Dark Descending
~ Prologue ~
Lord Ao, creator of the Realms, sat quietly in the chaotic stillness of the place, contemplating recent events, wondering what it meant to himself and the multiverse in general. Nearly six decades had passed since last such an event transpired. His own authority had been challenged by some of his own creations; most chiefly Bane, the Black Lord. Bane had believed, as had many on countless other worlds, that mere gods could control the cosmos itself. What each failed to realize was the existence of a tome known as the Book of Fate, a tome that Ao knew all too well.
Like the other overlords, Lord Ao had been called by the Great Creator, he who had given life to each member of the assembly. Ao's eyes glazed over as he traversed the planes, checking on each of his creations. He wanted to be sure that, as yet, nothing had occurred that would rip his precious spheres from the sky. Lost in concentration, Ao did not notice the entrance of the remaining overlords. For reasons unknown even to himself, a strange thought crossed Ao's mind as he ran absent-minded fingers through his flowing white beard. I wonder if it's time for a shave...
"Well, that would certainly be an improvement!" interjected Mistdrift. To Ao, she was the most beautiful of the overlords. With her flowing, night black hair and penetrating gaze, she seemed to know what Ao was pondering at any moment. Of course, being an overlord, she could take on any form that suited her. However, this was Ao's favorite form, and she knew it. A grin crossed his visage as he spun to take her into his arms. Had matters been less pressing, they would have whisked away to some unused place in the heavens and spent this time getting reacquainted. After all, it had been nearly two millenia since they last spoke to one another. Yet, as it was, none of the overlords could leave. This was too important to ignore.
As the dozens of immortal beings chatted about a multitude of topics, the Creator took to his podium, and a great hush fell across the auditorium. As if on cue, the Creator began his speech. "My overlords. Hear me and understand! A great tradegy has befallen us all. I hold in my hands the Book of Fate. Look upon it and repent!"
As the Creator spoke these words, he raised a great and powerful tome known to all overlords as the Book of Fate. Written by Fate himself, the tome had outlasted time. Some overlords had even had the privelege of reading from its massive pages, learning of what had happened and what was yet to come. Ao, like a select few of the others in the room, had even been honored with more than one such reading of the powerful artifact. But what was it doing here, now?
"Children, you shall return to your homes and make ready for the impossible. Trust in your gods and your peoples to maintain order without you, for more important matters are at hand. Behold!" The Creator threw open the pages of his temendous book, and an astonished gasp swept through the assembly of overlords. Its pages were blank...
