Past and present

Everyone walks over to the metal sphere, which by now has stopped smoking. Gently, you tap it with your foot, making a dull clunk. Sarah laughs and shakes her head.

“Very scientific.”

You shrug. “I’m no scientist. Anyone know what this thing is?”

Melora shakes her head. “No idea what it is, but there’s only one person who could have created it. This is the work of a technomage. Kaeli.”

You nod. “I thought so. But how did it get here? And what did it do?”

You look around, and no one has any answers. “I suppose we’ll see. Hopefully it was a benevolent effect. Next question. What was that creature?”

You look at Amara as you ask, and the earth spirit nods. “I can answer that, although it’s a bit of a story.”

Cassie bounces excitedly. “Oooh, story time!”

Amara smiles. “First, I should explain something. I am more than a simple spirit. No offense, Alex.”

Alex grins. “I’m hardly simple, but I know what you mean.”

Amara chuckles. “Well. Yes, simple is the wrong word. Regardless, I am something more. Or, I was, once. You see, I am…very old. I once answered directly to the being you know as the Great One. He was called something else then, but the name was wiped from my memories when he cast aside the council. When the corruption begin to take root.”

She shakes her head. “He was beloved once. A god of peace and light. And his children as well. The corruption twisted all that it touched. The gods fought each other, until the Great One stepped in. Sending the uncorrupted away, he put down the rest. All but one, the favored son.”

Amara looks away, into the forest. “Samus. God of the hunt. Somehow, he was immune to the corruption, but he also refused to leave. But the Great One was too far gone now. And so Samus led him into a trap, imprisoning him and burying him. Afterwards, he vanished, and those of us who survived the godswar assumed he had killed himself, or gone into exile. Until today. I barely recognized him, but that was Samus.”

Everyone is quiet for a moment. You wait until Amara looks back to you. “And the words you spoke? What language was that?”

Amara sighs. “A relic of the council. A secret tongue, known only among the gods, and the Great Host, as we were known; a collection of powerful people, myself included. Today, I simply asked if he remembered me, and if it was truly him.”

You nod. “And what about the ‘key’ he was babbling about?”

Amara shakes her head. “No idea. Wherever he has been, it hasn’t done his sanity any good. I remember him as handsome and noble, not the slavering beast we just saw. Perhaps this device severed whatever hold was upon him.”

You sigh. “Always more questions than answers. Still, thank you for sharing, Amara. Some day, when we have the time, maybe you can share some more stories.”

Amara smiles. “I would like that.”