There is a clearing in the crowd. There is a deity, there - brilliant and beautiful, glorious and sublime, utterly terrifying. Four-armed, ten feet tall, perfect in frame and form, radiant as the sun. Sol Invictus.

Beside him is a woman in violet. She is 8 feet tall. She wears strange clothing, reminiscent of the funeral worker, of the assassin, of the dead. Saturn.

They are improvising poetry.

Syme takes a deep breath. He closes his eyes and approaches the duo, his steps cautious and heavy. He stands before the two horrifying creatures and, after brief hesitation, he opens his mouth and begins to speak in Old Realm, a tongue he speaks with all the little flaws and mispronunciations of someone who's only ever seen it written down. "Excuse me, but might I have a moment of your time?"

Wandering Moon creeps in to get but a glimpse of the greater divinities - but she does not draw close to them, she remains on the outskirts of the crowd, watching from a safe distance. Afraid? Or something else. Hard to say; emotions are hidden behind that fox mask, so, she could be aghast or entranced.

Jade Shadow blinks at the display, falling to his knees in front of the god. "Thank you for your infinite kindness, Great Sir." Course, he can't be heard by the god over the crowd and the poetry, but he's sure the god notices. He sees Syme and surges to his feet, aiming to head him off, but is too late, so stands back so as not to be caught in whatever blast of divine rage is forthcoming.

Coming into the clearing, a man in a silver mask swallows. Sol Invictus. Saturn. Even Chronos, a man who (until this moment) once fancied himself a potential Master of Time and Space, suddenly felt very very small here. Garbed in his robes, cloak, mask, and talismans, the Solar Exalt's single mortal eye stares through the eyeslot, while the left slot shows only an inert, flat crystal of no magic. Seeing Syme actually /approach/ the divine creatures, Chronos' eye widens even further. He finds himself briefly unable to move.

After the mortal says this, it becomes clear that Sol stopped speaking just an instant before he spoke - the words of the mortal were flawlessly integrated in to his poem. Saturn chuckles, and shakes her head. "Maybe next year," she says, fading away to become someplace else. Sol looks down at the mortal.

  BUT A MOMENT.

Here, in the festival, Syme is safe from being instantly annihilated for his trespass.

The other gods look aghast at... this thing that just happened.

Syme looks at the God. He could die at any moment, no, it would be worse than death. But that's been true since the start, hasn’t it? "I'd like to ask you, if you'll listen, for something that I think should be no trouble for someone of your obvious station." He takes a deep breath. "I'd like to ask you for mercy."

Jade Shadow whispers, to himself. "I think you're already getting that by still being alive. But, you know, go for it. Your next incarnation will probably be sun-fearing, the way you're gonna die."

  ...CONTINUE. YOU MAY HAVE TWO MORE MOMENTS.

Chronos stares at the scene. He is silent, his eye still wide and astonished. With no mouth, no facial feature, this widening of the eye is all that speaks of him. That a mortal would approach the Sun without fear. Chronos looks deeply humbled.

The other gods whisper. Whatever's about to come out of this mortal's mouth must be *really* good. Already most of them are muttering about this being an 'obvious plant' and 'clearly you can see the mote-blending on the illusion'.

Wandering Moon tilts her mask to one side, but otherwise does not react to what she observes. She may as well be an automaton.

Syme says, "I know it must seem meaningless to you, but for us life is short and terrible. The world is cruel and those who have power: bankers, the exalted, gods and kings, are crueller. From the moment we first open our eyes and gaze at the sun each morning, we are afraid. So I would ask, please, for mercy. Not for me. I know the moment I displease you, I'm forfeit. But from now on, if you turn your attention to the world, please make it a kinder place. Even if your interest is fleeting."

  I HAVE ALREADY DONE SO. MY CHOSEN HAVE BEEN SET FORTH UPON THE WORLD; TASKED TO DO GOOD WORKS UPON IT. LOOK UPON ME, MY CHOSEN - DO YOU SEE THE FACE OF THE WORLD I HAVE BROUGHT YOU BACK TO HEAL?

Syme finds himself the uncomfortable center of a publicity stunt.

Stepping forward, Longinus takes his Fedora off, a tear trailing down his eye at Syme's words. Moving behind him, he watches Syme carefully, as another tear falls down his cheek. Looking up at Sol, he gives a pleading look which quickly turns to conviction. A hand falls lightly upon Syme's shoulder, comfortingly. "Your life is not forfeit...not by a long shot." he says calmly.

  THE WORLD IS SUFFERING; DHARMA TEACHES US THIS. TO ESCAPE THE WHEEL OF SUFFERING IS THE COMMANDMENT OF THOSE HORRORS THAT SEEK ANNIHILATION. TO YOKE TO THE WHEEL OF SUFFERING IS THE COMMANDMENT OF OUR LONG-VANQUISHED FOES.

  I HAVE SENT MY CHOSEN UPON THE WORLD TO HEAL IT AND DEFEND IT. TO RAISE SPEAR AND SHIELD AT THE BORDERLANDS - TO POUR WATER FROM THE HORN TO NURTURE THE OLIVE BRANCH.

Syme swallows. And here comes the moment. "And that means nothing. Your teachings mean nothing to anyone but your chosen and a handful of sequestered priests, and in your chosen, I see cruelty and I see death. I see children who treat the world as a game for their own glory. I see people who make the earth quake and burn by walking without regard for the people it swallows up. I see your chosen, and they are the same as the monsters they put to the spear."

  THE WHEEL OF SUFFERING IS THE BURDEN OF MY CHOSEN. SOON, IT WILL BE ATOP THEIR BACKS AGAIN.

Abashed to the core, at Syme's words, Chronos stares on helplessly. That was all? Such a pure and simple thing? It's the final straw he: he can take no more. Reaching up, Chronos pulls off his mask for the final time, and throws it down to the ground. He unclasps his Vermillion Cloak and lets it fall. He rips apart the belts holding his ornate robes, talismans, and useless trinkets together. Finally the clawed gloves are removed, and thrown down with a clank. 'Lord Chronos' is left in just the simple clothes of a traveling merchant that he departed from Nexus in. An eye patch hangs over his left eye with a flat, square blue jewel. It's his only jewellery. The weight of his guilt at being so selfish lies on the ground, discarded with his foppish vestments. The Solar hangs his head in shame, mute.

After several moments, Chronos simply says, "...He is right. We were not worthy guardians."

Wandering Moon growls, behind her fox mask. She shakes her head, gently.

Syme begins to get angry. "Your wheel of suffering means nothing. You understand nothing about anything. What kind of consolation is this supposed to be to the people who die because of your chosen? The best you can offer is nothing at all"

The god gestures to Syme. Divine hawks leap from nowhere, grab Syme, and carry him away in an instant, pulling him miles from here...

Longinus grabs hold of Syme, placing his body between Syme and the Hawks. "Buddy..." he says out loud, "You'll harm this man over my cold dead corpse." he says with total conviction.”No more." he finishes, his Fedora dropping to the ground at his feet.

Chronos steps forward as the hawks descend, "No." It's growled, and the Solar strides forward, helpless in combat as he is. "No!" Running forward at full tilt, he dives to tackle Syme, hopefully pushing the mortal out of the hawks' grasp, "He did nothing wrong!"

The hawks swoop by overhead, looking flustered. Sol laughs, and it's an approving laugh.

  YOU SEE? THEY UNDERSTAND, NOW, WHERE THE WHEEL'S BURDEN LIES - THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IT. AGAINST EVEN MYSELF, THEY DEFEND YOU.

Syme says, "Because they're children. And children are easily swayed by pretty words."

Syme says, "Three people died in Grandier today. A man was robbing a bakery. He didn't think there was anyone there. She surprised him. He was starving. So he, in his fear, stabbed her. She died, and she was with child. And when the watch found him, they killed him on the spot. Their lives were small and probably meaningless. To you they don't even merit a spot on your game board. But I'd take the woman, the child and the thief over your pompous, self-serving, indolent bullshit any day."

Syme says, "And that's exactly what it is. All of it. Bullshit."

Syme turns and storms off into the crowd.

Longinus grins and chuckles, "Wow...he's a keeper." is all he says as he bends down to pick up his Fedora. "Wish there were more of him." he remarks as he places his Fedora back on his head. Turning to the Unconquered Sun, he frowns, "I'm sorry." he says.

Chronos stands from the fallen mortal and turns towards Sol. He's weak--especially for a Solar. He knows it. But just as he is about to justify himself, he is stopped by Sol's own words. At Syme's however, he glances sidelong towards the man. He was about to say something, but Syme's words mute him. He turns to the God of Gods. His voice is quiet, "Their lives are hard. ...Please forgive him. And us, for letting the world get this way."

Wandering Moon watches Syme pass by her like some strange mime. Besides craning her head to observe his flustered egress, she is motionless and unresponsive. It wouldn't do, after all, for her to make a political statement for her Master... as an apprentice, as a messenger, she must always remain poised. Her etiquette must be perfect. She is, like the mask, almost an inanimate object. When he has faded from view, however, she does look directly at the two Gods - then, she bows, deeply. A statement without words. Before breaking her gaze.

  KNEEL BEFORE NO ONE. BE UNCONQUERED. WORDS MEAN NOTHING. ACTIONS MEAN EVERYTHING.

Chronos turns back towards the God. He is silent for a moment, regarding his maker. After a moment he asks, "You once turned away from us, when we would no longer heed your guidance. ...Should it come to that again, please--intercede. The world deserves better than fallen Solars. It took a ghost, a zombie, and a mortal to make me realize how corrupt I had become. If we stop listening...please speak a little louder." He bows and steps back.

Jade Shadow is standing waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over in this direction. Because, even though he's not a creature of darkness, ghosts are unnatural, and the UCS's aura would definitely expunge the unnatural. As a side effect, he doesn't have to encounter Chronos again.

Longinus looks to the Unconquered Sun, "You know. I actually feel honoured to have been in that man's presence." he says, as he looks to where Syme had walked off. Turning back to the Unconquered Sun, "Thanks for your time...Please, keep in touch." he says, letting the words drop off, as he turns and leaves.

  ENOUGH CHATTER. GO TO THE GREAT WORK.

  BUT FOR NOW, I GRANT YOU THE CARNIVAL OF MEETING.