The laughter of oblivion

[Anastasia]

"I have some small hope the Incarnations set aside some rest for deities who fell in Creation," Latha admits, "Some reward for our service." She's quiet after, "I think we're right about that. It fits smoothly with what we know."

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps, but lets not test it," Alicia says. She doesn't really see the Incarnations as 'reward' sorts, recalling what she saw of Mystra's origin with the Incarnation of Law.

"So what now?" Marie asks.

"I think we need to learn more about Garl Glittergold," Alicia says. "That name was highlighted to you for a reason. Bytopia showed us the lives of its petitioners, it showed us what Daa-vid did to end it all... we ought to learn about how Garl Glittergold actually lived. Properly recognise what Creation has lost from their absence."

[Anastasia]

We're also at the Memorial. Somewhere here the Guardian can be found, if it wishes to be found.

If we can remember," Latha says, "But I will not forget this, that I promise."

[Ebiris]

If it wishes to be found. Zaphkiel said it though: What was lost must be remembered and mourned.

"Everything we've seen of Bytopia outside of memory phantasms has been wilderness. No homes, no castles, no roads... it's all gone. Everything except this Memorial. Was it destroyed so much in the fighting that Bytopia scoured the ruins as too painful to retain?" Marie wonders, floating up into the air above the memorial wall and looking around.

[Anastasia]

It's exactly that. Nothing beyond the Memorial is here, only untamed wilds above and below.

[Ebiris]

"Gnomes liked to dig deep, didn't they?" Alicia asks, following Marie up. Both in the memories they saw here and the ruins left on her world it was the same, living underground just as much as dwarves did. "Try finding the path again, Marie."

Nodding, Marie focuses, another miracle used for her magic...

Find the Path aimed at Garl Glittergold's home.

[Anastasia]

You're already there.

A shimmer.

Hills. For a moment all are hills here. Seven hills, each of shining gold. Hills with countless burrows. A community vast, large and wide. More than you can count.

For a moment the Memorial is gone and these Golden Hills replace it. Then reality returns, a moment's nostalgia gone.

[Ebiris]

"Seven..." Alicia says softly after counting them.

"Like Celestia," Marie completes the thought. "Not seven mounting heavens, but... seven shining hills."

[Anastasia]

"Seven lost, and in them so many more," Latha agrees. "...how many names are on the Monument, Marie?"

[Ebiris]

Marie shakes her head. "They kept coming in the whole time I was touching it. The spell failed before it finished, but even then..." she takes a deep breath. "Trillions. Perhaps every gnome or other who called Bytopia home from its very first soul right up until Daa-vid came. As old as Creation... could you name every elf who ever lived, Latha? Or every human? I couldn't do that for every gnome, but I'm closer than most."

[Anastasia]

Silence. Latha does not say a word, head bowed and eyes closed tight.

Only the silence of mourning fills the air, Bytopia completely quiet.

[Ebiris]

There's a moment of sombre reflection to that, before Alicia's voice breaks the quiet.

"You've become strong, Marie."

"I was always strong," Marie shakes her head, her bright blue eyes glittering. "It was just contained in such an unassuming and cute package. But... you're right, something's changed. Godhood has changed me. I understand the responsibilities and burdens that come with this prestige and power. And... if the time ever came?" she reaches up to brush a tear from her cheek and then touches the side of the Memorial wall. "I hope I could be as brave as Garl Glittergold." Was he a cute little trickster god too, an unassuming little gnome with a big nose and florid cheeks, ever eager to welcome someone to his hearth and tell a story? She wishes she could have known him - would they have been friends?

[Anastasia]

"You finally matured," Latha says quietly, "All it took was apotheosis." She reaches out and lays her hand on Marie's shoulder, nothing else said by her.

[Ebiris]

"Finally? I'm a baby in celestial terms," Marie chuckles weakly, an ugly snort that somehow still sounds enthralling as she chokes back a sob from how this place is getting to her. "Bytopia?" she manages, looking up before she clears her throat and tries again like Alicia did earlier. "Bytopia? Can you show me something of Garl Glittergold? What he looked like, how he talked? Please."

[Anastasia]

A wander.

A memory of feet to the ground.

A quick joke, an easy smile.

Illusions, magic and trickery.

A glimpse.

A golden gnome clad in fine chain armor, a battle axe and a wise, easy smile. Youthful.  Golden brown hair and a look that soothes for that one moment before it is gone.

The power of the Fairest Star.

He is there. He shields the others, a shield held up against it. He lasts long moments before his form at last yields to it, a titanic qua-

Reality returns, the memory gone.