Moonlight

Prologue

             It was the screams that drew the others. The halls, which had previously known only peace, life and laughter, now echoed with the shrill sounds of discordant clarity. Screams that sent a chill down the spine like icy water.
The others, when they arrived could only stare in incredulous horror at the scene before them. The source of the screams, Alryssa, Goddess of Earth, kneeled on the floor, hands over her face buried in her hands. Dorcyse, God of the Sun, lay sprawled on the pale marble floor. Divine blood glowed sullenly as it spread beneath him in an ever widening pool. Kneeling over him Nysarti goddess of the moon, mouth moving in silent words, crimson stained hands hovering over the fallen gods heart. One hand held a orichalcum box, while the other gently coaxed the glowing divine essence that had once been a god into it. Her face was pale, far paler than normal. She didn't even spare them a glance as she continued her deplorable work.
Betreen the Goddess of Balance was the first to recover from her shocked stupor. Hurriedly she jumped over Alryssa's sobbing form, and tried to grace the reliquary which now contained the stolen powers of the sun god. Before she could snatch it away Nysarti clenched her fist closed tightly and the reliquary vanished from sight. Betreen found herself staring into the blank silver glowing eyes of the moon.
"What have you done" Betreen whispered hoarsely to her sister goddess. "What had to be done." Was Nysarti's calm and emotionless voice. Betreen flinched at the ice in her tone. She had always known Nysarti could be distant but this... this was beyond anything she could understand.
Nysarti smoothly stood, her eyes locked to Alryssa's still sobbing form. She lifted her hand and the long handled black dagger that had been one the floor, apparently the murder weapon, floated to it. She said nothing as she advanced on the trembling goddess. Betreen screamed out a denial as Galway God of Chaos stepped forward and gripped Nysarti wrist in a firm grip. Nysarti didn't even spare him a glance, as with a mere flick of her imprisoned wrist sent him flying across the room.
Alryssa screamed in terror and tried to get to her feet and escape the advancing goddess. Betreen and Zarlyn God of Death rushed Nysarti and struggled to restrain her. Even with their combined strength Nysarti still continued to advance on her prey. Galway shaking the dizziness, ran back to help the others. Finally with the cooperation of the three gods they were able to disarm the murderous goddess. Nysarti glared at her captors. "Release me." She demanded.
To the surprise of all in the room it was Alryssa's voice that spoke in response. Disputed the tears clogging her throat, her voice was firm. "No! Nysarti, you have committed a crime. You murdered Dorcyse and stole his power. You must pay."
Ago her words the Moon Goddess froze, her face at last registering emotion. Rage twisted her beautiful face. She opened her mouth, but Alryssa continued to talk. "You may be stronger with your stolen power, but you can't fight the four of us together.
Firming their resolve at Alryssa's words the other gods began to pool thei powers together crafting a binding to hold the murderer in their midst. Nysarti's eyes flashed with hate as she looked at all of them ranged against her. " you will regret this" she hissed building her own power to fight against their hold. "No Nysarti, it is you who will regret your actions." Alryssa declared pushing power into the bindings to make them stronger.
Nysarti closed her eyes as her power welled within her. It built then exploded outward in a concussive waves that pulverized marble and knocked the other gods to the ground. Panicked that they had failed, the four scrambled to get up, but the needn't have worried. Their binding had worked. The combined power of the kronur was enough.
Nysarti stood encased in diamond, her head tilted back, eyes closed, black hair wild, and hands pressed outward as if to break free. They all collapsed in relief.
"What do we do now." Zarlyn asked soberly. The others all looked at him. He nodded towards Dorcyse's body in the rubble behind them. "What's to happen to his worshippers? And what about Nysarti's followers?" They all looked at each other nervously. The sanctity of each other's worshippers was a touchy subject. It would be unthinkable to poach another's children but....
Betreen sighed " We will tell them, and leave the choice to them. As for Nysarti's children... they have always been fanatical in their devotion. That being said it is not their fault what their goddess has done." " but!" Alryssa began to protest, but Betreen held up her hand to stop her. " give them the choice. Let them choose another to follow, or take part in their goddesses crimes."
Alryssa nodded grimly, looked back at their prisoner and gasped. The diamond was fading, their prisoner with it. "What is happening?" Galway demanded, stepping forward to grab hold of it, but it was too late. The imprisoned goddess vanished. Terrified that Nysarti had managed to escape, the looked around frantically, only to pause at the sudden confused prayers they suddenly received.
The turned their attention to their children to discover that a forest was overtaking Carrick, the city home to Nysarti's temple. Within a matter of hours the city was completely overcome. Thousands of people fled their homes in terror. In the aftermath it was discovered that not one of the refugees belonged to Nysarti. In fact from that day forward all of Nysarti's people migrated en mass to the new forest and her temple. Not one defected.
As word of Nysarti's crime and Dorcyse's death spread people became angry. Worship of Nysarti became banned. The dark forest became forbidden. Any not loyal to the dark goddess were not welcome there and it became a refuge for her faithful.