The Beginning of Sartova Excerpt Three
As revealed to Xeraht, the Dark Watcher, by Tabratch-Ti, the Corruptor, in a demesne deep below Avernus where time and reality break down and the world ceases to be right.
-a dark tunnel to the Fiefdoms of Tor.
The Daelkyr were told that Sartova was created to help them learn something, and became so honored by this gift that they obediently began Observing from the beginning of the Story to it's inevitable end. Dozens of Daelkyr tore themselves into new shapes, before they found each other able to Observe as well as they believed necessary, and--due to lack of available space on the Fiefdoms--made an accord to not tear themselves into new shapes any more. A couple dozen Daelkyr sat, floated, flew, or otherwise existed upon a cliff face on a one of the larger islands of the Fiefdoms of Tor, watching the East as the first Sun set over the distant Jhar'gorn, and the first day of Observation came to an end. Avernus, tearing himself from a tunnel created through shortcuts in the Story, wielding in one hand Secara, a blade made of his own blood, (This was later identified as Cthonic Ebony) and in the other, a dark black mass of ink, the stuff of potential. He stood determined on the cliff face next to the ever-churning forms of the Daelkyr, subdivisions of his elder brother-sister, and inquired, "Jharia gave me an answer that I understand but do not respect, and after some time I wondered what all of you, Dael, believe. Simply, for we exist only within the will of Simon, do we exist at all? How do we know?" Korzyyn **(also known as the Prince of Slime)** possessed a form that differed from his true self, which helped Avernus learn what he was beginning to understand; that what is observed and what is true often seem to disagree. This Daelkyr replied instantly, a slimy sound as he spat forth words, "What does it matter, Avernus? We can learn without being existent". Avernus steeled himself against the plethora of Daelkyr surrounding him now, each of them spittling tiny realities that warped the space around him and distorted his understanding of the encounter. He returned the retort in kind, fighting against the sensation, "It matters, Kyr-Who-Came-From-Dael, because the knowledge Simon is teaching you matters not if you cannot do anything with the knowledge once you acquire it!" The Daelkyr recoiled, all of them thrashing and moving as they took this knowledge and made of themselves forms to better deal with the revelation in a new way. When they were done, Tothoth **(also known as the Thousand-Headed-King)** spoke: "Allow me to demonstrate, Brother Avernus. Existence is determined by consequence, and every existence can be traced from its consequences. Without that existence the chain of causality would break". The Second Son shook his head, misunderstanding, but listening to his elder brothers' wise, if chaotic advice. Orlassk, **(also known as the Master of Stone)** who mastered transmutation and change of solid forms better than any, continued the explanation, "Tothoth answered your question. We all have answered it in our own perceptions. Your question caused these answers. The cause of the question was your disenchantment and longing for reality. Only existent things can ask questions, let alone long for things, so the source of this question must be existent. Everything existent can be named, so the source of this question must have an identifier, and since that one matches yours, Avernus, you originated prior to the origination of the asking". Continuing, Torashyrra, first of the Daelkyr, spoke, "Therefore, you must exist for everything proceeding your actions to exist". Slowly, Avernus pieced together the wisdom of his own with Jharia's and the Daelkyr's, finding his own truths within the three, before looking up at the now constant forms of the Daelkyr, smiling, "I appreciate this, you have helped me greatly". The Daelkyr, who cared little whether their actions have helped their brother, were only concerned with how they might have changed the Story, but nonetheless understood that the Story will always continue as Simon intends, and returned to Observing the First Night.
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