Crestseal - Verse 2 - Backtrack - Rivalry

Crestseal

Failure.

The contest has been going on for several billion years, the Settler, pursuing its goal to restore the Middlescape to a form that fits Witherer's ideals, or rather her interpretation of Witherer's ideals. Here the Settler traveled around Middlescape, attacking and wiping out each life it came across, be it be those blessed by the Voyager, or those blessed by their own intelligence. However, it seemed, the Settler was failing.

The Settler's goal required her to combat the life, while the Voyager's goal was to uplift them, thus no combat was required, so the Voyager had split herself into three to uplift more life at once. As such, it was taking too long for the Settler to find and wipe out a single life blessed by the Voyager, by the time it takes for the Settler to undo one life, the Voyager, having split herself into three and sacrificed its own ability for combat, could uplift and bless three new life. This was bad. She thought to herself, was this the limit of the Settler? Was the vision of Witherer wrong? Was she, representation of Witherer's influence, incapable of defeating the representation of Enliver's influence? **NO!** she screamed.

But something needed to be done. Something needed to change. She needed a new strategy, as attacking each life and planet by herself was too slow. Then she thought, did she had to wipe off the life at all? She thought, her own goal was to simply restore Middlescape to its unchanging form, nowhere does it say she had to undo the life. After all, life could be made into unchanging, a solid pattern, a fire without fuel, a phenomenon that is its own evidence. She thought, instead of undoing the life, she should try to subvert it to her own direction. With this new strategy now in her mind, the Settler continued to undo the life, trying to find a planet where her purpose could have been achieved. It would take over hundred million years for her to finally find a planet in which she thought her strategy might work.

She found the planet locals call Plovia, an hellish planet, recently [several thousands of years ago] uplifted by the Voyagers. A small planet, with only landmass an island. There, she analyzed and found her match. A man named Skal, who was a perfect candidate to subvert and make her own, as a misantrophe. For the next decades, the Settler manipulated the life, events, and society in Plovia, to eventually lead it to the big betrayal of Skal. Condemned to death, she would sweep in and save Skal from death at the last second, and fill him with not rage or sadness, but indifference. Her strategy would grow fruit, the Settler was able to subvert Skal to her side, and watch him undo his own planet after she granted her the ability to utilize Angular.

Here the Settler would relish with the actions of Skal, and give him the title of Acolyte. She, too, contemplated. If one could be drawn to her side, so could more. But her standards are high, to be Acolyte is to match Skal, the first Acolyte. Here the Settler afflicted by the duty of being a Seeker once more. She continues her journey. As millions of years passes like they are minutes, she encounters a Solar system in conflict, almost as if it attracts her.

This Solar System has two planets with life, uplifted by the Voyager long ago? Obviously. Rare for a Solar System to have more than one planet with life and inhabited by two distinct species. The two planets are named Solbae and Gulbea, they are Solbaens and Gulbeans, they are distinct, barely. Ah, narcissism, the Settler thoughts. Solbaens and Gulbeans came into conflict as both achieved global unity and outward expansion at the sme time, wishing to take more of their Solar System and they had eachother stopping them. Majestic, they have nearly burned each other down, rendered one another nearly extinct, and their home planets a hell. Majestic.

Here the Settler observed both. They were alive, desperate, determined, and filled with hatred. One, more than any other, a Gulbean, named Ashkalaar. She is so full of hatred and anger she makes others look peaceful, beacons of love and forgiveness. She leads the remaining Gulbeans. She is ruthless to Solbaens, barely kind to Gulbeans. Tyranny births discomfort, discomfort brings anger, anger causes revolution, revolution overthrows Ashkalaar. What a waste.

Here the Settler visited exiled Ashkalaar, who lost everything, her hatred for Solbaens now include Gulbeans too, and multiplied even further. Here the Settler talked to her, and gave her too ability to utilize Angular to have her bring Havoc upon the both, until they are no more. Ashkalaar accepted, and Solbaens and Gulbeans are both made extinct, with Ashkalaar only survivor from this Solar System alongside her few generals. Ashkalaar becomes the second Acolyte, but she should not have it as a title as Skal is speciall as first Acolyte. What shall her title be? Her nature... Havoc. Yes, here determined the Settler, Ashkalaar shall be known as the Archon of Havoc. She shall tap into Angular to relish Havoc, embody Havoc, and bring Havoc.

Two Acolytes. Progress. Life can be that of the Settler.