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Chapter 61: Summit on High

Date: ??? of July, 810 PSW

Location: Golz Gyfarfod Diogel

Job Arseoth drifts aimlessly through dreams and figments of his imagination. They collide and splinter in infinite kaleidoscopes. Fragments of sound and sight muddle together into blazing insanities only to blow away on an ethereal wind. There was an amphitheater with a black-cloaked man stood at a podium on the stage.

“[Wae uli ap-e natanasibnikka? Dangsin-eun sin-i animyeo uli joyag-e mukk-yeo issjido anhseubnida. Mullon jikyeo jusyeoseo gamsahabnida.]”

“Because I believe it to be time for me to sign that treaty, and in doing so, formalize that which is my Domain.”

“[Jisig, ingan, ingong saengmyeong? Cheos beonjjaeneun heoyongdoejiman majimag du gajineun seolmyeong-i pil-yohabnida. Hwagsilhi asidasipi ingan-eun piwa sinnyeom-e ttala gajang dayanghan injong-ibnida. Geuligo ingong saengmyeong-i mueos-igo mueos-i aninji eotteohge gyeoljeonghabnikka? Gedaga: du jongjog? Geugeos-eun joyaggwa uli yeogsaui beom-wi naeeseo jeonlyega-eobsneun il-ibnida.]”

“I'll answer the multiple races question first, if it pleases the Pantheon. I submit that it is not unprecedented for a single Deity to be the 'default' for multiple races. As an example, Bahamut holds three races under the singular domain of 'Dragonkin' – dragons, dragonborn, and kobolds. As to the definition of individual races: For the definition of humans I purpose using the standard definition that is already in use by the Pantheon, with a singular amendment due to humanity's characteristics: that I serve as a default choice of 'deity' for humanity, not the exclusive choice. Any and all humans would need to actively chose their deity, with myself only serving as the fall-back if no choice is made, such as in the case of infants who die in childbirth.”

A murmur of a thousand voices stirred the infinite chamber. A dragon, or so Job though he saw a glimpse of one, stood and gestured for silence.

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“Sut ful?”

“[Igeos-eun sasil in bahamuteu-ijiman ulineun ingong saengmyeong munjee daehan cheong-won jaui daedab-eul ajig deudji moshaessseubnida. Naneun-i munjee daehae pandanhagi jeon-e geugeos-euldeul-eul geos-ibnida.]”

“The definition of Artifical Life in invariably shaded by the presence of the undead. I put forth that the undead have their own definition and patron, informal as she may be, and do not fall under my domain. Artificial life is, by my definition, a created individual which simulates life in all things: the possession of a soul, the capacity to grow both physically and mentally, to reproduce, to act, to chose, and to change before their life comes to an end. The free-willed warforged serve as an example of this.”

“Do they have a soul? Do they grow and change? Can they reproduce? The humble animated statue is just soulless moving matter, whereas Index was so much more even before she drew from the SiDiabolo Deck or received a Boon.”

“[Dangsin-i uimihaneun geos-eun gaggag-i gaein-eulo pyeong-gadoeeoyahandaneun geos-ibnida.]”

“The same as any other being. Moreover they, like humans, would need to chose who to worship. Unlike humans, but like every other race represented in this Pantheon, I would lay domain on artificial life unless they deliberately chose otherwise, with the exception of individuals who pre-date this petition, should it be accepted and approved.”

“I see no justification to dictate to the minds and souls of individuals based upon the signatures on a piece of paper. Should they chose to follow my teachings, they may. Should they chose or have chosen otherwise I would respect that choice.”

“Daar yn ymddangos yn gyfiawn ac yn iawn. Kul ahrk nu anhrefnus; yn well aan mun miiraad ko gosod cyfraith ac archddyfarniad. Aan pruzan ronit fan fin sin do jul.”

Job felt his attention drifting away and wondered for a long moment if this was because he was awaking or falling deeper into slumber. As Job ponders this imponderable fact of his existence Job became aware of two other impossibly precious things. The first was a glittering platinum dragon scale. The second was a folded piece of black silk.

Job mused over these two objects, sure that he had to chose one, and equally sure that that choice would shape more than just his own future.