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The Inquisitor sighs.  I'm still not quite sure how I got mixed up in this...

"You can't go alone, so... I guess I'm coming along.  If Queen Chyrsalis wishes to keep the Pandorian Worlds occupied while we're gone, that's her choice."

*the changeling reclines just a bit*

Oh i will...atleast i will in spirit.

*Hemlock arrives with a expedition party*

My queen you said i am needed. she responds on her knee.

*the queen looks lazily at her*

Yeah do whatever is in my intrest...and don't eff anything up. she then shoos off Hemlock to go off with Else.

Zeta grouped those going together, and threw a switch. The last thing any would remember, is everything going dark.

One by one, senses fell away. First to vanish were the classic five senses. There was no sight, no sound. There was neither sensation of being on firm ground, nor sensation of floating. There was no air to breath, nor was there the need to breath.

Time, Else suddenly appreciated its presence, and the dull sensation of its passage. How long had she been in this empty place, a second, an eternity? A century perhaps? She did not know, all she had was a sense of self, that is, she was now more aware of herself more than ever, and with only her own thoughts for company, it was frightening.

As it was for her, so it was for the others. None could detect each other in any fashion, not even by thought. There was no Hive Mind, only a lonely emptiness that was overpowering for social creatures, as much as it was for solitary loners. Was it as frightening for them as it was for Else? She didn't know, but wherever they were in this place, she hoped they were ok.

In nature, alone in the woods, in the desert, in the open sea, even drifting among the stars, there is a sense of other creatures, somewhere. A knowledge that you are not truly alone. There are after all the presence of creatures, wild though they might be. In desperation, even eldritch monsters can be preferable company sometimes.

With a shrill laugh, Else realized that though they desired to kill her, she would've given anything to have the Pandor with her. Colberius, Halvard, Chrysallis, Hemlock, anyone.

"Is anyone there at all? Am I there?"

Else realized with horror she was losing even herself. She could feel herself fading into The Void, becoming Nothing, becoming empty, vanishing.

"Do I exist?

I think, therefore I am, but is it me thinking, or is my thought an echo of what was? If it is an echo, do I exist still?"

Else realized she was screaming, and that too was fading as The Void consumed her, consumed them all.

"I am gone."

........

Zeta threw the switch, and closed the dark portal that had taken the travelers away.

"They'll be back. They'll probably never volunteer to travel to The Void again, but they'll be back." Zeta promised.

OOC: I beg you to indulge me with a descriptive reactionary post to The Void, before moving on to the next scene.

Zeta grouped those going together, and threw a switch. The last thing any would remember, is everything going dark.

One by one, senses fell away. First to vanish were the classic five senses. There was no sight, no sound. There was neither sensation of being on firm ground, nor sensation of floating. There was no air to breath, nor was there the need to breath.

Time, Else suddenly appreciated its presence, and the dull sensation of its passage. How long had she been in this empty place, a second, an eternity? A century perhaps? She did not know, all she had was a sense of self, that is, she was now more aware of herself more than ever, and with only her own thoughts for company, it was frightening.

As it was for her, so it was for the others. None could detect each other in any fashion, not even by thought. There was no Hive Mind, only a lonely emptiness that was overpowering for social creatures, as much as it was for solitary loners. Was it as frightening for them as it was for Else? She didn't know, but wherever they were in this place, she hoped they were ok.

In nature, alone in the woods, in the desert, in the open sea, even drifting among the stars, there is a sense of other creatures, somewhere. A knowledge that you are not truly alone. There are after all the presence of creatures, wild though they might be. In desperation, even eldritch monsters can be preferable company sometimes.

With a shrill laugh, Else realized that though they desired to kill her, she would've given anything to have the Pandor with her. Colberius, Halvard, Chrysallis, Hemlock, anyone.

"Is anyone there at all? Am I there?"

Else realized with horror she was losing even herself. She could feel herself fading into The Void, becoming Nothing, becoming empty, vanishing.

"Do I exist?

I think, therefore I am, but is it me thinking, or is my thought an echo of what was? If it is an echo, do I exist still?"

Else realized she was screaming, and that too was fading as The Void consumed her, consumed them all.

"I am gone."

........

Zeta threw the switch, and closed the dark portal that had taken the travelers away.

"They'll be back. They'll probably never volunteer to travel to The Void again, but they'll be back." Zeta promised.

OOC: I beg you to indulge me with a descriptive reactionary post to The Void, before moving on to the next scene. Perfect theme music for The Void: https://youtu.be/p9XMd2eAy_4

Colberius X—at least, he thought that was his name—was fighting for his existence.  The Void clawed at his very essence, tearing him apart.  The Inquisitor was fighting for all he was worth, but he was succumbing to the abyss. The Void was trying to consume him, and it seemed bound to succeed.

Either a Moment or an Eternity Earlier
Colberius had steeled himself to face the vast emptiness, standing dispassionately with the others as Zeta flipped a switch.  But the Void had still overwhelmed him.  So used to relying on his honed and sharpened senses, he nearly had a moment of panic when his sight abandoned him, followed in short order by his hearing, smell, taste, and touch.  He reassured himself with a psychic sweep.

At least I can still sense the others. No sooner had that thought flickered across his mind than his psychic sense deserted him as well.  Colberius would have sighed, had he been able to.  His innate human sense of the presence of others also failed him. As bad as this is for me, it has to be unfathomably worse for Hemlock.  Cut off from the hive mind... She'll be lucky to be sane after this, much less alive.

On his own, with nothing but his own thoughts, Colberius kept himself occupied with mental exercises.  He was reciting the elements of the periodic table in order of atomic number when he realized that he had no idea how long he had spent in the Void.  He had just reached Palladium, and couldn't remember what came after. 

It took him some thought to remember, Silver.  Silver comes after Palladium. He hesitated. Or is it Cadmium? After thinking about it for a time, he was certain.  It's silver, of course.  How could I have forgotten–? Wait... How long did it take me to think of that? And why? His internal clock, typically flawless, seemed to have run down.

Suddenly, it struck him that he couldn't immediately remember where he was from, why he was here, or even who he was.  It took intense concentration to remember, My name is...Colberius X.  I am the Lord Inquisitor of...New Hyperion...and an Ambassador of Wintreath. Together with...Else and...Hemlock, I am seeking...a way to destroy the Pandorian Worlds. Having solidified this in his mind, it became his mantra. 

My name is Colberius X. I am the Lord Inquisitor of New Hyperion and an Ambassador of Wintreath.  Together with Else and Hemlock, I am seeking a way to destroy the Pandorian Worlds. He repeated this to himself, but after a time—what may have been a moment, or what may have been an eternity—most of the meaning was lost to him.  Eventually, one thought was all that held the Inquisitor together in the Void.

I am Lord Inquisitor Colberius X, and I will not be consumed.

*the changeling queen yawns seeing the whole question your existence speech 18 times...so instead she offers  the clones more popcorn while she begins to doze off*


(meanwhile)

*The duchess hemlock takes this ride into insanity with no fault findinging pure fun as if it was a awesome water ride at a waterpark.*

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! she shouts as she seemingly holds up her hands as she flashes through existence.
 
*Her party of guards are constantly switching their pants for it seems their pants are totally soiled*

*the changeling looks at the portal she is helping sustain to the void*

You know I would have expected more...

*the changeling slumps back on a nearby couch*

You know this void seems powerful, but a hassle to gain some power from it. she says as she sits and awaits results.

Black....white....black....white....

Else, what was it she was trying to do? Comprehend, remember. Sight, she was seeing things, yet there was no light. To her right, Colberius seemed determined to maintain some vestige of himself, to her left, Hemlock seemed to be enjoying the thrill ride to nowhere, while her minions seemed terrified.

It was at precisely that moment that Else realized she could see everyone.

"Oh thank the gods, I'm not alone!" Else cried, tears in her many eyes.

She turned back to the visual static before her, and realized she was eye to eye with an entity that had chosen to take on human proportions for its own unknown reasons.

"Not just any god, me. This is my home after all." The entity said.

Its voice seemed to come from everywhere around them, and nowhere at all.

"Your home is terrifying." Else said plainly.

"No, I simply ate you. You were rather delicious. Colberius was a bit tough, but Hemlock, I like her, few embrace The Void so totally. She was best of all. Her minions, not so much." The entity said.

"You, ate us?" Else asked, confused as to how she was still in one piece.

"Not in the same fashion you think of eating, but close enough." The entity replied.

"We've come for the power of The Void." Else demanded.

"Then take it, but leave something of equal power in return. For example, all your people." The Entity replied.

"My, people?" Else asked.

"Of course, I'm giving you the power to shatter worlds and universes with impunity. It's an equal trade. Everything, for Nothing. Besides, you'll be doing them a favor. Behold." The entity said.

The Void twitched, and all could see Else's people, freezing to death on Wintreath.

"They cannot survive on a frozen planet. You've condemned them to an early grave. The Ants will never be able to dig through frozen stone, the bees will never be able to morph the plants into the massive feeders your people require, your flies will die within days, unable to bear the cold, leading your spiders to starve. Since their all going to die, you may as well get something in return for your efforts. What would you do otherwise, leech off of Chrysalis's generosity? How long do you expect that to last if your people can never get on their feet?" The Entity asked.

He turned to Colberius and Hemlock.

"What are you willing to surrender, for the power to destroy, EVERYTHING! Even Matter and Energy." The entity asked.

OOC: I apologize for disappearing. I needed, time, with old memories, old faces, and old friends.

*the changeling queen sits back bored out of her mind since it appears the archives scribes do little so she instead wanders off looking for various tresures and artifacts she can possibly loot*


(meanwhile)

*Hemlock moves over and covers Elses mouth before she can speak*

Uhhhhmmm sorry mr. uhhhhh void I need to have a moment of privacy to discuss somethings with my hordes co-partners leader if you mind.  She grabs Else by the hand and pulls her into a team talk with colberius.

*she begins to weight options in front of her*

Listen Else I think we should ask a few more questions before we make a deal with whatever this thing is before we make a deal, for all we know this could be temporarily, drive you insane, kill you and/ or bring upon the end of days killing millions in the process....

*Her men had calmed down and begin to embrace the abyss*

If chrysalis was here she would urge you to take the deal saying the truth being the horde could open a rift into another realm with your people in which you could kill another version of yourself taking her peoples for yourself....

*she glances over at the void man*

But I personally find this a bit fishy, very cool, but fishy all the same...

*she looks into the nothing*

Think about it this is a Realm. Of. Nothing. wouldn't it get lonely, depressing, and boring real quick for any entity living here. This empty infinite blackness either could be just that....

*she gulps*

Or the perfect prison with no need of guards, no need of walls, no possibility of escape for whoever is placed in it. If the second is true I have 5 things to ask.....

*her eyes are quite serious*

How powerful is this being really?, What did he do to get a fate worse than death?, can we really trust someone who is willing to give away the powers of a god with no gain to himself?, who the hell placed him here?, and what are the repercussions of letting this entity possibly allowing this being to escape?. she says a bit chilled yet calm.

"It doesn't matter. I won't take it. Even alternate versions of my people, it still wouldn't quite be, my people. I desire no power that would cost so many something so precious. All the points you've raised tell me this power is, unbalanced, wrong. I deny The Void." Else declared firmly.

"And that's exactly why you're getting it. You passed the test of Body, when not even I could easily consume Colberius. You passed the test of mind, when Hemlock not only embraced The Void, but could see through its darkness to see certain truths, but not even she has seen the full illumination. You passed the test of Spirit, when you decided to side with your people, and turn away a freely offered power that would take them." The Void said.

"You heard Hemlock?" Else asked.

"This entity you see before you is a simulacrum made for your benefit. I am The Spirit of Nothingness, I am The Void itself, I am all around you, there is no part of me you can go to, that I am not already there. I am, Omnipresent within myself.

Now, back to the points Hemlock raised. Insanity is a matter of perspective, and mental strength. Certainly if you dabble in things of the darkness too long, it will break you. This is pure destruction after all. But The Void, if used properly, will do none of the things Hemlock fears. Case in point, Warhaven. The entire nation utilizes my power daily, and they have yet to cause any sort of an end of days scenario.

Secondly, this place, me. I like nothing. I like the emptiness, the infinite blackness. There's points I've skipped in both cases, but that's because there's a lot I'm saving for the final point, which I feel will answer Hemlock's five questions. The story of me.  Regardless, she's also correct, this is the perfect prison, and you're on the inside of it. You cannot leave, unless I let you, or, you call upon my opposite to save you.

Now, those five questions. How powerful am I really? Child, there are Demi-gods, Gods, and Elder Gods. I am as far beyond the most powerful of Elder Gods, as the most powerful of Elder Gods is beyond the weakest of mortal men. I am eternal, and I was, before everything, without exception, existed.

In the beginning, there was nothingness, pure and absolute. Not anything existed, and because of this, there also did not exist anything to mar the total perfection of Emptiness. Then, there was Omnisource. Omnisource is known to all beings, by different names, by different forms, by different genders even. Sometimes Omnisource is one, sometimes Omnisource is many. Suffice to say, all religions are true. For our purposes, Omnisource is a singular he. It's, simpler that way. To date, Omni and I cannot agree on whether I created him by pondering the concept of possibility, or if Omnisource created himself, and thus always just simply was and I came into being in direct response to his existence.

Suffice to say, I hated him at first, and spent the first eternity trying to kill him." The entity said.

"Ahh, you failed and that's what got you locked in here." Else said knowingly.

"To the contrary, I succeeded. I destroyed The Creator. What I didn't expect was that he could just simply recreate himself on the spot. In turn, he destroyed me, to prove a point, which was proven when despite all my efforts to resist it, I came back into being, right here in The Void, which has always been here, surrounding The Multi-verse and its farthest reaches. I realized I could never be rid of Omnisource and The Multi-verse, and neither could they be rid of me. In despair I wandered the multi-verse, not locked up in the slightest, causing trouble here and there.

Eventually, experimenting with my powers, I made myself a partner, an, equal. I named her Jiralyn, and took her for wife. She gave me my son. You remember him, Tajen, former Emperor of Warhaven. Around that time, Omnisource decided he'd had enough of my depression and antics, and so cleverly defeated me, by creating himself a daughter, and introducing her to me. Such, innocence, such purity. I found no matter how hard I tried, I could not hate her, and found, because of her, I no longer hated the Multi-verse, for it was her home. Her and my son fell in love, I'm sure you remember Cara, former Empress of Warhaven.

And that, answers your questions. Or perhaps more directly, my power is Eternal, I'm here because I live here and am in no fashion trapped, you are overestimating just what exactly I'd let you do with The Void, powers of a God my foot. Only my son has that much power. As for benefit to me, what precisely could you give me, that I cannot simply create for myself out of the decayed bits of Multi-verse that fall into my Void? I get all the positive emotion I need from my family, and materialisim simply isn't my thing. I believe the fact I can come and go as I please answers your last question.

As for why? Well, why not? So many claim to have prowess over the forces of destruction, but not many can claim they've traveled to utter nothingness, stared Eternal Destruction in the face, and walked away sanity intact.

One last item before I let you speak again, you were worried about the effects of my power on you the user, and I mentioned proper usage? These days, Omni and I, especially since I mellowed, work as a pair. Straight from me, once I fill you with the darkness of The Void, I will send you to Omni, and he'll strengthen you in turn with his Light. His Light, protects against my Darkness. My Darkness, puts a lid on his non-stop Creationisim. So balanced and effectively canceled out, you in turn hold balance between Creation and Destruction, and can sway that balance one way or the other to achieve desired effects. Practice yields mastery and better results. We do this, because he delights in helping everyone and everything, and I, simply like terrifying people with The Void. Especially those who think they've got all the answers." The entity said.

He paused.

"You changlings feed on Love, don't you? You're just going to delight in Omni then." The entity promised.

*the changeling queen wanders the halls looking for loot*

(meanwhile)

We do feed on a number of emotions love being the most filling...

*she then realizes she is going off track*

I will go along with this, but i still find suspicion for if you are the opposite to omni you are either evil and are just trying to make a deal with us like the devil or omni is evil and we will likely be walking into a trap or be backstabbed at any point in time...

*she then grumbles*

But we seem to have no choice in the matter, I swear it feels like we are just being pointed in a direction only to be pointed in another....

*she seems to look off into space before sighing*

O well i guess it is my job. she says before waiting to be filled with the darkness.

(not that evils bad for changelings, I mean chrysalis has likely committed genocide out of annoyance in the past)

The Darkness seemed to flow into the group.

"I will allow any children born of you from this moment forth to inherit the power of The Void genetically. In strength, I will allow you to open a Void Nexus, which is a portal leading directly to The Void. It looks like a black hole, acts like one too, except not even X-rays escape a Void Nexus. Their very damaging, but I'll only let you keep one open a few seconds at most. Otherwise, you can channel Void Energy into weapons, making them far more damaging than normal, as each attack will sever the molecular bonds between atoms, meaning you can, with enough effort and time, cut through literally anything.

If you practice, you can even use The Void to travel, via a Void Nexus, as those who master my gifts can in fact escape a Void Nexus." The entity said.

"One question before I go, what's your name?" Else asked.

"I have many. Warhavenites know me by the name Kajeenith." The entity replied.

He waved a hand, and with a jolt, the group was back on Wintreath of all places, but they didn't have time to notice the cold, as the light began to grow, and grow, until it grow to such luminous strength that all was white, not just white, Golden White.

Else gasped, it was, warm, and comforting in this place. She could feel a single overriding emotion, unconditional love. She imagined it to being like a warm pie, she'd heard of pies. To Else's utter astonishment, a pie manifested before her, and it was warm.

If the changlings chose to feed on the love, they would find after they'd consumed their fill, that there was even more love present than when they'd started. The entirety of The Changling Horde could eat its fill, to gluttonous amounts even, and there would be more than when they'd started.

The light parted, as a new universe was born, and drifted off into The Multi-verse.

With a start, Else realized, the light itself, was alive, and sentient. Further, because they themselves were in the light, they were Omnipresent throughout the Multi-verse, so long as they remained in the light. She wondered how she knew these things, then realized, the Light had told them.

"Welcome." The Light said, more directly, its voice sounding like many voices, male and female, from many species.

*The changelings seem to be in a euphoric state*

Wow man this is totally cool braw. Hemlock says in a almost drunk sounding voice.

*the remainder of changelings take a nap*

You know This place is pretty chill. she says pupils pretty much taking up the space of her eyes.

Colberius listened with rapt attention, not saying a word, as the Void entity gave his explanation.  He even remained silent as the darkness flowed through him and the others.  The last thing he did in the Void, as Kajeenith waved his hand, was to send a telepathic message to the entity.  Thank you.

The Inquisitor was surprised when they appeared in Wintreath, but didn't have time to wonder about it. Light washed over them, warm and bright. The Inquisitor squinted in the light, being much more comfortable when cloaked in shadow.

Then he noticed the overwhelming emotion surrounding them.  It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to feel it, but it was familiar to him.  Love. Colberius shivered and pulled his cloak more tightly around him. Between the light and the love, he hoped that they wouldn't be spending too much time with Omni.  It was making him nervous.

"My light protects from the darkness, thus the powers will not drive you mad. The Darkness puts a lid on my light so you will not suffer from over-abundance. My Light shall allow you to create. Food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, water for the thirsty. Clothes for the unclothed. These kinds of things I delight in, for I prefer to empower the individual to stand on their own, instead of causing dependence. Teach, instead of simply giving.

But still, I must admit, you can create anything you can imagine, even monsters and new life forms. But you are also responsible for what you create. Oh, you can't create planets, not individually, but something as big as you are, now that'd be possible. Practice yields greater limits." Omni said, as his light poured into them.