>>6314140The Mox’ eyeless expression softens. “‘STARGAZERS’! And yes, I <span class="mu-i">DID</span> say they died, didn’t I?” A crackling gurgle leaves his lips. “Spellweave shapers… impossible to describe with mere words–carved reality like cake. Mountains with the mind. Beautiful, <span class="mu-i">BEAUTIFUL</span> people…” The sorcerer sobs as if remembering a long-past friend. “Demi-divines. No gods but their own, and their own… fashioned themselves INTO gods…”
So they found out how to get all goddy, you reply with a nod, but then what? Professor Gone answers with a rueful sigh.
“The beginning ended. Harken to the howling and you will hear: <span class="mu-s">BETRAYAL! BETRAYAL! VENGEANCE!</span>”
He gives his head a violent shake! “Worship needed to craft a god… I read it in the runes, I did–’worship me, I worship thee’... but silver, sneaky speech slipped into their senses: <span class="mu-s">NOT. DIVINE.</span>”
Another growl escapes his raspy throat. “<span class="mu-s">UN</span>-Divine.”
So, you mutter, trying not to talk over him, they betrayed each other? The lecturer answers with an exasperated groan!
“A god with no worship <span class="mu-i">isn’t!</span> If a god falls in the middle of the woods and no one is around to worship it, does it!?”
… So they just, like, ‘<span class="mu-i">poof</span>’ed away? A magical claw slaps you upside the head! OWIE!
“HEED ME!” The Mox hisses! “The Stargazers were mortal until they were <span class="mu-i">not!</span> And when they were not <span class="mu-s">NOT</span> mortal they were mortal! They knew the others were mortal–they made them mortal by not making them immortal–but they knew not that <span class="mu-i">THEY</span> were mortal!” He cocks his head to the side. “Pause for Questions!?”
Many.
“To review:” Toppel muses as her foxy face scrunches up in thought, “The Nuugal, or ‘<span class="mu-i">Stargazers</span>’, uncovered a method to impart divinity upon their peers–something involving worshipping each other.”
Professor Gone stands like a statue.
“This ‘Un-Divine’ party sowed discord among them–turned them against each other?” She glances to the Professor for confirmation, but receives none. “And while they stopped worshipping each other, they failed to realize that their peers had stopped worshipping them too.”
A delighted cry escapes The Mox’s cracked lips as he tackles the Durher into a sloppy embrace! “<span class="mu-s">YES! YEEEESSS!!! MY PRIZED, BELOVED STUDENT! AH, THE JOY OF ACADEMIA… KNOWLEDGE PASSED, SEEDS SPROUTING!</span>”
“ACkptH!” Sputters the sorceress, “G-get off of me! You’re covered in gunk! Help!”
“A-and…” Blubbers the professor beneath a curtain of tears, “No gods remained. No deities to direct them, no wheel to return to…” Letting Toppel go, Professor Gone’s hollow gaze sweeps around the chamber with fresh fear on his face…
“Doomed to dwell. Trapped eternal. Imprisoned in their own person…” He grinds his teeth in indecision. “... But… but they reject my tribute. So many students… so much meat…”
>CONTD. 