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"I don’t suppose you'll miss him will you? He isn’t really you, you know. He certainly doesn’t have your love of the body that’s for sure! Can you believe he called me ill preserved? Me!"
"..."
Vanus giggles at the shiver he feels in the violet light. "Oh Marco, I know what I said before, but well, won’t you have me still? Another choice. Another two ways to go. I understand now, I really do. I saw the Break. Ours only lasted a few days, but that was more than enough. I can’t imagine 1008 years of that. No wonder you went insane!"
"..."
"Oh, stop that! You know it’s true. You - both of you - are quite insane. And so am I. And all of the Gods as well. We are all mad, absolutely mad!"
"..."
"How are you enjoying Traven by the way? He seems to have been terribly misinformed about how the Colossal black gem actually works. And so was our latest Hero I suppose. He seems to be a good egg though. Certainty less of a bastard elitist than Traven anyhow. And with Raminus in place as his advisor, he is sure to be kept in line, at least for a while. So are you proud of me Marco? I say you couldn’t have done a better job yourself, could you?"
"..."
"Hah! I thought not. Alas, it is nearly dawn and I must sleep. There's still so much to be done! Eight days my love. I will be with you then."
"My Lord, you leave us?"
"No, no. I am not your Lord, I am but a simple thrall. Now I go to be with my Beloved. In Oblivion, or Aetherius, or wherever he's managed to carve out a niche for himself up there. I’m still not entirely clear on that part."
"What are your last commands for us then, O' Greatest of Thralls?"
"The same as they have always been: Practice your Art. Advance the ways of Life through the study of Death. These things Honor your God. And do try not to be entirely evil about it, would you? It turns people off."
"...yes my Lord."
And so under the light of both new moons and the New Moon, at 1 am sharp, the Living Thrall Vanus Galerion, once-enemy of necromancers everywhere, lays upon the Altar of the Revenant. Holding the newly purified Colossal Soul Gem to his chest, he sets himself alight. He screams in ecstasy as his body is consumed and his Soul and Power are transferred to the gem, and all the Devoted present drop to their knees in reverence.
The Senior Eremite comes forth with a gorgeously carved and inlaid ebony dagger and lays a carefully contrived enchant upon it. The gem shatters as it's soul and spirit ascend through the Light, to join their God in the heavens.
And His Gift to us the Faithful? Blade of the Revenant: an enchanted dagger that can call even the most powerful dead back to serve, and will force all who are slain with it to do the wielders will - all for a small cost of your life force. But be careful not to let go of it once risen, for the dead only know the blade as its master, not the wielder...