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From the depths of the seas rose the Third, the Keeper of the Land. From its spine grew enormous stony peaks, from its paw steps sprung forests. Though it could once walk and wade through the primordial seas, the land growing on its back grew heavier until it could scarcely move. Laying down and making itself comfortable in the ocean bed, it allowed itself to be entirely swallowed in earth. When the Third stirs, it has the power to reduce mountains to dust.
The Third is one of the few Nines who sleeps, and it does so nearly constantly. The changes it makes in the land take centuries and are very energy intensive, and it struggles to stay awake for long. Despite this it is not fully unconscious, dimly able to feel the footsteps that creatures take upon the land, and the growth of plant roots into its back, passively observing the world through its senses. It quite enjoys watching over the mortals above through a dream-like state.
Due to the time it spends oblivious to the world in its slumber, it is often considered to be indifferent to the goings-on of mortals in the same way as the Second is, the land at times being as hostile to life as the seas and rivers. Yet the Third is the deity who is most likely to grant favours and blessings to those who pray to it if they manage to do so during a period it is awake, granting massive bounties of minerals for soil to grow fertile, allowing the flora to blossom and in turn feed the fauna. It subtly affects the land to guide weary travellers towards food and shelter, or even just towards beautiful sights, very proud of the way the land developed over time.
In the aftermath of the severance between the mortal realm and the realm of the gods, the remaining seven deities lost their ability to connect with the flora or fauna upon the Earth, only able to affect the planet through inanimate means. The Third is one of the few deities to still have some semblance of connection to the mortal realm through the land. It remained sympathetic towards mortals to the very end, and to the modern day does its best to hold still as not to disrupt their lives, though its stirring will occasionally cause seismic activity.
"Neglected Space" - Imogen Heap
