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Xanir was busily tending some Important Things for Papa, so instead of harassing her as was his custom, the half-grown pardmentling was running about the Marketplace on his own. He was busily bargaining with one of the vendors, a huge man with brown hair that smelled enticingly of dragons, over a gorgeous blown-glass item (he hoped to get it as a gift for Xanir, actually) when his senses caught something both familiar and strange.

A God. Not like Papa Yu, but kind of like that pretty not-girl-girl. The striped one with the gem in it's chest. Yes, that was it! A gem-bound God was...well, he didn't know, but it was interesting and he felt drawn to see by curiousity yes, but also by a sense of kinship. Joss was not deific himself but sensitive to their energies...and any God was some sort of kin to Yu, which made them kin to him too in a way.

"I'll be back to pick it up later, or can you deliver to the rooms of Yu Five Claws?" Therion nodded and smiled to Joss, letting him know that he would drop the item off for him in a low, pleasant voice. The patchy creature didn't tarry long after, taking off in the direction he felt the energy had come from.

Quickly did Joss locate the one he believe to be the source of the gem-housed deific energy; the man was in something of a frenzy, shoving mortals aside and smelling strongly of blood, anger and fear. Joss rose to his full height, just under 5"5" feet (he was still growing, dammit!) and stepped forward, his patchy coloring and double horns well known amongst the regulars, who stepped back and made room for the Dragon King Yu Five Claw's son.

"You. Bleeding everywhere." His sensitive nostrils fluttered a bit with the coppery scent of blood mixed with mana, but he stood before Roshan unflinching, his overly long tail lashing and causing the mortals nearby to further spread back and give them room. "Gem-bound God and Host, I am Joss. You both need me. Come. I help."

Whether or not that help was garnered by taking the wild-looking man to Yu immediately or not...well, at least Phobos had gotten someone's attention! There was a low murmuring throughout the crowd that came mostly via the various shop-keepers. Two things repeated in hushed, respectful tones that spread throughout until there were few people standing close to Roshan or Joss: "Dragon-child." and " That's Yu's boy."

Despite the difference in height, Joss did not seem disturbed - or to care - by the fact that Roshan towered over him with wild eyes and limbs near to vibrating with distress and ire. Red eyes narrowed and looked askance at some members of the crowd that dared come too close and a low growl of warning rumbled from the small, furry body.

"Come, yes come with Joss." He spoke gently and when Roshan stepped closer and demanded he lead on, Joss dropped to all fours with a strange, audible crunch as bones changed their order to better accommodate smooth motion. He paused to c**k his head at the bleeding creature - not mortal, for it bled mana...but not God or Aoide, either! Interesting.

There was a lessening of the deific presence and he flicked a tail twice as long as his body. So, the God inside trusted that Joss would take care of it's host. Good. Joss meant to...and if he could not, Yu would.

"Papa was home, if we hurry we will catch him." Joss trotted ahead as the crowd continued to part for his passing, stopping to peek back and reassure himself that Roshan would actually follow. "Yu will understand." Having seen that the unwilling host meant to accompany him, the pardmentling bounded forward with his tiny wings fluffed out in excitement; he didn't want to move too quickly for his new companion to follow, but also knew that Yu was likely to be gone from his rooms if they did not move swiftly from Marketplace to Pantheon proper and along the high-ceilinged halls.

Halfway to the doors of the Dragon King Yu Five Claws, they ran into a slender blond girl dressed in layers. Joss slowed enough to address her, but didn't stop. "Papa's still home, yes?" She called after them that the Dragon King was where Joss wished him to be and frowned - it wasn't often Joss brought guests to Yu's table and she was curious..but she had also been given a task and as much as she'd like to know who the tall, angry-looking person following her master's son was, she'd have to find out later.

Joss lead Roshan to Yu's rooms, stopping before the massive doors and chuffing as he shoved them open. Yu's space would not open easily for one not meant to be there, but they did so for his son with ease. "Paaaa~pa! I found a host! He's bleeding and cranky!" There was a low rumbling sound that came from a space to the left and Joss rose up on his haunches. "You. You go in there. Joss will bring bandages and water!"

The grey calico colored creature seemed to preen a bit. "Papa may decide to eat you." He nodded and began to head off, certain Roshan would go where he'd been told, but then paused to look back at the Asura. "Joss hopes not." For the God's sake, more than the host. Naturally.

It would've pleased Joss to know that Roshan found him a shapeshifter, though the truth of it was that he was - and yet wasn't - one. Fragment had been a shape-shifting creature, flesh as malleable as soft clay, but Ashoka was only...well, she'd called herself a 'shifter' Pardess, but that wasn't quite the same. She could only shift her shape to quad and back. Joss and Dan could only do small things, like their mother, but it was mostly the hips and legs that changed.

This would change, Joss was sure of it. Just as he was sure where the bandages were kept. He busied himself getting things he thought might be needed while their 'guest' was properly introduced to the Dragon King he called Papa.

Yu bled mana, unless he had been doing things with it, because of his station, so while most of the Gods rooms felt strongly of mana...Yu's 'office' fairly reeked of it, with the spaces almost shifting in small ways under the eye. The massive creature was settled - sprawled, really - on what amounted to a throne of bone, fur and something else best not considered, tail trailing around the base of the throne and wrapped partially around it, scales glinting in the light as the inky fur seemed to swallow it up.

The creature that entered was tall, broad shouldered with sharp features - and was most clearly displeased with his lot. He - for clearly that scent was masculine - came in with his head high and eyes flashing, even as Yu caught the subtle scent of fear under the bravado. Yu's muzzle skinned up to show teeth in a mockery of a smile, both sets of eyes taking in Roshan's appearance and the gem in his bleeding arm. He bared his teeth further at the expenditure of mana from Phobos and raised one heavily clawed hand.

"I will not devour you. Rest. You are Home." He wasn't talking to make Roshan feel better, that was damned sure. Yu hadn't made his mind up yet about eating some of the host. "Step forward. " Despite how few emotions the nightmarish face could physically display, the Dragon King appeared amused as one set of eyes flicked from gem to host and a low, ground-glass chuckle made it's way from Yu's throat.

"Welcome. I am the Dragon King Yu Five Claws, Emblem Pillar and you most lucky to have met my spawn." His great head lifted slowly as he considered his next words - how often had he been the one to deliver the news that one's life was no longer one's own? How many Gods had he been the benefactor of, protecting them with body and mana as they allowed until the host was no more? Arden, the Soldier? The delicious Priest that tried exorcising him? Dolls. Knowledge. Even if they roamed or did not realize, Yu was there.

Yu was everywhere, really. Unless he was with Harmodius, but that was to be expected, really.

And what of the mortals? Every being in the Marketplace concluded their business knowing that any infraction would be swiftly, seriously taken care of with tooth and fang. Gripping lightly at one of the human skulls that made up that hand-rest, the Dragon King tapped his claws along the occipital bone for a moment, considering. "Your Name, Host. You will give it." It wasn't a suggestion, it was Yu using his abilities, and the words held an undertone of other words and mana, for he could see this host would be most...stubborn and he had no time to suffer fools in his House.

Feeling the amusement of the gem-bound God made the Dragon King's tail tip twitch against the bleached bone of his throne while watching the host as he tried to resist Yu's command. Good. The True Gods needed strong hosts for successful rebirth and while this one was most unwilling...it wouldn't matter in the end. It never did.

"Roshan." Yu shifted his position slightly, dark fur rippling over muscle, sinew and bone. "Kneel, host. Give me your arm and I will explain your new lot."

Joss would bring bandages and water to clean and cover, once they had been located and Yu was ready for another to interrupt his little interlude with the host and God, but the wound oozed blood, metallic and interesting. Until then, Yu could certainly mend the flesh some while giving Phobos a bit of mana to help with the strains it had gone through thanks to Roshan. And if he had to compel the Asura into capitulation once more, he would.

Being host to one of the True Gods only meant that he would not unmake the prickly fellow...it did not necessarily prevent him from breaking him.

Such a strange creature, afraid and yet not. Yu's ears twitched with amusement even as Roshan placed his hand out; the Dragon King watched the way the man's clawed fingers flexed to dig at the buried gem uselessly. "Whatever you once were, you are now Host to one of the True Gods." As he spoke, the bestial god lightly brought his own claw tipped fingers across Roshan's damaged palm, manipulating the mana pooled in his very being to effectively heal the damage done.

"Rejoice in your strength and cunning, for our kind do not choose idly. You have qualities that will serve the sleeping God in this gem," Gently, almost lovingly, the Dragon King caressed the embedded gem, "You are a vehicle for the Rebirth of the True Gods, those who came Before and are known by Many Names. Yu released Roshan's hand and sat back in his throne after using further mana to bring a rather plush cushion over. "Sit, if you like. I will answer questions as I am able."

Crimson teeth flashed once more, "In the beginning, there was chaos. Chaos took form and became Creation and Destruction, the first of our kind. We are those that built Everything, gave Name to the formless and breathed Life into your very bones." Here he paused consideringly, "There is much Lore, but what is relevant to you currently is that the essence of the True Gods were crystallized into gems like the one you now have and when they find suitable Host, they can be reborn. It is for the benefit of All that this happen." Yu tapped the skull rest once more, allowing Roshan time to process what he'd said and to formulate questions.