01.02- Hoqon and the Loci of the Burning World

Life, Supernatural

On the 1st Planet, Iethon, the dreaded Loci is also searching for the fragment of Oah's Heart. Aided by Sun God, Ao, and blessed by the Gods, Hoqon the Champion braves himself against the formidable Iethon Loci.

Hoqon descends from the Realms of Light and Shadow, into the Ley Corpus, upon the smallest of the three Moons orbiting the planet Iethon. Crossing the threshold into the Corpus bestowed Hoqon a physical form; his radiant vestments became white and red. His hair turned silver like starlight and his eyes turned bright metallic blue. When he turned to look at the newborn sun, he was visited by a spiritual projection of the Sun- Child.
Ao was said to resemble an infantile Wyrmling with vaguely humanoid features, white and golden bands, green eyes, and a majestic halo formed from his horns. Though he was lightly wrapped in the leather of his magnificent wings, Ao seemed to float effortlessly in the space above Hoqon. Ao appeared as a child yet his comprehension of the events around him defied his apparent age. Ao wished to aid Hoqon's quest by imparting some of the knowledge that he had obtained at the Throne of Aeon.

Ao had learned about what was happening beyond Amede's realm- he spoke of Sebut Sekt's emergence in Oblivion and of lost planets beyond the 5th World. Ao was able to tell him the names of the 5 planets: Iethon, Bothon, Pathon, Fuuthon, and Daethon. In the celestial order, Iethon was the closest to Ao.

Iethon Loci was also the 1st World Serpent that sprung from the remains of the Galaxia Loci. Each of the Loci had a desire: "Iethon wished to devour the Sun." Ao was concerned that if Iethon Loci was left alone, it would eventually attempt to consume the Sun- Child. All around, in Space near and beyond the 5 Worlds, where cosmic debris continued to rain within the Silent Millenia, the balance of the celestial order would once again fall upon a calamitous path should the Loci succeed in it's savage endeavor.

Ao offered to carry the pieces of Oah's Heart once Hoqon found them. As a being of sunlight, Ao possessed a unique gift for traveling between the Ley Realms and the Realms of Light and Shadow. Given the Time differences between the Corpus and the Anima, Ao's service would expedite the Champion's quest. As an intermediary between the Ley, Ao could travel between the Realms of Light and Shadow instantly. Hoqon only had to find the Heart Stones and meet him in the Aether above the Worlds.

Before Hoqon agreed to Ao's aid, he asked the Sun- Child to prove his speed and celerity. If he should return with a lock of Amede's hair, he would give Ao the Heart Stone to deliver. Accepting Hoqon's proposal, the Sun- Child left Hoqon to his task.

  Upon entering Iethon, Hoqon was immediately assailed by the venomous serpent as it weaved and slithered throughout the land. It's eyes were huge green- white orbs and its scales were copper- red. When it hissed, the Loci's miasma bellowed as a thick, choking smog into the air. Blackened fangs dripped with molten venom, and a poisonous pair of flaming forked tongues darted quickly from its maw. With it's tail above it's head, the Loci slammed into Hoqon, driving him towards the Earth.

  Hoqon fell from the sky like a smoky meteor. Engulfed in flames, Hoqon's 1st Star, the Burning Star, ignited into a holy conflagration. Hoqon's body became living flame as he rose on the currents of the warm air. Iethon Loci pursued Hoqon as he flew across the molten landscape. Pools and chasms of fire and magma created sulfuric and primordial swamps of tar and oil. Lakes of silvery metal moved langurously across the landscape. Salamandars, reptilian progeny of the Loci, formed in armies to aid their patron.

  Physical manifestations of the Loci's rage, each bearing weapons of crude stone and metal, the Salamandars hunted Hoqon when the Loci lost him near a volcanic island. Glowing red and metallic silver cascades poured into the lake of fire. At the bottom of the burning lake, the Champion could feel Oah's divine presence beneath the churning surface of lahar. The World Serpent coiled atop a mountain high above as his Salamandar armies moved towards the island.

  Countless Salamandar were felled by the might of the erupting power of Hoqon's 2nd Star, the Metal Star. Hoqon formed a spear and a shield from the the streams of silvery metal that cascade from the falls. Hoqon formed a metallic weapon that changed its shape to his need. With each thrust of his spear, Hoqon scattered hordes of the Salamandars with his divine might. When they rose their claws against him, he protected himself with an Aegis. Iethon Loci had slithered into the lake of flames while Hoqon bravely fought his warriors. Iethon Loci crushed the island between it's coils, sending the Champion to the bottom of the lake. He used the opportunity to burrow into the lake bed, where he retrieved the Heart Stone before the Loci could find him once more.

  As he tried to return to the surface, Iethon Loci swallowed Hoqon. Inside it's mouth, Hoqon turned his body into a metal shell and used his strength to fight against the serpent. Iethon Loci attempted to bite Hoqon but broke a fang against his shell; the Loci attempted to breath poison but Hoqon's body resisted this as well. When the Loci breathed flame, Hoqon's metal body became white hot. Suddenly, the Loci rose above the lake and thrashed about with a burning Hoqon inside his mouth. As the Loci rampaged, Hoqon thrust the Metal Star through the roof of it's mouth and into it's right eye. With this, Hoqon and Iethon Loci's eye were both dislodged.

  As the Loci writhed in pain, the planet shook and rumbled with fury. Tectonic plates cracked and collided, causing deep fissures to break the land apart. Hoqon used his power to cause a chain reaction of volcanos to explode. As the land broke apart against the will of the World Serpent and the Champion, a river of silver fell into the Loci's open eye. Hoqon grappled with the burning serpent until it's body was cast beneath an ever flowing river of silver. Bound by the weight of metal that ran into and outside it's body, Iethon Loci slowed its movements until it had been subdued by the raging metal river. After the rage of the Loci had subsided, Hoqon looked upon an ocean of fire that had appeared during their conflict. Floating above were the severed souls that had animated the Salamandars, floating like wisps of flame above the waves.

  Victorious, Hoqon rose from the ocean surface. With the Heart Stone in his possession, Hoqon left the planet Iethon, and returned to Iethon's moon. He would meet with Ao and together, they would travel instantaneuously to Bothon, the 2nd Planet.

  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Hoqon, an observer from the shadows watches with 3 eyes. Into a path of Shadows, a dark spirit retreats, unnoticed.