[ENSŌ] - THE TEMPEST NEVER DIES

[thankgods]

Who: Everyone!
What: The final player enters the field
When: April 30th and onward
Where: On the coast of Ensō
Warnings: Nothing of note!

For the past several months, you've seen it on the horizon. A dark shape, at first, like a distant landmass getting closer and closer. It's continued to draw close, until it becomes apparent that for all it might look like a fragmented chunk of land, overgrown with moss and decaying vegetation, it is far from it.

It's a living being.

And by April 30th, it will have made landfall. A rush of seawater surges up over the beaches of Ensō as the beast settles along the northwestern shore, hulking and massive and rivaling even the great dragon Ahidalgo in sheer size.

When they nestle down against the edge of Ensō, they will lift their heavy head, rocky and streaming water, and open a set of six small, glowing eyes. They do not appear hostile. They regard any who might come near them with a seeming impassivity, though given how much they dwarf all of you, it might be awfully hard to read this creature's demeanor.

At least until they speak aloud.

"SO. THIS IS WHAT YOUR HISTORY HAS WROUGHT."
They're not going away anytime soon, either. It's only a matter of time before the other two gods in the area realize what's happening and reach out.

If you want answers, better talk to them now.

Comments

[agathokakological]

Some worlds are worth saving.

[Speaking from experience.]

Can't speak to this one.

[thankgods]

NO. THEY AREN'T.

[It's spoken frankly, with little acknowledgment or affectation.]

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I AM?

[agathokakological]

[A beat.]

...angry?

[thankgods]

I AM BEYOND MERE ANGER.
I AM NOT A THING THAT MORTAL LIFE IS MEANT TO COMPREHEND.

[For all that pronouncement, those sextupled eyes slit very slightly. It's possible that more than a note of anger has infected their tone.]

I AM THE WORLD'S HISTORY.
I AM THE WAY THINGS ARE AND HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE.
I AM "STORI."
I AM THE HISTORIAN.

[agathokakological]

That's a flex, don't you think?

I am not a mortal life. I've existed before history was a concept. How's that for a pissing match?

[thankgods]

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM?
I AM THE ELDEST OF MY PANTHEON.
I HAVE LIVED LONGER THAN ANY GOD IN THIS REALM.

[agathokakological]

So then let's not jump to conclusions, hm?

[thankgods]

IF YOU'RE HERE TO WASTE MY TIME, I ADVISE YOU TO CHOOSE ANOTHER PATH.
YOUR TIME IS FINITE.
THIS WORLD'S TIME IS FINITE.

[agathokakological]

Do you have the power to end it, then?

[thankgods]

I HAVE THE MEANS.
THOUGH I SUPPOSE I MUST DEAL WITH ALL OF YOU FIRST.

[agathokakological]

Oh. promise? Can you send us back to where we were pulled from?

[thankgods]

THAT IS MY INTENTION.
YOUR HISTORIES ARE OF NO CONCERN OF MINE.
BUT WHILE YOU ARE HERE, YOU DIVERT THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD'S HISTORY.
THIS CANNOT CONTINUE.

[agathokakological]

Lovely. How about I pencil you in for Tuesday? That should be plenty of time, yes?

[thankgods]

ONCE I HAVE UNMADE THIS WORLD, YOU WILL RETURN TO FROM WHICH YOU CAME.
DO NOT INTERVENE IF YOU DESIRE THIS OUTCOME.

[agathokakological]

No take-backsies.

[thankgods]

THERE IS NO REVERSING THE UNMAKING OF A WORLD ONCE IT IS DONE.

[agathokakological]

Yeah, but you still have to do it, first.

[thankgods]

I INTEND TO.
BUT THERE WILL BE OPPOSITION.

[agathokakological]

If you're as ancient and powerful as you say, I don't forsee that being an issue.

[thankgods]

THAT DOES NOT HELP.
IF ALL YOU'VE TO SAY ARE THINGS I ALREADY KNOW, FIND SOMEONE ELSE'S TIME TO WASTE.

[agathokakological]

Right. Well, you've been a delight. Ciao.