Chapter Text
A corpse like being wearing a withered hooded purple robe that looks very much like funeral veils walks through the green grass of a beautiful hillside. The corpse’s purple eyes scan the peaceful surroundings with a calm certainty. He knows that this place is not of the material plane and he knows he wasn’t brought here by mistake. Lifting his gaze to the top of the hill, the corpse sees a large cherry blossom tree and a picnic table underneath it. Letting a smile grace his withered face the corpse walks up the hill to reach the gathering place.
Sitting around the table are three individuals that the corpse has heard whispers about, but never met until now. The beings at the table are Clockwork the Guardian of Time, Azrael the Angel of Death, and the Seer the Watcher of Worlds. Even when the corpse was climbing the hill, he could sense the divine power radiating from the three hosts.
Clockwork sips her tea and smiles at the corpse. In the sunlight, the gear coming out of her right eye and wrapping around to the back of her head gleams like a star. The gear slowly creaks as the gear moves deeper into her head. Her black and white dress and long black hair tied into a ponytail makes Clockwork almost look like a macabre version of a Victorian doll. Clockwork sets down her tea cup and says with a voice as soft as silk, “Welcome, Lord Jergal, I’m glad that you have decided to accept our invitation.”
The corpse, now identified as Jergal, bows in a respectful manner towards Clockwork. “Lady Clockwork I appreciate the invitation to thy gathering, but I must confess that thy invitation confuses me,” Jergal says with a voice of dirt and dry muscles. “Why dost thou invite me now? Thy company never saw the need to invite another deity to your gatherings, so why change it?”
Clockwork smiles a kind smile and her form changes. Her body, which used to look like a woman in her thirties, had changed into a woman of only twenty years. She gives a gentle response to Jergal, “Don’t worry, you will see in time. We are waiting on the other guests, so would you like a cup of tea to wait?”
Jergal smiles with as much warmth as his corpse-like face could muster. He sits down at the table and accepts a cup of tea. Azrael says to Jergal in his echoing whistle of a voice, “So Jergal, how are things going with Toril? I heard that you stepped down from your position as the Death God of your world.” Jergal turns to look at the black hooded robed figure. Azrael’s golden crown atop his hooded head gleams in the sunlight as the boney white skull stares back at Jergal.
Jergal pauses to think for a minute before answering Azrael’s question, “Same old Toril: monsters roaming the planes, gods trying to one up each other, and mortals continuing to fight for honor, glory, or riches. The underworlds are doing well under Kelevmor, I made an excellent choice when I ascended him.” Azrael nods in understanding. Jergal pauses and continues with an uneasy voice. “However, I’ve noticed some troubling events brewing in my world: cults are becoming unified under the banner of a goddess called the Absolute. I’ve also heard rumors about my other three replacements, Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul, acting up in the mortal realms. That’s not even considering the rumors spreading about an illithid invasion coming to Toril.”
The Seer rubs his finger around the rim of his tea cup as he hears Jergal say this. He raises his head so his many heads covering his head can stare at Jergal. The Seer says in a voice that sounds like a million voices talking in unison, “That’s the reason why we invited you and the other guests here. We have an idea that could help, not only your world, but every world.” Jergal turns to look at the Seer judgingly. The Seer’s body looks to be made of blue stained glass with eyes all over his body and head. A halo of jewels orbit his head and two massive wings made of the same jewels hover behind his back. Jergal heard many rumors about the elusive Seer, the supposed eyes of God. Apparently, the Seer is meant to be able to see everywhere and everything at the same time.
Before Jergal can ask another question, a falling star drops from the sky; however, as the star approaches the grassy hill it slows down to reveal a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a light blue dress and carrying a wand with a star at the end. Jergal has heard about this woman as well, she is Princess Rosalina, the Guardian of the Lumas and the Protector of Space. She floats over to the picnic table and gives a polite curtsy. Clockwork grins happily and transforms from her twenty year old self into her eight year old self. Clockwork yells out excitedly, “Princess Rosalina! Thank you for coming to my party! Would you like some tea while the others arrive?”
Princess Rosalina giggles with a familiar fondness. Clockwork’s child-like greeting reminds Rosalina of her many luma children. Rosalina approaches the table and sits down. She says to Clockwork, “Yes please, thank you for your kind greeting.” The space princess levitates a cup of tea over to her and takes a sip.
A flash of purple light signals the arrival of the next guest. A large axolotl flies around the tree and lays down next to the Seer. The axolotl smiles and greets the group with a cheerful voice, “Hello everyone! Clockwork, Rosalina, you are both looking beautiful today.” Rosalina gives a small smile and Clockwork blushes a little in embarrassment. The axolotl looks to the Seer and asks, “So, how many more are showing up?”
The Seer replies as he counts his fingers, “We’re still missing eight of us. I hope they’ll make it to this meeting, it’s really important.”
As the Seer finishes his sentence, two more people arrive. The first comes out of the nearby pond and approaches the edge closest to the table. This figure has a mermaid tail with sea green scales. His upper body is muscular and has green skin. Long ginger hair cascades down to his shoulders with a massive curly beard and bushy eyebrows. A crown with a seashell attached to it rests on his head.
The second figure looks more human with a humanoid body wearing a red and gold letterman jacket, a blue t-shirt underneath the jacket, bandaged hands, blue jeans, and white sneakers. The only thing that proves that this man is not human is his head. His head is that of a rooster.
The Seer looks towards them with his many eyes and says, “Here comes two more right now. Richard, King Neptune, welcome.” Richard approaches the table and sits next to Jergal, folding his hands on the table in front of him.
King Neptune speaks first with a thunderous voice, “This better be important! I was watching my show and Rochelle was about to meet her biological parents!” Richard rolls his eyes.
Clockwork speaks up, “I’m sorry to interrupt your telenovella Neptune, but this is really important.” Neptune, seeing Clockwork’s stressed face and realising that something big must be happening, relents and accepts the cup of tea being floated over to him by Rosalina.
“Thank you, Lady Rosalina,” Neptune says in a polite voice. Rosalina nods her head in acknowledgement. A doorway opens in the tree and a metallic woman wearing a blacksmith apron steps through. Azrael stands and glides towards the metal woman before bowing and offering his arm. The woman smiles and takes the arm. Azrael and her walk to the table.
Jergal smiles at the woman and says, “This truly must be important if the Great Tree of the Ever After is sending its blacksmith to this gathering.”
The Blacksmith returns the smile and replies, “Lord Jergal, your work is most important to the role of ascension in your world. Your praises towards me are humbly accepted.”
From the sky, a giant white spirit in the shape of a kite descends to the table. Azrael greets the spirit, “Raava, thank you for coming.”
Raava answers with her echoing voice, “I come because balance demands it, but I appreciate the invitation none the less.”
Following closely after Raava are the last four beings. One of them is an old man with white hair, three blue eyes, a short white beard and mustache, black bushy eyebrows, brown dress shoes, a grey pinstripe suit with a white dress shirt under the jacket, two red watches with one on each wrist, and an hourglass necklace. He sits down next to Clockwork.
The second arrival is a young girl with short blonde hair, a head band, blue eyes, sandals, and a white and blue toga. She sits down on the other side of Clockwork.
The next guest is a woman with long silver hair cascading down both sides of her body in two braids, purple eyes, a purple and gold coif, a purple and white corset dress, white feathery mantles, and a necklace with a pink diamond. She sits down between Rosalina and Neptune.
The final guest is an eight bit red crocodile with a fishing rod. The red crocodile sits next to Jergal.
Now that everyone is here, Clockwork’s face smooths into a serious blank expression. Clockwork’s age changes from eight years old to forty years old. She clears her throat and says, “Thank you all for coming. I know you are all busy so I will not take up too much of your time.” Everyone around the table sits up straighter now that the meeting is starting. Clockwork continues, “Azrael, the Seer, and I have an idea that could help all our worlds change for the better. We believe that if we gather all the important mortals of our worlds together and show them their stories that we could help them make better choices.”
This plan caused a massive uproar from the gathered gods and spirits. Something like this was unprecedented. Jergal speaks up, “Thou know the laws of the celestials: gods and god-like beings are not allowed to interfere with mortal events. What thou art speaking is to violate the most ancient of laws.”
Richard calls back to Jergal, “The laws state that we can’t physically get involved, but we can guide the mortals through visions and signs. This would essentially be a bigger version of that.”
Rosalina jumps in, “Plus, I’m sure most of us here have interfered in mortal affairs more than once.” Everyone nods in agreement before giving Jergal a look. Jergal sighs and nods in as well because he too has interfered with mortal events before.
Clockwork resumes her plan, “With that out of the way, the plan is to create a mansion that can house the audience of selected mortals and gods in a time bubble so they can watch these events without breaking the flow of time.”
The red crocodile asks in a static filled voice, “Would this even work? Can showing what’s happened and what’s to come really help our worlds?”
Azrael answers, “Do not fret, Old Man Consequences, as long as we use our powers together we can succeed.” The gathered beings look around at each other trying to gauge the other’s thoughts on the plan.
Finally, the blonde haired girl in a toga stands up and says, “Sure, I have hope this’ll turn out okay.” Just like that the others started to stand up and agree to the plan. Once everyone has agreed, the Seer leads everyone towards a nice open plain where they plan to make the mansion.
The Seer instructs everyone to make a gigantic circle around the spot where the mansion will be and use their magic to construct the mansion. Everyone started sending out their magic to the center of the circle. Slowly, a seven floor tall mansion is constructed.
After finishing the mansion, Azrael turns to the others and says, “Now the rest of you must go to your worlds and gather the audience needed for this plan to work.” The others nod their heads and begin to disappear. Old Man Consequence vanishes in a cloud of static and red pixels. Neptune dives under the water. Rosalina and the silver haired woman in the purple dress levitate and disappear in a flash of light. Raava and the Axolotl fly off into the sky. Jergal walks into a heavy fog and is gone. The Blacksmith returns to the tree and enters into a doorway created in the tree. The blonde haired girl in a toga disappears in a blue flame. The last ones remaining are the old man with three eyes, Azrael, Clockwork, Richard, and the Seer.
The old man asks Clockwork, “Do you think the others can handle their tasks?”
Clockwork gives the old man a patient smile and reply, “Don’t worry, Tim, I have total
faith that the others can take care of their jobs. Eris and Pandora are reliable, so are Rosalina, Old Man Consequences, Jergal, the Blacksmith, and the Axolotl.” Clockwork pauses and rubs the back of her head in embarrassment. “King Neptune may be a little stubborn, but I think he’ll be fine.”
Tim nods his head and looks at one of his watches. “Well, I best go visit my little apprentice and her little friend before I gather the others,” Tim says in a grandfatherly voice. He winks one of his three eyes and opens a portal behind him as he turns to leave. “See you soon, Guardian of Time.”
Clockwork smiles and says back, “Goodbye, CEO of Time.” Richard claps his hands and starts to walk away.
“Welp,” Richard says, “I have to go as well. I got a lot of people to gather.” Richard walks a good five feet before stopping and turning back to Azrael. “Oh, by the way, I’m curious about something. Who’s going to be the one to gather the last five worlds? They don’t have a divine overseer, so who’s going to deal with them?”
Azrael replies, “Clockwork said she would deal with the computer program and the Witch of Envy.”
Richard chuckles, “I wish her the best of luck with the Witch. She’s going to have an awful conversation with an insane force of nature.” Clockwork responds to Richard’s words by flipping him off.
The Seer chimes in, “I’m going to gather the ones from Los Santos and the legendary gang of thieves. Azrael said he’d take care of the ones going to that mountain.” Richard nods in acknowledgement. With the final details ironed out, Richard turns and walks another ten feet before a flash of light and a loud noise causes him to disappear. The Seer turns to Azrael and Clockwork and shrugs his shoulders. Clockwork gives a two finger salute before walking into a turning clock portal. The Seer extends his crystal wings and sets off. Azrael looks back to the mansion one last time before extending his giant raven-like wings and taking off into the horizon.