Events post #292: Shattered Souls, Part VIII: The Replete

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3/27/2022 at 23:48
Anonymous
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Shattered Souls, Part VIII: The Replete

While serendipity lingered in the air following Helera's departure and Their parting gifts, prophecy too rose to the fore. Breaking the fortuitous atmosphere, Midge, a socialite of questionable blood and even more questionable tastes, began shouting ill omens of doom for the world to hear. She claimed an enormous feast was nigh, made cryptic predictions of Elder Gods and Their siblings, and seemed to possess knowledge far beyond a mortal of her stature.

When pressed by numerous adventurers of Sapience, the woman claimed to have no memory of her supposed outbursts, becoming dramatic and upset when her questioners expressed disbelief. Nevertheless, the week wound on and the apparently mad woman's doomsaying continued unabated, growing more frantic and frenzied with each passing hour. Finally, her foretellings seemed to reach a fatal rubicon; she began to babble and scream as something took hold in her, causing her to shift, contort, and transform.

Her final utterance proclaimed a lavish series of titles: "Behold the Idol, the Mogul, the Glutton, the Never-slaked, the Lady of the Gilded City, Mother of Satyrs, Patron of Felosulnar, Beloved of the Smith, Breaker of Hearts, the Vainglorious, the Bringer of Victory, Hero of Glandor, Muse of Erja, Empress of Kysh, Covetous Queen, and The a" Strangled to silence mid-rant, all that was Midge was hollowed out, a prismatic, starry cloud billowing about her.

Gone was Midge, and in her place stood an Elder Goddess of sumptuous stature and a haughty demeanour. Her condescending superiority dwarfed even the imperious Elders which came before. Immediately She expected praise and worship for the gift of Her presence, enchanting Felix, the Gourmand into cooking a perfect meal for Her while She held court near the Eatery. In Her hair She wore a Bloodwood beetle charm - the self-same trinket carved by Haern as a gift for Yanai that the subsequent Elders had all somehow held. When asked of it, the Goddess callously crushed it to dust, naming it worthless garbage. This drew the ire of Caitria Cardinalis and much of Duiran, who departed from the Goddess' audience in disdain.

Seemingly concerned solely with Her own pleasure and amusement, She insisted that the Revelation all were expecting would come only if She was sufficiently entertained. Many balked at this, repulsed by so blatant a hedonist. Despite Her many, many detractors, only Iesid Mulariad and Ayastia crossed a line. With a snap of Her fingers, the Goddess transformed them to statues, forcing Iesid to fan Her with a palm leaf while utilising Ayastia as a footstool for Her comfort. Others were entranced by the Goddess, and She visibly basked in the attention from Qelres Misi, Tetchta Mesis, and Lin. All the while, the belaboured Gourmand rushed to and fro, bringing Nalibhtavi dish after dish in an attempt to placate Her. She rejected them all.

The following week, the Goddess reappeared amid great fanfare and ceremony, carried into Saluria in a palanquin. Puffing on a cigarette, She demanded the services of Izcantl, the jeweler, who, beguiled by the Goddess' power, hastily scurried to bring Her his finest jewels and ornaments. As a crowd grew about Her, She promised answers in exchange for entertainment, and while most recoiled, some stepped forward to make the deal.

First was Docent Eliadon, whose firestorms sheared the life from several gathered. The chaotic acts of murder kindled laughter in Nalibhtavi, and She agreed to answer his question. "Which two demands of the Maker did She rebuff?" He asked, to which She replied that Varian had demanded of Her, first an army, and then Her loyalty, both of which She rejected.

Tetchta Mesis was next to step forward, dramatically severing a finger from their own hand and offering it to Elder Hedonism in tribute. Delighted by the gruesome spectacle, She deigned to answer another question: what did the Goddess desire most, above all else? A moment of vulnerability struck the Goddess while She continued puffing on Her cigarette, eyes downcast in contemplation. "An equal," She finally conceded in the midst of a dramatic, elongated sigh.

Czcienn Svin then attempted to mimic Eliadon's spectacle by forcing Tetchta Mesis to collapse a singularity, earning the ire of the Goddess for the lack of originality. When Aolin, the Lyrist of Omei, stepped forward and offered a song, Nipsy Cardinalis disrupted the proceedings by hurling insults at the Goddess and tempting Her wrath. The Arborean swiftly became a statue, bewitched by Nalibhtavi and forced to massage Her feet while She utilised its branches as an ashtray. Aolin's song followed, the Goddess deeming it acceptable. Her question centred around Nalibhtavi's apparent indifference to whether She fulfilled Her role, and what would happen if She did not. The answer came with little pause as She claimed that Fortune was Her overture, and that She was fulfilling Her purpose: to live, to love, and to be as She is. And then She was gone.

Nalibhtavi next appeared in Spinesreach at the Ironmaw Prison Complex. Admiring the newly built guillotine, She promised Sapience a spectacle, and proceeded to execute Iesid, Nipsy, and Xolotl for what She deemed to be slander against Her name. Pietre Marcelli soothed the temper of the Goddess with kawhe - fulfilling an earlier promise he had made to bring Her a drink. "Not unpleasant" came the feedback, high praise from One rapidly becoming infamously dissatisfied. Having won a question for his brew, Pietre conceded the opportunity to Qelres instead, who asked of the outrider first mentioned by Elder Fortune.

While considering the answer, Nalibhtavi forced Xolotl into service, this time requiring a manicure for Her nails. She revealed that the outrider was a scout of Oblivion, searching for one thing alone, and refused to say more on the matter. She then expressed a loathing for artwork, claiming that none had ever managed to capture Her perfectly on canvas or parchment. Offered an empyrean opium pipe by Qelres and a blend of godstongue by Feirenz Ourborian, the Goddess relaxed, contentedly smoking that which She deemed "dangerous and profound."

In place of a question, Qelres asked Her for a lock of Her hair, or a taste of Her cigarette. She declined both before reflecting on the lack of pleasure-driven mortals in this age, vexed by the lack of opportunities for entertainment and enjoyment She had found. Her parting words were advice: "Live like a God and hate like a Demon. Discard which no longer pleases you and replace it. Live."

A week following the public executions, Haratos of Djeir's Theater of Shadows announced the Undercity's intent to perform a Grand Tragedie, inviting Nalibhtavi to attend as guest of honour. The performance would share the tragic romance of Dhar and Ivoln and Their subsequent divorce. Much of the world was abuzz with excitement at the announcement, eagerly making plans to attend the show.

The Goddess made Her penultimate appearance at Grace Restaurant in a scenic part of the Vashnar Mountains. Harassing the waiter to bring her food and drink, She once more held court and attracted a large audience. Performing a remarkably accurate impression of Iesid, Sibatti dur Naya stepped forward to fan the Goddess with their own oversized palm frond, and She seemed to be at ease despite the poor quality of repasts on offer at the establishment. She mused on the repressed and tedious nature of the Creator and recalled Her memories of the Magician. "A bastard." She called Him, though fondness seeped into Her voice at the recollection. Of Her other Siblings, She spoke only with scorn, save for Darkness, who, She claimed, had been Her confidant and collaborator in Her own age. Promising to wear red for the Djeirani play, She dismissed the long-suffering waiter and disappeared.

In the Undercity of Djeir, the Theatre of Shadows was packed and afire with anticipation when Nalibhtavi finally arrived, boredly giving Her consent for the play to go forward. As the orchestra struck up and the opening prologue played, the audience was treated to their first and only glimpse of Lord Varyan (Caj Basso) in the act of His Creation. Soon enough, however, the stars of the show appeared: Lords Ivolin (Bonfiloro Ash'Aji) and Dohar (Ricci Ash'Aji). Playing a scene of timeless and farcical romance, they were received with laughter and merriment, delivering a stirring musical number in which Lord Aryonne (Sansin Mi'Mazi) and Lady Iyosin (Teclah Neri in her debut role) sang supporting verses.

Following an explosive opening number, Lady Iyosin took the fore of the stage, following sound with silence - or, more accurately, song with soliloquoy. The Djeirani-as-Goddess meditated upon the sublimity and peril of love, questioning whether the Gods would have begun Their relationship had they known it would lead to Their separation and estrangement. She parted the scene with a final question: "Is this a romance, or a horror, which these players play before you?" to which the audience's overwhelming affirmation was "yes." Little did they know that this affirmation would prove a chilling portent to the play's finale.

Act one closed with the Unity of Dohar and Ivolin in a fanfare of confetti, giving way to a brief intermission in which the attendees purchased further food and drink and spoke amongst themselves. Many of the land's adventurers and notable personages attended from aboveground, dressed in their finest raiment. The Theatre of Shadows had rarely seen such a diverse audience - it was the furthest the Djeirani culture had reached from beneath the ground in some while, and the actors were abuzz backstage, celebrating their play's good reception. All, that is, except for Teclah Neri, who was focused upon the act to come.

When act two began, the narrator (Adonir Chiellini) detailed the two Lords' deteriorating relationship and their domestic squabbles, ultimately leading to the conclusion that the two should
pursue marriage counseling. Aided by Lord Aryonne and the enthusiastic audience, they tried - and failed - to reconcile their differences, but ultimately opted for a divorce. Approached by the Lady Iyosin, who inquired of them whether they truly desired this course, the Gods answered in the affirmative, begging the Goddess for separation.

Teclah Neri, who had carried a falchion onto the stage, then broke character - speaking her name, rather than that of the Goddess', and addressing the actors playing Dohar and Ivolin by their own Ash'Aji names. Confusion spread through the audience, and the brothers onstage became more terrified. They protested that "the Bards" could not do this to them... but to no avail. With ceremonial precision, Teclah Neri cut them both down upon the stage, to the delight and consternation of the audience. As chaos reigned, and dramatic sense was lost, Teclah declared herself to the audience and the realm before making a hasty escape from the premises of the Theatre.

Displeased by this upset, Nalibhtavi declared that She was no longer entertained, and waxed wroth, rising from Her seat to slaughter all that remained of the Theatre of Shadows. Elder Greed transformed the remaining bards into golden statues, their tormented frames transfixed all across Djeir in a final testament to Her power and sadism. The rest were brutally slaughtered, dismembered and eviscerated in a flurry of cutlery-as-weaponry - leaving Teclah Neri as the last remaining bard of the Theatre of Shadows. Declaring Herself bored by Her return, She stated that unlike the Elders prior, She would not be granting Sapience any of Her gifts; and that no one in the universe was worthy of killing Her except for Herself. The Goddess destroyed Herself as a final gesture of spite, leaving only chaos, terror, and mournful Djeirani in Her wake.


Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 16th of Lleian, in the year 501 MA.