Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

It has been a very long time since I have taken the time to record my thoughts here. The madness of Ganesha has finally left me, after many months. I barely recall the thread of my journeys, except to know that it was replete with insanity, violence, and death. Yet Zerth was right: I now have a clearer understanding of myself.



During my madness, I experienced many, many visions. Most of these, I am certain, were the product of my damaged mind. A handful, however, cannot be explained away. In these few, Ganesha was always present, as were other of what I assume were similar deities. One particular tableau remains vivid in my mind. Ganesha erected a wall, which I walked through without thought (for such is my ability these days). Immediately, another wall sprang up before me. This wall too I stepped through, though not without some difficulty. Ganesha trumpeted His (Its?) joy, and a third wall arose. I strode boldly forth, only to pull up painfully short at a wall that was impenetrable to my form. I felt the minds of these gods observing me as I sought some way around the latest barrier. Finally, growing frustrated, I unleashed a torrent of eskaris upon the wall, which vanished instantly. I sensed... disappointment... from Ganesha's solid form, but a spark of interest from one of the other gods. I was held in some sort of stasis while divine thoughts reached an accord.



Suddenly, I was released from my bondage, and yet another wall sprang up from horizon to horizon. I somehow knew that the only way through this vision was to conquer the wall as I had done previously; I was also made to understand that, should I fail, my life was forfeit. This simple allegory had turned into a struggle for my very existence. Again I sought to pass through the wall immaterially, and again I was rebuffed. I quickly focused a stream of eskaris at the wall, expecting results similar to my last attempt. In this case, however, the wall wavered, but held. Puzzled, I sat down to consider my options. Ever the scientist, I lashed at the wall with a wave of fire. Again the wall wavered. I struck it with plasma, and again with pure death; once more the wall wavered but held firm. I absently grabbed a stick and began to draw formulae in the dust while I considered my few remaining options. My mind began to blur at the edges, and suddenly it occurred to me that the runes and symbols I had inscribed could be combined into a single overarching principle. I sensed a presence guiding my thoughts, allowing me the fulfilment of this idea; at first I thought it was Ahrikol, reaching through my madness to assist me, but I soon came to realize it was another of the pantheon that begat Ganesha. This figure appeared to be covered in ash, and had a serpent wrapped around its neck; I could tell little more, as my mind felt as if it were about to explode. This figure smiled down at me and said one word, "Shiva."

At once a great wind blew away my calculations and I instantly inscribed a single rune which captured the principles of fire, plasma, radiation and death. Looking at the wall, I pronounced aloud the name of the rune. The god laughed in delight, and a second word entered my consciousness, "Destroyer." Instantly a brilliant light arose from the center of the wall, and it vanished in a torrent of green flame, leaving an enormous mushroom-shaped cloud and nothing more. In my dream, the god looked down on me once more, and I sensed his pleasure. He inscribed on my forehead a crescent moon and vanished.


I awoke from this fevered more-than-a-dream, and the inn at which I had been staying was a glowing pile of ash around me. As my gaze rose further, I noted that the entire village was ablaze, and what corpses remained were flash-burned beyond racial recognition. Still in the throes of my madness I was not sure what part, if any, of what I had experienced was fantasy; but after I regained my senses, I revisited the spot where the village once stood. Nothing grows there now.

My journey continues.