Terminus: Review of Sorcerous Study

[23:27] One of the clergy was sent to fetch literature from within the Grand Hall -- That of Euxenos' works, a wondrous effort that led to the achievement of one's delving into sorcery. It was a study into the Abyss, a theory that ultimately warranted results through study and practice...
It was not a matter isolated to merely those encounters...

The memories of those wandering the spire were clear to Terminus, allowing him to witness the freak incidents of his worshippers interacting with Euxenos' eventual ascension into such an echelon of magic prowess.

A loyal clergyman flipped through the pages of the Abyssal studybook, with Terminus skimming through their thoughts on the matter to ascertain the knowledge via proxy.

Arcanics

That was the subject that the man was on, reading about the matters that led one to some discoveries.
Order Magic and Chaos Magic -- These were briefly mentioned by the likes of the Eros' family that visited him prior. They spoke of their potential to effectively make or break Gods and Marqui alike -- a power that few magi managed to procure to shift the fundamentals of the realm to the parameters they saw fit.

To realize that such magic could find its origin in the metaphysical was... Not a surprise -- Order insinuated that things functioned accordingly to a guideline. If the manipulation of gravity, and by extension the space within it managed to grace its domain? It made sense.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, only came the Occult -- It was no surprise... What else could mankind attribute to, what they simply could not control?
Though other more natural elements came to one's gaze.

It was fascinating in some aspect -- to come to the realization that even having dabbled in the various arts, that it was not only theorized but proven that both Order and Chaos could functionin tandem. It was a fundamental requirement for existence, was it not? The Occult existed, typically untapped of its full potential, uncontrolled... Yet, balanced with all else -- especially by its ethereal antipodal: The Holy.
As sickening as it was? It simply had to be -- for now, imbalance would be direct opposition toward the ultimate Vision in mind.

Order begot uniformity. Chaos begot a lack thereof.
Order discerned Truth, created stasis, and formed binding contracts...
Yet, didn't the existence of entropy initiate the same thing? Was it not, by contrast, the upending of Order? Could they have proven all too different after all? Or was it simply a use of the principle -- used and abused against its proper intention?

Chaos broke down physical elements, inflicted madness, and proved unpredictable with its impact on the realm at large -- declaratively unexplored by the common man.

It did leave one to realize that neutral arcanics existed -- From Transformation to even Raw Creation: All aspects of a proper God. It was what one needed... It was within the purview of those whom studied the arcane. It was a power within the grasp of sorcerers... And yet, such power was wasted on humanity. Through humanity... It was a power of righteous divinity... In the hands of imbeciles obsessed in constant power struggles that inevitably would vanish in the constant stream of time.

As the thoughts ran through the likes of Terminus' mind, the clergyman who read the book flipped the page to the next chapter. The thoughts that were casually perused by this remote reader shifted from the likes of the arcane -- to:

Sorcery

As mortal eyes scanned the pages, the Patron's psionic reach sought to decipher the loosely guarded thoughts of one's read.
The tome provided claimed that theartistry of sorcery could not be so casually claimed by reading the text. Rather, it was a mere dissertation -- a means of describing what one had learned, likely to better than own understanding whilst teaching the masses of a pending theory -- as the title implied.

Sorcery was defined as an artistry that severed one's standing with divinities, with gods -- It sought to defy one's self reincarnation through the cycle -- but what place would Terminus have in such a cycle? He was not human... Only recently in his existence did he discover he did in fact, have a soul. What existence would he have should he perish? Surely, it couldn't have been satisfying, and inevitably it would find one in either torment or dissatisfaction for a time he simply could not comprehend.

To initiate such an endeavor -- to undergo the worst of it? It meant to separate oneself from the very construct he sought to unmake, a necessary step in his ascension.
(Etheric Presence)
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[23:38] There seemed to be a conundrum with the effort, however...
The most necessary practice, the initial step? Required the sorcerer's seal: Something that had become known to Terminus through several delvings into such study. However, despite each one seemingly being different from the others? There was no guarantee that the effort would pay off. It required precision, something Terminus simply couldn't ensure without something to provide reference and ensure the perfection it dictated.

Perhaps, this is where the effort should've come to an abrupt halt, yes? How else was one to achieve this? Then again, there was consideration applied to the happenings of the recent -- Euxenos was notably different when they interfaced with Terminus last. It also was not lost on them that something seemed to hitch a ride onto them, from their eldritch study: It -was- possible. As to the destructive aftermath that it'd incur? Unknown. As to what they sacrificed... It appeared to be actual flesh -- A concentration of this foreign presence dubbed the 'Abyss of Dregs' seemed centered around their eye. Could it be, that with some effort -- He too, could sacrifice a limb, an eye, an arm... To initiate such a ritual? Unlike a human, his flesh was subjected to further magus generation. He could heal from wounds that would kill others several times over...

Entire limbs restructured, regrown -- what was to say such a practice wouldn't result in the very same thing? Then again, Euxenos had a presence that heavily centered around their eye. Would such prove to be a complication? Consideration was taken as the ritual necessary to conduct such an effort was thought over, mulled upon, before the matter of the Astral Sea was contemplated.

Each sorcerer was an individual striving for the power of infinitum... Each one was an individual....
But individualism, made them weak, capable of being toppled by far more united forces. History spoke of that story a relentless number of times. Thus, it came to Terminus... Long has he sought to claim the power of Gods. Did they not circumvent such an issue by compiling power from mortals? Is this not what Muse and their son warned him against? To use their pry at the Astral Sea to pry more mortals to them, to strengthen their own grasp upon it -- An anchor for all, that would inevitably claim its due once the time came.

To become a vacuum that ultimately fed upon those that pried from him, to serve themselves... But once the time came? They themselves, would succumb to such a vacuum... To return to Terminus... Only lessening the burden on the Patron, and furthering their claim over the infinite sea.

This was the theory of how the Marqui set themselves apart...
This was the theory of how the Pantheon came to be...
Through magus contracting... Through the invocation of special powers to reward such contracts...
Through the reaping of souls, their power, their worshippers -- not through conflict nor battle to force them to his employ - No! It would have to come at their own volition, enticed by their own desires. It warranted more...

It would be what garnered him everything he needed... Everything he wanted.
It'd give them the fixes to their vices and lustful desires over the living realm -- all the while, attuning them to Him, and him alone.
It'd remove them from the cycle, speeding Terminus' effort to unmake the very cycle that earned his ire...
It'd empower him, so that the very realm at-large would fall victim to his influence.

His Will would overwhelm that of the Natural Order -- That was what his Vision dictated.
(Etheric Presence)
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[23:50] As much as one could read on this, the subject would inevitably shift... To that of the Abyss. He had heard plenty of it, but it was mostly unexplored -- theory that digressed from his ultimate focus. It was the Astral Sea he sought out, thus -- A silent command, and the clergy reading through the book would close it shut. A period of silence, and the nameless clergyman found themselves tasked with yet another mission. Their journey around the likes of the spire would lead to Euxenos' Study of the Abyss of Dregs returned to the Grand Hall, and a subtle journey to the Dorm Hall.

There was no telling whether Euxenos would be present, nor whether they'd approve of the clergyman daring to peek around their room. It was under the cover of night, sneaking past the openings of guard patrols to eventually use a spare key to enter the youthful sorcerer's room. A brief peek, and no evidence of Euxenos' presence would immediately scream a cause for alarm. Still, they had to be fast with their endeavor, otherwise they risked arousing suspicion and unnecessary conflict.
Though, it was not as if the trouble would prove overwhelming, given the cause... It was better worth not pursuing it anyway.

--and there it was...
The Sorcerous Grimoire, from Caethir itself.
Given the stories heard from Euxenos' efforts in the past? It was likely they would suffer psychological effects for taking on such a tome... Thus, they would venture from the room, with it - in hand. The grimoire was stowed under their cloak, and an attempt to look natural took precedence as they ventured up the many steps...
Through the many halls... Until they'd make it to the shrine room.

The Maledictus took to their usual place, stirring at the sound of their arriving footsteps with mild annoyance. It was clear that they were not expected to be here at this time of night. After all, they were supposed to meditate in shifts, to keep themselves well attuned to their Patron, without weakening their mind from restlessness.
As the elder opened their mouth to speak, they hesitated -- a faceless force had reached out to them... Offering... Clarity.

The selective endeavor of the Patron enabled psionics to invoke a peaceful harmony in all aspects that ultimately fed into his goal, without arousing mass awareness. It was best to keep the illusion of unequal divine power, while it proved unnecessary to prove otherwise.

The silent acolyte sat down in a meditative stance, apart from the rest that took refuge by the pool's edge. They only needed the proximity to the Patron... The proximity of their fellow clergymen. It enabled one to better strengthen their psionic connection, to ensure not a single word was missed, and any psychological impairment would be better augmented against.

The first chapter was just as Terminusremembered. The separation of man from their lesser... From the common labors, to behold the heavens. From their obedience and worships, to their own inner will and ambitions. It demonized what people dubbed 'Gods', what people called 'devils'; it even sought to stray man from the independent spirits abroad. Though, in such an endeavor to break the binding chains of Man? It was likely never intended that such a power managed to reach the hands of one that lacked humanity... Especially one that sought to claim such power to rival Gods for themselves.

Without further ado, the nameless reader flipped pages to reveal chapter 2: The sorcerer's seal. Again, this seemed to line up with a lot of what Euxenos' readings depicted. However, quite the number of things were missing -- nothing concerning the elaborate arcanics that governed the world around such a study. Nay -- It was only going over the specific matters of a sorcerer's seal.

...This was the information he required...

A decorative five-pointed star was to be encompassed by a circle that contained runes for each of the primary elements, the outer worlds, and one that identified Terminus himself. It was supposed to link him to the flow of mana beyond the star in the middle, across the infinite horizon of the Astral Sea itself. At the center of such a design, was meant to be an ouroborus - the finishing touch that sought equivalent exchange; it was something that insinuated rebirth, through the consumption of yet another of one's self.
(Etheric Presence)
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[00:07] This is where things seemed to contort into enigmatic theoretics. Thus far, only mortals seemingly took upon such a practice, per this grimoire and Euxenos' study. It referenced Nethradin later on, but aside from that? There didn't seem to be another type of entity that explicitly utilized such a method. Perhaps, it was already implied? Was that why humans needed to sacrifice their flesh? He too, required to sacrifice to peer into it -- however, his flesh could regenerate. Such was a matter that had come to pester him prior. Though, perhaps it was of little consequence.

Perhaps, it was further evidence that it was never meant for Man to have.
It was always meant for Terminus. It was fate that this grimoire met the clutches of his worshippers, although its contents were considered blasphemy. Such a conundrum would be snuffed out should the need ever arise.

Therein lay another issue -- as the synapses within the reader's mind seemingly quaked, disturbed by the text they perused, shaken to the core -- with the semblance of sanity ebbing away by the many pages afforded to them. They had made it to Chapter Three, and this would likely be where their efforts would end.
The Astral Sea was boundless, an infinite supply of essence...
It was a type of mana, according to this grimoire -- one that made up one's spirit.

Could it be that Nethradin simply pulled from the Astral Sea to supply to those that served them? The Contract Magic they used, allowed them to claim ownership of their soul, but what ultimately pried such to them? An anchor...
Something that acted upon that sort of power...
The manipulation of the soul was a forbiddable and oft terrifying power that wrought the spite and fury of Meranthe wholesale.

It did not frequent the realm via friendly endeavors, commonly used to rip the likes of the deceased from their rest, back to the realm of the living for whatever purposes theinitiator would desire. Then, there were other matters -- such as the more extreme displays of the Occult that sought to erode the divine barrier betwixt body and soul -- to deteriorate it outright.
He knew the feeling all too well... The memory of his duel with Varrach was still fresh in his mind to this day.

What humanity lacked...
What sorcerers lacked...
Was a concrete means of binding the soul, without first amplifying their powers to their apex -- something, that likely would prove too time consuming for Terminus' interests. Besides... They already -had- what it was they needed, did they not?
He had worked to perfect his efforts to manipulate mortal souls for a while now, from understanding the most mundane of concepts to even practicing the intricacies of molding them to the very worldly constructs around them.

There still lacked the crucial ingredient of harbor the soul in its truest form... Not as a fractal plucked away by force, but as a whole entity drawn upon en infinitum -- A permanent fuel source superior to all other matters.
After all, this was what Muse Eros eluded to, was it not? Something that they sought not to see manifested in this world.

However, it was not a matter of If for Terminus...
It never was...
Only a matter of When.
"That is enough."
For once, he spoke telepathically into the mind of the reader, breaking his quiet practice of occultic suggestion -- a hopeful prayer in comparison to the likes of outright Occultic Indoctrination as his original demonic stature would've enabled.

"You may rest... I have learned all that I need to know, for now."
A bloodied nose drained from the likes of the acolyte, raising up to their feet with a silent bow in the direction of the pool. Others within the shrine, having witnessed this, only raised a brow and continued on their meditative effort.

The acolyte, on the other hand? They were given a final task... To silently return the grimoire without alerting too much attention to themselves. Terminus had taken it upon themselves to study further on such a subject -- and much like Euxenos? They sought to claim the powers of sorcery for themselves. After all, was his collective knowledge garnered not already capable of eclipsing anything a youthful human could achieve?
(Etheric Presence)
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