“The pulses are continuous.” One of the Artificer-Priests reported to Anak’thas. The two of them were standing on a balcony overlooking the central hall that had been build around the mysterious node. Below Artificer-Priests were scurrying around. Some were handling brass instruments or silvery orbs. Others were interacting with a glyph-matrix in an attempt to glean more information from the reality controlling stone.

A pendulum was going back and forth behind Anak’thas. It mimicked the constant rhythm of the observed pulses.

[color=fff200]“Start preparations for the next test.”[/color] Anak’thas announced. A few bells were run left and right. The Artificers working around the nodes quickly hurried away. Holy incense was burned to further enhance the god’s already formidable power.

Anak’thas wove his incantation slowly and carefully. It started as a simple, golden needle that floated between his two hands. Though soon golden strands began to join it, creating a construct of light that started to resemble a spear. Glyphs began to spin themselves around the spear in an effort to further strengthen the attack. For over fifteen minutes the god of the Verdant Realms wove something made of pure destruction. The priests watched on with equal part fear and awe.

And then he unleashed it. The sound of roaring fire erupted through the hall. Blinding light, as if the sun had become a weapon, shot forth from Anak’thas down towards the node. In his heart, he both wished it would work and begged whatever force greater than him that it wouldn’t. 

He was secretly elated when the invocation burned itself out. The millions of prayers sang to him over the course of a year by thousands of people had burned in an instant. The Lantern-God was certain that such an invocation could even kill a god.

Yet the node remained untouched. The Artificer-Priests spared no time. They rushed across the bridges build over the vast expanse around the node towards the platform that was built around it. The stone was still, somehow, cool to the touch.

Anak’thas turned around and walked away from the balcony. He needed more results.

“Excavations are going better than expected.” The Artificer-Priest said as he hurriedly followed Anak’thas back into the office of the director of the Gnopolis. “We’ve delved about fifty-three meters around the node.” He continued.

[color=fff200]“Nothing changed?”[/color] Anak’thas, clearly frustrated, asked.

“Well…something did. The stone has become… warmer to the touch.” The priest reported. “Not extremely but still sensibly warmer.”

[color=fff200]“It’s something.”[/color] Said Anak’thas. [color=fff200]“Anything else? A shard? A tiny creature?”[/color]

“We’ve found nothing, my Lord.” Said the Priest.

[color=fff200]“How are you faring with the pulses?”[/color] The god asked.

“We’ve been trying to synchronize them with anything and everything in the world but.. so far the best we could achieve is having it be used as an accurate measurement of time. But that’s because-“

[color=fff200]“It’s so consistent, yes. Anything else? The vibrations of some natural born crystal? Perhaps the waves of air a voice makes?”[/color] Anak’thas was grasping at straws and he knew it. Yet he was thirsty for the apparent knowledge his nemesis held. Benea knew more about the nodes than she led on. Far more. Which only begged the question: why was she withholding it?

“We’ll continue looking, my lord.” The priest said, bowed, and then took his leave. Clearly, he wasn’t happy with the lack of progress either. It would vex the man for the coming days and night, Anak’thas knew. He didn’t know his name but he knew he was a man of integrity, wisdom, and knowledge. But he would die someday, and another would come in to take his place. Another who would have to exemplify those same values.

 [hider=Summary]Anak’thas is testing the node. He even build a whole thingie around it. So far he knows that it pulses at a steady rhythm, that it is seemingly utterly indestructible and that it goes a very long way down. That’s it so far.[/hider]

[hider=MP]Anak’thas Start: 1MP
-1 MP >> Conjure Single Construction: The Gnopolis
Anak’thas End: 0MP
[/hider]