In the name of board games

[aestrix]

Raezenoth has spoken to his priests and his acolyte, and they have been informed that the manifestation of their god is going to be away for a little while. He has Godly Duties to attend to. Godly Duties meaning playing strategy games with this mortal he met over a multidimensional forum he can access through his godly powers. He's still not entirely sure how that works, but hey, it let him learn to play chess, and then play chess. He really can't complain.

He sits at the top of a mountain in his domain (the view is nice) and waits. Sometimes he can be very patient.

Comments

[middlingalong]

Where Ivan is pacing in the front hall. When Miles comes in he all but seizes him by the shoulders. "You went where to do what?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"To Vorkosigan Surleau to play Plasma Rain with an interdimensional visitor," he says. "Is there a problem?"

[middlingalong]

"It's alarming! Was this the demon you have a crush on or yet another interdimensional visitor? Can't some of these people make black holes out of nothing?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"This one is not the black-holes kind, and he was very nice," says Miles. "In a reserved and understated sort of way. He gave me the divine blessing of improved reflexes to make it a fairer competition." Pause. "He's a god. A god who really likes playing games against challenging opponents."

[middlingalong]

"Sure, invite a god over to challenge him at strategy games, that sounds perfectly safe, I can't imagine why I fretted so," says Ivan, in what is probably an unconscious imitation of his mother, flinging his hands in the air.

[thisvorlunatic]

"I kicked his ass," Miles says gleefully. "And got explicit permission to brag about doing so. He's good, though, we played chess by PM first and he played me to a draw on the fourth game."

[middlingalong]

"Great. I'm happy for you. Did you have breakfast. Or lunch."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I had breakfast!"

[middlingalong]

"...But not lunch."

[thisvorlunatic]

"But not lunch," he admits with a sigh.

[middlingalong]

"So, lunchtime." Ivan ushers Miles lunchward.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles partakes of lunch.

Miles is still experiencing residual glee over his divine encounter.

[middlingalong]

"I don't actually know what your interdimensional visiting safety protocols should be, let alone are, but there are some, yeah?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Yes," he says. "Although actually the main interdimensional hazard I'm on watch for right now is the possibility that a bunch of raving goons from another world are going to try to magically kidnap me, and I've got contingencies for that which incidentally cover a lot of the possible kinds of trouble from interdimensional visitors I intentionally bring."

[middlingalong]

"What are your contingencies for raving goons deciding t- have you adequately covered for the possibility that they will kidnap someone else, besides you, Miles?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"I know the spell they'd use, and they don't have enough information to target anyone in this world other than me and Lisbet, who I assume is taking her own precautions and doesn't need my help."

[middlingalong]

"If you say so."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I do say so."

[middlingalong]

Sigh.

[thisvorlunatic]

Pause.

"I beat a god at chess," he says smugly.

[middlingalong]

"I assume he's not a god of chess."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Nope. Desert winds. But he's a big fan of board games, apparently."

[middlingalong]

"Why do desert winds need their own god?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"That just seems to be how it goes with his world. Gods of this and that."

[middlingalong]

"Did you play any of his board games or just your stuff?"