the priestess paused for a moment, looking over the different faces who had joined her in prayer and were now listening to her speak.

She had already spoken about the Maiden, the endless font of joy and motivation, of Her innocence and optimistic outlook, the belief that every new day was a gift and could be made better than the day before. The Maiden's message was one filled with positivity and hope. That one should never give up and, most importantly, never stop learning. The world was vast and full of wonders waiting to be explored.

The Mother was similarly focused on learning, but where the Maiden was filled with boundless optimism, the Mother tempered that optimism with a healthy dose of caution and vigilance. There were endless wonders in the world, yes, but those wonders could readily become a curse if one weren’t careful. But just because there were dangers involved didn’t mean one should shy away from discovery; after all, if one didn’t keep moving, one might as well lie down and stop forever. Additionally, the Mother’s message was one of protection, of keeping your family safe, whether that family was by blood or by oath, it mattered not. The Mother didn’t turn her back on Her family, and neither should you.

Lastly, the least approachable of the three, the elderly Crone. While Her message shared many of the Mother’s themes, She was old and settled. Her interest was no longer in the pursuit of the new, in the exploration of distant places, but in teaching a new generation. Sure, the Mother taught, but Her teaching was always focused on self-learning. She provided the path to an answer, not the answer itself. Great for advanced studies, less suitable for those just starting out on their journey.

Together, the three were the magical guardians of their small community, guiding people with their message and teaching them in their dreams. As the priestess was finishing up her sermon, she could feel the excited, pious energy gather in the small space they were using, filling it up with a crisp, cool air, much like the cool air on a hot summer day, providing a time of relief and succor, before the heat of the day boiled the air.

Breathing in that atmosphere, the priestess let it flow through her, gather in her soul as she spoke the blessing of Maiden, Mother and Crone, drawing upon that very feeling to refresh those who had listened to her sermon, letting the power of her Goddesses soothe their pains, quell their fears and calm their minds. They would all leave their space in a better state than they had entered it, healed and comforted by the Mother’s embrace.

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High in the mountains, under the blazing heat of the August sun, a group of initiates knelt, hearing the one they considered to be their prophet speak. He was the Bearer of Lady Sunna’s word, the Lightbringer and Duskbreaker, who had banished the Shattered from their streets and given them a new lease on life. He who had saved them from the darkest of nights and the many things that hid within the shadows.

Sweat was pouring down their naked bodies as the unforgiving fire of Lady Sunna was purifying their bodies, allowing them to step past their shadows and into Her light, so they, too, would be able to carry Her word and light to those who needed to hear Her message.

The only disturbance allowed on that rocky mountain was the quiet but insistent voice of Lorgar, teaching his new initiates about their Lady, what She offered them and what She expected in return. Faith, loyalty, devotion, all so very small things to ask for in a world as broken and dark as the one they found themselves in. And in return, they would never be alone, would never need to fear the darkness of the night, for their Lady’s light would always be with them. They would never need to fear the winter’s chill or the freezing rain, for She would be their Light and their Sun.

But until they could step past their shadows, they needed to endure under the blazing Sun, allowing the Light to purge them. Silent prayer, combined with fervent faith and enduring devotion, was the key to the test they were undergoing, the test all of them were eager to pass.

As it was the only way for them to step forward, the way to let them grasp their destiny and take back the world they had lost. For the Sun, they would endure, and for Her light, they would march.