Gate of Memoirs/Ritual Calling

Thoth acknowledges Neferet's worthiness, but the Architect seems less than convinced.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Snow Poem"	Music: "Snow Poem"
 	
*Before their duel draws on into a second round, the mysterious woman snaps her fingers, and the flood of magic subsides.
 	
*Neferet could only watch in astonishment as its flow gentled into what resembled a calm river.
 	
*The woman holds up an open palm, showing non-hostility.
*Mysterious Woman: Well done. Such skill is to be commended.
*Mysterious Woman: I have not seen someone of this caliber in many years.
*Mysterious Woman: Thy name, please.
 	
*Neferet: I am Neferet...May I ask for yours, o watcher?
 	
*Mysterious Woman: Thoth.
 	
*The woman pulls back her hood and shawl, letting it flow off her shoulders.
*Bright blue eyes stare calmly back at the bewildered priestess, and a small smile crosses her face.
 	
*Neferet: Th-
 	
*Neferet: THOTH?! Thoth, Thrice Great, Weaver of Words?!
*Neferet: Oh, gods above!
*Neferet: I mean—Had I known the goddess of—of MAGIC was in the flesh, my Lady, I—
 	
*Thoth: At ease. Is that what they call me these days?
 	
*Thoth: I care little for such flamboyant titles.
 	
*Neferet: W-Well, that's how a fellow priestess of mine refers to you, my Lady.
 	
*Thoth: ...Shall we drop this "my Lady" business? 
*Thoth: Let us speak as equals here, before the Shrine of Dawn.
 	
*Thoth turns to the crumbling altar behind her, where a chipped receptacle rests upon the rusted dais.
 	
*Thoth: Before thee stands the first place of worship humankind built when they unraveled the first inscriptions of the holy Word.
*Thoth: Tell me this, Neferet—Art thou ken to the Creator's name?
 	
*Neferet: ...No, but I know there was an origin before even the Lord of Life, master of the earth's abundance.
*Neferet: But everything before that is only myths...so I'm told.
 	
*Thoth: I see...
*Thoth: Then I shall speak of Him, great Creator—Architect Ptah, unto thee.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Will"	Music: "Will"
 	
*Thoth: "Surely, in any version of the myths thou hast heard, this world was great and unformed in the beginning."
*Thoth: "Perhaps it was Lord Osiris, the Eternal One, who gave abundance unto the earth and allowed it to blossom with life..."
*Thoth: "Or it was his beloved wife Lady Aesys, of the Horizons, who raised civilization from the boughs of beasts..."
*Thoth: "Yea, have no doubt these noble deeds have been done such that humankind now enjoys its prosperity in these recent days."
*Thoth: "But thou must know of the Truth that hangs above even such mighty gods; that the Breath had already existed."
*Thoth: "In the ancient tongue of the Word, which thou knowest as heka, this land is called Urzyma."
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Thoth: "Ptah, great Architect, Creator of all."
*Thoth: "It was by his Thought that all others descended, and by his Word that they are realized."
*Thoth: "Thus did we govern the land according to Order."
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Snow Poem"	Music: "Snow Poem"
 	
*Thoth: And the rest, as you say, is history.
 	
*Neferet: Wait. What became of the Creator?
 	
*Thoth: ... ...
 	
*Thoth: As I mentioned, young priestess, the land is balanced by Order.
*Thoth: But thou must know this: that with Day comes Night, and with the Sun comes the Moon.
 	
*Neferet: Opposites...
 	
*Thoth: Yes. Even the Dark things must etch themselves into existence.
*Thoth: I do not claim to know their fickle fancies, but it beseems to me that all things have their purpose.
 	
*Thoth: A mortal had come across such a Dark thing, and had taken upon himself to sate its thirst with slaughter.
*Thoth: The Architect, seeing the Balance so blasphemed by man, turned away in disgust.
 	
*Thoth looks out at the barren soil, and for a moment neither woman spoke.
 	
*Neferet: Yet the gods still listen as you do, and my prayers have courted answers from messengers.
*Neferet: Otherwise Harakhte wouldn't have...
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*The last thing Neferet remembered seeing was the slumped body of Rahotep who had protected her from his blade.
*In the next few dizzying seconds, the God-King had fallen from his throne, blood spilling from his throat as Neferet withdrew her staff.
*A brilliant flash emanated from his corpse as a young male voice rang inside her head.
*Harakhte: I am Harakhte, and I make myself known to you—
*Harakhte: You have freed me from my prison most foul, but there is more to be done...
*Harakhte: Pledge yourself against this peril to come.
 	
*Neferet: (What...?)
 	
*Harakhte: Wake, Priestess, and take up the mantle!
Portrait 	Dialogue
 	
*Thoth: So pure faith was what compelled thee to set forth on this journey.
*Thoth: Truly admirable...
 	
*Thoth: I've been waiting for someone such as thee.
 	
*Neferet: What do you mean?
 	
*Turning to the altar, Thoth waves her hands, and the magic begins to fill the air with their roar again.
*Thoth: Now we may begin.
 	
*Neferet: Wait—What? What are you doing?
 	
*Thoth: Thy awakening will have to suffice.
*Thoth: A Shard in a worthy Vessel... The perfect conduit to call forth the Architect!
 	
*Thoth: Then perhaps we shall finally have an avenue of investigation into this blasted mess.
Music: "Source Hall"	Music: "Source Hall"
 	
*Neferet: Conduit? M-Me?! But—
 	
*Thoth: Come, priestess! Time is of the essence!
 	
*Neferet: (This goddess is kind of crazy...)
*Neferet: (But she's right. The Capital won't hold any longer.)
*Neferet: (There's nothing else we can do at this point!)
 	
*The two women channel their magic into the small altar, the receptacle beginning to glow with every incantation.
*Neferet was filled with more questions than answers, but she felt Harakhte's quiet resolve guiding her every gesture.
*The rock hums with the charged energy, and before long—
*A streak of pure light lanced down from the heavens, momentarily blinding them both.
*The silhouette of a mighty bull glared down at them, spectral form shimmering with motes of dust.
*Stepping down from the dais, a low voice demanded—
 	
*Ptah: You, who dares call upon the Architect of Urzyma...
*Ptah: You dare come before the ultimate Truth with the mark of sin upon your heart?
 	
*Ptah: Now—Speak!