The End is Nigh

Time Immemorial

What does it mean to trade life for mana? Rammel wondered to himself as he wandered around Heron's Gate. He looked about the small town. Each sandstone building was expertly crafted from mana. The land sung the praises of the Great Ones. The Minor Ones had small lodgings on the outskirts, a building that was more massive than the one designated for the Great Ones. But, then again there were more of them. As he looked around and saw all that was created, he wondered what the point of everything was. Why would the Great Ones forge such a path for the living? Is it so necessary to create a system where all must die to store mana? These questions swirled in his head. He could easily go to the main building in the center of the small town. One of the Great Ones could probably answer his queries. Except, he wasn't sure he was allowed to ask. They didn't exactly encourage asking anything. They gave orders, laid out a plan, and said stick to it. But, why are we to stick to this plan?

"Good day, Rammel." A voice called out to him from behind. Tiamat. She seemed so chipper this early in the day. It was as though her body beamed with starlight. He wondered how the daughter of A'grappa would have such a disposition when her father's was so counter to it. Rammel guessed it had to do with their mother, Esperyn.

"Good day, Tiamat." Rammel mumbled. His mind still reeled with the several questions in his head.

"Why the dead delivery?" She asked.

"I have inquiries, none of which I believe you can answer." Rammel countered. "Perhaps I could pester your father with them." A weak smile came across his face.

"Or, perhaps your grandfather, Galadyn." She suggested.

"Mayhaps."

"That's not all there is, is there?" She dug deeper. Tiamat was very good at bringing out the root cause of anything from anyone. She knew exactly how to get someone to talk. It was a skill Rammel had yet to really learn. Not that Rammel was interested in learning it anyway. He was more content to be alone.

"I am a little unsure of what we are actually doing here." Rammel confessed. "I know we are supposed to guide the mortal races of the multiverse, for which we have divided each universe amongst us. But, I have yet to find my niche anywhere."

"Funny, I have decided that I am going to cultivate a few species. I know that my father's cause is to sow chaos throughout the multiverse, in order to keep innovation and order. But, I cannot wait to have my chance to cultivate a strong race to bring peace throughout the multiverse. Perhaps through peace, the mortals will multiply better and hold more mana as they live."

"Mayhaps." Rammel thought about it. He wasn't really sure what the best course to make the mana storage the most dense and plentiful. But, he was sure that together they would find the best way. The problem was that all the Great Ones had a different answer for how to achieve the goal. They each had a different cause too, which was supposed to relate to the same plan. "Mayhaps." Rammel repeated. Suddenly, he got a thought he had never had before. "Hey, Tiamat?"

"Yes, Rammel?"

"Why do you think we were created?" Rammel knew this question was probably taboo in itself or garnish a circular answer.

"We were born, Rammel." Tiamat corrected. "The first mortals were created. But, like the subsequent mortals, we were born." Her tone had turned to that serious formal tone. "However, I was told that we were born to guide the mortal races in place of the Great Ones or rather with them. The multiverse is so grand that it is impossible to keep an eye on all of it. That is where we come in."

"So, why the Fractions?"

"All mortals need heroes, Rammel. It allows them to praise the gods for strong figures that protect their civilization." She sounded like Esperyn. Which wasn't far off considering that Esperyn was her mother.

"Thanks, Tiamat." Rammel said as he walked off. Tiamat answered some of his questions, ironically. He didn't think it had been possible. But, she also made new questions arise in his mind.

Rammel wandered Heron's Gate for a little while. His turn to go and observe the mortals was coming up soon. The Minor Ones had several ways to do this. Once a day, a group of the Minor Ones went down the mortal realms and mingled with them. Another group observed them through the observatory. Talk about lack of privacy. Rammel didn't really look forward to going down the mortal realm. He had difficulty connecting to the mortal races.

"Rammel!" A voice called out ahead of him. "Rammel!"

"Good day, Ban'iel." Rammel's tone fell flat. Ban'iel had the habit of asking a lot of questions. Rammel liked Ban'iel but, hated that part of him.

"I come bringing news." He said with the mirth of a small child. His smile widened as he spoke. "I just got word from Effishal that we are to go to the observatory instead of heading down to the mortal realm."

Rammel breathed a sigh of relief. "That is news indeed." Came his response. He didn't want to give away his ecstasy for not having to mingle with the mortals. If he never had to go down the to mortal realm it would be better. He much rather observe the mortal realm and advise the other Minor Ones through his observations. "When do we head to the observatory?"

"Now, actually." He answered. "I actually came to retrieve you and escort you to the telescopes." Rammel could tell he was doing his best not to dance in place. Why Ban'iel got so exited to be around him made him a little uncomfortable. But, of all Rammel's siblings, Ban'iel was the only one that really spent any actual time with him.

Rammel felt otherwise quite lonely.

Rammel followed Ban'iel to the observatory, mostly quiet, listening to him ramble on about the various different things he had seen throughout his travels. He really found the innovation of the mortals to make their lives better was truly astounding. Rammel knew Yog Thalthos found the mortals weaponry more impressive. Rammel on the other hand, didn't really understand why they bothered to progress at all. It was not necessary. The idea was to multiply after all.

"Hey, Ban'iel, what is your take on the mortals and the Fractions?" Rammel asked as they made their way through the arch that led into the observatory. They still had several flights to walk up to get to the top. The Great Ones forbid teleporting here. Even getting down to the mortal realms was done through the Great Bridge.

"To be honest," Ban'iel started as they climbed the stairs, "I think that their lifespans are much too varied. I don't think that each of the Great Ones made a consensus together to determine the span of the mortals' lives. But, other than that, the innovations they come up with are quite impeccable. They make things to ensure the viability of their offspring and ways to extend their lifespans as long as possible."

"The mortals lives would be otherwise meaningless if they were given long lifespans, considering they only serve one purpose. A purpose, mind you, they don't even know about." Rammel countered. "It would be a waste for them not to come up with ways to extend their lives and therefore the amount of mana they imbue into their body through osmosis."

"That's a little unfair don't you think, Rammel?" A soft and airy voice scolded from behind him. Rammel turned on the landing of the stairs to come to face Galadyn.

"Lord Galadyn." Rammel said surprised. "Tell me, am I wrong or do the mortals serve another purpose for which they live?"

Galadyn laughed. His voice was bottomless when it came to his laughter. It deepened and echoed throughout any building he was in. "Not so fast, Rammel. It would be a waste for me to tell you exactly what we created the mortals for. You were meant to guide them, sure. But, likewise, you were meant to learn from them. I am sure you haven't even begun to think about what you could learn from these mortals."

"Learn?"

"Why do you think we set you to observe them as well as instruct them on what we want of them?" Galadyn put a finger to his temple as if trying to incite Rammel to keep what he said in mind.

What could I possibly learn from these mortals? Weren't we created to be better than them? Or, do the Great Ones intend for us to learn how to be more like them so they could guide us less? What does Galadyn actually mean? More questions than before circled in Rammel's head. He felt like today was the day for inquiries and no answers. That alone frustrated him.