[i][center][h3][color=Peru]Reflections of Teknall[/color][/h3][/center][/i]

[i]Arguably, the first of us gods to die in this Universe was Slough Rottenbone. First she died on birth, before the Universe was created, and that has stunted her development ever since. While I could argue that since she's alive now she didn't [/i]really[i] die, we still should have taken greater care of her, for she later 'died' again. I couldn't miss it. No one on Galbar could, at least among the divine, for all life ground to a halt. The Aimless Time. It gave me a huge shock. How dull and horrible it was with all life in stasis! If it had continued indefinitely, this Universe may as well have ended.

I eventually tracked down the source. The Deadwood Sepulcher, it is known as. The unceremonious grave of Life herself. Except she wasn't there. Others made it here before me. There appears to have been a small scuffle between Jvan and Vestec, and Jvan put her own touches on the place, and Niciel had arrived and made a contribution to aid Slough's recovery, but none of them had moved Slough. That had been left to Vowzra, in his usual meddling way. I tracked his trail down to his forest in the north, and found that he had cocooned Slough so she could recover in peace. I was satisfied with this, and left the matter, for it would resolve itself.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]It was a flash of power, a beacon for all to sense. A new member of divinity had been born in a spectacular and messy fashion. I made my way to the location in time, although again I was too late to actually witness anything. I had to rely on the divine essence left behind. I saw the point where the new demigod had come into being. Evidence of digging and remains of workers around the cave told me the demigod used to be a human. I also sensed a waft of Vowzra's presence. But much more direct was the intrusion of another demigod, and the trails tell me the new demigod was carried away by the other.

Now that I correlate my memories, these two demigods are the same as those who I detected in the city Xerxes. Two rather recent demigods, in fact. I still need to visit that place.

Aside from the remains of the new demigod's cocoon, another object which stood out in the cave was the cup. It had fallen next to the cocoon, drained, yet there was still immense residual power in it. A divine soul used to inhabit it. But not only that, it reeked of the Gap. I've never been there, but I know what it should contain from what Jvan wrote on the Codex, but this felt off, not as predicted. It is strange.

I encased the relic in solid lead and stowed it away for later study. Some day I'll have the time and the means to decipher what exactly it is.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]It was so distinct that it couldn't be missed, but it wasn't loud. Yet it wasn't simply quiet. It was that feeling where there had been some subtle white noise which you don't notice, until it ceases and the silence itself is deafening. It was as though the World had lost some intrinsic property, and there was now a void.

Reathos had died. I could feel it.

Yet the world chugged along as though nothing had happened, and pretty soon the sensation faded too. Before, when Slough 'died', the entire world felt it and was thrown into disarray, even though she hadn't truly ceased. This time, with Reathos, the feeling of his absence was definite and resolute, yet despite him playing as intrinsic a part of life in the Universe as does Slough, the cycle of Death was unaffected. This was strange.

There is a terrible irony in the god of death dying. I can't decide whether it is an irony of greater or lesser degree than the oddess of life dying. But seriously, I think Reathos was a good god. He may have made numerous creations contributing to death, but that was simply his job. He was professional about it, and didn't overstep his boundaries. I've just not clue what happened to him.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]I found out why the cycle of Death didn't fall into a heap as soon as Reathos died. He had outsourced to physical infrastructure, the clever guy.

I simply stumbled upon it one day. It was buried deep underground, in Vakarlon's ancient cave network, but not too deep for my divine sense. The room was a sea of souls, orbiting about the Wraith Stone in the center and bounded by the walls of the cavern. In the middle was a guardian chained to the obelisk, but one who had fallen into disrepair since Reathos' death. It appeared to have been his Avatar. Only the faintest slither of Raethos' essence remained in it- not enough to give it any strength on its own. I went up to the guardian and repaired it, returning animation to it and allowing it to function once more. A few minor modifications to the body were necessary for it to function autonomously, namely adding an inner metal frame and a few other robotic parts, but this guardian should now be able to continue its role of protecting the Wraith Stone.

It was the least I could do for Reathos.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]Considering the state of my Workshop, I should soon be able to use it to conduct high-energy, intricate tasks. Long ago Astarte gave me a vial of her essence to study, and I haven't forgotten it. I have that strange relic to study too. I should be able to construct the necessary tools in my Workshop to conduct appropriate experiments.

Since I'll be doing experiments on discerning the fundamental components of objects, it would be beneficial to have a copy of the Codex of Creation. As principle author, I remember almost its entirety, but it would be worthwhile to take a look at the original just to be certain. It would also allow me to figure out what Vowzra's contribution was, since he didn't write anything in it until after it had been taken, yet I know he would have written something.

So I went to who I knew had it last- Vulamera. Yet once more I was too late. On her moon Cogitare is where her essence ends. And mixed in there was Vowzra's too, yet he was not deceased. Yet something seemed odd. There was no sign of a struggle. Even a mental struggle of godly scale would leave an impression. Toun had been here too, although his trail was much fresher, and he had left again, so he would have seen this too.

I wasn't satisfied with what information I had here. There was no sign of a fight. Even if there was, why would Vowzra kill Vulamera? And was Vulamera really dead? I needed to check closer, so I stayed put and meditated on it, concentrating on the scene until its fading details revealed themselves to me.

And after some time- I know not how long- I figured it out. At least, some of it. Vulamera had been sitting here for a long, long time. Her essence now appeared much more... frayed. I can't infer anything more from that other than that Vulamera had been in a declining state before Vowzra's arrival. When Vowzra arrived, there was naught but the most trivial contact between them- nothing which could have possibly done anything to Vulamera. Then, in an instant, Vulamera's essence vanished, sucked into some singularity and consumed by some unknown third party. Whoever this third party was, it was not simply another god, for they would have left a trail. Could it have been the workings of Amul'Sharar the Adjudicator, or Fate? That would make sense, for Vowzra works for them, but it is but a guess at this stage.

Finally I stirred and tore myself from that most distressing site. I would have to track down Vowzra and ask him what happened there. Perhaps he has the Codex now, too.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]This one was loud, very loud. It was Zephyrion this time. There was a great storm around the Citadel as he was dragged out of this Universe. He's not dead, but there is a definite sensation of judgement. He has been punished for something.

I hope he'll be alright. Fortunately, the Citadel is still floating. I could have caught it if it did fall, but that would not have been the preferred turn of events. I wonder when he'll be back. I wonder how much he'll have changed. I doubt he would stay the same- as stubborn as he is, he is the god of Change.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

[i]I was going to visit Vowzra. I knew he had a portal up on his stratospheric mountain in the north pole. I had some questions to ask. But- and this seems to be a recurring theme- someone got to him first. That someone being Jvan.

Before when I said nobody could miss it, I was referring to things no divine being could miss. This time, when I say nobody could miss it, I am completely inclusive. Jvan, with a body the size of a mountain embedded into an ocean, [/i]FLEW![i] Did you see it!? It was visible across a third of the planet! I haven't seen that much mass displaced at such speeds since Vestec dropped Perfectus on Galbar! It was terrifying.

And then she obliterated the Solitary Mount by ramming it, then forced her way into the portal. It was only a few seconds later that she returned, yet events of such earth-rending magnitude had taken place in those few moments in Vowzra's plane that I suspect that time must run differently in the Time god's plane.

Here's what I sensed. From the great strain on the half of Jvan which remained outside, a colossal battle occurred. Then with a finality even stronger than with Reathos, Vowzra ceased to exist. Perhaps it was my proximity, but I definitely felt that death much more strongly than Reathos'. Then I sensed the realm behind the portal collapse, yet rather than be destroyed Jvan spat it out of the portal, along with a barrier of hyperbolic space to partition it from the rest of Galbar. Then I watched as Jvan's greatly reduced and shriveled form departed from the scene of the battle and returned to her resting place.

I had wanted to talk with Jvan, yet had been putting it off, making excuses and the like. Maybe this could have been averted if I had spoken to her sooner. I knew there was conflict between Vowzra and Jvan. Perhaps I could have prevented this bloodshed. Yet, I also know that this conflict had deep roots, and metaphysical reasons beyond reason, so perhaps there was nothing I could have done. Maybe it could have been delayed, but not stopped. I still need to talk with Jvan, but I should probably give her some space first.

This is quite tragic. Vowzra may have been conceited and self-important, and this may have been a fight he picked himself, but that does not lessen the cumulative grief I feel over the loss of so many gods.

Not to mention it's going to make it hard to get some answers. I still don't know where the Codex is, either.

But there are more important matters than that. Toun has arrived, as I have. His words are wise and heartfelt. He speaks and acts what is on my own mind. I shall go to him now.[/i]

[center]~-===-~[/center]

Respectfully, Teknall descended to the Gate, and looked towards the white pillar upon which the Oath was written. As his eyes perceived the calligraphy, his grief overwhelmed him, and he wept. He wept for Reathos. He wept for Vulamera. He wept for Vowzra. He even wept for Slough, since although she was currently alive she had been neglected to the point of death. While he wept he wept too for the mortals slain by Vestec's hordes, for they had brought great ruin upon a fertile land.

Finally, Teknall's tears ran dry, and he composed himself. There had been too much loss recently. Toun was right; this loss needed to end.

Teknall approached the pillar upon which the Oath of Stilldeath was written and laid a hand on it, and his power flowed into it. Yet it was not just to write his name. The porcelain from which the pillar was made was strengthened, Teknall utilising his mastery over masonry to reinforce the Oath such that it would be even tougher to break. This was a cause he would stand with. There will still be fighting, when these events are all but forgotten, but let it not lead to the permanent loss of death.

Then he entered through the portal, and was transported across that narrow wall of infinite depth to New Chronos. There were many strange and interesting new materials here, which Teknall would have to study some time, but now was not that time. Teknall found his way to Toun in the center of New Chronos, and there was the Cube.

[color=Peru]"Hello, brother,"[/color] Teknall said somberly, walking up beside Toun. [color=Peru]"It is a sad time indeed."[/color]

As his eyes surveyed the enigmatic surface of the Cube in front of him, Teknall remembered the words of the Vicegerent of the Vicegerent.

[color=Peru]"All that we do is recorded in the Cube..."[/color] he mumbled. He realised that this would give him his answers. Teknall said to Toun, [color=Peru]"Did you know Reathos has died too? I'm not sure how, but I know he has. And Vulamera's death; I studied the scene, and while Vowzra was probably complicit in her death I don't think he actually killed her."[/color] He stepped forwards and brushed the indecipherable text with his hand. [color=Peru]"If we could read this, it should tell us exactly what happened."[/color]

He closed his eyes and sighed. Vowzra had seen to encrypt the information on the Cube, such that only those who knew the code could understand it. Maybe someone knew how to decipher secret codes, but Teknall could not do it with any degree of ease. Yet there was another presence here, a demigod he was not familiar with. He opened his eyes and looked towards the Bard (even if the Bard were not in plain view, his eyes looked towards him anyway). Might he know something about the Cube?

And there was another presence, this one coming from within the Cube. But who would be inside the Cube? Its essence was greatly suppressed, but with Teknall's enhanced perception he managed to identify it as the demigod of Xerxes. The only reason he could think for his presence there was that Amartia had been imprisoned. But why?

[color=Peru]"Do you sense the person inside the Cube?"[/color] Teknall asked Toun.
 
 
 
[hider=Summary]
Most of this post is a retrospective reaction to many major events. Teknall arrives late to all of them, and only witnesses the aftermath. In order, we have:
-Slough's second death resulting in the Aimless Time
-The creation of Lazarus. Teknall swipes the drained Relic of Perfectus for safe-keeping and future study.
-The death of Reathos (sensed from afar). Teknall later finds the Wraith Stone by chance. He spends 1 Might to reanimate Reathos' guardian Avatar to continue protecting the Wraith Stone.
-The death of Vulamera, discovered when Teknall wanted to revise the Codex. By spending 1 Might on permanently increasing his Detection level, Teknall managed to figure out some of the truth behind that event.
-The judgement of Zephyrion.
-The slaying of Vowzra, in its spectacular, earth-rending fashion.

All this death makes Teknall quite melancholy.

Teknall follows after Toun. He signs the Oath, and spends 3 Might under his Masonry portfolio to reinforce it (so it would now take, say, 25 Might to break).
Teknall then goes to Toun and the Cube. He realises that the Cube could explain a lot of the events which are currently unexplained, if only there were someone to decode the Cube's writings.
Teknall senses the presence of both the Bard and Amartia.

Started with 35 MP and 2 FP. Ended with 30 MP and 2 FP.
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