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Runtime Break start
4h 17m 2h 18m

Episode 99: Downfall: Part One

Light.
Light suffusing all. Eternal, undying, infinite.
Names beyond counting does this place have in the timeless time in which it existed. But in your tongue, Exandrian, let us simply call it Tengar, the Eternal Palace. Behold endless ramparts and hallways of spinning stars. A nebula so vast that light would age a thousand lifetimes of its origin to cross from the threshold to the ending of this palace.
Let us imagine beings of infinite possibility and endless wonder, populating the vast and joyous caverns, chambers, hallways, ramparts, all of the chapels and unending mystery that this Eternal Palace has to offer those that have always dwelt herein. Shimmering light, beings of wonder whose potential (having never touched ‘the real’) is limitless.
Within this place we must describe for you in words that mortals can comprehend. What you have come now to witness.
In Tengar, the Eternal Palace, past the hallway of the Unbroken Shard, one can spy the Quill of Infinites (that which writes those worlds that have yet never been). We see a small parade of twinkling lights. These lights that we now behold are, to us, inhuman. But of course, this realm has never known the touch of humans. So, let us instead give it a name, that we might understand it. Sparkling light traveling down a hall, we see EDUN, a kaleidoscoping ephemera of twinkling lights moving through the palace towards the Orchard of Possibility, as once it was called. EDUN beholds a small flickering shape, ARU. Though it would be impossible for a mortal to comprehend, (Nick describes a star). EDUN, much larger than you, ARU, rolls past.
“Oh, Aru! Splendid! I was wondering if I might come across any of the vibrant denizens of these wings of Tengar. Have you any friends nearby to call out to? I wish to show you something, if I could.”
Light spirals out as EDUN moves past you. (Aru calls out to Luz (Ashley)).
LUZ, you arrive at the edge of a vast balcony ending in a staircase descending to an orchard of fractal light. They are trees, but they are also mirrors and stars and perhaps the hands of some great and eternal love for the being of all things yet to come. EDUN, this kaleidoscoping, shimmering train of light begins to descend the staircase, and you see ARU, eternal sibling of yours rushing behind you, LUZ. As you see ARU, a shape comes and turns to look at you and it’s now shimmering blue, but a crackling fire in front of you. This is your sibling IMRI.
Imri:“What’s going on? Is something happening? Are we starting a new game?”
Luz:“I don’t know.”
Aru:“Edun has something to show us.”
Imri:“Well, Edun certainly can’t show it to all of us at the same time and I, as ever, shall be there first!”
IMRI surges forward as a trail of fire shoots down the staircase, into the stars. Luz takes off after. IMRI rushes past EDUN as quickly as possible.
Edun:“Careful! Careful!” You see the trees shimmer. Purplish light, almost what you would describe as the reflection of water when it plays on a wall, lounging beneath the trees, fractals playing on fractals, enjoying the peace.
IMRI races past, trips on a purple fractal, explodes in endless fireworks.
Imri:'I could’ve known, always louging around in the Orchard. EDUN! Nahal tripped me!"
Edun:“Oh, sweet Nahal. I did not wish to disturb your slumber. IMRI, you have run much too fast and become a thousand beautiful exploding fireworks. Enough of that!”
EDUN begins to surround a tree. NAHAL you look on. You feel a growing sense of something that you’ve always felt, like you might feel one day, but have never yet felt, is unusual in the Eternal Palace, to feel anything for the first time. You feel a sense of dread.
Nahal:“What is this? It’s exciting and horrible.”
EDUN looks.
“Ah! Yes. What I wished to show you. A new tree being born in the Orchard of Possibility.”
A tree shimmers and twitches. Sharp, painful. There is a fruit hanging from it, but also a gem, but also a sun falling into itself. EDUN looks up. IMRI looks at you and goes,
“Beautiful…I don’t know if I agree. Don’t you feel a little bit…”
IMRI looks to you for the word that they have never had to say before. EDUN reaches up and plucks the fruit.
Luz, you say, “Wait. Give it a chance.”
A moment too late.
Edun:“Oh.”
Edun’s shimmering form ceases. Each point of light is fixed.
Nahal:“What is this?”
Luz:“What is happening?”
Edun:“I’m sorry. I think I’m going away.”
Nahal:“What is away?”
Aru:“Edun!”
A point of lightlessness rests in the middle of the Orchard.

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