"An immortal bird?" Hades repeated as they made their way through the restricted area of the Bureau of the Architect.
Hythlodaeus nodded. "To be precise, it is not a living being, but magick woven in the likeness of a bird. One possessed of puissant healing powers. And as befits a masterwork of the Words of Lahabrea, it is a thing of beauty."
"I don’t doubt it. So what, then, is the problem?"
"As I said, it is not a living being. The concept proposed was a magick in avian guise. With this in mind..."
Hythlodaeus stretched out a hand to the enormous gate that stood before them. Soundlessly, the towering doors swung open...and Hades found himself wincing at the ear-rending cry that emanated from within. Furrowing his brow, he stepped across the threshold to be greeted with the sight of a magnificent bird, its plumes fairly afire, circling high in the vaulted hall. Having marked the creature's undeniable beauty, it took him but another moment to identify the problem ─ an unmistakable light shining in its heart. His breath caught in his throat.
"A soul... How?"
Through their mastery of creation magicks, men could weave anything into existence. Anything they could imagine, they could bring forth anything, that is, except a soul. As Hades well knew, souls spontaneously manifested within creatures that were born in accordance with the laws of nature. It was a gift from the star itself, long held to be impossible to recreate. No artificial being, no matter how subtly sculpted in the image of nature, could come to possess a soul. Such creations occupied a separate classification known as arcane entities.
"There was an accident," Hythlodaeus began. "During the concept's examination, a drifting soul merged with it─a soul burdened with regret, judging by the being's behavior. It rages against the pull of the Underworld."
As he listened, Hades kept his gaze fixed on the creature, which flew about in a frenzy. No sooner would it dash itself against the wall in an explosion of broken feathers than it would heal itself and repeat the grisly feat. This self-destructive dance unfolded again and again, with the creature occasionally giving vent to its overflowing magical reserves─or fury, as it seemed to him─as fiery breath.
Witnessing the excruciating display, his thoughts poured forth unbidden from his lips. "Consumed by the fear of death, it thrashes blindly about. It will know only pain and suffering and inflict the same upon others. A pitiful existence."
"Such moving empathy. It's as if you wore the feathers yourself."
He waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes. But what do you intend to do with it? Masterwork or no, we cannot well leave it as it is."
There, Hythlodaeus turned to face him, that irritating smile having returned, and again he knew a pang of regret. "As it is immortal after a fashion, we here have not the ability to return it to the Underworld─our efforts would only cause it pain. Nay, we require the services of a powerful mage, and I know of none more powerful than you."
Once more he found himself glaring daggers at his friend, whose grin had become broader than ever. But rather than give him the satisfaction of a complaint, he decided that he would make a debt of it. Without another word, he focused his mind, and as he did, his silhouette wavered and danced. Then all of a sudden, like a shadow lengthening, his form began to swell.
Through the thrum of gathering aether, he heard Hythlodaeus remark, "Never ceases to impress me..."
He knew well what his friend beheld─the unbridled power of the Underworld, pouring forth into his being. In such moments, he felt as if he was one with its flow. Though mages were plentiful, not even among the rest of the Fourteen could one find another capable of wielding such power.
Ere long, his transformation was complete, and Hythlodaeus was left to crane his neck up at him. "Indeed, there is no better candidate. Allow me to congratulate you again, Emet-Selch."
He let out a quiet breath, a sigh mingled with laughter. Then he faced the bird and set about his task.
Firebird
"An immortal bird?" Hades repeated as they made their way through the restricted area of the Bureau of the Architect.
Hythlodaeus nodded. "To be precise, it is not a living being, but magick woven in the likeness of a bird. One possessed of puissant healing powers. And as befits a masterwork of the Words of Lahabrea, it is a thing of beauty."
"I don’t doubt it. So what, then, is the problem?"
"As I said, it is not a living being. The concept proposed was a magick in avian guise. With this in mind..."
Hythlodaeus stretched out a hand to the enormous gate that stood before them. Soundlessly, the towering doors swung open...and Hades found himself wincing at the ear-rending cry that emanated from within. Furrowing his brow, he stepped across the threshold to be greeted with the sight of a magnificent bird, its plumes fairly afire, circling high in the vaulted hall. Having marked the creature's undeniable beauty, it took him but another moment to identify the problem ─ an unmistakable light shining in its heart. His breath caught in his throat.
"A soul... How?"
Through their mastery of creation magicks, men could weave anything into existence. Anything they could imagine, they could bring forth anything, that is, except a soul. As Hades well knew, souls spontaneously manifested within creatures that were born in accordance with the laws of nature. It was a gift from the star itself, long held to be impossible to recreate. No artificial being, no matter how subtly sculpted in the image of nature, could come to possess a soul. Such creations occupied a separate classification known as arcane entities.
"There was an accident," Hythlodaeus began. "During the concept's examination, a drifting soul merged with it─a soul burdened with regret, judging by the being's behavior. It rages against the pull of the Underworld."
As he listened, Hades kept his gaze fixed on the creature, which flew about in a frenzy. No sooner would it dash itself against the wall in an explosion of broken feathers than it would heal itself and repeat the grisly feat. This self-destructive dance unfolded again and again, with the creature occasionally giving vent to its overflowing magical reserves─or fury, as it seemed to him─as fiery breath.
Witnessing the excruciating display, his thoughts poured forth unbidden from his lips. "Consumed by the fear of death, it thrashes blindly about. It will know only pain and suffering and inflict the same upon others. A pitiful existence."
"Such moving empathy. It's as if you wore the feathers yourself."
He waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, yes. But what do you intend to do with it? Masterwork or no, we cannot well leave it as it is."
There, Hythlodaeus turned to face him, that irritating smile having returned, and again he knew a pang of regret. "As it is immortal after a fashion, we here have not the ability to return it to the Underworld─our efforts would only cause it pain. Nay, we require the services of a powerful mage, and I know of none more powerful than you."
Once more he found himself glaring daggers at his friend, whose grin had become broader than ever. But rather than give him the satisfaction of a complaint, he decided that he would make a debt of it. Without another word, he focused his mind, and as he did, his silhouette wavered and danced. Then all of a sudden, like a shadow lengthening, his form began to swell.
Through the thrum of gathering aether, he heard Hythlodaeus remark, "Never ceases to impress me..."
He knew well what his friend beheld─the unbridled power of the Underworld, pouring forth into his being. In such moments, he felt as if he was one with its flow. Though mages were plentiful, not even among the rest of the Fourteen could one find another capable of wielding such power.
Ere long, his transformation was complete, and Hythlodaeus was left to crane his neck up at him. "Indeed, there is no better candidate. Allow me to congratulate you again, Emet-Selch."
He let out a quiet breath, a sigh mingled with laughter. Then he faced the bird and set about his task.
For reference, he looks like this at the end: https://64.media.tumblr.com/231849d6d3f359585a2400c3a7bccbac/tumblr_pvd6g1k6Ou1wsksg3o1_1280.png