Still in the chamber of eventide, Nag’molada leans over the ethereal coffin of Yve’noile. He whispers to her, lost in his madness. He thanks her for all she has done, and those children of the light are forever in her debt.

If only he had the whisper of souls he could explain this to her himself, but he is incomplete. He should be perfect, the leader of the imperfect masses. Why has the betrayer, Selh’teus, risen to a higher form of being while he remains flawed and incomplete? What was his folly? No, his path has been true. It is the incomplete world that is the error. This world and the addled gods that created it are the sinners. An incomplete world exists for the sake of imperfection. It explains our existence. But...

Deep in the halls of the palace the shouts of the Chebukkis can be heard. Prishe opens the giant doors of the hallway to reveal Tenzen standing over her friends, sword drawn, ready to finish the job.

Prishe asks what he has done, but he comments that they are not badly wounded. The portal before them is emitting something very strange. Surely she can hear the voices.

They were climbing over each other to get to it. The cowering Chebukkis jump forward saying the voice they hear doesn’t lie. It speaks the truth. They will find their parents inside, and never be lonely or sad again.

If only they can open the door. Ulmia says the voices wishes to hear her song.

Louverance says the voice needs his strength to rebuild the city.

Shikaree says a world with perfect laws lies ahead.

Jabbos hears that he will gain the power to protect the weak.

Tenzen sighs, he too hears it. It promises him the path to righteousness.

Prishe says she hears it. It promises her an end.

“The voice of the emptiness is within you…”

The group turns to see Selh’teus float down to the ground.

Any attempt to escape from the voice is futile. It does not come from the door, but within them. Yet, they still seem to resist. But when you stand before the Keeper and behold the form of the Twilight God, will they be able to withstand his call? Prishe tells him they can and will. Suddenly a strange sound is heard from the other room. Selh’teus rushes into the room, with Prishe and Tenzen close behind.

In the throne room, Nag’molada stands before a giant black figure wrapped in chains.

He turns and smirks at their presence. Haven’t they been dying to topple the Keeper of the Apocalypse? Why do they stand there in shock? Tenzen falls to the ground.

The voices call to him even more now.

Prishe tells him to stand back, even though they don’t want to, they must. Nag’molada calls them over.

Even though he hates to admit it, he needs their light combined with his. Come join him, find out everything with him. Simple adventurers called forth to save the world. Never a thank you, never congratulation. But now, now they can have a reward. Learn the truth with him. A truth nobody could tell them. It is finally clear to him. Truth is the only bright point of perfection in this incomplete world. It is the only thing we can trust. Only he who knows the truth can truly attain perfection. Nag’molada calls out to the dark figure.

Teach him the truths of creation! Then he will lead the incomplete people of this world beyond the gates to the origin of perfect truth!

With a wave of his hand the seal upon the keeper placed by Yve’noile ruptures.

The dark figure begins to move and the bright light shines from within.

Emerging from the black cocoon is a brilliantly white being.

Promathia, Twilight God.

Nag’molada stands before it as the god turns its attention to him.

Suddenly the emptiness appears around the Kuluu and he sinks into, a smile gracing his face.

Tenzen stands in shock. What has he done?!? Promathia absorbs Nag’molada’s essence, his voice echoing through the throne room. At last... this is truth... we are... we are...

Outside the throne room, the chebukkis bang on the door as the bodies of Jabbos, Louverance, Shikaree, and Ulmia lay motionless on the ground.

A booming voice echoes through the throne room, if not the entire world itself. I have found thee... My wayward children... I come to greet thee... Return to thy father...

Selh’teus cannot believe his eyes. It can’t be. Prishe asks him what it means. Children? Promathia’s children? Her confusion suddenly stops as she remembers. Resurrection and death, she has to stop him. But before she can act, Promathia is gone.

Outside of the palace, Promathia floating above his twisted playground calling out to Altana. Can she hear him? She, who has sheltered his very existence, cannot stop him from being reborn. It is time to surrender to thine abhorrent death and embrace the eternal darkness. An eternity of silence awaits. Their farewell this time shall be forever. The apocalypse is at hand! Raising his hands to the heavens a large beam of light bursts forth from the heavens crashing into the palace.

Deep within its walls the palace begins to be absorbed by the emptiness.

Prishe realizes he is attempting to draw the capital into the real world. It must be because of Nag’molada. With his knowledge now part of Promathia, he would know everything about the world that awaited him. No one would be safe. With amulet in hand, Prishe continued marched forward, the Chebukkis behind her screaming for Promathia to absorb them too.

Through a strange door Prishe enters a large room, the end of it eaten away by the emptiness, but beyond it she sees dozens of crystals.

As she steps through the gateway, the stars of the heavens suddenly appear next to her. She looks around in awe, the galaxy before her. Giant crystals float about, as one giant red crystal looms overhead.

Prishe is without words, until she looks at her feet. In shock she stumbles back and falls to the ground.

Where is she?!?! Below her feet the entire world of Vana’diel can be seen. She can clearly make out Quifim Island.

It has to be Vana’diel…but if it’s down there... then...

A small red feather catches her eye, as she looks up to see Selh’teus confronting Promathia.

Selh’teus smashes his hands together as a white light burns between them. As he spreads them apart a giant spear forms.

Thrusting it into the chest of Promathia, the Twilight god screams as Selh’teus is knocked down to the ground.

Prishe runs to his side, but he claims to be fine.

It is Promathia she should worry about. His attack will not hold him for long, he thought he could lure the god away with the darkness he held, but failed. It seems the Twilight God is not content until the end is near. The end she questions…? Prishe realizes she had it wrong all along. The apocalypse is the moment when Promathia dies. The “Will of Promathia”, the emptiness, is the manifestation of complete death. Even a god would be destroyed by the full force of the emptiness. That is why so many vessels were needed to hold it. The children of Altana.

Selh’teus nods. To insure the Twilight Gods existence, Altana stole the energy of the mothercrystal to create a race of people. In the process the mothercrystal split into 5 parts and the realm of gods was split from its higher plain – to be transformed into the world of Vana’diel. The people of Al’taieu, with this knowledge burned into their souls, joined together to return to the Twilight God. They sought to restore the original mothercrystal and open the gates of paradise. That is when they knew, the thing Selh’teus, once killed by the suffocating grasp of the emptiness, knows all to well. The despair of the apocalypse. He wants to end this curse. No longer shall we live in the shadows of our darkness. Our arrogance, apathy, envy, cowardice, and rage. Prishe can’t believe it. A god with a death wish. Promathia rips the spear from his body and spreads his ethereal wings.

Prishe rushes towards him, swinging away.

Together they force Promathia to the ground, but the Twilight God refuses to be beaten. Prishe charges to finish off the job, but Selh’teus scream to her to stop. Suddenly the emptiness surrounds her.

Yearn…

Desire…

Hunger for…

…the end of mortality.

The Chebukkis decide it’s time for some divine punishment.

MEEEEEE!

TEEEEEE!

OOOOOR!

The Chebukkis magic combines to form a large meteor which crashes down into the Twilight God. But it has little effect, only drawing his attention for a moment. The emptiness creeps up Prishe’s body, sucking the life from her.

The magicite in her chest begins to shine, drawing Promathia’s attention as he reaches down to her. Prishe falls to her knees. “This is not the end!” she screams, “There will be no apocalypse.”

Ripping the magicite from her, she throws it into the face of Promathia.

“We were born for the purpose of living!” she shouts as the Selh’teus forms another spear throwing it at Promathia.

The Twilight god reaches for the magicite just as the spear smashes into it, lodging the magicite in the face of the god.

The magicite begins to grow, forming around his face.

Suddenly the magicite shatters, the dark god standing tall again, throwing Prishe back.

Before she passes out, she notices the crystals. Their light... Promathia summons all his power for one more strike to finish off Prishe, but...

Suddenly a voice calls to him. He refuses to listen, struggling with the thoughts racing through him. Who...who is it...

A burst of light explodes from the planet into the heavens above, a swirling portal of clouds forms.

Promathia looks up as a small tear falls down, landing on his face. A voice calls out to him. Can he hear her? Promathia responds he can, he can hear Altana.

At his knees, the Twilight God begins to glow and power flows through his body. Then in a burst of light, he is gone.

Prishe opens to eyes to find Selh’teus staring at the giant red crystal. The life force is returning to the mothercrystal. Prishe rests her hand on her head. Now the people of Al’taieu and even Nag’molada will find peace at last. A drop of water falls onto Prishe, her wounds suddenly healing.

The tears of the Goddess. Far above the world, Altana grieves for the loss of her Promathia. The facets of the Dawn Goddess – Trust, compassion, justice, courage, and hope. If people can learn just the last thing - hope, just this one thing, then they can carry on. From behind her, Prishe hears her name being called. It’s Ulmia and the others. The effects of Promthia must have worn off. She tells them to listen. The voice of Altana should be clear to them now.

Small tears fall from the heavens dropping on all of them, even the Chebukkis. It proves Altana lives within everyone. When people are born, the tears of the goddess flow within them.

Selh’teus calls to them. The power of the 5th mothercrystal has returned. Al’taieu no longer plummets to Vana’diel.

The lives of the people, the light of their life force, have healed the crystal. He thanks them for all they have done. But he will remain in Al’taieu as an eternal guardian to watch over their world. Prishe thanks him too, but now it is time to go home. The Apocalypse is over. The Chebukkis remark that it’s not over, the adventure’s just beginning. With a wave of their hands, the party warps away.

In ages past, a sentient jewel, enormous and beautiful, banished the darkness. Its many-colored light filled the world with life and brought forth mighty gods.

However, the arrival of death implacable brought an end to the God of Twilight.

Aglow with the essence of love eternal, the dawn goddess sought to restore the lost divinity.

Upon the fallen deity, Altana bestowed the light of the true crystal. In the bodies of mortal uncounted was the Twilight God reborn. The true crystal shattered into 5 parts, its holy light extinguished. Paradise was no longer.

Thus was born the world of Vana’diel.