User:Truth Bullets/SandboxRespectThread

As pretty much all big respect threads go, this is a heavy work in progress. I don't know when this'll ever be finished because I'm swamped with school, personal issues and 3 other big profiles atm.

Pegana Stuff

See here for the gods of Pegana

• Before the creation of the world, Fate and Chance actively played a game and one approached Mana-Yood-Sushai and asked for him to make all the gods for that one, as they had won the bout.

“

In the mists before the Beginning, Fate and Chance cast lots to decide whose the Game should be; and he that won strode through the mists to Māna-Yood-Sushāī and said: “Now make gods for Me, for I have won the cast and the Game is to be Mine.” Who it was that won the cast, and whether it was Fate or whether Chance that went through the mists before the Beginning to Māna-Yood-Sushāī — none knoweth.

„

• Mana-Yood-Sushai predates all gods, made all gods, will destroy all gods and outlast them, along with the worlds they exist in. Mana-Yood-Sushai will be forever and outlast forever.

“

And it has been said of old that all things that have been were wrought by the small gods, excepting only Māna-Yood-Sushāī, who made the gods and hath thereafter rested.

„

“

Before there stood gods upon Olympus, or ever Allah was Allah, had wrought and rested Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

“

There are in Pegāna — Mung and Sish and Kib, and the maker of all small gods, who is Māna-Yood-Sushāī. Moreover, we have a faith in Roon and Slid.

„

“

But at the Last will Māna-Yood-Sushāī forget to rest, and will make again new gods and other worlds, and will destroy the gods whom he hath made.

„

“

And the gods and the worlds shall depart, and there shall be only Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

All gods are seen as small to Mana-Yood-Sushai.

“

There are in Pegāna — Mung and Sish and Kib, and the maker of all small gods, who is Māna-Yood-Sushāī. Moreover, we have a faith in Roon and Slid.

„

“

And it has been said of old that all things that have been were wrought by the small gods, excepting only Māna-Yood-Sushāī, who made the gods and hath thereafter rested.

„

• The gods created everything (outside of Fate, Chance and Mana-Yood-Sushai of course).

“

And it has been said of old that all things that have been were wrought by the small gods, excepting only Māna-Yood-Sushāī, who made the gods and hath thereafter rested.

„

• Skarl can drum forever. He's also likely a god since Mana-Yood-Sushai only created the gods and it was said he made Skarl, not the gods.

“

When Māna-Yood-Sushāī had made the gods and Skarl, Skarl made a drum, and began to beat upon it that he might drum for ever.

„

• Creating the gods took a lot out of Mana-Yood-Sushai, but he was only put to rest by Skarl's drumming.

“

Then because he was weary after the making of the gods, and because of the drumming of Skarl, did Māna-Yood-Sushāī grow drowsy and fall asleep.

„

• The mists before Mana-Yood-Sushai are where Fate and Chance lie. The mists transcend all the gods, meaning the gods are bound by either Fate or Chance. Skarl is bound by neither as he also resides in mists.

“

Skarl sitteth upon the mist before the feet of Māna-Yood-Sushāī, above the gods of Pegāna, and there he beateth his drum.

„

• All the gods were aware of Mana-Yood-Sushai falling asleep despite him being above them.

“

And there fell a hush upon the gods when they saw that Māna rested, and there was silence on Pegāna save for the drumming of Skarl.

„

• Worlds references celestial bodies. Whenever the worlds are brought up in general it either means planets or just the universe. Celestial bodies may either be from the echoes of Skarl's drumming or the dreams of Mana-Yood-Sushai's sleep.

“

Some say that the Worlds and the Suns are but the echoes of the drumming of Skarl, and others say that they be dreams that arise in the mind of Māna because of the drumming of Skarl, as one may dream whose rest is troubled by sound of song, but none knoweth, for who hath heard the voice of Māna-Yood-Sushāī, or who hath seen his drummer?

„

• Skarl may grow tired but he never stops beating his drum. After all, if he does, Mana-Yood-Sushai will awaken and there won't be anything left; no gods, nothing in the universe.

“

Whether the season be winter or whether it be summer, whether it be morning among the worlds or whether it be night, Skarl still beateth his drum, for the purposes of the gods are not yet fulfilled. Sometimes the arm of Skarl grows weary; but still he beateth his drum, that the gods may do the work of the gods, and the worlds go on, for if he cease for an instant then Māna-Yood-Sushāī will start awake, and there will be worlds nor gods no more.

„

• More of Mana-Yood-Sushai's awakening destroying the universe and Skarl existing above the universe. It was also noted that Pegana would be void due to the awakening of Mana-Yood-Sushai, and it transcends the worlds as well. Of course the gods can't even see Skarl or any of the other higher beings so this means the mists transcend Pegana. Skarl can also move in voids and lower-dimensional spaces.

“

But, when at the last the arm of Skarl shall cease to beat his drum, silence shall startle Pegāna like thunder in a cave, and Māna-Yood-Sushāī shall cease to rest.

„

“

Then shall Skarl put his drum upon his back and walk forth into the void beyond the worlds, because it is the End, and the work of Skarl is over.

„

“

There there may arise some other god whom Skarl may serve, or it may be that he shall perish; but to Skarl it shall matter not, for he shall have done the work of Skarl.

„

• Mana-Yood-Sushai created the gods but didn't create time, so they were just chilling while time had yet to begin.

“

When Māna-Yood-Sushāī had made the gods there were only the gods, and They sat in the middle of Time, for there was as much Time before them as behind them, which having no end had neither a beginning.

„

• Pegana was physically empty with there being nothing there; no heat, light nor sound except for Skarl beating his drum. Pegana is the center of the multiverse, and just as it is a world with a world below it, so it has a world above it as well. Essentially Pegana is noted to transcend the universe and be transcended by the mists yet again.

“

And Pegāna was without heat or light or sound, save for the drumming of Skarl; moreover Pegāna was The Middle of All, for there was below Pegāna what there was above it, and there lay before it that which lay beyond.

„

• The gods created the universe and also the concepts of life and death but did nothing in Pegana so they wouldn't wake Mana. Also neat they have their own language

“

Then said the gods, making the signs of the gods and speaking with Their hands lest the silence of Pegāna should blush; then said the gods to one another, speaking with Their hands; “Let Us make worlds to amuse Ourselves while Māna rests. Let Us make worlds and Life and Death, and colours in the sky; only let Us not break the silence upon Pegāna.”

„

“

Then raising Their hands, each god according to his sign, They made the worlds and the suns, and put a light in the houses of the sky.

„

• The gods make stuff just by hand movements, which they also use to speak silently. A big religious concept that's been around since forever is speaking things into existence due to sheer power, and that's p much what's implied the gods can do here. They also make a comet which can travel the universe in 100 years.

“

Then said the gods: “Let Us make one to seek, to seek and never to find out concerning the wherefore of the making of the gods.”

„

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And They made by the lifting of Their hands, each god according to his sign, the Bright One with the flaring tail to seek from the end of the Worlds to the end of them again, to return again after a hundred years.

„

“

Man, when thou seest the comet, know that another seeketh besides thee nor ever findeth out.

„

Fun calc time bc why not?

The universe is 93 billion light years across, or 8.7984793395e+26 meters.

To travel that distance in 100 years you'd need speed of 2.78998E+17 m/s, that's 930637154c. That is unsurprisingly far less than Kirby's MFTL+ stuff, but MFTL+ nonetheless

• The gods made the moon.

“

Then said the gods, still speaking with Their hands: “Let there be now a Watcher to regard.”

„

“

And They made the Moon, with his face wrinkled with many mountains and worn with a thousand valleys, to regard with pale eyes the games of the small gods, and to watch throughout the resting time of Māna-Yood-Sushāī; to watch, to regard all things, and be silent.

„

• The gods made the sun.

“

Then said the gods: “Let Us make one to rest. One not to move among the moving. One not to seek like the comet, nor to go round like the worlds; to rest while Māna rests.”

„

“

And They made the Star of the Abiding and set it in the North.

„

“

Man, when thou seest the Star of the Abiding to the North, know that one resteth as doth Māna-Yood-Sushāī, and know that somewhere among the Worlds is rest.

„

• The gods made the Earth.

“

Lastly the gods said: “We have made worlds and suns, and one to seek and another to regard, let Us now make one to wonder.”

„

“

And They made Earth to wonder, each god by the uplifting of his hand according to his sign.

„

“

And Earth Was.

„

• The gods last forever.

“

A million years passed over the first game of the gods. And Māna-Yood-Sushāī still rested, still in the middle of Time, and the gods still played with Worlds. The Moon regarded, and the Bright One sought, and returned again to his seeking.

„

• Kib made the beasts of the Earth.

“

Then Kib grew weary of the first game of the gods, and raised his hand in Pegāna, making the sign of Kib, and Earth became covered with beasts for Kib to play with.

„

“

And Kib played with beasts.

„

“

But the other gods said one to another, speaking with their hands: “What is it that Kib has done?”

„

“

And They said to Kib: “What are these things that move upon The Earth yet move not in circles like the Worlds, that regard like the Moon and yet they do not shine?”

„

• Kib making beasts on Earth was enacting the concept of Life.

“

And They said to Kib: “What are these things that move upon The Earth yet move not in circles like the Worlds, that regard like the Moon and yet they do not shine?”

„

“

And Kib said: “This is Life.”

„

• Mung, Sish and Kib predate the gods and reside in Pegana.

“

There are in Pegāna — Mung and Sish and Kib, and the maker of all small gods, who is Māna-Yood-Sushāī. Moreover, we have a faith in Roon and Slid.

„

• If Kib enacts Life, Mung enacts Death.

“

And Mung was jealous of the work of Kib, and sent down Death among the beasts, but could not stamp them out.

„

• Kib creates the concept of Men.

“

And Kib grew weary of the second game, and raised his hand in the Middle of All, making the sign of Kib, and made Men: out of beasts he made them, and Earth was covered with Men.

„

• The gods play with concepts.

“

But when the other gods saw Kib playing his new game They came and played it too. And this They will play until Māna arise to rebuke Them, saying: “What do ye playing with Worlds and Suns and Men and Life and Death?” And They shall be ashamed of Their playing in the hour of the laughter of Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

• Kib speaking broke the silence across Pegana and the worlds below.

“

It was Kib who first broke the Silence of Pegāna, by speaking with his mouth like a man.

„

“

And all the other gods were angry with Kib that he had spoken with his mouth.

„

“

And there was no longer silence in Pegāna or the Worlds.

„

• More of the gods being made by Mana.

“

There came the voice of the gods singing the chaunt of the gods, singing: “We are the gods; We are the little games of Māna-Yood-Sushāī that he hath played and hath forgotten.

„

“

“Māna-Yood-Sushāī hath made us, and We made the Worlds and the Suns.

„

• The gods made the concepts of the universe. When Mana awakens he will laugh and wither away all of the gods and their creations.

“

“Māna-Yood-Sushāī hath made us, and We made the Worlds and the Suns.

„

“

“And We play with the Worlds and the Sun and Life and Death until Māna arise to rebuke us, saying: ‘What do ye playing with Worlds and Suns?’

„

“

“It is a very serious thing that there be Worlds and Suns, and yet most withering is the laughter of Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

“

“And when he arises from resting at the Last, and laughs at us for playing with Worlds and Suns, We will hastily put them behind us, and there shall be Worlds no more.”

„

• Kib foretells a dark future for Pegana and the other worlds.

“

Kib said: “When Time was early, when Time was very early indeed — there was only Māna-Yood-Sushāī. Māna-Yood-Sushāī was before the beginning of the gods, and shall be after their going.”

„

“

And Kib said: “After the going of the gods there will be no small worlds nor big.”

„

“

Kib said: “It will be lonely for Māna-Yood-Sushāī.”

„

• The writings where Kib tells us the above information come from a story titled "The Sayings of Kib (Sender of Life in all the Worlds)." He evoked the concept of Life in the universe.

• Sish's writings are called "Concerning Sish (Destroyer of Hours)."

• Sish is above time, and it ticks at his command. If he were to ever turn back he would humor the past, implying he can move through time. He never does though. He just moves forward into the future.

“

Time is the hound of Sish.

„

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At Sish’s bidding do the hours run before him as he goeth upon his way.

„

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Never hath Sish stepped backward nor ever hath he tarried; never hath he relented to the things that once he knew nor turned to them again.

„

• Sish exists in the present, Kib exists in the past, and Mung exists further behind him.

“

Before Sish is Kib, and behind him goeth Mung.

„

• Sish never stops moving. It would be antithetical to his desires irregardless.

“

And Sish goeth ceaselessly upon his way.

„

• Kib, Mung and Sish never touched the area the gods used to roam in.

“

Once the gods walked upon Earth as men walk and spake with their mouths like Men. That was in Wornath-Mavai. They walk not now.

„

“

And Wornath-Mavai was a garden fairer than all the gardens upon Earth.

„

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Kib was propitious, and Mung raised not his hand against it, neither did Sish assail it with his hours.

„

• Sish kills stuff with Time on purpose. Mung is there to feast on the death.

“

Thence Sish went forth into the world to destroy its cities, and to provoke his hours to assail all things, and to batter against them with the rust and with the dust.

„

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And Time, which is the hound of Sish, devoured all things; and Sish sent up the ivy and fostered weeds, and dust fell from the hand of Sish and covered stately things. Only the valley where Sish rested when he and Time were young did Sish not provoke his hours to assail.

„

“

There he restrained his old hound Time, and at its borders Mung withheld his footsteps.

„

• Time will potentially want to kill the gods. Mana dreams up existence.

“

Time is the hound of the gods; but it hath been said of old that he will one day turn upon his masters, and seek to slay the gods, excepting only Māna-Yood-Sushāī, whose dreams are the gods themselves — dreamed long ago.

„

• The gods made the concepts of death and pain.

“

“Pray to the small gods and hope that they may hear thee. Yet what mercy should the small gods have, who themselves made Death and Pain; or shall they restrain their old hound Time for thee?

„

• One of the gods, Slid, is capable of sending the concept of death when needed.

“

“Pray, thou, therefore, to Slid, and forget not Slid, and it may be that Slid will not forget to send thee Death when most thou needest it.”

„

• Slid's soul is in the ocean. His writing is even called "The Sayings of Slid (Whose Soul Is In the Sea)"

“

And Slid said: “I am the Lord of gliding waters and of foaming waters and of still. I am the Lord of all the waters in the world and all that long streams garner in the hills; but the soul of Slid is in the Sea. Thither goes all that glides upon Earth, and the end of all the rivers is the Sea.”

„

“

And Slid said: “The hand of Slid hath toyed with cataracts, adown the valleys have trod the feet of Slid, and out of the lakes of the plains regard the eyes of Slid; but the soul of Slid is in the sea.”

„

“

Much homage hath Slid among the cities of men and pleasant are the woodland paths and the paths of the plains, and pleasant the high valleys where he danceth in the hills; but Slid would be fettered neither by banks nor boundaries — so the soul of Slid is in the Sea.

„

• The main gods are actually above Slid. They look down upon him while he's in the universe. These are the same gods that shaped the universe, its concepts and the concepts of life and death.

“

For there may Slid repose beneath the sun and smile at the gods above him with all the smiles of Slid, and be a happier god than Those who sway the Worlds, whose work is Life and Death.

„

• Slid pretty much is the god personification of the sea; his soul is in the sea and he can move it, it bending to his emotions. He can even create storms through this.

“

There may he sit and smile, or creep among the ships, or moan and sigh round islands in his great content — the miser lord of wealth in gems and pearls beyond the telling of all fables.

„

“

Or there may he, when Slid would fain exult, throw up his great arms, or toss with many a fathom of wandering hair the mighty head of Slid, and cry aloud tumultuous dirges of shipwreck, and feel through all his being the crashing might of Slid, and sway the sea. Then doth the Sea, like venturous legions on the eve of war that exult to acclaim their chief, gather its force together from under all the winds and roar and follow and sing and crash together to vanquish all things — and all at the bidding of Slid, whose soul is in the sea.

„

“

There is ease in the soul of Slid and there be calms upon the sea; also, there be storms upon the sea and troubles in the soul of Slid, for the gods have many moods.

„

• Slid's body is in Pegana.

“

And Slid is in many places, for he sitteth in high Pegāna.

„

• Mung's writing is called "The Deeds of Mung (Lord of all Deaths between Pegāna and the Rim)."

• Mung enjoys enacting the concept of Death apparently.

“

And Mung said: “Were the forty million years before thy coming intolerable to thee?”

„

“

And Mung said: “Not less tolerable to thee shall be the forty million years to come!”

„

“

Then Mung made against him the sign of Mung and the Life of the Man was fettered no longer with hands and feet.

„

• Mung is everywhere preceding his evoking of death.

“

At the end of the flight of the arrow there is Mung, and in the houses and the cities of Men. Mung walketh in all places at all times. But mostly he loves to walk in the dark and still, along the river mists when the wind hath sank, a little before night meeteth with the morning upon the highway between Pegāna and the Worlds.

„

“

Once, as Mung went his way athwart the Earth and up and down its cities and across its plains, Mung came upon a man who was afraid when Mung said: “I am Mung!”

„

• Kib can lay out a future of life for you.

“

And Mung said: “Many turnings hath the road that Kib hath given every man to tread upon the earth. Behind one of these turnings sitteth Mung.”

„

“

One day as a man trod upon the road that Kib had given him to tread he came suddenly upon Mung. And when Mung said: “I am Mung!” the man cried out: “Alas, that I took this road, for had I gone by any other way then had I not met with Mung.”

„

• Mung can evoke bad things to you in general. He can change the future Kib lays out to one of regrets, sorrows and bad stuff.

“

Then Mung made the sign of Mung. And the Life of that man went forth with yesterday’s regrets and all old sorrows and forgotten things — whither Mung knoweth.

„

• The gods always live in a state of the present intentionally.

“

And Mung went onward with his work to sunder Life from flesh, and Mung came upon a man who became stricken with sorrow when he saw the shadow of Mung. But Mung said: “When at the sign of Mung thy Life shall float away there will also disappear thy sorrow at forsaking it.” But the man cried out: “O Mung! tarry for a little, and make not the sign of Mung against me now, for I have a family upon the earth with whom sorrow will remain, though mine should disappear because of the sign of Mung.”

„

“

And Mung said: “With the gods it is always Now. And before Sish hath banished many of the years the sorrows of thy family for thee shall go the way of thine.” And the man beheld Mung making the sign of Mung before his eyes, which beheld things no more.

„

• Mung has an avatar on Earth he uses when evoking his bad things. That form preceding death that permeates the Pagana and brings godly death is a mere shadow to him.

“

Not any longer than shall fall the Shadow of Mung athwart the hopes of the People.

„

• Limpang-Tung's writing is called "The Sayings of Limpang-Tung (The God of Mirth and of Melodious Minstrels)"

• Limpang-Tung is a god but he doesn't understand the big gods whatsoever.

“

And Limpang-Tung said: “The ways of the gods are strange. The flower groweth up and the flower fadeth away. This may be very clever of the gods. Man groweth from his infancy, and in a while he dieth. This may be very clever too.

„

“

“But the gods play with a strange scheme.

„

“

“I will send jests into the world and a little mirth. And while Death seems to thee as far away as the purple rim of hills; or sorrow as far off as rain in the blue days of summer, then pray to Limpang-Tung. But when thou growest old, or ere thou diest pray not of Limpang-Tung, for thou becomest part of a scheme that he doth not understand.

„

“

Or offer up a jest to Limpang-Tung; only pray not in thy sorrow to Limpang-Tung, for he saith of sorrow: ‘It may be very clever of the gods,’ but he doth not understand.”

„

• Limpang-Tung is a god below the small gods, reminiscent of Slid.

“

And Limpang-Tung said: “I am lesser than the gods; pray, therefore, to the small gods and not to Limpang-Tung.

„

• Holy forces cannot negate Mung or Sish.

“

“Natheless between Pegāna and the Earth flutter ten thousand thousand prayers that beat their wings against the face of Death, and never for one of them hath the hand of the Striker been stayed, nor yet have tarried the feet of the Relentless One.

„

• Limpang-Tung stills looks down on the universe and has knowledge of Pagana as said before.

“

And Limpang-Tung said: “Lest men grow weary down on the great Worlds through gazing always at a changeless sky I will paint my pictures in the sky. And I will paint them twice in every day for so long as days shall be. Once as the day ariseth out of the homes of dawn will I paint the Blue, that men may see and rejoice; and ere day falleth under into the night will I paint upon the Blue again, lest men be sad.”

„

• Limpang-Tung brings about sound.

“

Limpang-Tung hath lured a melody out of the stream and stolen its anthem from the forest; for him the wind hath cried in lonely places and ocean sung its dirges.

„

“

There is music for Limpang-Tung in the sounds of the moving of grass and in the voices of the people that lament or in the cry of them that rejoice.

„

• Limpang-Tung cannot be seen by mortals. More of his sound debauchery.

“

Or sometimes walking through the dusk with steps unheard by men, in a form unseen by the people, Limpang-Tung goeth abroad, and, standing behind the minstrels in cities of song, waveth his hands above them to and fro, and the minstrels bend to their work, and the voice of the music ariseth; and mirth and melody abound in that city of song, and no one seeth Limpang-Tung as he standeth behind the minstrels.

„

• Yoharneth-Lahai is god over desires and dreams

“

Yoharneth-Lahai is the god of little dreams and fancies.

„

• Lahai is the root of dreams/desires. He also resides in Pegana.

“

All night he sendeth little dreams out of Pegāna to please the people of Earth.

„

“

To whom Yoharneth-Lahai cometh not with little dreams and sleep he must endure all night the laughter of the gods, with highest mockery, in Pegāna.

„

• Whether Lahai's dreams are reality or reality be the real dream is unknown to all but Mana. Given that reality is the dreams of Mana, as a fan theory it seems interesting that Lahai is the only one who can bring them to the real world, which is a good place for them. But whatever.

“

Whether the dreams and the fancies of Yoharneth-Lahai be false and the Things that are done in the Day be real, or the Things that are done in the Day be false and the dreams and the fancies of Yoharneth-Lahai be true, none knoweth saving only Māna-Yood-Sushāī, who hath not spoken.

„

• Roon is the god of cause and effect. His writing is even called "Of Roon, the God of Going and the Thousand Home Gods"

“

Roon said: “There be gods of moving and gods of standing still, but I am the god of Going.”

„

“

It is because of Roon that the worlds are never still, for the moons and the worlds and the comet are stirred by the spirit of Roon, which saith: “Go! Go! Go!”

„

• Roon can chill in non-existence and affect the Soul of Slid.

“

Roon met the Worlds all in the morning of Things, before there was light upon Pegāna, and Roon danced before them in the Void, since when they are never still, Roon sendeth all streams to the Sea, and all the rivers to the soul of Slid.

„

• Roon directly forces cause and effect.

“

Roon maketh the sign of Roon before the waters, and lo! they have left the hills; and Roon hath spoken in the ear of the North Wind that he may be still no more.

„

• Roon and his transcendence over reality. Roon should likely be higher than this, on par with Kib, Mung and Sish, as he predates Pegana too.

“

Yarinareth, Yarinareth, Yarinareth, which signifieth Beyond — these words be carved in letters of gold upon the arch of the great portal of the Temple of Roon that men have builded looking towards the East upon the Sea, where Roon is carved as a giant trumpeter, with his trumpet pointing towards the East beyond the Seas.

„

• More of Pegana transcending the universe.

“

There is also Kilooloogung, the lord of arising smoke, who taketh the smoke from the hearth and sendeth it to the sky, who is pleased if it reacheth Pegāna, so that the gods of Pegāna, speaking to the gods, say: “There is Kilooloogung doing the work on earth of Kilooloogung.”

„

“

All these are gods so small that they be lesser than men, but pleasant gods to have beside the hearth; and often men have prayed to Kilooloogung, saying: “Thou whose smoke ascendeth to Pegāna send up with it our prayers, that the gods may hear.” And Kilooloogung who is pleased that men should pray, stretches himself up all grey and lean, with his arms above his head, and sendeth his servant the smoke to seek Pegāna, that the gods of Pegāna may know that the people pray.

„

“

Yarinareth, Yarinareth, Yarinareth, which signifieth Beyond — these words be carved in letters of gold upon the arch of the great portal of the Temple of Roon that men have builded looking towards the East upon the Sea, where Roon is carved as a giant trumpeter, with his trumpet pointing towards the East beyond the Seas.

„

“

Whoso heareth his voice, the voice of Roon at evening, he at once forsaketh the home gods that sit beside the hearth. These be the gods of the hearth: Pitsu, who stroketh the cat; Hobit who calms the dog; and Habaniah, the lord of glowing embers; and little Zumbiboo, the lord of dust; and old Gribaun, who sits in the heart of the fire to turn the wood to ash — all these be home gods, and live not in Pegāna and be lesser than Roon.

„

• Yoharneth-Lahai is compared to Hish. This means Yoharneth-Lahai is one of the weakest dudes and also looks up to Pegana, which is consistent from what we've read so far.

“

And when he hath slain all sounds Hish boweth low to the ground; then cometh into the house, with never a sound of feet, the god Yoharneth-Lahai.

„

• Even the weakest of gods can break the laws of the universe.

“

But old men tell, whose fathers heard it from the ancients, how once the lords of the three rivers of the plain rebelled against the law of the Worlds, and passed beyond their boundaries, and joined together and whelmed cities and slew men, saying: “We now play the game of the gods and slay men for our pleasure, and we be greater than the gods of Pegāna.”

„

• Even the weakest of gods are immortal. Even though the home gods are small and weak compared to the small gods, they cannot be engulfed or destroyed.

“

Then were all the gods of Pegāna very wroth; but They could not whelm the lords of the three rivers, because being home gods, though small, they were immortal.

„

• Mung creates the beast of Mung, Umbool, who embodies drought.

“

Then Mung went down into a waste of Afrik, and came upon the drought Umbool as he sat in the desert upon iron rocks, clawing with miserly grasp at the bones of men and breathing hot.

„

“

Then Mung said: “Friend of Mung! go, thou and grin before the faces of Eimēs, Zānēs, and Segástrion till they see whether it be wise to rebel against the gods of Pegāna.”

„

“

And Umbool answered: “I am the beast of Mung.”

„

“

And Umbool came and crouched upon a hill upon the other side of the waters and grinned across them at the rebellious home gods.

„

• More of the gods of Pegana being above the home gods.

“

And Eimēs grew lean, and was forgotten, so that the men of the plain would say: “Here once was Eimēs”; and Zānēs scarce had strength to lead his river to the sea; and as Segástrion lay and panted a man stepped over his stream, and Segástrion said: “It is the foot of a man that has passed across my neck, and I have sought to be greater than the gods of Pegāna.”

„

“

Then said the gods of Pegāna: “It is enough. We are the gods of Pegāna, and none are equal.”

„

• Even the home gods can manipulate concepts for their entertainment.

“

And Eimēs, Zānēs, and Segástrion sang again, and walked once more in their accustomed haunts, and played the game of Life and Death with fishes and frogs, but never essayed to play it any more with men, as do the gods of Pegāna.

„

• Dorozhand's writing is called "Of Dorozhand (Whose Eyes Regard the End)"

• Dorozhand is a small god but he can ordain fate. Whenever someone looks upon him, their fate becomes that of a wretched end and death. Dorozhand manipulating fate would mean he is messing with the force from the mists itself, Fate. Fate is further said to be above the sight of all the small gods, and this affirms Dorozhand manipulating a higher-dimensional force.

“

The god of Destiny is Dorozhand. Upon whom have looked the eyes of Dorozhand he goeth forward to an end that naught may stay; he becometh the arrow from the bow of Dorozhand hurled forward at a mark he may not see — to the goal of Dorozhand. Beyond the thinking of men, beyond the sight of all the other gods regard the eyes of Dorozhand.

„

• Dorozhand sees what fates he's going to ordain for people before he ever lays them out. More on look down upon the universe.

“

Sitting above the lives of the people, and looking, doth Dorozhand see that which is to be.

„

• Dorozhand resides in Pegana.

“

There is something that Dorozhand would fain achieve, and, therefore, hath he set the people striving, with none to cease or rest in all the worlds. But the gods of Pegāna speaking to the gods, say: “What is it that Dorozhand would fain achieve?”

„

“

It hath been written and said that not only the destinies of men are the care of Dorozhand but that even the gods of Pegāna be not unconcerned by his will.

„

“

All the gods of Pegāna have felt a fear, for they have seen a look in the eyes of Dorozhand that regardeth beyond the gods.

„

“

Therefore the Worlds go on, and the rivers run to the sea, and Life ariseth and flieth even in all the Worlds, and the gods of Pegāna do the work of the gods — and all for Dorozhand

„

• Dorozhand's destiny manipulation involves manipulating the concept of life.

“

The reason and purpose of the Worlds is that there should be Life upon the Worlds, and Life is the instrument of Dorozhand wherewith he would achieve his end.

„

• Dorozhand wants to invoke ends so much that the concept of life is completely segregated from the concept of the universe.

“

But when the end of Dorozhand hath been achieved there will be need no longer of Life upon the Worlds, nor any more a game for the small gods to play.

„

• More of Mana having created the gods. The mists are found in highest Pegana, implying Pegana itself is truly a layered structure as we've seen before.

“

Then will Kib tiptoe gently across Pegāna to the resting-place in Highest Pegāna of Māna-Yood-Sushāī, and touching reverently his hand, the hand that wrought the gods, say: “Māna-Yood-Sushāī, thou hast rested long.”

„

• Mana uses a simple hand motion to get rid of the gods, which shows just how powerful he really is, needing a simple slight of hand to erase the many gods and the conceptual toys they built.

“

Then Māna-Yood-Sushāī, as one who would have done with an irksome matter, will lightly wave his hand — the hand that wrought the gods — and there shall be gods no more.

„

• THe border between Pegana and the universe is called the Rim. Here it's said that when Mana awakens he'll return it all to the state of non-existence of the Pegana of old.

“

Then shall the Times that were be Times no more; and it may be that the old, dead days shall return from beyond the Rim, and we who have wept for them shall see those days again, as one who, returning from long travel to his home, comes suddenly on dear, remembered things.

„

• Hoodrazai is the god of mirth beyond Limpang-Tung, who's also the god of mirth.

“

They say that Hoodrazai had heard the murmers of Māna-Yood-Sushāī as he muttered to himself, and gleaned the meaning, and knew; and that he was the god of mirth and of abundant joy, but became from the moment of his knowing a mirthless god, even as his image, which regards the deserts beyond the track of man.

„

“

They say that Hoodrazai stands all alone in Pegāna and speaks to none because he knows what is hidden from the gods.

„

• The mountains of Pegana are where the small gods reside, transcendent of the Pegana areas below.

“

But when the prophet saw that they had passed above the edge of Earth, and that far away to the North of them lay the Moon, he perceived that he was following no mortal birds but some strange messengers of Hoodrazai whose nest had lain in one of Pegāna’s vales below the mountains whereon sit the gods.

„

• The Rim separating Pegana (which is called the "Silence" here, likely because it was silent for the longest time to not wake Mana) is filled with rocks not used to create the universe. More of Pegana being beyond. Trogool resides on the Rim.

“

Still they went South till they passed below the South and came to the Rim of the Worlds.

„

“

There there is neither South nor East nor West, but only North and Beyond; there is only North of it where lie the Worlds, and Beyond it where lies the Silence, and the Rim is a mass of rocks that were never used by the gods when They made the Worlds, and on it sat Trogool. Trogool is the Thing that is neither god nor beast, who neither howls nor breathes, only it turns over the leaves of a great book, black and white, black and white for ever until the End.

„

• Trogool turns a book that advances everything. This book is the Scheme of Things itself.

“

Then as the prophet watched it, Trogool turned a page — a black one, and night was over, and day shone on the Worlds.

„

“

Trogool is the Thing that men in many countries have called by many names, it is the Thing that sits behind the gods, whose book is the Scheme of Things.

„

• By the small gods transcending the Rim and everything below it, they would transcend Trogool and the Scheme of Things, which is consistent with Mung separating the small gods from the Scheme of Things as they are separate and not in accordance with each other.

“

And Mung said: “Had it been possible for thee to go by any other way then had the Scheme of Things been otherwise and the gods had been other gods. When Māna-Yood-Sushāī forgets to rest and makes again new gods it may be that They will send thee again into the Worlds; and then thou mayest choose some other way, and not meet with Mung.”

„

• The Scheme of Things can evoke planned events.

“

Then spake Trogool who turns the pages and never answers prayer, and his voice was like the murmurs of the waste at night when echoes have been lost: “Though the whirlwind of the South should tug with his claws at a page that hath been turned yet shall he not be able to ever turn it back.”

„

“

Then because of words in the book that said that it should be so, Yadin found himself lying in the desert where one gave him water, and afterwards carried him on a camel into Bodraháhn.

„

• Even while the gods are typically outside the Scheme of Things, the book has one phrase which can affect them and induce the awakening of even Mana-Yood-Sushai; Mai Doon Izahn.

“

But certain aged men of Bodraháhn say that indeed there sitteth somewhere a Thing that is called Trogool, that is neither god nor beast, that turneth the leaves of a book, black and white, black and white, until he come to the words: Mai Doon Izahn, which means The End For Ever, and book and gods and worlds shall be no more.

„

• Yonath the Prophet says in dreams he saw the small gods in Pegana and most of Pegana itself, but couldn't see Mana-Yood-Sushai.

“

There be gods upon Pegāna.

„

“

Upon a night I slept. And in my sleep Pegāna came very near. And Pegāna was full of gods.

„

“

I saw the gods beside me as one might see wonted things.

„

“

Only I saw not Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

• The gods made the future more appealing to men than the present.

“

The gods have set a brightness upon the farther side of the Things to Come that they may appear more felititous to men than the Things that Are.

„

• More of Pegana being this temporal singularity of the past, present and future combined, all in one middle.

“

To the gods the Things to Come are but as the Things that Are, and nothing altereth in Pegāna.

„

• Just attempting to look into Mana-Yood-Sushai's area caused this one guy to have his thoughts and existence reduced to just warnings of his mistake and not to do it.

“

I saw the gods beside me as one might see wonted things.

„

“

Only I saw not Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

“

And in that hour, in the hour of my sleep — I knew.

„

“

And the end and the beginning of my knowing, and all of my knowing that there was, was this — that Man Knoweth Not.

„

“

Seek thou to find at night the utter edge of the darkness, or seek to find the birthplace of the rainbow where he leapeth upward from the hills, only seek not concerning the wherefore of the making of the gods.

„

• Mung kills the cocky.

“

And Mung stepped from behind him, making the sign of Mung, saying: “Knowest thou All Things, then, Alhireth-Hotep?” And Alhireth-Hotep became among the Things that Were.

„

“

One day Yug saw Mung behind the hills making the sign of Mung. And Yug was Yug no more.

„

• Even though many had seen Mung, knew of Mung and had been killed by him as he revealed himself to them, there were no memories of anyone ever seeing Mung.

“

And Kabok, who knew All Things, grew afraid, for the treading was very loud and the night still, and he knew not what lay behind the back of Mung, which none had ever seen.

„

• More of Pegana transcending the Rim and the Scheme of Things advancing everything in the universe.

“

But, ere night met the morning upon the highway between Pegāna and the Worlds, there came the tread of Mung in the garden of Kabok towards Kabok’s door.

„

• The sign of Mung points to the end of the multiverse, where all of the universe and Pegana shall be erased by Mana. Seeing this makes you meet a similar end, not just meeting the concept of death, but becoming a thing of the past.

“

And Kabok fled out of his house as flees a hunted beast and flung himself before Mung.

„

“

And Mung made the sign of Mung, pointing towards The End.

„

“

And the fears of Kabok had rest from troubling Kabok any more, for they and he were among accomplished things.

„

• Pegana is described as timeless. Sish released time upon a man who mocked the gods.

“

And Sish throughout the Worlds hurled Time away, and slew the Hours that had served him well, and called up more out of the timeless waste that lieth beyond the Worlds, and drave them forth to assail all things. And Sish cast a whiteness over the hairs of Yūn-Ilāra, and ivy about his tower, and weariness over his limbs, for Mung passed by him still.

„

• Mung withheld death from Yun and let him age and wither away while keeping him alive because he mocked the gods and desired death.

“

Then from the tower of the Ending of Days did Yūn-Ilāra cry out thus to Mung, crying: “O Mung! O loveliest of the gods! O Mung, most dearly to be desired! thy gift of Death is the heritage of Man, with ease and rest and silence and returning to the Earth. Kib giveth but toil and trouble; and Sish, he sendeth regrets with each of his hours wherewith he assails the World. Yoharneth-Lahai cometh nigh no more. I can no longer be glad with Limpang-Tung. When the other gods forsake him a man hath only Mung.”

„

“

But Mung said: “Shall a man curse a god?”

„

• More of the gods in Pegana.

“

But when your praying has troubled the silence long it may be that some god as he strolls in Pegāna’s glades may come on one of our lost prayers, that flutters like a butterfly tossed in storm when all its wings are broken; then if the gods be merciful they may ease our fears in Sidith, or else they may crush us, being petulant gods, and so we shall see trouble in Sidith no longer, with its pestilence and dearth and fears of war.”

„

• If you ever try to bother Mana-Yood-Sushai in his sleep you're instantly erased.

“

All that day men saw him climbing. At night he rested near the top. But ere the morning of the day that followed, such as rose early saw him in the silence, a speck against the blue, stretch up his arms upon the summit to Māna-Yood-Sushāī. Then instantly they saw him not, nor was he ever seen of men again who had dared to trouble the stillness of Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

• Dorozhand made an avatar in the guise of man.

“

“And as I uttered the last of certain secret words I fell asleep in the temple, for I was weary, with my head against the altar of Dorozhand. Then in the stillness, as I slept, there entered Dorozhand by the temple door in the guise of a man, and touched me on the shoulder, and I awoke.

„

“

“But when I saw that his eyes shone blue and lit the whole of the temple I knew that he was a god though he came in mortal guise.

„

• Dorozhand's avatar, Sish and Dorozhand can gaze into the future and move into it. Normal men can too with Dorozhand's command.

“

“But when I saw that his eyes shone blue and lit the whole of the temple I knew that he was a god though he came in mortal guise. And Dorozhand said: “Prophet of Dorozhand, behold that the people may know.” And he showed me the paths of Sish stretching far down into the future time.

„

“

Then he bade me arise and follow whither he pointed, speaking no words but commanding with his eyes.

„

“

“Therefore upon the twentieth night of the nine hundredth moon I walked with Dorozhand adown the paths of Sish into the future time.

„

• The end, as shown with Mung and implied here, can kill you just by witnessing it.

“

“And suddenly I beheld that the End was near, for there was a stirring above Pegāna as of One who grows weary of resting, and I saw the hound Time crouch to spring, with his eyes upon the throats of the gods, shifting from throat to throat, and the drumming of Skarl grew faint.

„

“

“And if a god may fear, it seemed that there was fear upon the face of Dorozhand, and he seized me by the hand and led me back along the paths of Time that I might not see the End.

„

• More of the Scheme of Things and the gods being separate.

“

And as he lay he pondered on the Scheme of Things and the works of all the gods. And it seemed to the prophet of the gods as he watched the stream run by that the Scheme was a right scheme and the gods benignant gods; yet there was sorrow in the Worlds. It seemed that Kib was bountiful, that Mung calmed all who suffer, that Sish dealt not too harshly with the hours, and that all the gods were good; yet there was sorrow in the Worlds.

„

• Zodrak became a god after seeing the gods in Pegana. They had to make him a god by their laws.

“

“‘But I, who am the fool, had heard it said on earth that whoso seeth the gods upon Pegāna becometh as the gods, if so he demand to Their faces, who may not slay him who hath looked them in the eyes.

„

“

“‘And I, the fool, said: “I have looked in the eyes of the gods, and I demand what a man may demand of the gods when he hath seen Them in Pegāna.” And the gods inclined Their heads and Hoodrazai said: “It is the law of the gods.”

„

“

“He said: ‘Indeed I am amongst the gods, who speak to me as they speak to other gods, yet is there always a smile about Their mouths, and a look in Their eyes that saith: “Thou wert a man.”

„

• Here's reaffirmation about the mountains thing from earlier.

“

And Pegāna is a place all white with the peaks of mountains, on each of them a god, and the people shall lie upon the slopes of the mountains each under the god that he hath worshipped most when his lot was in the Worlds.

„

“

“‘And there is no darkness in Pegāna, for when night hath conquered the sun and stilled the Worlds and turned the white peaks of Pegāna into grey then shine the blue eyes of the gods like sunlight on the sea, where each god sits upon his mountain.

„

• The gods (as shown with Slid) have souls.

“

“‘Moreover, as thou sittest on the orchard lawns that clothe Pegāna’s mountains, and as thou hearkenest to melody that sways the souls of the gods, there shall stretch away far down beneath thee the great unhappy Earth, till gazing from rapture upon sorrows thou shalt be glad that thou wert dead.

„

• The gods created the mists at the top of Pegana as a boundary for Mana-Yood-Sushai so he couldn't see them. Anything existing above these with thus transcend the gods.

“

“‘Far through Pegāna a silvery fountain, lured upward by the gods from the Central Sea, shall fling its waters aloft, and over the highest of Pegāna’s peaks, above Trehagobol, shall burst into gleaming mists, to cover Highest Pegāna, and make a curtain about the resting-place of Māna-Yood-Sushāī.

„

• The end can come about from merely beholding Mana.

“

“‘And at the Last, upon some afternoon, perhaps in summer, shall the gods say, speaking to the gods: “What is the likeness of Māna-Yood-Sushāī and what the End?”

„

“

“‘And then shall Māna-Yood-Sushāī draw back with his hand the mists that cover his resting, saying: “This is the Face of Māna-Yood-Sushāī and this the End.”’”

„

• Men have no free will, they're controlled by Dorozhand. Imbaun too is guided by Dorozhand.

“

“Be not angry with men, for they are driven as thou art by Dorozhand. Do bullocks goad one another on whom the same yoke rests?

„

“

“And be not angry with Dorozhand, for then thou beatest thy bare fingers against iron cliffs.

„

“

“And also man is born. And there rests a glory about the gardens of his youth. Both travel afar to do what Dorozhand would have them do.

„

• The awakening of Mana is reaffirmed to end everything.

“

Ood is a greater prophet than any of all the prophets of Earth, and it hath been said by some that were Ood and his priests to pray chaunting all together and calling upon Māna-Yood-Sushāī that Māna-Yood-Sushāī would then awake, for surely he would hear the prayers of his own prophet — then would there be Worlds no more.

„

• Skarl's drumming created a physical river of silence.

“

There arises a river in Pegāna that is neither a river of water nor yet a river of fire, and it flows through the skies and the Worlds to the Rim of the Worlds, — a river of silence. Through all the Worlds are sounds, the noises of moving, and the echoes of voices and song; but upon the River is no sound ever heard, for there all echoes die.

„

“

The River arises out of the drumming of Skarl, and flows for ever between banks of thunder, until it comes to the waste beyond the Worlds, behind the farthest star, down to the Sea of Silence.

„

• The River is above the baseline of Pegana.

“

I lay in the desert beyond all cities and sounds, and above me flowed the River of Silence through the sky; and on the desert’s edge night fought against the Sun, and suddenly conquered.

„

• Yoharneth-Lahai chills on the River.

“

Then on the River I saw the dream-built ship of the god Yoharneth-Lahai, whose great prow lifted grey into the air above the River of Silence.

„

• Lahai's dream stuff can affect the physical world. The rowers are men's desires, people never created and people that died.

“

Upon her deck were rowers with dream-made oars, and the rowers were the people of men’s fancies, and princes of old story and people who had died, and people who had never been.

„

• Lahai weaves dreams from your desires and hopes

“

For ever on every wind float up to Pegāna the hopes and the fancies of the people which have no home in the Worlds, and there Yoharneth-Lahai weaves them into dreams, to take them to the people again.

„

• More of the Sea of Silence transcending the universe. Lahai can row to and from universes.

“

But ere the day comes back to her own again, and all the conquering armies of the dawn hurl their red lances in the face of the night, Yoharneth-Lahai leaves the sleeping Worlds, and rows back up the River of Silence, that flows from Pegāna into the Sea of Silence that lies beyond the Worlds.

„

• Even the god of forgetting can't make you forget your most important memories. This doesn't affect Lahai in the slightest either.

“

But where the River flows through Pegāna’s gates, between the great twin constellations Yum and Gothum, where Yum stands sentinel upon the left and Gothum upon the right, there sits Sirami, the lord of All Forgetting. And, when the ship draws near, Sirami looketh with his sapphire eyes into the faces and beyond them of those that were weary of cities, and as he gazes, as one that looketh before him remembering naught, he gently waves his hands. And amid the waving of Sirami’s hands there fall from all that behold him all their memories, save certain things that may not be forgotten even beyond the Worlds.

„

• The Sea of Silence will hold gods of non-existence and the non-existent hound of Time at some point.

“

It hath been said that when Skarl ceases to drum, and Māna-Yood-Sushāī awakes, and the gods of Pegāna know that it is the End, that then the gods will enter galleons of gold, and with dream-born rowers glide down Imrana (who knows whither or why?) till they come where the River enters the Silent Sea, and shall there be gods of nothing, where nothing is, and never a sound shall come. And far away upon the River’s banks shall bay their old hound Time, that shall seek to rend his masters; while Māna-Yood-Sushāī shall think some other plan concerning gods and worlds.

„

• When Mana awakens it will shake everything and time will turn on its masters.

“

For at the last shall the thunder, fleeing to escape from the doom of the gods, roar horribly among the Worlds; and Time, the hound of the gods, shall bay hungrily at his masters because he is lean with age.

„

• The bird Mosahn will spell out the end for the gods in tribute of Mana

“

And from the innermost of Pegāna’s vales shall the bird of doom, Mosahn, whose voice is like the trumpet, soar upward with boisterous beatings of his wings above Pegāna’s mountains and the gods, and there with his trumpet voice acclaim the End.

„

• When Mosahn spells out the end for the gods they will be forced to ride down the River of Pegana to the Sea of Silence, which is non-existence.

“

Then in the tumult and amid the fury of their hound the gods shall make for the last time in Pegāna the sign of all the gods, and go with dignity and quiet down to Their galleons of gold, and sail away down the River of Silence, not ever to return.

„

• Time relies on things it can devour otherwise it doesn't exist. The Sea of Silence will overflow and nothingness will consume creation in the end. Of course Mana won't be affected by this despite chilling in Pegana.

“

Then shall the River overflow its banks, and a tide come setting in from the Silent Sea, till all the Worlds and the Skies are drowned in silence; while Māna-Yood-Sushāī in the Middle of All sits deep in thought. And the hound Time, when all the Worlds and cities are swept away whereon he used to raven, having no more to devour, shall suddenly die.

„

• Time and Mung dying means that the concepts of time and death will be gone for Mana.

“

And then shall the hound, springing, tear out the throat of Mung, who, making for the last time the sign of Mung, shall bring down Death crashing through the shoulders of the hound, and in the blood of Time that Sword shall rust away.

„

“

Then shall Māna-Yood-Sushāī be all alone, with neither Death nor Time, and never the hours singing in his ears, nor the swish of the passing lives.

„

Time and the gods

See here for the full book

• To start off this book we are told yet again about how Time has not progressed or even begun whatsoever for the gods. It's reaffirmed as their servant.

“

Once when the gods were young and only Their swarthy servant Time was without age, the gods lay sleeping by a broad river upon earth.

„

• The gods dreams' spawn a ton of buildings for them on earth.

“

There in a valley that from all the earth the gods had set apart for Their repose the gods dreamed marble dreams. And with domes and pinnacles the dreams arose and stood up proudly between the river and the sky, all shimmering white to the morning. In the city's midst the gleaming marble of a thousand steps climbed to the citadel where arose four pinnacles beckoning to heaven, and midmost between the pinnacles there stood the dome, vast, as the gods had dreamed it. All around, terrace by terrace, there went marble lawns well guarded by onyx lions and carved with effigies of all the gods striding amid the symbols of the worlds. With a sound like tinkling bells, far off in a land of shepherds hidden by some hill,the waters of many fountains turned again home. Then the gods awoke and there stood Sardathrion.

„

• The gods control whether you get to see Sardathrion.

“

Not to common men have the gods given to walk Sardathrion's streets, and not to common eyes to see her fountains.

„

• All the gods can casually come in avatars.

“

So may many that the gods have loved come to the marble city, but none can return, for other cities are no fitting home for men whose feet have touched Sardathrion's marble streets, where even the gods have not been ashamed to come in the guise of men with Their cloaks wrapped about their faces.

„

“

No report shall ever come to other lands of the music of the fall of Sardathrion's fountains, when the waters which went heavenward return again into the lake where the gods cool Their brows sometimes in the guise of men.

„

• Confirmation that Sardathrion is on Earth and that Pegana is above the universe.

“

Above the Twilight the gods were seated in the after years, ruling the worlds. No longer now They walked at evening in the Marble City hearing the fountains splash, or listening to the singing of the men they loved, because it was in the after years and the work of the gods was to be done.

„

• The gods can issue the concepts of pestilence and mercy.

“

But often as they rested a moment from doing the work of the gods, from hearing the prayers of men or sending here the Pestilence or there Mercy, They would speak awhile with one another of 2 the olden years saying, "Rememberest thou not Sardathrion?" and another would answer "Ah! Sardathrion, and all Sardathrion's mist-draped marble lawns whereon we walk not now."

„

• The gods can answer prayers from men or smite them.

“

Then the gods turned to do the work of the gods, answering the prayers of men or smiting them, and ever They sent Their swarthy servant Time to heal or overwhelm.

„

• Time is the slave to all the gods.

“

And Time went forth into the worlds to obey the commands of the gods, yet he cast furtive glances at his masters, and the gods distrusted Time because he had known the worlds or ever the gods became.

„

• Time goes out into the universe to age stuff. Sardathrion is confirmed to be the dream city of the gods. The gods rule over the universe and Time.

“

One day when furtive Time had gone into the worlds to nimbly smite some city whereof the gods were weary, the gods above the twilight speaking to one another said: "Surely we are the lords of Time and gods of the worlds besides. See how our city Sardathrion lifts over other cities. Others arise and perish but Sardathrion standeth yet, the first and the last of cities. Rivers are lost in the sea and streams forsake the hills, but ever Sardathrion's fountains arise in our dream city. As was Sardathrion when the gods were young, so are her streets to-day as a sign that we are the gods."

„

• Time killed Sardathrion. It somehow had blood on its hands

“

One day when furtive Time had gone into the worlds to nimbly smite some city whereof the gods were weary, the gods above the twilight speaking to one another said:

„

“

"Sardathrion is gone! I have overthrown it!" And the gods said: "Sardathrion? Sardathrion, the marble city? Thou, thou hast overthrown it? Thou, the slave of the gods?" And the oldest of the gods said: "Sardathrion, Sardathrion, and is Sardathrion gone?" And furtively Time looked him in the face and edged towards him fingering with his dripping fingers the hilt of his nimble sword.

„

• The cries of the gods rattle the universe.

“

Then the gods feared with a new fear that he that had overthrown Their city would one day slay the gods. And a new cry went wailing through the Twilight, the lament of the gods for Their dream city, crying:

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• More of Sardathrion being the dream city of the gods.

“

Sardathrion, Sardathrion, dream city of the gods, and thine onyx lions

„

• The gods brought the concepts of dawn and evening down upon Sardathrion.

“

"How often have we sent our child the Dawn to play with thy fountain tops; how often hath Evening, loveliest of our goddesses, strayed long upon thy balconies.

„

• Gods can directly interact with the universe.

“

"Let one fragment of thy marbles stand up above the dust for thine old gods to caress, as a man when all else is lost treasures one lock of the hair of his beloved. Sardathrion, the gods must kiss once more the place where thy streets were once."

„

• The gods just shouted out these winds which went and wrestled Slid but lost and came back to report the news.

“

"This is neither the cry of life nor yet the whisper of death. What is this new cry that the gods have never commanded, yet which comes to the ears of the gods?" And the gods together shouting made the cry of the south, calling the south wind to them. And again the gods shouted all together making the cry of the north, calling the north wind to Them; and thus They gathered to Them all Their winds and sent these four down into the low plains to find what thing it was that called with the new cry, and to drive it away from the gods. Then all the winds harnessed up their clouds and drave forth till they came to the great green valley that divides the south in twain, and there found Slid with all his waves about him. Then for a space Slid and the four winds struggled with one another till the strength of the winds was gone, and they limped back to the gods, their masters, and said: "We have met this new thing that has come upon the earth and have striven against its armies, but could not drive them forth; and the new thing is beautiful but very angry, and is creeping towards the gods."

„

• Water is drawn to Slid. He moved water through the universe to Earth

“

Upon an evening of the forgotten years the gods were seated on the hills, and all the little rivers of the world lay coiled at Their feet asleep, when Slid, the new god, striding through the stars, came suddenly upon earth lying in a corner of space. And behind Slid there marched a million waves, all following Slid and tramping up the twilight; and Slid touched Earth in one of her great green valleys that divide the south, and here he encamped for the night with all his waves about him. But to the gods as They sat upon Their hilltops a new cry came crying over the green spaces that lay below the hills, and the gods said:

„

• Slid represented neither life nor death and was a totally new thing to even the gods

“

"This is neither the cry of life nor yet the whisper of death. What is this new cry that the gods have never commanded, yet which comes to the ears of the gods?"

„

• Slid is comparable to giant cliffsides

“

But Slid advanced and led his armies up the valley, and inch by inch and mile by mile he conquered the lands of the gods. Then from Their hills the gods sent down a great array of cliffs against hard, red rocks, and bade them march against Slid. And the cliffs marched down till they came and stood before Slid and leaned their heads forward and frowned and stood staunch to guard the lands of the gods against the might of the sea, shutting Slid off from the world. Then Slid sent some of his smaller waves to search out what stood against him, and the cliffs shattered them. But Slid went back and gathered together a hoard of his greatest waves and hurled them against the cliffs, and the cliffs shattered them. And again Slid called up out of his deep a mighty array of waves and sent them roaring against the guardians of the gods, and the red rocks frowned and smote them. And once again Slid gathered his greater waves and hurled them against the cliffs; and when the waves were scattered like those before them the feet of the cliffs were no longer standing firm, and their faces were scarred and battered. Then into every cleft that stood in the rocks Slid sent his hugest wave and others followed behind it, and Slid himself seized hold of huge rocks with his claws and tore them down and stamped them under his feet. And when the tumult was over the sea had won, and over the broken remnants of those red cliffs the armies of Slid marched on and up the long green valley

„

• Slid sang a song that pulled the waters of the gods to him and made them obey him.

“

Sternly the white cliffs stood on guard to save the world of the gods, but the song that once had troubled the stars went moaning on awaking pent desires, till full at the feet of the gods the melody fell. Then the blue rivers that lay curled asleep opened their gleaming eyes, uncurled themselves and shook their rushes, and, making a stir among the hills, crept down to find the sea. And passing across the world they came at last to where the white cliffs stood, and, coming behind them, split them here and there and went through their broken ranks to Slid at last. And the gods were angry with Their traitorous streams

„

• Slid's dominion reaches across most of all the universe.

“

Tintaggon, I have conquered all the stars, my song swells through all the space besides, I come victorious from Mahn and Khanagat on the furthest edge of the worlds, and thou and I are to be equal lords when the old gods are gone and the green earth knoweth Slid.

„

• Inzana and the gods predate existence.

“

When the worlds and All began the gods were stern and old and They saw the Beginning from under eyebrows hoar with years, all but Inzana, Their child, who played with the golden ball.

„

• The gods predestined the first day. Inzana was the one to initiate it and the first dawn by chucking her golden sun across Pegana into the world.

“

It was dark all over the world and even in Pegana, where dwell the gods, it was dark when the child Inzana, the Dawn, first found her golden ball. Then running down the stairway of the gods with tripping feet, chalcedony, onyx, chalcedony, onyx, step by step, she cast her golden ball across the sky. The golden ball went bounding up the sky, and the Dawnchild with her flaring hair stood laughing upon the stairway of the gods, and it was day. So gleaming fields below saw the first of all the days that the gods have destined.

„