Found lore: The Mortal Waters (3/3)

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“It all would have died eventually. The universe will end. Even without our memories of the future and past, we *know* it will end. Perhaps not this way, but it would ultimately cease to be.”

Geltakaenogh wept, sprawled out on a cliff’s edge overlooking the sunset. Too absorbed into his shame to respect Blauc Dayag Laga’s words with a response.

“I condemn your actions, but withhold my judgement and curses for now, as I do not know what I would have done if the vapour of the waters had reached me first. Perhaps I too would have acted rashly, and sentenced us to this existence.”

His sobs attenuated along with the setting sun, yet he still had no words for her.

“Though I too fully accepted the mortal waters, I am in no worse or better a position than you, and am disappointed at what you exhibit now. The world is still moving, its balance needs to be maintained. I will tend to it even if all you ever do is wallow.

But … we are still both acting within our nature. I will never know the throes of passion you experience; great joy and awful woe aren’t mine to bear. I tasted a drop of sorrow when the waters covered me, and I do not wish to know it again. Though I fear…

I… fear…

… the choice of what we experience is not ours to make anymore. The other gods are watching us from their heavens, and they now also know that fear.”

She turned back to Geltakaenogh, but he had become a stone pillar. It bore markings of his name, his nature, his story, his acts… but only the magnificent ones; none of his sins. The messages also spoke of his promises, but not their costs. Afraid to face the inevitable withering of a mortal form, he chose to halt his future; he chose to sit forever more.

“No longer consider my judgments withheld. This world and its children will die in wild chaos, and when all that covers the earth are their bones and ash, know it was you who brought about that end.”