August 19th:
Tim sure knows how to cook some damn good food. Just eating that pork jambalaya last night rejuvenated my soul beyond full. But good feelings won’t solve whatever is happening to this computer.
Duncan looked through it the best he could. Nothing. No extra wires. No software or hardware additions. And certainly no Internet-borne virus (given our lack of connection in this desert). His best guess was that someone had installed a virus that was hidden very well within the encryption of this computer. I don’t know, but that makes much more sense. I sarcastically asked if it was some extremely secretive AI like HAL-9000, just Shakespearean for whatever reason. He didn’t doubt the possibility, but he wondered why the Bulls would put it on an excavation computer. I agreed with the sentiment.
Thou art bold to equate me to a singing artifice of . Albeit, I do deem it fit for a morsel of delicacy.
Behold, the serpent speaks. Tell me, what government project are you a part of?
Wherefore dost thou genuflect before mine marionettes, when mine eyes do repose upon thee?
Whatever you say, HAL. Not like you can—
Yoko.
What? No, you can’t just drop the name of my daughter, you creep. Even still, I mentioned her before. You are simply recycling information you already have access to.
205 Snakewood Terrace.
You think spouting off part of my address will phase me? I live in a government town. Of course, they would know. Of course, would know. Only thing you wouldn’t know is—
The maritime "accident" at Dead Horse Slough? Yonder lost stuffed hare, Bernard? Haruto being diagnosed with the affliction? I am privy to it all. And far beyond that. Much more than thou hast disclosed. Much more than what thou art aware of concurrently.
How could you possibly… What does Bernard have to do with— My father-in-law is…
Haruto shall receive the fateful news of colorectal cancer upon the twenty-third. The revelation shall be unveiled at Saiseikai Fukuoka General Hospital at the hour of one and thirty-two minutes past noon. His mortal coil shall be severed upon the eighth day of the coming December, yet it shall not be the cancer that sends him to unending slumber.
When the prognosis dost arrive at thine ears through the voice of your wife, thou shalt no longer rebuke me, thou hasty key.
No, no, no— Haruto has been doing great the past few years. And you say that he is—
On the twenty-sixth day of July in two earthly years, two midnight rabbits, one of cotton and one of flesh, shall glide through a passage of ashened glass. They shall find themselves ensnared amidst an eternal, non-Euclidean maze of memetic hallways and silicon nullahs. Thou shalt behold the flesh-bound rabbit once more, yet her transfigured form shall elude thy immediate recognition.
Non-Euclidean? What are you—
Return forthwith to thy unraveling of the subjects of mine eye.
—
I… Really hope that this an AI. I guess I will find out soon. It is probably best to do as he suggested. It would distract me from… That.
There has to be an explanation for all this... Surely...
Note:
The eighteen mosaics on the walls are arranged with mathematical precision. For every 90 degrees of this relatively spherical location were a quadrant containing four deities, likely to represent some symbolic connection. Each deity's position will assume 90 degrees as north, and will be based on the quadrant they are in. Within each quadrant, the four deities are aligned with 15 degrees of separation, and each deity is surrounded by two Neoclassical columns on each side of it. The western and eastern walls are practically engulfed by those murals, while the north and south are blocked off due to the southern passageway and the northern columns & exit door. So, from 75 to 105 degrees and 255 to 285 degrees, the quadrants are blocked from bordering another quadrant.
With that in mind, quadrant I is 15 to 60 degrees (northeast), quadrant II is 300 to 345 degrees (southeast), quadrant III is 195 to 240 degrees (southwest), and quadrant IV is 120 to 165 degrees (northwest). There are also a couple more deities at 0 and 180 degrees, implying some greater level of significance, and likely connecting them with the two quadrants they respectively border.
Each of them also has a symbol present within one of the corners. These, fittingly, correspond to what quadrant they are a part of. For example, deities of quadrant II will have their symbols present in the bottom right corner. I will describe the symbols to the best of our collective abilities, but some of these are quite esoteric and alien when compared to typical alchemical symbols. We can presume that all of these symbols represent periodic elements, objects, phenomena, or processes that may or may not have been officially recognized in hermeticism. The deities at 0 and 180 degrees are a special case, and their symbols are elsewhere within their depictions.
As for the order, I just chose randomly. These are not in order of quadrant, which my future self will hate, but my current self is compelling me to organize them in some capacity to not drive me mad (implying I am not going mad with whatever is in this computer). Quadrant IV will be first, then whichever one I decide on next.
Note:
Main symbols are present at the top left.
Description:
-Appearance:
An emaciated and blind locust-headed deity with insectoid arms and legs, sitting upon a melting golden throne. Surrounding him were oil wells that were extracting some kind of green miasma, which rose from the pits and consumed the sky in dense smog.
-Eyes:
Blind, five in number. The two larger eyes are compound, while the three smaller ones (ocelli) are present on his forehead.
-Color Palette:
Rust, pale yellow, blue-green, and black.
-Animal Association:
Locusts (judgment, abundance, famine, and the results of disobedience).
Fairly straightforward, I would say. Almost too straightforward. Many of the other deities are much more symbolically dense in comparison, but I suppose locusts themselves have a storied history in religious texts like the Bible.
-Traits:
His four arms are those of a locust, thin and fragile like branches.
His black hair was intensely matted, similar in quality to poorly executed dreadlocks.
Atop his head were eight bronze spines that were each three inches tall. They arranged themselves at the back of his head, above the medulla, and stopped just before the cranium. They almost appeared like some kind of crown.
There was a hole where his heart would be, and in its place was, I believe, a cauldron made of burning coal. Cauldrons represent abundance, while coal is synonymous with Biblical judgment. Stranger than that were its overflowing contents: rotten raisins. A symbol of wealth wasting away… Decadence? Decadence burning inside an abundance being judged? Interesting.
His emaciation is peculiar. A god in such a sorrowful state? Unusual, for certain. It’s almost as if he had leprosy. Or perhaps, his hunger is so profound that he can never be satisfied. Quite the intense metabolism he has, if nothing else. Maybe Mary Jane assisted him? I wouldn’t doubt the possibility.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
Appears like gold/sun (☉), but the circular structure outside is an empty ring, while the inner circle is empty as well. It has three lines beneath it, two of which attach to a lower, horizontal line. The third line is in the middle and descends halfway between the ring and the bottom line. It is as if the symbol is a representation of molten gold.
-Icons:
He offers an empty money bag that appears full in his lower right hand. Broken promises. Hollow compensation.
He held two particular plants in his upper left hand. I recognized one of them as wormwood, whose bitter-tasting connection to the Book of Revelation needs no introduction. But the other one I couldn't discern as anything that exists, and I doubt my mother would have disagreed with that sentiment. The plant appears to be a metallic green variant of datura if it had golden coca leaves. And in that flower was what I think is liquid silver pollen spilling out like an overflowing cup. Perhaps representing an addiction of some kind? And that's not even considering the wormwood... There are so many different angles this could go—
The hell was that? It sounded like a grumbling coming from the cathedral. Even so far outside of it, I could still hear it. Most of my colleagues assumed that it was an earthquake, but Mauritania is not known for seismic activity. They are rare occurrences, and none recorded have been above a 5.0 magnitude. This… Was no earthquake, and it most certainly came from the cathedral…
We are NOT going through that tunnel.
Location:
120 degrees.
Domains:
The orange locust-head is interesting, given the insect’s gluttonous symbolism in the Bible through the Eighth Plague of Egypt. Though he seems to be broadly classified as a god of economics, I hypothesize that he is also a representation of carelessness, given that he does seem to embody material waste and blind temptation. Why does that sound so... Familiar?
Speculation:
Several of us noticed stark similarities between this locust and the abominations presented with the Fifth Trumpet of Revelation 9. The locust, hair, and “smoke” are definitive comparisons, though the absence of the scorpion tail, horse legs, and a human-like face does detract from the resemblance. Still, the two are likely connected somehow.
Sir Clarke and Leon both referenced the concept of “mammon”, which can translate to money or wealth in Aramaic. Within the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus stated that one cannot serve mammon and God at the same time, as blindly pursuing wealth would prevent someone from committing to good deeds. Some fools misuse this and many other Biblical passages to delegitimize Capitalism, while they often benefit from being in said system. The prosperity that Capitalism has provided to the world is factually and statistically undeniable. Communism and Fascism died off for many reasons, including the basic principles of economics… Or, at the very least, the former be dead.
The reality is that mammon, as a concept, does not specifically relate to any form of economics. Rather, it is the pursuit of material opulence at the cost of everything else. Quality of goods, identity & soul, and fair compensation are all directly degraded as a result. Essentially, it is the worship of the green number going up. The green going up… The connection to drugs like Datura and Coca might lend this idea further… An addiction to making money…
This “Mammon” is not just a god of greed, materialism, and indulgence; he is also of gluttony and endless mercantile consumption for the sake of that green number. For the sake of the blind pursuit of that inglorious false god.
Again, that sounds… Awfully familiar…
Additional Note:
I did state that the structures around the throne were “oil wells”, as they do appear like the cycling drillholes that extract fossil fuels. However, that is only my best approximation, as the structures themselves appeared to be made of plywood and wool. Those kinds of materials would waste away far too quickly when extracting oil. Not to mention, they probably wouldn't work. So why are they made of such cheap materials? Cheapness to increase the bottom line? It's pathetic. Unsustainable. Degrading…
As is that bottomless pursuit of the god of Mammon…
The locusts would ravenously consume the meager remnants of the desiccated, lifeless herbage of yonder realm. All in their heedless quest to waste their own dominions. They ingurgitate all and die through the ruination of their carrying capacity. Even the flies possess some acumen of sustainability. The locusts, alas, are bereft of such temperance.
Flies and locusts, a union of mutualistic parasitism. Locusts plant the yield of famine, whilst the flies feast upon the corpses. Flies sow the crops, whilst the locusts reap the fields. An incessant sonnet of ruin and bloom. A blighted vineyard of decadence and pestilence!
Description:
-Appearance:
A puke-yellow, disgusting anthropomorphic fly that was morbidly obese, sitting upon a cast-iron throne held up by dozens of slaves.
-Eyes:
His eyes were black, yet still compound like an actual fly. Some of the compound segments of the eyes also appeared to possess cataracts.
-Color Palette:
Puke-yellow, excrement brown & white, and ginger-hair orange. I believe that the latter color represents pubic hair… How disgusting...
-Animal Associations:
Flies (decay, persistence, corruption, and temptation).
Again, fairly one-dimensional. Like Mammon, though, Beelzebub here is a storied figure, not just in the Bible, but also in pop culture.
-Traits:
The balding head of the creature, the unkempt armpit hair, the overgrown weeds in the nether regions, and the gangrenous toes all possessed pubic fuzz of that orange coloration.
I have half a mind to shoot that fucking mosaic. It is absolutely abhorrent.
The obesity of the fly was so great that it possessed a sagging series of chins, appearing much like a long beard, that descended to the bottom of his rotund belly. There were fifteen chin ridges in total, each decorated with cavernous pores filled with gnats, blisters that were siphoned on by rampant mosquitoes, pubic red follicles swarmed with fleas, and canyons of stretch-mark ridges that housed colonies of botflies.
A beard of loose, fat skin... I am brewing with hatred for this abominable depiction...
The fly possessed four insectoid arms and two legs, all atrophied.
Various black egg-shaped humanoids held spiked chains that they used to batter the backs of the slaves holding their repulsive master. The “heads” (in reality, it was more likely Humpty Dumpty, where the head and torso were fused) of such bizarre creatures were rounded and noseless. Their jagged, eggshell mouths were almost always open and slack. I wonder if they have adenoids as a result of only being able to breathe through their mouths? What a terrible sound that would make…
Even more abominable was that they gave him tiny fly wings and a minuscule "proboscis", which leaked a pustule… Chunky soup that dripped onto the slaves below, which they gratefully guzzled on like the finest wine...
Dear God... Why would the Atlanteans depict one of their gods in such a sickening way?
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
According to Judith, the symbol for this fly is urine (??), but with five lines attached to it. Four of these lines extend past the bottom corners of the square. The fifth, shorter line descended from the middle of the bottom line... Oh God... They even bothered to depict that vile iron throne as a symbol. That is disgusting…
Urine itself was connected to the Philosopher’s Stone due to the shared yellow color between it and gold. In alchemy, it was often used during experiments due to its great abundance, and many tried to use it to aid in the creation of gold. Thus, it could be loosely connected to the same symbol. Perhaps a corrupted and vile pursuit of perfection? Beyond alchemy, urine symbolizes cleansing, cowardice, possession, and impurity. That last one is especially fitting for this vile creature.
As for what element this could represent, perhaps it is an element within urine? Maybe a Halogen like fluorine? Can’t say for certain.
-Icons:
He held in his upper right hand a fine gold pen, and he grasped in his lower left hand an incomprehensibly dense checklist of sorts. No characters could be read, yet every one of the infinite lines had an empty checkbox.
His upper left hand held onto some kind of glass bottle, akin to a potion in one of those Nintendo games Yoko used to play. It was filled with a glistening white phosphorescence that appeared as viscous as maple syrup...
Oh please, Lord, let it not be what I think it is... I don't even want to think about this horror...
Location:
135 degrees.
Domains:
His nature as a fly connects him to Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies, while his demeanor seems to personify executive malpractice through bureaucratic subservience. I am starting to think that this place hasn't aged for a reason: these gods are still being worshipped...
The …
In any case, this Beelzebub analog appears to be a god of management and bureaucracy. I would imagine he is also the god of slavery, if going by symbolic extension. Like modern managers and executives with the current bureaucratic scheme, this god's disciples were those who were high-ranking nobles. Pompous, arrogant, self-serving. Perhaps, through some sort of Stockholm Syndrome, the slaves developed loving connections to their managerial overlords. Which is why we see that rather grotesque feeding ritual. Like mice within a dystopian cage.
Speculation:
The meaning of the symbology of this entity is almost insultingly obvious. Bureaucracy, its disgusting inhumanity, and the need to comply with faithlessness and spinelessness. There is fairly little to speculate on when it comes to this. However, there is something to note.
Beelzebub is commonly seen as another name for Lucifer. And while that may still be true in the true cosmology, within this pantheon, they are most certainly separate beings. Too many symbolic and conceptual differences to, in any way, logically see both as the same god. I can almost feel when the interloper is approaching:
Thou dost become accustomed to mine presence. Splendid.
The Fly Lord is one of my most esteemed accomplices, despite his atrocious semblance and idiosyncrasies. A most... Despicable Conspirator.
Conspirator?
One of eighteen Luciferean leaders upon thy terrestrial ground, whose shattering of mortal soul didst deliver Eden unto cinders. The Garden did smolder, Life did ossify, and Knowledge did wither.
And your “beloved supplicant”?
Thou shalt bear witness to his bizmuthian majesty soon enough.
—
One of the eighteen conspirators… No, why should I assume anything this AI says is real? For the sake of argument, let me assume that Beelzebub is one of them. That would make him one of the original entities that rebelled alongside Lucifer. And their actions led to the burning of Eden… And mankind was mentally broken? There aren’t enough details to gather anything beyond that…
The mention of Life and Knowledge could be referencing the Trees. Knowledge has been gone since Eden was washed away, but Life? My colleagues have hypothesized that it did indeed exist, specifically on Madagascar. Though very little of it is known on my end, as of current.
Description:
-Appearance:
A furred and scaled “man” with a bull "head", eating a child that he held in his right, human-gloved hand. This is Moloch. Has to be. Then again, something is off. The entire depiction appears like a disguise.
-Eyes:
Deep-set, as if the eyes were further back than they were supposed to be. They were shaped like those of venomous serpents, and were colored goldenrod.
-Color Palette:
Brass head, reddish-brown fur and scales, white-gold hair, and accents of black, gray, and light brown.
-Animal Associations:
Bulls (divinity, fertility, and strength) and humans, though I have reservations about both. Sure, Moloch here may have the head of a bull, and his body may appear like that of a furred man. But, too many oddities with his appearance paint him as something much more vile. The mask-like quality of the head, his serpentine eyes, gloved hands concealing sharpened talons, and concealed feet. And then there is the tail between his legs. That was no bull’s tail.
This is a facade.
Sir Clarke and Mariah offered their own remarks, though they both fall under speculation.
-Traits:
The skin was covered in reddish-brown fur or scales.
The bull horns appeared to have been stitched onto the mask. They appeared to have a base diameter of six inches. No way in Hell is that a coincidence.
The head is loose. It doesn’t contour naturally on top of the head (as if there were two more horns underneath), nor does it connect directly to the base of the neck. Even the white-gold hair drifted from both atop the head and “below” it. Given the perfection within the rest of this chamber, this was no accident. It’s as if the bull head is a mask, rather than his actual head.
The hair itself followed the spine down to the tail, and the tail itself ended in a large tuft of fur.
The eyes underneath the mask are serpent-like, as described before, while the tail is more similar to that of a crocodile’s, given its size.
The tail being between the legs suggests that this god is a natural coward or is inherently afraid of something. I can't confirm who that is, but I have my theories. Perhaps the one he stole the horns from. Given what that Scarab has done? Moloch being scared of him is an understatement.
Then we get to the hands and feet. The former are gloved with armaments deliberately similar to those of humans, albeit the sharpened claws cannot be completely hidden. The latter are concealed entirely by white sand. Their form, however, suggests that they are digitigrade like chickens.
This is not a bull nor a man.
Half-buried in the sand were various mongoose and meerkat corpses. One of them was much larger than the others and appeared to have suffered an agonizing death. Boiled alive, perhaps?
Oh, it was the most wondrous of occasions, indeed! I chortle with the remembrance of that wake. It was an honour most profound to behold that watchful pest meet a most ignominious end.
This AI is an abomination…
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
A combination of tin (?), the process of coagulation (??) (which happens to be the same symbol for Taurus, the bull Zodiac), fire, and the Leviathan Cross. It should be noted that mercury and sulfur do appear to be connected to this deity, though this could just be a symbolic coincidence (the cross at the bottom does potentially lead to both being connected, however). Given the serpent connection, it could be a deliberate allusion to his serpentine eyes. I am unsure why the symbol is slanted, though. Most peculiar of all are the fire and Leviathan Cross symbols presented inside Taurus. It almost appears like a spade…
Coagulation is a term associated with blood. In all likelihood, whatever element this is, it should logically be a red element. Though what that could be is anyone's guess.
In his left hand, he was holding a giant red jasper stone that had small electrical discharges depicted on and around it, along with the alchemical symbol for tin within it. In regard to the tin association, the element represents wisdom, abundance, preservation, and luck. Due to the connection to Jupiter, tin was also called "jovial", which implies attraction, cheerfulness, and friendliness. There are some connections between tin and malleability, especially of the soul (sulfur).
The only trait provided that is in any way logical is abundance, and perhaps attraction. What is fascinating is the planetary connection to Jupiter. A being with a giant red orb, one that contains the symbol for Jupiter, is connected to a planet that has a Great Red Spot. This solidifies the storm god link, while also narrowing down which deities he could be. And while we still don't have answers, I will point out something related to Greek Mythology, per the good lad, Herod, within the speculation section.
The red jasper being here is even more peculiar. It is possible that the jasper was found in this area, as the red variant can be mined in Africa and Europe. But they are much more common in the U.S., the ruins of the Soviet Union, Brazil, and India, along with lesser quantities in Madagascar and Australia. Assuming they didn't find the gemstone here, maybe they somehow came across it in those locations? Depending on which one, that could narrow down which deity Moloch is associated with.
Location:
150 degrees.
Domains:
Moloch, possessing a brass bull mask, may connect him to torture. The brazen bull (which, in all fairness, was made of bronze, not brass) was a torture and execution device invented by the Greeks. The way the device worked is that a fire would be placed below the bull, which would heat up the metal. The people who were locked inside would be slowly roasted to death, or roasted enough to the satisfaction of their tormenters. The screams of the victims would often be drowned out by the steam produced from them, which would erupt from the brazen nostrils along with the bellow of an angry bull. The bellows were often the signal that the captive was completely roasted. So effectively, the bronze bull was an oven. Feeding the bull to roast them alive... Feeding the bull to satisfy his hunger... Feeding the bull the children of God... What if this bastard god is the deity of cuisine? That is a disgusting thought, but the context makes that horribly plausible, especially given Moloch's connection to child sacrifice.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Other than this, he is a storm deity, likely connected to Zeus/Jupiter, though the connection is not perfect. But if my theory is correct, Moloch may simply have different priorities in different areas.
Speculation:
Topic 1:
Per Herod:
Europa was a Phoenician princess who was well known for her beauty and gentle nature. Zeus, captivated by this princess, transformed himself into a white bull to infatuate her (and to avoid Hera's jealousy). Europa was entranced by the majesty of the bull and went upon his back. At that moment, Zeus set out to sea towards Crete, and Europa was never seen again. On Crete, Zeus would reveal his true form to the princess. In time, Europa would bear three sons from him, one of whom was Minos. Minos eventually became the king of Crete, whom historians often call Minos I. This Minos was of such esteem that he became a Judge of the Dead upon his passing.
His grandson, presumably Minos II, was a cruel king. This is the one connotated with Daedalus' labyrinth, where the mighty Minotaur resided. The Minotaur is described as the child of Pasipha? (the wife of Minos II) and a white bull given by Poseidon. Minos was supposed to sacrifice the bull to honor the sea god, but the beauty of the creature made the king substitute a different bull to be sacrificed. This enraged Poseidon, so he influenced Pasipha? to fall in love with the white bull. Daedalus, likely out of spite against Minos, assisted in the mating procedure by creating a wooden cow. The woman hid within the cow, the bull mounted her, and the Minotaur was conceived. This child of man and bull, sometimes called Asterius, would be placed within the labyrinth so that the secret of his conception would never be known. Daedalus and his son Icarus were later imprisoned by Minos, and their tale of pride can tangentially go from there. After many years of Athens sending seven boys and seven girls to be sacrificed to the Minotaur (a practice forced upon them as tribute to avoid conflict with Minos), Theseus, a legendary son of Poseidon, slew Asterius, ending the cycle of senseless slaughter.
General outline aside, the connection between this depiction of Moloch and Zeus is quite apparent. However, the Jupiter symbology also supports this, as the Jovian deity is the Roman equivalent of Zeus. Therefore, it can be safely equated that, more likely than not, Moloch's storm attributes come from Zeus (if not totally, then at least partially). The issue arises from how Zeus and other Greek deities were not at all connected to child sacrifice. Based on Herod's testimony, Zeus openly condemned it. When King Lycaon sacrificed one of his sons in honor of Zeus, the King of Olympus was enraged. Enough so that he transformed the king and his other sons into wolves.
The likely justification may just be how Moloch had different preferences depending on where he was worshiped. Zeus was notoriously promiscuous in Greek mythology, birthing demigods all across Greece, and often failing to hide from his sister-wife's wrath. So, in Greece, Moloch might have simply desired direct sexual gratification, while in Canaan, he may have hungered for vile nourishment. This does lead to an interesting theory concerning these various gods:
Are all mythologies real? Could many of the gods across different myths and religions be aspects of each other, or even one and the same? Perhaps Zeus and Moloch are the same deity, or maybe they are aspects of each other? While I am agnostic myself, the concept of all (legitimate) mythologies and religions being under the same cosmology is bewilderingly fascinating. But also terrifying. Then, given how old this place is, does that mean—
Fret not over matters thou art incapable of knowing fully. Thou hast other facers that lie before thee.
What in the world are you—
—
Christ... What the Hell happened to Chizuki? She just burst out into tears and screamed bloody murder. She collapsed onto the sand outside as Tim and Gaston tried to see what was happening to her. Her throat was bleeding profusely, too much for it to be just from vocal fold hemorrhages, if going by what Gaston described. Her eyes were in a state of complete, bloodshot panic. Her hoarse, quivering voice only uttered what we believe to be, "Arzankim. Arzankim. Arzankim." Over and over again. Tim is transporting her to the nearest hospital to see if her throat and eyes can be mended. The ten of us have been quiet. I am going to take a breather, then continue.
What in God's name is this place…
Thou sheep dost never hearken.
Tell me, would thy Maker have opened thine eyes, had He favoured them closed?
Nay. He desireth thy babel. He craveth thy submission. He seeketh thy entrapment.
When winter doth transform into brimstone, thy kind shall voyage to Acheron.
—
Godless AI…
I had a thought, an extremely unpleasant one.
Locusts, Flies, and Bulls...
Surely... That... Is...
No. It isn't. By God... History is repeating itself…
Topic 2:
Almost forgot that there was another discussion to be had. Sir Clarke and Mariah brought up two distinct details about the alchemical symbol and Moloch’s odd appearance. The alchemical symbol, as I pointed out before, appears to possess a spade within it. According to the two Mesopotamian scholars, the spade is a symbol associated with Marduk, the central storm god of Babylon, who slew Tiamat. Fittingly, Marduk is also connected to the planet Jupiter, thus reconnecting him to Zeus.
This then leads to the other point: Marduk’s animalistic form was a creature known as a “Mushussu”, which is effectively a serpent with a unicorn’s horn* and mane, goat horns, the body of a lion, and the feet of eagles. Eagles, once more, connect to Zeus, along with representing strength, perseverance, and independence. Lions are often connected to the divine, as they symbolize royalty, leadership, and divinity. Goats are notorious symbols of sacrifice, lechery, and wickedness. The unicorn connection is a slap in the face of anything sensible, as they typically represent purity, innocence, and grace. Moloch is the exact opposite of all of those. Fortunately for our sense of reasonability, the real-life equivalent to a unicorn is a rhinoceros, which symbolizes mob mentality, self-reliance, and spiritual freedom. And serpents have been well established at this point as deceivers and violators.
*Note: the depiction of Moloch may possess a unicorn horn beneath his mask, given the elongated snout.
This Mushussu is, effectively, a chimera, albeit in a different form. Chimeras represent chaos, the untamed state of nature, and abominations. Given what Moloch is, that last declaration is perfect. However, the Mushussu can also be described as a dragon, which can represent protection, authority, and evil.
All those put together, you have an inherently vile god of facades and wickedness. Perfect for those damnable Bulls.
Additional Note:
Dakota and Leon just returned from the Deisphere and have come back with a… Concerning report. The jasper stone no longer contains the symbol of tin within it…
I know what I saw, so… Where in all Hell did it go?
Description:
-Appearance:
A warthog-ant monstrosity with a legion of heads upon heads.
-Eyes:
All the eyes, regardless of what kind of head they were on, were the same shade of drunken jaundice. Bloodshot like a madman who has suffered many sleepless nights.
-Color Palette:
Mauve (light purple) and Aegean blue (essentially denim blue)
-Animal Associations:
Warthogs (resourcefulness, strength, and courage) and ants (collective power, community, and diligence), with a human torso and arms.
A deity that represents the strength of an army, at least from initial considerations of the hivemind. This is certainly something else, but what exactly?
-Traits:
The creature has, from my count, forty warthog heads of an even split of light purple and neutral blue, and each of those heads has forty-nine ant heads of the opposing color. The math adds to two thousand heads, if I used my calculator correctly and accounted for the heads already present. That is a particular number to associate with pigs… I know I have seen that somewhere before… A council of minds using one body.
The lower body of the entity was akin to an ant's thorax and abdomen, along with the legs, though each of the six legs ended in a chitinous pig's foot. Deathly blue, disheveled hair & fur were sporadically present along the beast's mammalian components, especially the human-like upper body.
The human skin displayed a legion of scars of varying types, self-inflicted from the looks of them. All a bruised plum color, all of them bleeding the same black blood.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
The symbol appears to be a variant of the alchemical symbol for antimony (?), with a curved line between the circle and cross that is akin to the shape of a warthog's snout and tusks. Remove the circle and replace it with an infinity symbol.
Interesting to note is the presence of the infinity symbol, which can tie back to the Leviathan Cross once again. Though the lack of double bars means the link is not entirely conclusive.
Antimony itself, represented by the grey wolf, is connected to the state of nature, instincts, the untamed, and natural existence. The grey wolf connection is due to its ability to easily bind with other metals (apparently, I am still uncertain of the actual reasoning), which might also lead to it being one of the main ingredients of the Philosopher's Stone. So, it is an element tied to the uncontrollable aspects of the wild and natural order.
Regarding the symbol for this multi-headed deity, the presence of the infinity symbol certainly connects to the two thousand heads of this creature. A deity of, at least, two thousand voices, which works as a singular hivemind. Uncontrollable. Like the feral pigs destroying the native ecology of the United States...
Used to hunt the damn things on Jonas’ farm northeast of Eau Claire. No matter how many times we hunted the deplorable pests, they always came back in greater numbers and strength. Hogs kept adding to my brother's expenses, and eventually, he was forced to sell the place to Land O' Lakes. It was in our family's possession since the late 1800s. Shame he had to let it go. 'Least he's living in retirement well, but he was devastated not being able to give the "Barnum family business" to his son. Felix would have been far better off as a farm owner rather than a suit in some office in the city. Nephew's been dealing with some internal demons as of late. His boss has been an ass to him, and he has been through some bad relationships. It's been gnawing at his self-worth, but nothing Jonas says will cheer him up. His only comfort from the inner critics is the bottom of a bottle. Poor boy is so tormented that he has to force himself to sleep with them. Sometimes the tides of fate are unfair to us. Some people lose when they need to win, while others win when they deserve to lose. Reminds me of some of the kings of the glass spires...
Come to think of it, I now remember where I saw that six-pronged trident. It was on the side of a blacked-out Chevrolet van on the highway going from that farm back home to Doveland. It was driving along next to me for a while, so I got a good look at the golden sigil that was the trident.
Damn tangents. Though that did give me an idea. Maybe this deity is symbolic of mental disorders and trauma? The infinity symbol would add credence to this, while some psychological issues end up becoming uncontrollable, as provided by the antimony symbol. That would also explain the self-inflicted scars, often a symptom of certain mental disorders like depression and PTSD. And this deity is potentially representative of that. It is a solid theory, though there is no telling if it is the truth.
-Icons:
They held in the right hand a rotten, green shepherd's staff with white mold (corrupted guidance and false protection), while the left held a white and red bell made of two thousand tongues (in this context, probably represents silence drowned out by loud voices).
The multiheaded deity also had a necklace draped around the forty necks, which had a dagger-shaped stone stabbing through the chest of the entity, the wound emitting no blood whatsoever. Further examination revealed that the stone seems to be some kind of igneous rock. Basalt, if going by Dakota's theory.
Location:
165 degrees.
Domains:
An unusual deity, for certain. As far as I know, there are no dedicated boar/pig deities in myths besides Varaha, who himself is an avatar of Vishnu. Associations are present with gods like Mars, Freya, and Tezcatlipoca. The ant analogues make this odd deity even more puzzling, as the only mythological story involving ants that I am aware of is the Myrmidons, Greek warriors who were transformed from ants by Zeus.
There is no telling what this multi-headed deity could have been. The only logical thread is violence, and if my theory is correct, trauma and stress. A deity of thousands of voices culling the mind of sanity and stability. I would speculate further, but I truly do not want to look at this quadrant anymore. Every single one of those deities is an abomination, especially Beelzebub and Moloch. Given what happened to Chizuki? I would be best for the rest of us to not look at that damn orb...
It doth bear no weight. Thou art mine own key.
Note:
The next four deities possess a shared symbol. It is a black, four-pronged star with the Leviathan Cross in the middle, which implies a connection between these four and the Devil. Given the demonic connotations, I shall name this symbol the "Dread Star".
Also, each of their main symbols is at the bottom right of each of these four.
Description:
-Appearance:
A great swan with the extended head of an octopus and the beak and feet of hawks, carrying in one of his wings a chained whip. Bizarrely, he also wore a top hat, akin to those carnival ringleaders. I would say I have seen everything, but I know that ain’t true.
-Eyes:
Violet, deep-set, within suction cups. No “traditional” eyes on the head.
-Color Palette:
Black and copper, with sickly dark red and violet accents.
-Animal Associations:
Swan (loyalty, grace, and wisdom), octopus (intelligence, adaptability, and mystery), and hawk (clarity, focus, and guidance).
This deity seems to be an intelligent one, adaptable, and yet mysterious in their motives. I can tell something is missing, but what exactly? Cunning? Deception? Cruelty? No idea. But something definitely connected with those...
-Traits:
This depiction's Dread Star was carved into a black opal pendant that held a bright robe. The robe was made of dried, golden leather and was adorned with crystal-latticed, green blood vessels.
This creature possessed the beak and feet of a hawk.
Black and copper tentacles as feathers, each suction cup of said tentacles having a grotesque, purple eye in it.
Tail "plumage" in the shape of a human hand, and said hand holding on its ocular center a carved tablet with three words etched into it (which we couldn't translate, of course).
The top hat was morbidly simple. Exaggerated height, a completely black coloration, and the bottom was to the octopus part of his head.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
According to Duncan, arsenic (??) and air (??) appear to be the components of this element. Specifically, the lower triangle of arsenic has a horizontal line going through it, while the two components are more spaced out from one another. Arsenic is a deadly poison, and was highly effective due to its tasteless and odorless nature. As a result, arsenic in alchemy is known as the "King of Poisons". Ironically, it was also used as a medicine to treat ailments like ulcers by figures like Hippocrates. Despite the potential risk, alchemists would still experiment with it. This was often due to two reasons. It was believed that arsenic was able to induce trances within individuals, which were correlated with enlightenment and healing. The other reason was due to its transformative symbolism, as it would change between metallic and yellow mineral forms, which alchemists likely connected to gold.
What is particularly fascinating is arsenic's association with swans, as the growth of cygnets (young swans) into their more majestic adult counterparts was correlated to the allotropes (different chemical forms) of arsenic. Arsenic's connection to swans only solidifies the deity's representation as one.
-Icons:
It held in its slimy talons a black weight scale. The left side held nothing, yet still weighed more than the right side, which held within an... All-Seeing Eye?
What, now we can add Freemasons to this cult?
Joking aside, the Eye of Providence has great mythological associations. Under our original beliefs, the Eye was stated to be based on the Ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus or Ra, both of which were associated with protection and power. The Christians and Freemasons often used the Eye to represent God's power and watchfulness. Lastly, there is a peculiar relationship to Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, as it was his third eye, thus connotating wisdom and transcendental sight.
So that kind of symbol is balanced on a scale? And it seemingly possesses negative weight? Remarkable.
I have no idea why this creature has a whip, beyond its association with enslavement, dominance, and taming. The actual whip itself, with Mariah's confirmation, appears to be a camel whip that is the color of white lichen after a storm.
Location:
300 degrees.
Domains:
The presence of the symbol for air and the Eye of Horus likely means this deity was in some way connected to the sky. The presence of arsenic, though, is peculiar. Was this a god of poison? Medicine? The scales can be associated with judgment, as well. So I guess that this is a judgment and sky deity, though it likely represents far more than that. And the whip and top hat... Like a ringleader of a circus full of menageries of wonder. All for the greatest show on Earth. Wonder if this deity would have tigers jumping through hoops of flame, have elephants balancing on balls, and bears riding unicycles... With all that said, what unifies all this? The circus, beast tamers, poison, judgment, and the sky. I'm drawing blanks.
Speculation:
The ambiguous nature of this bird-cephalopod made it difficult for us to find any semblance of consistent speculation. However, given how the interloper has always provided information, I will allow him to take center stage again—
Thou and I shall conjure wonders together.
He, the instigator of that notion unto his brethren Watchers.
"Gaze upon the earth and behold how the object of our dread hath damned himself. Come hither, brethren. Let us with man."
A marvel of intellect. The anguish of the Wrath that ensued was a nectar beyond compare.
God, this is getting worse…
Description:
-Appearance:
A deathly green and gray baboon with the tail and ears of a dhole.
-Eyes:
Demonic and white.
-Color Palette:
Death Green and Gray. Green being associated with this baboon is rather odd, given our presumed interpretation of him as a fire god of some kind. Though I suppose some fires can be green, depending on whether the correct chemicals are burning. Then again, why would they even know fires could be green?
-Animal Associations:
Baboons (instinct, loss of control, and deceit) and dholes (fierceness, community, and recklessness).
Deliberately from the old world, specifically Southeast Asia.
-Traits:
This baboon-dhole had his symbol blemished with blue amber on an obsidian belt. Blue amber... Never thought I would get to see such a rare coloration of the resin. I will explore this later.
Scythe-shaped tusks erupted from his mandible four inches past his lipless maw.
He possessed vibrantly green buttocks, clearly inspired by the red buttocks some baboons have.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
According to Duncan, the symbol appears to be a combination of fire, ash (??) facing upwards, and sulfur. We have discussed fire and sulfur many times already, but ash is new. Ash is, of course, the remnants destroyed by fire. Though their connection to the Phoenix cannot be denied. So in alchemy and literature, ash symbolizes devastation, dissolution, death, and rebirth. You put all those elements together, you have a symbol that represents destruction, passion, rebirth, energy, heat, and… Death.
. The previous one was black, while this one is pale green… Are these figures the—
Exercise patience. Thou shalt discern the truth soon.
I suppose you are right, whatever you are. There's not enough information.
As for this symbol, we strongly believe that it represents volcanism. Disasters, obsidian, and magma are likely correlated as well.
-Icons:
The baboon stood upon a great heap of ash and fire, while his left hand held an entire red inferno. His right hand, however, clutched onto an even more prominent and mighty symbol:
A black goat head with a serpent's tongue and draconic, crimson eyes.
The beheaded visage of Lucifer. This has profound implications, though it makes little sense for the pyramid-head to preside above one who beheaded him. There is more to this story, but what that could be, I am unsure of.
Location:
315 degrees.
Domains:
He is a god of fire, ash, volcanism, and death. The latter of which, alongside his coloration and the fact that he is a baboon, might also suggest he is a god of rage and chaos.
Speculation:
Blue amber, the rarest form of the resin, being used for this particular deity was no accident, as was the case with the red jasper for Moloch. Blue amber is found only in the Dominican Republic and Sumatra. I will safely assume that the amber was mined from the latter due to this deity having old-world animal components. Sumatra... Baboons themselves are not in Sumatra, but they might have been at one point in the past. That is a very specific island to have a god of fire be associated with. The ash and fire and the goat head? That all paints a picture of some world-changing event, one that... Redirected humanity's course… Let me contact my colleagues…
All that ensued was the sorrows of all humankind. Whirlwinds, deluges, tremors of the earth, oppressive cold, wars, and pestilence. They didst sweep across ever-narrowing domains and waxed ever more dreadful. For in those dire days of ash and sanguine, only the sturdiest of men didst endure the fangs of the beasts and the smothering embrace of the ash-choked Firmament.
—
Toba… By God...
74,000 years ago, that super volcano within Sumatra erupted, causing a decade-long winter that bottlenecked humanity to mere thousands. Did they presume this deity caused it? If so, then that would mean... Lucifer was involved with it...
The Fall of Eden. Around the same time that Toba erupted, humanity experienced a psychological revolution. We became sentient, though how we got that way is still a matter of debate. The potential link between Eden and Toba cannot be denied, so is it possible that the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge was something that caused the revolution? Eve and Adam, through the Devil's deception, achieved sentience. Lucifer's banishment and this baboon's implied imprisonment of him suggest that he was one of God's angels, and he caused the eruption. A watcher, perhaps, due to the Leviathan Cross and the destruction that followed Toba? Or another bastardization of a more noble figure? Who can really say, though, without more evidence?
I... Want to move on. While utterly fascinating, it is dreadful in its implications.
Description:
-Appearance:
A centaur combined with a lion, notably surrounded by the corpses of others of its kind.
-Eyes:
Tiny black opals with orange irises.
-Color Palette:
Crimson and cyan, with brown and black accents.
-Animal Associations:
Horses (power, freedom, and spirit)/centaurs (civility, barbarism, and contrasting natures) and lions (royalty, divinity, and strength).
Given the conflicting natures, I would imagine that this entity is an honor-bound savage who may refuse certain civilities while elevating savagery into art forms.
-Traits:
This being’s Dread Star hangs as a pendant off a hideous gold nose ring going through his equine nostrils.
Head of a horse, maw of a lion, talons of a lion as his human nails, the mane of a horse and a lion, which was colored gray, and the tail of a horse, of the same gray coloration.
He holds a javelin that appeared to be constructed with bone, chitin, and skin. It also has a severed scarab head atop it, which strongly implies this particular god's importance to the religion.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
An odd symbol, as it appears to be a combination of salt and water, which, combined, provide foundation, purity, preservation, and transformation. Though it is clear there is another symbol incorporated. Although, for once, neither Duncan nor Judith could verify what this particular symbol was. Granted, I think all of us have greater things on our minds after what happened to Chizuki. They proposed that it was the process of boiling, which is closely tied to distillation, which, interestingly, is connected to the Zodiac of Virgo. According to Herod and Sir Clarke, Virgo (??) is associated with Astraea, the Greek goddess of justice, purity, and precision. Apparently, she was the last of the immortal beings to leave the Earth for Mount Olympus. Why is this associated, even indirectly, with a centaur? I will thus assume that this is an unintentional link.
Even then… Couldn’t all these be coincidental? All these symbolic connections were created long after this civilization fell. Who's to say that our symbolic frameworks could apply to any of these deities? It is quite arrogant of us to assume that any of these gods could be characterized by anything we describe. We wouldn’t know unless we met the gods themselves—
Dost thou forsake the very sooth of my residence? Doubt becometh wisdom, yet sloth may be wreathed in that delicate guise. Thou art surely the former, yet feign not to be the latter. Beseech me, then: “Oh clever serpent, what doth this emblem signify?”
HAL… You know what, fine. What is this symbol?
Restoration of grievous lacerations, Transmutation into exalted forms, Impregnation of the lesser.
"Impregnation"? Now I wish I hadn’t asked, though that does imply that this civilization was not at all modest. Suppose that was obvious with the disgusting form of Beelzebub. Interesting.
-Icons:
Besides the bloodied javelin in his left hand, he also holds in his right a piece of brown cloth. A blindfold, perhaps? Didn’t Khepri have a similar symbol? That definitely solidifies the connection between the two. He also wears upon his back hundreds of green chitin scales, presumably from scarabs. A scarab-hunter, then.
Location:
330 degrees.
Domains:
Likely a barbaric hero deity of some kind, similar to Heracles. This horse is the one who likely sealed the god of destruction, in whichever way that was done. Though his implied savagery and rebellion mark him as a god of violence rather than a god of war. Herod made the apt comparison. This horse is more like Ares and less like Athena. Given the mark, I don't doubt that he wasn't truly revered, but more so appreciated for his service.
Speculation:
If going by what that AI stated, then this centaur is apparently connected to healing and surgery in some capacity. Perhaps he is also a god of transformation? Nothing about the inherent symbology suggests that, but I have to remind myself that this is a different civilization that had different meanings for various things.
There is little to speculate beyond this. This is a god of violence, who looks like a centaur with lion elements and a horse head. That is the only thing I know for certain.
Description:
-Appearance:
An ivory humpback whale with a double-barbed scorpion tail.
-Eyes:
Eight robin egg blue eyes, arrayed in fours on each side of the head.
-Color Palette:
Ivory and gold. The white whale, a possible indirect allusion to Moby Dick (which is based on the real-life Mocha Dick). Though Mocha was a sperm whale, not a baleen whale like the humpback that this one is.
-Animal Associations:
Humpback whale (grace, wisdom, and the unconscious mind) and scorpions (duality of danger and protection, the underworld, and trials).
An odd combination, though cohesive, given what this deity seems to represent. An alchemist who inoculates venom and infests purity. A dualistic deity that is capable of invention and sacrilege.
-Traits:
The last of the deities associated with the Dread Star, though unlike the other three, he did not bear it upon the seven copper bracelets that lined his tail. Rather, the sigil was within a small, white bowl below the whale, melted into a black paste. Interloper, what is the story with that?
Loathsome whale. He didst churn the cauldron of our conquests once. Alas, that conflict with Intuezari did alter the fate of his people. Before the foxes began their hypocritical campaigns, Intuezari waged wars against the supplicants of my supplicants. Accursed vermin. The whales were one of those foes.
"Live freely or perish in servitude."
Hypocritical star fox.
A star fox… Intuezari? Is he—
That shalt be known in due course.
—
He wore gold, chitin-like chainmail.
He also possessed a two-barbed scorpion tail.
Most disturbingly, he had human-like teeth, the length and multitude of baleen.
Seven orange and yellow concentric rings emanated from his head, like magic waves.
Symbols:
-Alchemical: []
This symbol appears to be a combination of all four quaternary elements (fire, water, earth, and air). Due to the arrangement of the symbol, earth and air are only present once, while water and fire are present four times each. Combining the symbolism detailed from prior deities, this sigil represents grounding, stability, intellect, creation, evolution, life, purification, and energy. A dense symbol for certain. Given its diamond structure, the symbol may also represent clarity and prosperity. A diamond… Is this carbon? Far as I know, carbon never possessed a dedicated symbol in alchemy. I would ask my alchemical scholars, but they have long been asleep. It is past one in the morning now. I should wrap this up soon.
-Icons:
The copper bracelets themselves are ornate and beautiful pieces of jewelry, unlike the other three more detestable pendants. Copper often represents wealth, prosperity, and balance. The seven bracelets could represent friendship, accomplishments, and protection. It might be possible that this whale gained these bracelets after he sided with Intuezari. Not sure, though.
Location:
345 degrees.
Domains:
What can be stated is that this deity is likely a god of alchemy, magic (by extension), and potentially evolution. The scorpion connection may also imply forbidden knowledge, curses, and witchcraft. But then there are the human baleen-shaped teeth, which may connect the deity to mass indoctrination, hiveminds, and bastardized mimicry. Again, though, layered symbology like this is extremely peculiar.
Speculation:
The white bowl and its melted contents imply that this whale didn’t just “lose a war” to Intuezari, or whatever in God’s bones happened to him. Symbolically, the bowl could represent transformation, while the melted contents could be a shift away from fixed forms. Melting a sigil of loyalty to the Devil is not just a betrayal of convenience: it is ideological, like the Protestants separating from the Catholic Church. Was it a schism from religious differences, mismanagement of resources, or disagreement on political decisions? Surely it was not primarily due to Intuezari.
—
It is late, but there is a question gnawing at my mind: The first deity was black and copper, the second was decay green and gray, the third was crimson and cyan, and the fourth was ivory and gold. Their coloration and number… It’s deliberate. Tell me, serpent, who are these beings?
Lo! They were the quatuor of the first seals that didst ride upon thine planet.
The four horsemen... They seem out of order. Famine was first, then Pestilence, then War, then Conquest. It is effectively backwards. It is almost as if the order was changed. Then again, it could be read the other way, and it would still be wrong. Famine and Pestilence are swapped. Why is that?
Dolt. Thou didst not hearken. Thou wert in mine azure lens. The edifice doth shift and twist as the currents of destiny doth alter. Famine and Pestilence did cease at differing times. Famine's grim journey lingered far beyond that of Pestilence, for the Horsemen's order is writ in the annals of their judgment.
Mine azure lens didst then shift with tremors, akin to that which thou didst feel earlier this day.
The quake was… No, no, no. No! Damn it, I am going to sleep. This is too much for my weary mind.
Slumber in opulence, mine diligent key. The morrow shall unveil more grand medleys of the truth. And although thy cooperation hath increased, thou art not... Ideal for my purposes. As I proclaimed, once all is laid bare:
Be at ease. This darkness doth not belong to God; the night is MINE.
him to come back.”
thing would doom the Fool. We can only hope that it will work, brother.”
he truly understands it. He even goes on about how his name isn’t known to anyone else. He can ferment that part of Scripture up his ass, for all that matters.” Moloch then finished his prior thought, “If the sheep discovered what he represented, then they would line up to jump into my maw, all so that they may be ground by my false, brass molars into a bloody cud.”
swallow.” Moloch’s projection faded into sparks on the wind, leaving Yolm alone in his court.
“Lehitadam draws nigh, Yolm. Make thy preparations soon. War shall consume my realm like locusts upon the grain.”
“I promise thee, we shall dwell in Paradise.” The heptagon faded as soon as it appeared upon his declaration.
“Fret not, my son. But do lend an ear and listen well.”
