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Answers of Aoran Zeprithun
Herein are the answers which were given to Al-Rathis by the spirit
that called itself Aoran Zeprithun, as transcribed by Tellzan Amberson. It is important to note that the spirit was
determined to actually be a fiend. It's identity and even the veracity of this text should be considered questionable.
- Is Saulos still in power?
- I do not know for certain. My spirit has been trapped here for ages. I would be surprised if he has perished for he knew secrets to things that I could only guess upon. His hunger for self-fulfillment was perhaps even greater than my own. It is said that he knew many secrets and kept them in a hidden chamber beneath his tower. Should such a place exist, I would not be surprised to find that his soul still dwelt there too. From your memories I see that his lands were destroyed, but you know not how.
- How do you intend to overthrow him?
- I conspired to ascend beyond my mortal coil, to retrieve the artifacts that Saulos coveted, the keys to the Three Stones of Power. Then I, Infernal and beyond mortal, infused with an inheritance of Divinity, with the three keys, would gain access to all of the Stones, wrest power from Saulos, and subjugate my peers beneath my heel.
- What are his goals?
- Saulos sought to ascend in to realms of power unrealized even by gods. Many thought him a megalomaniac mad man. I had my own doubts whether such an ascension was possible and was willing to use it to my advantage against him.
- Who are or were "The Three"
- The Three were myself, Vainegal (VEIN eh ghal) of Eres (AIR ess), and Kaug (COG) the Unsatiable. I ruled from the ancient Temples of Indulgence, deep within the glorious city of Tyndol (TIN dowl). Each of us held magics most feared, though I was most scholarly among the three. Vainegal was the most secretive and mystical - I believe he would have best understood Saulos had he been not so occupied with his own glorification. Kaug was more warrior than any of us, being a giant. His hunger for all things was legendary - be it food, bloodshed, women, idols... it was said that he would bellow aloud from his highest towers just so he could hear his own voice echoed from the mountains and in the wailing of the weak beneath him.
- Who are the contenders for the next "avatar" of Qo?
- Those who have passed here between my passing and now are men of little ambition. They think in evil ways and hope to raise up a power before them to bring them to mightiness. They should have been more concerned with their own rise of power than that of creating another. Puppets, all of them, manipulated by the whispers that all of us who are dead can hear within this temple. Whoever inherits the power of belief and the forces Saulos bound into those disks will be as ascendant as I can fathom, though surely new possibilities will open with such an event.
- How does one first encounter Qo?
- How does one come to belief? There is a moment of truth that one experiences. It is quite exquisite as the veils fall from one's eyes and see the true nature of the Multiverse. If you ask how one first experiences the embrace of Qo, then it is easier for me to teach you the way than to explain it.
- What is special about this place, and the other "temples" to Qo worshipers if they aren't really related to Qo?
- This "temple" was built here by mislead cultists who did not fathom the evil who's center slept beneath. When the staff and crystal came here it became a thriving den of self-indulgence. I in my research learned of the power that was arising here and came to harness it for my own. How fortuitous it was that there should be a demonic servant hidden within the bowels of the temple as well. By seeking divinations though its center I learned of my need for the inheritance of an Infernal.
- What do demons hope to achieve by working with Qo worshipers?
- Demons are but servitors who understand the true nature of things. They hope much the same as a mortal who has seen the truth. Those of will strong enough command them as soldiers on the field. When I called upon a demon it was no different than the commander of an army knocking upon the door of a sage. What hope had fiends in the face of my own desires? If they hope for anything it is the same as other smaller minds. They crave power over each other and the hearts and belief of mortals.
- What do you know of Titalus's plans?
- Titalus is indeed a Prince of Deceit. It was too late that I realized the possibility of its goals, the poison was already within me. I believe Titalus intended to vie for supremacy against Saulos. But it's immortal gaze had seen further than my own and though I was important, I sometimes thing I was but a pawns move in its great game.
- Do the majority of Qo worshipers know the true nature of Qo, or are they deceived into thinking it a "god" in the traditional sense?
- There is divinity in the union of belief. If enough pray to Qo, what does it matter what Qo is called? We who had seen the truth but harnessed that belief for ourselves and gave thanks to Qo inasmuch as Qo represented truth. To them, Qo is a god, divine, and that is enough for them. To me, my own divinity is more important and Qo is my vehicle for achieving it.
- What steps must be taken to cause the defeat of Titalus?
- We must seek out the Tower of Saulos and learn what secrets he possessed there. With my ancient knowledge and eyes to look upon the secrets of Saulos, perhaps then we can divine a defeat for Titalus. Surely Saulos was not deceived as I and suspected the gentle manipulations of Titalus.
- Was Qo created by men?
- Qo is in all things, and in all things is Qo. This is a most basic teaching, perhaps when you understand it then you too will experience truth. Qo is self-fulfilling and is fulfilled by the existence of all things.
- Why did you consume infernal blood?
- I sought to gain an immortal inheritance so that I might be greater than Saulos when I gained the keys of the Three.
- Did your death from the drought come willingly, or were you deceived by the Infernals that brewed it?
- I drank of the Infernal's essence willingly, I do not know how I came to die after this. For a moment my mind was overcome with the terrible vastness of potential that fills this Multiverse and the endless
competition waged to control it.
- Was Saulos the real first incarnation of Qo, or were there others?
- There may have been others, but there were none so ambitious as he in my time. Any others of his peer had already passed into dust, so what could they matter. Had he truly embraced the full might of belief? I'm not sure he had figured out how, but he must have understood it somewhat for he was able to create the disks.
- What does the demon Titalus fear more than anything else (other than me)?
- Fiends fear but one thing: the ambitions of another.
- What did you learn about the nature of the soul in your experiments?
- Such knowledge is not easily imparted to a mind such as yours. Suffice to say that the soul is but a vehicle traveling in a continuum of potential. The mind's mastery of it determines its direction and which potentials it achieves. Thus, the "value" of a soul is it's collection of potential.
- Why can't you see that evil will always lose and just give up this stubborn fight?
- Why do you so fervently deny that evil is nothing more than freedom and self-actualization?
- How are the divine spells of the Qo followers manifesting?
- It is a manifestation of belief. Though how these so called worshipers of Qo, who do not know the truth and do not have one who knows the truth to lead them, receive their powers is questionable. Perhaps a surrogate power answers their blind pleas.
- What are the three Stones?
- You think there but three of them, these disks? I tell you truthfully that there are more than this for many were crafted by my hands and the others of the Three. Each of us divested a portion of our soul into its dark craftsmanship. It was in this way that Saulos commanded our powers. Each has an indentation within it to unlock the power contained within. The tools which match each indentation, one for each disk, were hidden away by Saulos. It was because of these that we Three towered in power over other hungry mortals, for through them we harnessed the essence of evil for our very own. Only Saulos could draw upon all three. Only he understood their craftsmanship.
- How many stones are there?
- There are many. They were decoys, but only three held true power.
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