Sermon 35
The shining host of ALMSIVI gathered about the valley where the Dwemer camped, in the red light of dawn. There stood the Golden Legion, spears new polished, swords bright and thirsty. There stood the Buoyant Armigers, dancing on blade-points, ready to uncoil. There stood the war-servitors, painted in the promise of blood.
And Ayem raised Kalabhaksa as a standard, there upon her chariot, Nerevar-named-Hortator beside her. Vivec wheeled amongst the faithful, Muatra a shard of sun, inspiring all who looked upon it. Seht raged overhead, in the form of an iron cloud, heavy with razor-rain.
And the First Under-Inventor looked through his refracting-lens, laughing. "They are waves, and the Brass God is a steel mountain. How can they sunder the idol made real through faith?"
And Nerevar-named-Hortator took up his ebony-banded warhorn, sounding the first sally. Ten thousand arrows hissed, seeking Dwemer hearts, but the Brass God made of its mind a shield, and the arrows broke upon it.
And Nerevar-named-Hortator took up his ebony-banded warhorn, sounding the second sally. The Golden Legion charged, Nerevar's sigil their battlecry. But the Brass God turned their swords to water, limped their spears, and the Legion was scattered.
And Nerevar-named-Hortator took up his ebony-banded warhorn, sounding the third sally. The Buoyant Armigers lunged, bone-whistling, a white whirlwind. But the Brass God turned their armour to glass, shattered it, and they were pierced in every way.
The First Under-Inventor laughed, hiked up his robes and danced. He sent forth the first retort.
Walking ballistae flung man-long shafts at ALMSIVI. Vivec made of Muatra a greater length, shaming the ballistae's missiles. They burnt with embarrassment, and fell, scorched, back to earth.
The First Under-Inventor blew out his cheeks and stamped his feet. He sent forth the second retort.
Golden atronachs advanced, armed with arrows which could strike their target from a great distance. They left smoke-trails in the sky as they screamed flaming death.
And Seht unleashed his torrent upon them, killing their fires. Without heat, the atronachs grew still, their untended arrows burst into dull embers.
The First Under-Inventor ground his teeth, cursed in a dozen tongues. He sent forth the third retort.
They were a host of Dwemer in shell-armour, bearing dragon-rods which spat sparks and thunder. Then did the war-servitors stir, their march a drumbeat. The Dwemer turned their weapons upon them, but their artifice could not pierce the servitors' Seht-blessed skin. Falling upon the Dwemer, the war-servitors dissembled them, silencing their sorcery.
And the First Under-Inventor did tear at his hair in dismay, for now nothing remained but the Brass God.
"This is good," he said. "For the Brass God is everything."
And he struck his transcendent tools together, bade the Brass God pick him up. The New Deity did so, placing the Under Inventor in its mouth, where he tugged at its mind-stems.
"Towards the Tower!" he cried, and the Brass God obeyed, sweeping the servitors into scrap.
At its approach, the Sharmat appeared on the shores of Red Mountain.
"I see at last your people have turned from you, Mother of Mercy. Thus do I reward their inconstancy."
And the Sharmat bore his belly, pregnant with malady. He clawed himself open, birthing a Blight which swept over the land, turning it red.
The soul-sickness gnawed at the Brass God, and he swatted it away, the blow forming the inner sea. Offended, the Blight moved on to more grateful victims.
"Mistress," said Nerevar, fear-shaken. "If the abomination reaches the Tower it will crown itself king!"
And Ayem laughed. "Sweet disciple, all is under my will alone. Do you still doubt?"
And Nerevar-named-Hortator smiled. "I give my body to the hungry wolves."
Then did Ayem make a mudra, blessing Nerevar. "Witness now, your God."
And Ayem raised Kalabhaksa. Vivec entered into it, Seht entered into it, and Ayem drove the chakram into her forehead.
Thus did she become ALMSIVI, that which is, was, and ever will be.
The Brass God came upon the Mouth of Hell, blasting it open with its fire-gaze. The Sharmat stepped aside, bowing and smiling. The Under-Inventor urged his vessel on, till it came to the hidden diamond at the Universe's heart.
He reached for it with the Brass God's hands.
Then did ALMSIVI come, the all in all.
"WHAT SEEK THEE?" She said.
"Apotheosis," said the Under-Inventor.
"I AM THE GATE OF GOD."
And the Under Inventor laughed. "Here there is no division. I am You, as You are Me. I will make my god with my own hands."
"HOW COME YOU BY THIS?"
"I stand at the centre, where all is possibility."
"YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE."
And the Under-Inventor was struck dumb.
"YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE BUT HERE, IN THE CHAMBER OF ALL MYSTERIES."
And the Under-Inventor was enlightened.
"From here did my soul spring, and here does it rest. My ego is dead, for it was no more than my need to know myself. Now, I know nothing, thus, I am nothing."
So saying he was dispersed, consumed by truth, unmade.
Bereft of its guiding star, the Brass God grew still, inert, a monument to the folly of those who sought heaven through violence.
And the Sharmat, coming upon this said, "I shall treasure it. And perhaps, in time, it shall walk again."
And ALMSIVI pronounced this wise.
And She returned to Nerevar's side, who knelt, forlorn, beside the truth-struck tower. ALMSIVI disentangled Herself, becoming the approachable aspects.
And Nerevar said, "I am ready to begin my journey."
He stood then, looking towards the Mouth of Hell.
And Ayem said, "A Blight ravages the land, darkening the countenances of your people. Will you not save them?"
And Nerevar said, "I leave the limits of this mystery to my children. May it make them wise."
And Seht said, bowing, "I give you the right of your own creation."
And Vivec said, bowing, "I give you the promise of love. Though I spurn you now, it shall make our inevitable union sweeter."
And Ayem said, bowing, "I give one final lesson, to speed your steps."
The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.