story 2

> Lo, I beheld a great chasm, and bursting from within this chasm wast Feys, lord of underworld. He had beheld the chaos and violence of gods, and hastened to prevent their fall. He was too late.

If the gods had been a uniting force, the lesser gods may have existed in perpetuity, being split with every new mechanism devised by mankind. But, with every split, the power and security of the greater gods weakened. No longer to incorporate as mere forces, they saw their weakened brothers as a chance to seize greater power for themselves.

The first act came from Thanos, who had perpetuated the lesser gods before any other. For many years, Thanos had been jealous and resentful towards his older brother, Orfus, god of all sounds. Thanos felt that since a bolt of lightning created the sound of thunder, he should be the one in control of both. Orfus disagreed, and the two had feuded over it since the first bolt struck the sand to create man.

With this new, modern world, there was a cacophany of sound which had to be created. Orfus had cast down more delegates than any other deity, and suffered for it. Unable to take on incorporeal form, he clung to his remaining power as he was spread thinner and thinner.

One day, his brother Thanos came to his palace, asking for audience to discuss easing Orfus' burden. Eager for relief, he allowed Thanos entry, and invited him for dinner. Under the sound of clinking forks and pouring wine, Thanos pried for information about the situation Orfus had been thrust into. Before the second course could arrive, Thanos cast aside his pretense of civility, and swallowed his brother whole.

It was a dangerous precedent. Soon, every god was coming to consolidate the power of their brothers. Gods of nature consumed each other, gaining greater power but wrecking the seasons. This soon threw the forces of nature into conflict, as spring led to winter, birds took to the sea, men married their pets. The land was awashed in hysteria.

Soon, the seas began to rise, and the earth cracked. Underworld was bursting with the souls of dead men and gods, and they could be contained no longer. When the feuding in heaven had reached its climax, they obliteraed the gates and stormed the universe, breaking every natural being. The gods, bloated and unable to function, perished. It seemed as though Thanos' folly had brought the end times.

But, the seas retreated. Man still lived. Even with the greater gods wiped out, those who had assumed their duties remained. Even with forces of chaos and anarchy in the universe, man would be able to start again. So, life went on. Cities were rebuilt, and new civilizations were formed.

> We must keep the lands safe from fear. We cannot go back to the way things were, so we must press onwards, anew. Nobody will come to save us, so know that you respond only to yourself. Bind yourself to your task, and never waver.
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> Gyros, lord of caverns.