Lore:Achilles Weaves a Cocoon: Difference between revisions

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==I: Eggcloth==

He comes to Europa almost the size of an Archon priest, but hollow. He needs Ether. If touched, he fears he will crumble into nothing. His arms will dock themselves, his skin will shed. He has nothing except his armor and the thousand-year-old loom clutched in his four arms.

He comes to [[Europa]] almost the size of an [[Archon]] priest, but hollow. He needs [[Ether]]. If touched, he fears he will crumble into nothing. His arms will dock themselves, his skin will shed. He has nothing except his armor and the thousand-year-old loom clutched in his four arms.

They mockingly name him "Namrask," which means "empty weaver." Like naming a Human "Norman," which, he understands, means "not really Human."

They mockingly name him "[[Namrask]]," which means "empty weaver." Like naming a Human "Norman," which, he understands, means "not really Human."

Eramis separates all the newcomers so they will not retain their old pre-Dusk loyalties. Namrask is shoved into a little warren carved beneath the ice; the moon's surface is so radioactive that not even Eliksni can live there for long.

[[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]] separates all the newcomers so they will not retain their old pre-[[House of Dusk|Dusk]] loyalties. Namrask is shoved into a little warren carved beneath the ice; the moon's surface is so radioactive that not even [[Eliksni]] can live there for long.

The little Winterdrekhs are kind to him. Namrask realizes that they think he is too weak to earn the huge Ether ration he needs. He has been put in this warren to die.

The little [[House of Winter|Winterdrekhs]] are kind to him. Namrask realizes that they think he is too weak to earn the huge Ether ration he needs. He has been put in this warren to die.

"I can work," he rasps. "I can make bandages, capes, armor lining, eggcloth, supsoak, prayer matting, watercloth. I am a weaver!"

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"Tall friend," one of the Winterdrekhs says soberly. "No one your size is a weaver. Why not volunteer to fight for Eramis?"

Namrask shudders. He cannot fight. Not after what he saw in the ~~Reef—that~~ THING with its staff. Not after SIVA, Twilight Gap, London. Kridis promised that this was salvation.

Namrask shudders. He cannot fight. Not after what he saw in the [[Reef]]—that [[Fikrul, the Fanatic|THING]] with its staff. Not after [[SIVA]], [[Twilight Gap]], [[London]]. [[Kridis, Dark Priestess|Kridis]] promised that this was salvation.

"Bring me broken eggs," Namrask begs, "and I will make eggcloth. How will the hatchlings be swaddled if no one weaves the eggcloth for them?"

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"Watch me," he tells the Drekhs. "When Eramis is done conquering our enemies, we must know how to make things."

They sit and watch. Their lower arms, half-grown after docking, mimic his motions. Their names are Eoriks, Oeriks, and Yriks: brother, brother, and sister.

They sit and watch. Their lower arms, half-grown after docking, mimic his motions. Their names are [[Eoriks]], [[Oeriks]], and [[Yriks]]: brother, brother, and sister.

When it is done, he gives them the little scrap of eggcloth. They murmur in wonder and rub their cheeks against it. "Bring that to the camp Captain," he tells them. "Tell them that Namrask can weave if he is fed and given fiber."

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When Namrask has the strength, he uses nonfluid loop cutters to help the Drekhs join their icy tunnels with other habitats. He weaves hollowhot matting to insulate the tunnels, and soon, some places are warm enough to remove a little armor. A clutch of eggs is hatched, and the hatchlings are raised in the warren.

For the first time since he fled the Tangled Shore, Namrask can think of more than his own survival.

For the first time since he fled the [[Tangled Shore]], Namrask can think of more than his own survival.

Then the warrior Phylaks, a lieutenant of Eramis, comes recruiting.

Then the warrior [[Phylaks, the Warrior|Phylaks]], a lieutenant of Eramis, comes recruiting.

On the raw ice beneath a black sky, she plays videos of Eramis raising a slab of crystal like a wall; another where she binds a Vex Minotaur in a casket of frost.

On the raw ice beneath a black sky, she plays videos of Eramis raising a [[Stasis|slab of crystal]] like a wall; another where she binds a [[Vex]] [[Minotaur]] in a casket of frost.

"This is the future of all Eliksni. Who among you would wield this power?" she asks.

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Shrugging, Phylaks takes up her pistol and walks away. "There are many others who will take your place."

Later, Yriks tries to change his mind, but Namrask refuses again. "Eramis derives authority from her ability to grant this power. She cannot give it to everyone; if she does, her authority is lost," he says. "Has she destroyed ~~Servitors~~?"

Later, Yriks tries to change his mind, but Namrask refuses again. "Eramis derives authority from her ability to grant this power. She cannot give it to everyone; if she does, her authority is lost," he says. "Has she destroyed [[Servitor]]s?"

"I think so," Yriks says quietly. "Drekhtalk says that she broke a Servitor during a ritual to give power. To show that the old ways are done."

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"Fine," he snaps. "Then I will find us a traitor."

For the first time, Namrask makes the long walk to Riis-Reborn. It is built in the ruins of an old Human city and the angular, crowded architecture makes him growl in fear and bloodlust. He remembers when the Eliksni broke the walls of the Not-Quite-Last City and took what was within.

For the first time, Namrask makes the long walk to [[Riis-Reborn]]. It is built in the ruins of an old [[Human]] [[Eventide|city]] and the angular, crowded architecture makes him growl in fear and bloodlust. He remembers when the Eliksni broke the walls of the Not-Quite-Last City and took what was within.

Sniksis and Piksis guard Eramis's chamber. The twins make ireliis to him. "She will honor you if you honor her, O Great Akh—"

[[Sniksis, House Salvation|Sniksis]] and [[Piksis, House Salvation|Piksis]] guard Eramis's chamber. The twins make ireliis to him. "She will honor you if you honor her, O Great Akh—"

"Don't say it," he growls. Not that stolen name. "I'm not here for Eramis. Where is Variks?"

"Don't say it," he growls. Not that stolen name. "I'm not here for Eramis. Where is [[Variks, the Loyal|Variks]]?"

When Variks, the old judge, sees Namrask, he laughs. "I thought you would be in that hole forever."

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"No." Variks comes closer to whisper. "My judgment stands, woe-of-the-masses. You gave no mercy and you will get none."

"You make a habit of serving queens who will abandon you," Namrask whispers back. "Eramis is doomed, Variks. She is Whirlwind-touched. As I was, once."

"You make a habit of serving queens who will abandon you," Namrask whispers back. "Eramis is doomed, Variks. She is [[Whirlwind]]-touched. As I was, once."

"She knows what she risks. Why else would she have sent her mate and children to another star?"

"Athrys is gone?" Woeful news; she was Eramis's guiding glint. "You always have a way out. I want a part of it—"

"[[Athrys]] is gone?" Woeful news; she was Eramis's guiding glint. "You always have a way out. I want a part of it—"

"Now you run from battle?" The judge's voice is light, unmocking; a sincere question. "When Eramis could make you mighty again?"

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"I survive now as a Drekh survives. I have hatchlings; I would see them spared."

"There were hatchlings on the ships you abandoned at Riis. Human infants in London—"

"There were hatchlings on the ships you abandoned at [[Riis]]. Human infants in London—"

"I am no longer the killer I was then!"

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"Yes, you are."

"But I do not want to be! When I was on the Reef, I—" Namrask struggles. "I saw the beast Fikrul. Before that, I saw the Devil Splicers. But this debasement of our form, this revenge—it must stop, Variks. Please. Help me."

"But I do not want to be! When I was on the Reef, I—" Namrask struggles. "I saw the beast Fikrul. Before that, I saw the [[Devil Splicers]]. But this debasement of our form, this revenge—it must stop, Variks. Please. Help me."

"No favors," the judge pronounces. "Not for you. However…"

Variks's prosthetic hand scratches letters in the snow. It takes Namrask several blinks of his second eyes to understand that it is Human script: MITHRAX.

Variks's prosthetic hand scratches letters in the snow. It takes Namrask several blinks of his second eyes to understand that it is Human script: [[Mithrax, Kell of Light|MITHRAX]].

"I will make your name known to him." Variks wipes away the letters. "But this is not a favor." His metal hand touches the tattered blue banners around his waist. "In exchange, I want these redone in fresh bannercloth. I will send you the thread. You will weave for me, 'Namrask.'"

Namrask tries his best. But the bannerthread is too fine, the weave too dense, and he cannot complete his task before word comes that Variks has summoned the ~~Guardians—the~~ Machine-spawn—to Europa.

Namrask tries his best. But the bannerthread is too fine, the weave too dense, and he cannot complete his task before word comes that Variks has summoned the [[Guardian]]s—the Machine-spawn—to Europa.

==IV: Scattercape==

Namrask thunders into the warren on all sixes, crying out, "We must go! Death walks the ice!"

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"I will return for it," he promises. Feverishly, Namrask stitches the capes into a blanket as blood trickles down the inside of his armor.

He fires his shrapnel launcher into the ice to kick up steam: "Like this!" he shouts. "Make a cloud and run!" They shoot into the ice and flee. As the ice storm settles in Europa's low gravity, Namrask crawls towards the Guardian under a blanket of invisibility. Occasionally, he emerges long enough to be seen, so that the Guardian will hunt him instead of the others.

He fires his [[Shrapnel Launcher|shrapnel launcher]] into the ice to kick up steam: "Like this!" he shouts. "Make a cloud and run!" They shoot into the ice and flee. As the ice storm settles in Europa's low gravity, Namrask crawls towards the Guardian under a blanket of invisibility. Occasionally, he emerges long enough to be seen, so that the Guardian will hunt him instead of the others.

The Guardian comes for him.

Namrask huddles against the ice, slowly freezing. The Humans are such gangly mockeries of the Eliksni form: two arms, two eyes in a smooth, lifeless doll-face, stubby little teeth. He remembers the Guardians he has killed—eight times. He has never revered ~~Ghosts~~.

Namrask huddles against the ice, slowly freezing. The Humans are such gangly mockeries of the Eliksni form: two arms, two eyes in a smooth, lifeless doll-face, stubby little teeth. He remembers the Guardians he has killed—eight times. He has never revered [[Ghost]]s.

He remembers the smell of burning flesh. Ordinary Humans, young and old. Their gardens and structures; their star and world. Forever remembering giving that long-ago order: Burn it. Burn it. Burn it.

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As days pass, the radio shrieks with distant transmissions. Encrypted tactical data between Servitors. Eramis's sermons. The song of the red world overhead. And occasionally, the bray of Human tongues, as a Guardian brags of a new conquest, or curses some obscene glory-trial amusement.

Phylaks is dead; Praksis too.

Phylaks is dead; [[Praksis, the Technocrat|Praksis]] too.

The Priestess Kridis is dead—Sniksis and Piksis with her—and the Prime Servitor is destroyed.

The Priestess Kridis is dead—Sniksis and Piksis with her—and the [[Prime Servitor]] is destroyed.

Eramis is dead, consumed by her own power. One of the old Riis-born. Never will there be another.

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She does not answer for a long time, but perhaps this is not her fault. The receiver is damaged, so he stitches a patch for it from superconducting threads.

When she answers, she sounds annoyed. "I am Eido, daughter of Misraaks, Kell of the House of Light. He is close to the Light because he is close to the Lightbearers. My father walks beside the Guardians of the Traveler."

When she answers, she sounds annoyed. "I am [[Eido, Daughter of Misraaks|Eido]], daughter of Misraaks, [[Kell]] of the [[House of Light]]. He is close to the Light because he is close to the Lightbearers. My father walks beside the Guardians of the Traveler."

Namrask kneels, frozen in horror. He tears the patch from the radio and stalks away. "I cannot go with them!" he snarls.

Oeriks calls after him, but Namrask is too full of rage and fear. The Guardians surely will recognize him if he stands beneath the Traveler.

Oeriks calls after him, but Namrask is too full of rage and fear. The Guardians surely will recognize him if he stands beneath the [[Traveler]].

==VII: Time Is a Fabric==

"This is Misraaks." A name without title.

"To those who renounce the violence of House Salvation and seek refuge in the House of Light, I will be landing a Skiff near Asterion Abyss. Bring only what you need. We must prioritize survivors over their possessions. Trigger message repeat."

"To those who renounce the violence of House Salvation and seek refuge in the House of Light, I will be landing a Skiff near [[Asterion Abyss]]. Bring only what you need. We must prioritize survivors over their possessions. Trigger message repeat."

"Astiirabis," Turrha says. "I know that place. We can hide in the nearby caves."

"Astiirabis," [[Turrha]] says. "I know that place. We can hide in the nearby caves."

"Fine," Namrask says. He seizes his loom. Everyone stares and he realizes: survivors over possessions.

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They have been in the cave for two days when Namrask sees that their heat is sublimating the ice. Curious, sluggish with Ether-lack, he crawls over to the nearest wall and stares.

Namrask looks into another cave. And another, and another. The infinite caves reveal an infinite number of Namrask, Oeriks, Eoriks, Turrhas, hatchlings, and survivors—only—here, they are frozen dead to the ice—here, they are cooked by ~~Cabal—here~~, they spill in panic from the cave as Guardians gun them down.

Namrask looks into another cave. And another, and another. The infinite caves reveal an infinite number of Namrask, Oeriks, Eoriks, Turrhas, hatchlings, and survivors—only—here, they are frozen dead to the ice—here, they are cooked by [[Cabal]]—here, they spill in panic from the cave as Guardians gun them down.

"Get out," rasps Namrask.

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At the raw fear in his voice, they bundle up the hatchlings and run. As if the Light has arranged it all and the Great Machine truly does watch over them again, they hear a transmission: "This is Misraaks. I approach under stealth. I will be at Asterion Abyss in five minutes. If you seek sanctuary, come to me. If you still swear to House Salvation, then in the name of the old laws, I ask safe passage. This is a mission of mercy."

Namrask hunts for the twinkling distortion of camouflage against the black sky—there! Misraaks comes from Jupiitr, using the planet's emissions as backdrop.

Namrask hunts for the twinkling distortion of camouflage against the black sky—there! Misraaks comes from [[Jupiter|Jupiitr]], using the planet's emissions as backdrop.

"We should disperse," he tells Turrha. "It is unwise to crowd together at a landing zone—"

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Namrask is not surprised. The Light does not reach them; the Great Machine does not watch over them. "We need to move," he says. He reaches out to Turrha, to touch her. "We should go to—"

A white mist envelops her. Tiny electrical discharges cover her armor. She looks up at him and gasps. The Vex teleport delivers a Goblin inside her, shattering her body. The machine, with its indifferent red eye, raises its weapon to fire.

A white mist envelops her. Tiny electrical discharges cover her armor. She looks up at him and gasps. The Vex teleport delivers a [[Goblin]] inside her, shattering her body. The machine, with its indifferent red eye, raises its weapon to fire.

Oeriks dies almost instantly, shot by slap fire. Eoriks leaps to him and tries to capture the escaping puff of Ether—what old faith would call the passage of his soul—as if this will keep Oeriks alive. But Eoriks is killed too.

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"I would like to weave," Namrask says. "I am not good at it yet. But I might be."

"Weaving is a little like splicing," Misraaks says thoughtfully. "Splicers work in metal and flesh, not warp and weft. But the goal is the same: to nurture life with art, and nurture art with your life."

"Weaving is a little like [[Splicer|splicing]]," Misraaks says thoughtfully. "Splicers work in metal and flesh, not warp and weft. But the goal is the same: to nurture life with art, and nurture art with your life."

"I distrust Splicers," Namrask grunts and rubs his chest. What would a Splicer do to him? Fill him with machine cancer, to make him strong again? Give him the corrupted Ether, the undying madness?

Misraaks's primary eyes shine. "I am an older kind of Splicer. Those who look for the Light in all things. Maybe the right kind of Splicer can weave two peoples together. As the Awoken tried do, in the Reef."

Misraaks's primary eyes shine. "I am an older kind of Splicer. Those who look for the Light in all things. Maybe the right kind of Splicer can weave two peoples together. As the [[Awoken]] tried do, in the Reef."

"But the Light is NOT in all things. It has left us. Why look for the Light when you can see so clearly who it favors?"

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Namrask remembers such a time, across a vast and blood-soaked distance.

"Riis…I was there, you know," Namrask whispers. "At the Whirlwind. After Chelchis fell, I sent ships to follow the Great Machine. I abandoned all those Houses that could not make war. I ordered my fleet to hunt the Machine. Many rallied after us. Each ship began its own war with the Humans. But maybe, I was first."

"Riis…I was there, you know," Namrask whispers. "At the Whirlwind. After [[Chelchis, Kell of Stone|Chelchis]] fell, I sent ships to follow the Great Machine. I abandoned all those Houses that could not make war. I ordered my fleet to hunt the Machine. Many rallied after us. Each ship began its own war with the Humans. But maybe, I was first."

Misraaks stares at him. Finally, he says, "I understand. Our people fear the Saint too. But I doubt the Saint ever knew them by name."

Misraaks stares at him. Finally, he says, "I understand. Our people fear the [[Saint-14|Saint]] too. But I doubt the Saint ever knew them by name."

***

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Eventually, Namrask learns to weave for the Humans. His favorite task is making felt, but he also learns to work in silk. He likes the silkmaker, and runs it manually sometimes, pulling the thread from the spinneret with one hand and then another, maintaining the steady, even tension, which makes the best fabric.

He wishes that he could weave in Light, like the Guardian ~~Warlocks~~, who make fieldweave in a secret way. Maybe Misraaks will learn how to do that.

He wishes that he could weave in Light, like the Guardian [[Warlock]]s, who make fieldweave in a secret way. Maybe Misraaks will learn how to do that.

One day, a machine comes to his market stall. He combs at his shell nervously. The machine-Humans are called "~~Exos~~." They remind him of the Vex; it is easier to look at their armored shapes than the unsettling softness of the Humans and two-souled Awoken. This Exo wears a colorful mantle.

One day, [[Lakshmi-2|a machine]] comes to his market stall. He combs at his shell nervously. The machine-Humans are called "[[Exo]]s." They remind him of the Vex; it is easier to look at their armored shapes than the unsettling softness of the Humans and two-souled Awoken. This Exo wears a colorful mantle.

"I recognize you," the machine says.

Lore:Achilles Weaves a Cocoon: Difference between revisions

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@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==I: Eggcloth==
-He comes to Europa almost the size of an Archon priest, but hollow. He needs Ether. If touched, he fears he will crumble into nothing. His arms will dock themselves, his skin will shed. He has nothing except his armor and the thousand-year-old loom clutched in his four arms.
+He comes to [[Europa]] almost the size of an [[Archon]] priest, but hollow. He needs [[Ether]]. If touched, he fears he will crumble into nothing. His arms will dock themselves, his skin will shed. He has nothing except his armor and the thousand-year-old loom clutched in his four arms.
-They mockingly name him "Namrask," which means "empty weaver." Like naming a Human "Norman," which, he understands, means "not really Human."
+They mockingly name him "[[Namrask]]," which means "empty weaver." Like naming a Human "Norman," which, he understands, means "not really Human."
-Eramis separates all the newcomers so they will not retain their old pre-Dusk loyalties. Namrask is shoved into a little warren carved beneath the ice; the moon's surface is so radioactive that not even Eliksni can live there for long.
+[[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]] separates all the newcomers so they will not retain their old pre-[[House of Dusk|Dusk]] loyalties. Namrask is shoved into a little warren carved beneath the ice; the moon's surface is so radioactive that not even [[Eliksni]] can live there for long.
-The little Winterdrekhs are kind to him. Namrask realizes that they think he is too weak to earn the huge Ether ration he needs. He has been put in this warren to die.
+The little [[House of Winter|Winterdrekhs]] are kind to him. Namrask realizes that they think he is too weak to earn the huge Ether ration he needs. He has been put in this warren to die.
 "I can work," he rasps. "I can make bandages, capes, armor lining, eggcloth, supsoak, prayer matting, watercloth. I am a weaver!"
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 "Tall friend," one of the Winterdrekhs says soberly. "No one your size is a weaver. Why not volunteer to fight for Eramis?"
-Namrask shudders. He cannot fight. Not after what he saw in the Reef—that THING with its staff. Not after SIVA, Twilight Gap, London. Kridis promised that this was salvation.
+Namrask shudders. He cannot fight. Not after what he saw in the [[Reef]]—that [[Fikrul, the Fanatic|THING]] with its staff. Not after [[SIVA]], [[Twilight Gap]], [[London]]. [[Kridis, Dark Priestess|Kridis]] promised that this was salvation.
 "Bring me broken eggs," Namrask begs, "and I will make eggcloth. How will the hatchlings be swaddled if no one weaves the eggcloth for them?"
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 "Watch me," he tells the Drekhs. "When Eramis is done conquering our enemies, we must know how to make things."
-They sit and watch. Their lower arms, half-grown after docking, mimic his motions. Their names are Eoriks, Oeriks, and Yriks: brother, brother, and sister.
+They sit and watch. Their lower arms, half-grown after docking, mimic his motions. Their names are [[Eoriks]], [[Oeriks]], and [[Yriks]]: brother, brother, and sister.
 When it is done, he gives them the little scrap of eggcloth. They murmur in wonder and rub their cheeks against it. "Bring that to the camp Captain," he tells them. "Tell them that Namrask can weave if he is fed and given fiber."
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 When Namrask has the strength, he uses nonfluid loop cutters to help the Drekhs join their icy tunnels with other habitats. He weaves hollowhot matting to insulate the tunnels, and soon, some places are warm enough to remove a little armor. A clutch of eggs is hatched, and the hatchlings are raised in the warren.
-For the first time since he fled the Tangled Shore, Namrask can think of more than his own survival.
+For the first time since he fled the [[Tangled Shore]], Namrask can think of more than his own survival.
-Then the warrior Phylaks, a lieutenant of Eramis, comes recruiting.
+Then the warrior [[Phylaks, the Warrior|Phylaks]], a lieutenant of Eramis, comes recruiting.
-On the raw ice beneath a black sky, she plays videos of Eramis raising a slab of crystal like a wall; another where she binds a Vex Minotaur in a casket of frost.
+On the raw ice beneath a black sky, she plays videos of Eramis raising a [[Stasis|slab of crystal]] like a wall; another where she binds a [[Vex]] [[Minotaur]] in a casket of frost.
 "This is the future of all Eliksni. Who among you would wield this power?" she asks.
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 Shrugging, Phylaks takes up her pistol and walks away. "There are many others who will take your place."
-Later, Yriks tries to change his mind, but Namrask refuses again. "Eramis derives authority from her ability to grant this power. She cannot give it to everyone; if she does, her authority is lost," he says. "Has she destroyed Servitors?"
+Later, Yriks tries to change his mind, but Namrask refuses again. "Eramis derives authority from her ability to grant this power. She cannot give it to everyone; if she does, her authority is lost," he says. "Has she destroyed [[Servitor]]s?"
 "I think so," Yriks says quietly. "Drekhtalk says that she broke a Servitor during a ritual to give power. To show that the old ways are done."
@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 "Fine," he snaps. "Then I will find us a traitor."
-For the first time, Namrask makes the long walk to Riis-Reborn. It is built in the ruins of an old Human city and the angular, crowded architecture makes him growl in fear and bloodlust. He remembers when the Eliksni broke the walls of the Not-Quite-Last City and took what was within.
+For the first time, Namrask makes the long walk to [[Riis-Reborn]]. It is built in the ruins of an old [[Human]] [[Eventide|city]] and the angular, crowded architecture makes him growl in fear and bloodlust. He remembers when the Eliksni broke the walls of the Not-Quite-Last City and took what was within.
-Sniksis and Piksis guard Eramis's chamber. The twins make ireliis to him. "She will honor you if you honor her, O Great Akh—"
+[[Sniksis, House Salvation|Sniksis]] and [[Piksis, House Salvation|Piksis]] guard Eramis's chamber. The twins make ireliis to him. "She will honor you if you honor her, O Great Akh—"
-"Don't say it," he growls. Not that stolen name. "I'm not here for Eramis. Where is Variks?"
+"Don't say it," he growls. Not that stolen name. "I'm not here for Eramis. Where is [[Variks, the Loyal|Variks]]?"
 When Variks, the old judge, sees Namrask, he laughs. "I thought you would be in that hole forever."
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 "No." Variks comes closer to whisper. "My judgment stands, woe-of-the-masses. You gave no mercy and you will get none."
-"You make a habit of serving queens who will abandon you," Namrask whispers back. "Eramis is doomed, Variks. She is Whirlwind-touched. As I was, once."
+"You make a habit of serving queens who will abandon you," Namrask whispers back. "Eramis is doomed, Variks. She is [[Whirlwind]]-touched. As I was, once."
 "She knows what she risks. Why else would she have sent her mate and children to another star?"
-"Athrys is gone?" Woeful news; she was Eramis's guiding glint. "You always have a way out. I want a part of it—"
+"[[Athrys]] is gone?" Woeful news; she was Eramis's guiding glint. "You always have a way out. I want a part of it—"
 "Now you run from battle?" The judge's voice is light, unmocking; a sincere question. "When Eramis could make you mighty again?"
@@ Line 115: / Line 115: @@
 "I survive now as a Drekh survives. I have hatchlings; I would see them spared."
-"There were hatchlings on the ships you abandoned at Riis. Human infants in London—"
+"There were hatchlings on the ships you abandoned at [[Riis]]. Human infants in London—"
 "I am no longer the killer I was then!"
@@ Line 121: / Line 121: @@
 "Yes, you are."
-"But I do not want to be! When I was on the Reef, I—" Namrask struggles. "I saw the beast Fikrul. Before that, I saw the Devil Splicers. But this debasement of our form, this revenge—it must stop, Variks. Please. Help me."
+"But I do not want to be! When I was on the Reef, I—" Namrask struggles. "I saw the beast Fikrul. Before that, I saw the [[Devil Splicers]]. But this debasement of our form, this revenge—it must stop, Variks. Please. Help me."
 "No favors," the judge pronounces. "Not for you. However…"
-Variks's prosthetic hand scratches letters in the snow. It takes Namrask several blinks of his second eyes to understand that it is Human script: MITHRAX.
+Variks's prosthetic hand scratches letters in the snow. It takes Namrask several blinks of his second eyes to understand that it is Human script: [[Mithrax, Kell of Light|MITHRAX]].
 "I will make your name known to him." Variks wipes away the letters. "But this is not a favor." His metal hand touches the tattered blue banners around his waist. "In exchange, I want these redone in fresh bannercloth. I will send you the thread. You will weave for me, 'Namrask.'"
-Namrask tries his best. But the bannerthread is too fine, the weave too dense, and he cannot complete his task before word comes that Variks has summoned the Guardians—the Machine-spawn—to Europa.
+Namrask tries his best. But the bannerthread is too fine, the weave too dense, and he cannot complete his task before word comes that Variks has summoned the [[Guardian]]s—the Machine-spawn—to Europa.
 ==IV: Scattercape==
 Namrask thunders into the warren on all sixes, crying out, "We must go! Death walks the ice!"
@@ Line 143: / Line 142: @@
 "I will return for it," he promises. Feverishly, Namrask stitches the capes into a blanket as blood trickles down the inside of his armor.
-He fires his shrapnel launcher into the ice to kick up steam: "Like this!" he shouts. "Make a cloud and run!" They shoot into the ice and flee. As the ice storm settles in Europa's low gravity, Namrask crawls towards the Guardian under a blanket of invisibility. Occasionally, he emerges long enough to be seen, so that the Guardian will hunt him instead of the others.
+He fires his [[Shrapnel Launcher|shrapnel launcher]] into the ice to kick up steam: "Like this!" he shouts. "Make a cloud and run!" They shoot into the ice and flee. As the ice storm settles in Europa's low gravity, Namrask crawls towards the Guardian under a blanket of invisibility. Occasionally, he emerges long enough to be seen, so that the Guardian will hunt him instead of the others.
 The Guardian comes for him.
-Namrask huddles against the ice, slowly freezing. The Humans are such gangly mockeries of the Eliksni form: two arms, two eyes in a smooth, lifeless doll-face, stubby little teeth. He remembers the Guardians he has killed—eight times. He has never revered Ghosts.
+Namrask huddles against the ice, slowly freezing. The Humans are such gangly mockeries of the Eliksni form: two arms, two eyes in a smooth, lifeless doll-face, stubby little teeth. He remembers the Guardians he has killed—eight times. He has never revered [[Ghost]]s.
 He remembers the smell of burning flesh. Ordinary Humans, young and old. Their gardens and structures; their star and world. Forever remembering giving that long-ago order: Burn it. Burn it. Burn it.
@@ Line 170: / Line 169: @@
 As days pass, the radio shrieks with distant transmissions. Encrypted tactical data between Servitors. Eramis's sermons. The song of the red world overhead. And occasionally, the bray of Human tongues, as a Guardian brags of a new conquest, or curses some obscene glory-trial amusement.
-Phylaks is dead; Praksis too.
+Phylaks is dead; [[Praksis, the Technocrat|Praksis]] too.
-The Priestess Kridis is dead—Sniksis and Piksis with her—and the Prime Servitor is destroyed.
+The Priestess Kridis is dead—Sniksis and Piksis with her—and the [[Prime Servitor]] is destroyed.
 Eramis is dead, consumed by her own power. One of the old Riis-born. Never will there be another.
@@ Line 201: / Line 200: @@
 She does not answer for a long time, but perhaps this is not her fault. The receiver is damaged, so he stitches a patch for it from superconducting threads.
-When she answers, she sounds annoyed. "I am Eido, daughter of Misraaks, Kell of the House of Light. He is close to the Light because he is close to the Lightbearers. My father walks beside the Guardians of the Traveler."
+When she answers, she sounds annoyed. "I am [[Eido, Daughter of Misraaks|Eido]], daughter of Misraaks, [[Kell]] of the [[House of Light]]. He is close to the Light because he is close to the Lightbearers. My father walks beside the Guardians of the Traveler."
 Namrask kneels, frozen in horror. He tears the patch from the radio and stalks away. "I cannot go with them!" he snarls.
-Oeriks calls after him, but Namrask is too full of rage and fear. The Guardians surely will recognize him if he stands beneath the Traveler.
+Oeriks calls after him, but Namrask is too full of rage and fear. The Guardians surely will recognize him if he stands beneath the [[Traveler]].
 ==VII: Time Is a Fabric==
 "This is Misraaks." A name without title.
-"To those who renounce the violence of House Salvation and seek refuge in the House of Light, I will be landing a Skiff near Asterion Abyss. Bring only what you need. We must prioritize survivors over their possessions. Trigger message repeat."
+"To those who renounce the violence of House Salvation and seek refuge in the House of Light, I will be landing a Skiff near [[Asterion Abyss]]. Bring only what you need. We must prioritize survivors over their possessions. Trigger message repeat."
-"Astiirabis," Turrha says. "I know that place. We can hide in the nearby caves."
+"Astiirabis," [[Turrha]] says. "I know that place. We can hide in the nearby caves."
 "Fine," Namrask says. He seizes his loom. Everyone stares and he realizes: survivors over possessions.
@@ Line 222: / Line 221: @@
 They have been in the cave for two days when Namrask sees that their heat is sublimating the ice. Curious, sluggish with Ether-lack, he crawls over to the nearest wall and stares.
-Namrask looks into another cave. And another, and another. The infinite caves reveal an infinite number of Namrask, Oeriks, Eoriks, Turrhas, hatchlings, and survivors—only—here, they are frozen dead to the ice—here, they are cooked by Cabal—here, they spill in panic from the cave as Guardians gun them down.
+Namrask looks into another cave. And another, and another. The infinite caves reveal an infinite number of Namrask, Oeriks, Eoriks, Turrhas, hatchlings, and survivors—only—here, they are frozen dead to the ice—here, they are cooked by [[Cabal]]—here, they spill in panic from the cave as Guardians gun them down.
 "Get out," rasps Namrask.
@@ Line 232: / Line 231: @@
 At the raw fear in his voice, they bundle up the hatchlings and run. As if the Light has arranged it all and the Great Machine truly does watch over them again, they hear a transmission: "This is Misraaks. I approach under stealth. I will be at Asterion Abyss in five minutes. If you seek sanctuary, come to me. If you still swear to House Salvation, then in the name of the old laws, I ask safe passage. This is a mission of mercy."
-Namrask hunts for the twinkling distortion of camouflage against the black sky—there! Misraaks comes from Jupiitr, using the planet's emissions as backdrop.
+Namrask hunts for the twinkling distortion of camouflage against the black sky—there! Misraaks comes from [[Jupiter|Jupiitr]], using the planet's emissions as backdrop.
 "We should disperse," he tells Turrha. "It is unwise to crowd together at a landing zone—"
@@ Line 240: / Line 239: @@
 Namrask is not surprised. The Light does not reach them; the Great Machine does not watch over them. "We need to move," he says. He reaches out to Turrha, to touch her. "We should go to—"
-A white mist envelops her. Tiny electrical discharges cover her armor. She looks up at him and gasps. The Vex teleport delivers a Goblin inside her, shattering her body. The machine, with its indifferent red eye, raises its weapon to fire.
+A white mist envelops her. Tiny electrical discharges cover her armor. She looks up at him and gasps. The Vex teleport delivers a [[Goblin]] inside her, shattering her body. The machine, with its indifferent red eye, raises its weapon to fire.
 Oeriks dies almost instantly, shot by slap fire. Eoriks leaps to him and tries to capture the escaping puff of Ether—what old faith would call the passage of his soul—as if this will keep Oeriks alive. But Eoriks is killed too.
@@ Line 267: / Line 266: @@
 "I would like to weave," Namrask says. "I am not good at it yet. But I might be."
-"Weaving is a little like splicing," Misraaks says thoughtfully. "Splicers work in metal and flesh, not warp and weft. But the goal is the same: to nurture life with art, and nurture art with your life."
+"Weaving is a little like [[Splicer|splicing]]," Misraaks says thoughtfully. "Splicers work in metal and flesh, not warp and weft. But the goal is the same: to nurture life with art, and nurture art with your life."
 "I distrust Splicers," Namrask grunts and rubs his chest. What would a Splicer do to him? Fill him with machine cancer, to make him strong again? Give him the corrupted Ether, the undying madness?
-Misraaks's primary eyes shine. "I am an older kind of Splicer. Those who look for the Light in all things. Maybe the right kind of Splicer can weave two peoples together. As the Awoken tried do, in the Reef."
+Misraaks's primary eyes shine. "I am an older kind of Splicer. Those who look for the Light in all things. Maybe the right kind of Splicer can weave two peoples together. As the [[Awoken]] tried do, in the Reef."
 "But the Light is NOT in all things. It has left us. Why look for the Light when you can see so clearly who it favors?"
@@ Line 279: / Line 278: @@
 Namrask remembers such a time, across a vast and blood-soaked distance.
-"Riis…I was there, you know," Namrask whispers. "At the Whirlwind. After Chelchis fell, I sent ships to follow the Great Machine. I abandoned all those Houses that could not make war. I ordered my fleet to hunt the Machine. Many rallied after us. Each ship began its own war with the Humans. But maybe, I was first."
+"Riis…I was there, you know," Namrask whispers. "At the Whirlwind. After [[Chelchis, Kell of Stone|Chelchis]] fell, I sent ships to follow the Great Machine. I abandoned all those Houses that could not make war. I ordered my fleet to hunt the Machine. Many rallied after us. Each ship began its own war with the Humans. But maybe, I was first."
-Misraaks stares at him. Finally, he says, "I understand. Our people fear the Saint too. But I doubt the Saint ever knew them by name."
+Misraaks stares at him. Finally, he says, "I understand. Our people fear the [[Saint-14|Saint]] too. But I doubt the Saint ever knew them by name."
 ***
@@ Line 295: / Line 294: @@
 Eventually, Namrask learns to weave for the Humans. His favorite task is making felt, but he also learns to work in silk. He likes the silkmaker, and runs it manually sometimes, pulling the thread from the spinneret with one hand and then another, maintaining the steady, even tension, which makes the best fabric.
-He wishes that he could weave in Light, like the Guardian Warlocks, who make fieldweave in a secret way. Maybe Misraaks will learn how to do that.
+He wishes that he could weave in Light, like the Guardian [[Warlock]]s, who make fieldweave in a secret way. Maybe Misraaks will learn how to do that.
-One day, a machine comes to his market stall. He combs at his shell nervously. The machine-Humans are called "Exos." They remind him of the Vex; it is easier to look at their armored shapes than the unsettling softness of the Humans and two-souled Awoken. This Exo wears a colorful mantle.
+One day, [[Lakshmi-2|a machine]] comes to his market stall. He combs at his shell nervously. The machine-Humans are called "[[Exo]]s." They remind him of the Vex; it is easier to look at their armored shapes than the unsettling softness of the Humans and two-souled Awoken. This Exo wears a colorful mantle.
 "I recognize you," the machine says.