Apostles of Doom

“Given what you’ve told us and all the discussions, along with your meteoric rise, I would not rule it out,” the bard answered.

“Yes, but if that was the case, why the four-thousand-year hiatus?” Tom asked. “From what the others have said, it normally wouldn’t take that long; and then I end up on the other side of the multiverse?”

Antefalken shrugged. “Well, I would guess that most of the times that it happens, the person going through it did not just have their soul sucked by an Unlife dagger. Perhaps there was so little left, you had to go through some sort of karmic progression to regrow your animus over four thousand years?”

Tom shook his head. “That requires reincarnation. I was not a member of a religion that believed in reincarnation. I wasn’t even religious, and as we have learned, after Ragnarök and then after the Demi-Urge gained power, all the other gods fled Earth. So who would have been providing the reincarnations?”

Antefalken grimaced and shrugged. “I have no idea. I know nothing of what pantheons might have stuck around. I’m not a theologian.”

“Well, I know Hinduism and Buddhism have reincarnation, and were around on Earth; however, I was not a member.” Tom scrunched his face in thought. “Actually, in fact, I think those religions do not require a deity or pantheon per se to reincarnate; it is just part of the system.”

Antefalken shrugged. “I suspect it is something built into the pantheon, something set up as part of their mechanisms.”

“I don’t think so.” Tom shook his head. “Pretty sure the Buddhists do not believe in any gods, they believe more in a gestalt, a unified universality, or maybe multiversality.” Tom squinted with one eye, trying to put the ideas together. “Not sure how that works with the whole multiverse thing? Is each universe a gestalt, and the multiverse is a collection of gestalts?”

“I get where you are going; some of Anselm’s people thought along those lines,” Antefalken said. “However, since one can cross between universes, and one does not suddenly become part of a new gestalt, the multiverse itself must be a single gestalt.”

“So then, who is handling their reincarnation?” Tom asked.

“Seriously above my pay grade.” Antefalken shook his head. “Maybe there are avatars that aren’t gods, but supernatural spirits overseeing the belief systems and reincarnation.”

A chuckling sound came from the opening to the room on their left. Tom looked over to see Erestofanes, the librarian.

“Beg your pardon, but I was wandering by and could not help but overhear your conversation,” Erestofanes said.

“No problem. Do you have answers?” Tom asked, thinking it was very likely the librarian would.

“I fear I have too many answers.” The librarian smiled as he said this.

“Anything of use?” Antefalken asked, grinning back.

“Well, since you are talking about Buddhism, the person to ask would be Singkûn, should he decide to show up again,” Erestofanes replied.

“Who?” Antefalken asked.

“The unaccounted-for ninth member of the Tartarvardenennead,” Tom said.

Antefalken shook his head.

“Indeed,” Erestofanes agreed.

“Not helping.” Antefalken shrugged. Tom gestured for Erestofanes to continue.

“Singkûn is a very intelligent and powerful monkey, or perhaps a D’Monkey, I suppose, if that makes any sense.” Erestofanes shook his head briefly. “In any case, he is quite legendary, particularly in Buddhist circles.”

“Ah, so he is a Buddhist supernatural figure?” Antefalken said.

“Yes. In fact, it is said that he was once imprisoned under a mountain by the Buddha himself.” Erestofanes shrugged. “However, I have been unable to locate any first hand documentation on this, so it is hearsay.”

“You have met Singkûn, yes?” Tom asked, and Erestofanes nodded. “Could you not have just asked him?”

Erestofanes gave a rueful chuckle. “While Singkûn is a very admirable, virtuous, and sometimes reliable person, getting a straight answer out of him is decidedly impossible. Worse than Tizzy, in fact.”

“Good gods below, how could that be possible!” Antefalken exclaimed.

“Well, should he show up as a bard, having a keen interest in history, legend and such, I am sure you shall discover this on your own.” Erestofanes grinned and nodded. “In fact, should you get him to imbibe, which is not terribly difficult, he will give you more than enough stories for thousands of ballads!”

“Okay, now you have me!” Antefalken said with a grin, turning to Tom. “You need to find a way to summon him!”

Erestofanes laughed again. “Darg-Krallnom would tell you that, much like Tizzy, the task is not so much to summon Singkûn, but rather how to banish him once summoned.”

Tom just shook his head in amusement. It would be nice to meet this fellow, particularly if he was an expert on reincarnation, and perhaps even the Phoenix Cycle. That seemed like something a Buddhist supernatural being might be of great use on.

Nysegard Doom: Third Period