Sermon 34

On the 65th day of Almalexia's joy, the Void Ghost came, dressed as a virgin bride.

She went to bow before Ayem, who said, "Do you come seeking blessing?"

And the virgin bride said, "I bring strife."

Ayem said, "Ancient One, why do you seek to cripple joy with misfortune?"

And the virgin bride smiled. "I am chaos in motion, your truest disciple. The eternal moment offends my eyes."

And Ayem bowed, for this was truth.

The virgin bride threw off her disguise, becoming a roiling mass of unborn children.

"Go to the star-wounded east," it said with a million wet mouths. "Go and present your case."

The Void Ghost folded time about itself, vanishing into history.

Ayem summoned the Hortator.

"We must go on a journey together."

And Nerevar obeyed.

He followed Ayem to her emerald-spoked chariot, she took up the reins. Wind-fast they raced towards Red Mountain.

They arrived beneath night's shade, cresting a rise. Below them spread a valley, crowned by the Sharmat's seat.

And great was the light before them. A thousand, thousand campfires, shaped like a spiral. And there, in the centre, rose the Brass God. It bent space to make room for its presence, weighing heavily on reality.

Nerevar quailed at its immensity. One moment it was tower-tall, next its head vanished in the clouds, then it became so vast it couldn't be seen at all.

Shielding his bleeding eyes, Nerevar cried, "Mistress, what is this abomination?"

"It is a challenge."

And Nerevar said, "But how can we meet it! All the swords of the Golden Legion will be as grass to it, their spears will be straw."

And Ayem smiled, saying nothing.

"Mistress, the Dwemer alone are a great host, but their Walking Star contains a thousand armies in its smallest finger. How shall we stand against it, so soon after Dagon's culling?"

And Ayem smiled, saying nothing.

"Mistress, I do not fear death, for it is merely a passage, but I weep for my people. They are ignorant, and will curse your name."

And Ayem smiled, saying nothing.

"Mistress, I beseech you, show me comfort."

And Ayem said, "I shall show you everything."

Thus Nerevar's third eye unfurled, and he saw:

The mouth of time did open wide,

In radiance, wonder, dread.

And a million stars hid inside,

The destiny of the dead.

Lotus petals ever-unfolding,

Countless lights beholding,

Bearing witness to the unmaking,

Of wisdom for the taking.

Oh Glorious One, turn from me,

Let Thy sun-scorch radiance dim.

For Thy cosmic eyes are all I see,

And Thy gaze is last-breath grim.

And upon Her brow rest the moons,

Their glow limning the wind-swept dunes,

Of my petty, squirming soul.

And extinction is its goal.

Wonder stems from Thy crater-lips,

Sing a sunburst into being.

And Thy shadow is a great eclipse,

Sparking faith in its seeing.

Supreme Deity, I am undone,

By the blinding of Thy sun.

Thy presence's galaxy-swirl,

Is a nimbus of liquid pearl.

Lord of Light, I worship Thee,

Drowning in your abyssal pool.

Treasure-palace of great mystery,

Reveal your hidden heart-jewel.

Thy flame-haloed glory becomes,

A thousand splendid suns,

Bursting all as one,

Thus was time begun.

Thy limbs are measured in mountains,

Circumscribed by infinity's sea.

And from Thee, nameless colour fountains,

To water the ever-living Tree.

In Thee swim all forms, sacred, profane,

And by Thy will alone do Thee sustain,

Our pulsing veins, our very motion,

From a mote of dust to the deepest ocean.

Star-sprinkled void place,

To Thee all blood-rivers flow,

And even god-emperors must face,

Thy gnashing, hungry teeth of woe.

With flaming maw do Thee devour,

Every day, and every hour.

Time itself is meat to Thee,

And womb-wet souls you set free.

Invisible King, consume Thy creation,

Saint, and daedra, lords and nations.

For all matter is but Thy emanation,

Falling stars are Thy libations.

Thus I bow in unceasing prayer,

To Thy infinite-armed formless form.

Thee, whose breath is my air,

And whose sighs are a rising storm.

At this manifestation Nerevar-named-Hortator covered his third eye, crying:

"Have mercy on my limits! Take up again the cloak of my charioteer! This omni-shape is too terrible for mortals to behold. I ask for your mercy, Mother!"

And Ayem quenched the inferno of her third eye, kissing Nerevar on his jewelled brow.

"Be not afraid Nerevar. I showed you but the side of my face, and only a glimpse. I do this to remind you. The people of Veloth will die, today or tomorrow, it matters not. I am the All-Slayer, and countless are my victims. The Dwemer, in their arrogance, think to best me. Fools! Though it take half an eternity, they will fall into my embrace and know annihilation. This is entropy's promise; this is my covenant, forever and ever."

And Nerevar bowed before Ayem the Destroyer, quaking.

"Forgive me, Mother, for my grain of doubt."

And Ayem said, "There is nothing to forgive. Think you capable of angering God? Prideful man! She is not roused by mortal pettiness; She is the Unmoved Mover, at the centre of everything."

With this sign did Nerevar go out to conquer.

The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.