>>16009365
Bumping. Anyone?

Oh damn....give me a second to think haha

As the universe broke from its fragile shell and expanded, the fragments of its container drifted endlessly into the void. They remain drifting outside of our own existence, but biding their time for when the universe will need to be resealed once again.

Give me a few minutes, I love this stuff.

So wait, is this a post-by-post building of one universe, or are we making up our own stuff?

>>16009521

And so it was that these shards, existing simultaneously at the edges of the universe and entirely outside of it, became the first- and most powerful- of the gods.

I'm definitely watching this, and contributing when I have something worthwhile.

The egg was pure in its simplicity.

But, like any great birth, there were complications. Just as light must exist with darkness, so too must existence define the non-existent. From the growing swells of energy, countless worlds within were scattered, melded, and reformed according to the purifying winds of The Hatching. By destiny's ordinance, these energies collided into a great beast at the moment of The Hatching's climax.

And with The Hatching rose the first gods: sentience amongst the un-living. The dragons!

Blowing it out of my ass here.

>>16009547

Post-by-post, I'm thinking. When there's a bunch of people all posting at once, of course we can branch off and stuff, but let's make sure it's all integrated.

>>16009567

The dragons were beings of chaos and wild impulse, just as the stellar collisions and fires that birthed them. The gods of the Shell grew angry at their abandon and sought to impose order on young universe that they had watched grow.

>>16009521
(Not OP)
The speed of the expansion caused some materials to spilt from the dimension we know and to enter another...a place of stories untold and times unseen

>>16009583
The dragons did not take such an affront to their freedom lightly. So then began the War in Heavens, the great leviathans raged against the forces of their divine rivals, whole worlds and systems, barely formed and alive, burned as the titanic conflict threatened to tear the young universe apart.

>>16009602

The blood of the dragons and gods alike spilled across the heavens, where it fell on the surface of planets, and sometimes mingled in the void of space itself, gave birth to many new and strange forms of life, primal monsters and titans of flesh and stone, rather than the energy and power that were the forms of the feuding gods and dragons.

>>16009639
Some life wished to take of their parents...of the gods and the dragons and many great wars waged anew

>>16009365

While it would have been a terrible, cosmos-shaking conflict either, both the Gods and the Dragons recognized the value of their own lives. The saw the futility of existing in a universe utterly ruined by their war, or in preserving their image of an ideal universe but not living to see it. Looking down at the motes of matter drifting about them, and at the strange life crawling across their surfaces, they began to recruit the first soldiers.

>>16009650

Not all the gods and dragons were caught up in the bloodlust of their fellows however. One great goddess looked at the creation they had birthed forth and wept for its destruction, torn asunder by the never-ending war waged amongst the stars.

>>16009639
For just as the Hatching splintered the energies of the universe, so too did the deaths of these gods sow the weaker life.

The great war was not without its prizes, however. Each force, divine and dragon alike, found that these weaker lives could reinvigorate them with the power of The Hatching via worship. All but the most powerful beings adopted this practice, the others falling into the dust of the cosmic battlefield...

>>16009658
>>16009665
These new hosts would then wage war in their masters' steads, ensuring that neither colossal force destroyed the other. Thus was a cosmic order created, overseen by the Crying Godess, who would forever preserve the souls of the fallen warriors, giving them paradise after their struggles.

>>16009665
And from her tears of the purest sorrow were formed the greatest of anomalies the Black Holes beings of uttuer sorrow who wished to make all others feel their pain

Despite their best efforts of the gods, some of the more wayward creatures descended from the gods and dragons began to stray from their creators and began building cities and nations for themselves

>>16009665

In her compassion, and sorrow, and mercy, she clitched a single blood-splattered world to her bosom. As all other life was swept away by battle, or corrupted and warped by the forces which had spawned them and manipulated their development, she kept this one sphere safe.

As countless promising young races from across existence were wiped out, or left war-torn, "ascended" versions of their former selves twisted to resemble their patrons, this one world remained pure.

>>16009719
The fallen warriors of the conflict, granted salvation by the Crying Goddess, took it upon themselves to forever safeguard her treasure from the predations of their former liegelords. So was born the Order of the Lambent Tear, a host of the greatest heroes, who would preserve this innocent life for as long as the War in Heavens raged.

>>16009718

One such race was the Y'gonhiem, a group of hairy creatures that built many small villages across a world called Endortall, instead of worshiping gods or dragons, they chose to praise the sun and the earth, the waters and the flame. Because of their love, the earth and sky bestowed upon them the powers to reshape Endortall.

>>16009752

And on this small refuge, a new race arose, one clean from the lust for battle that consumed the rest of the worlds. These innocent people instead sought arts of peace and knowledge, building great cities and intricate machines the likes of which had never before been seen.

>>16009787
And with these powers they made a utopia of nature a utopia dedicated to Endortall herself

>>16009787
The power of the elemental forces the Y'gonhiem wielded drew the attention of both the gods and the dragons.

The peaceful Y'gonhiem stood no chance against such mighty foes, and were annihilated. The gods declared that any race that had the insolence to wield the forces of nature for any reason other than to serve them, would be destroyed, just as the Y'gonhiem had been.

>>16009796

In time, they even began to modify themselves with these mystical devices. Whatever they looked liek originally, theese beings- The Sheltered- took on a shape suited to their lives. Without strife, or chaos, or struggle of any sort, they built delicate, crystalline frames- many-eyed and many-limbed- from the magic minerals of their planet, Oandamp.

>>16009829
>>16009796
>>16009752
Such a brutal example of wanton cruelty drew the notice of the Order of the Lambent Tear. It began to fear that their Godess' virgin world might befall the same fate as the Y'gonheim.

>>16009829

But, though peaceful, the Y'gonhiem had not been destroyed ENTIRELY without resistance... And so their one, great warrior, Mitur'geam, was allowed to join The Order of the Lambent Tear upon his defeat.

Loving his people, and his world, he began in secret to rebuild them a sactuary, in the hidden places of Oandeep... And to recreate them anew.

And while the Y'gonhiem were peaceful, they had not been guarded so carefully as The Shletered, and war had entered their hearts- especially that of their race's champion and saviour.

They carried with them the taint of Without.

>>16009847

A being called Lokinomi joined The Order of the Lambent Tear, it claimed to know the secrets to salvation, and it requested only one thing, a drop of blood from the Crying Godess.

It promised that the ritual it would perform would end the war between gods and dragons and bring peace and prosperity to all across the many worlds.

>>16009829
>>16009831
Unbeknownst to both the Dragons and the Gods, one of their number plotted to subvert them even as they decreed nature off-limits to mortals.

Iyulith, primal dragon of Monochrome, saw the Manifest success of Oandamp and, inspired by the fact that such a place could come to pass under the protection of a goddess, began to formulate plans of his own.

Iyulith seized his own virgin world and shed his own blood to begin life upon it. As the first intelligent mortals were born on this world, Iyulith made himself known and decreed that this world would now and forever serve as a reflection of his own power. He granted it the same protection as Oandamp enjoyed from it's deity, and so the world's people began to thrive, calling themselves the Iyuli in honor of their lord and god.

>>16009890

Lokinomi offered the deal to many in The Order of the Lambent Tear, but most refused, saying that the blood of their goddess was sacred, and that if she were to shed it on their behalf, all that they had fought would be for naught. Some however begain to be persuaded by Lokinomi's words, and began to wish the Crying Goddess would shed her blood for them as they had for her.

>>16009890

As it was the blood of the Crying Goddess that created the Oandamp, they chose the purest, more beautiful maiden of their people to be give to Lokinomi.

Lokinomi refused, saying that only the fresh wet blood of the goddess would serve to give them salvation.

>>16009901

The Iyuli were small, devious, slimy creatures, born in the black and white of their creator- two subsets of the same race, each compensating for the weaknesses of the other with their own strengths. One was big, and slow, and methodical; the other was quick, and hasty, and small. One was an innovator, the otehr an inventor. One practiced defence... the otehr readied for offence.

>>16009901

The Iyuli eventually grew to the same heights as the Y'gonheim before them, and as had been the case before, the gods and dragons took notice.

But they could not move against these mortals, for their lord and god protected them, and they realized with horror that Iyulith had just procured for himself a world that was dedicated entirely to furthering his own designs. These warriors would not answer to anyone but him, and given time, the Iyuli could grow to become an army fearsome enough to challenge even their own hosts.
>>16009972

>>16009954

The maiden, Shaeshilen, however had fallen in love with Lokinomi, and beseeched him that even if he would not take her for his sacrifice to bring peace to the heavens, that she would join at his side to search for that peace as his wife.

>>16009954

Finally the Crying Goddess appeared before Lokinomi and offered him a drop of her blood. Lokinomi accepted and promptly absorbed the blood. The being was then engulfed in a torrent of thunder and lightning. Lokinomi was transformed into Lyulith before their very eyes. "Now Oandamp is vulnerable to my power, I shall crush it and the Order of the Lambent Tear into nothingness." He roared and dissapeared.

>>16010047

Shaeshilen, broken-hearted that her beloved Lokinomi chose power over her love and his vows within the Order, cried out to the Goddess to end her suffering and engulf her in the black holes of her tears.

The Goddess, dismayed at Lokinomi's betrayal looked upon the Oandamp maiden and said to her.

"Dry your tears, my child. Your love for him has driven you to seek new shores beyond this refuge I have created, and your courage will help you find him again."

And then Shaeshilen became Shaecallum, the Bearer of Hope. She travels ever after Lyulith, bringing restoration and justice to those harmed by his destructive wake.

>>16009954

The Sheltered could not bear the hought of spilling fresh blood from their great protector... But Mitur'geam saw another way. He called upon his brethren, the Y'gonhiem hidden on Oandamp, to use their powers to extract from their new world a single drop of its purest essence through their alchemical magics. They did not disappoint, and even as The Shletered , and the Order grew tumultous with uncertain debate, Mitur'geam preserved this reverse-engineered drop of purest, freshest blood within an Oandampian crystal.

When he arrived however, he was too late. Lyulith had already been born, and his oath sworn. But, in this second drop of blood, there was hope to counteract this new, dark power...

>>16010047

Lyulith grew more powerful as he brought many of the lesser gods and dragons under his power. With the power of the Crying Goddess his to control, his influence expanded rapidly across many worlds. The other gods and dragons were too disorganized to put up a strong resistance.

>>16010034
>>16010047
Lokinomi, it transpired, had departed a day before the Crying Godess had decided to accept his offer, taking with him the lovely Shaeshilen on his mysterious journey to end the War in Heavens. Iyulith had merely seized upon the opportunity and crafted an illusion to capitalize upon the Order's indecision.

>>16010109
It became increasingly obvious that Iyulith had been planning such a war for some time, and that he had used the god's and dragons' own arrogance against them.

Therefore to combat the evil, these two foes had no choice but to rescind their decrees of non-violation of nature, and adopt worlds of their own, hopefully before it was too late to stop the Monochrome army

Mitur'geam offered to lead the free gods and dragons and those they controlled to battle against the growing power of lyulith. With much reluctance, they accepted him as their leader, but gods and dragons are not easy to lead and they continued to squabble as lyulith grew ever more powerful...

Well, we've been doing a pretty awesome job, and we've set up a pretty badass oevrarching conflict. maybe we should start working on more mundane stuff, now, like the races and civilizations populating these worlds?

And off in a distant edge of the universe as all of these things transpired on one small planet known mearly as Undrog a race of sentiant creatures known as Rolcors were thriving and were doing so under the guidance of their benevolent leader Undrog, the planet itself

The three most powerful of the "free gods" were Polinar, Jin'tae, and Dos. They ruled the worlds Poltanis, Jin, and Dossica respectively. The three most powerful "free dragons" were the twin brothers Eos and Theros and Mankin who had once led Lyulith in the wars between the gods and dragons.

Dos, the ruler of Dossica loved the chaos the still lingered on the edges of the universe. His powers were derived by the great energies contained within this chaos. His creations shared his wild nature and the chaos that ruled him. Dossica was a world of storms and calms, light and dark, fire and ice, all occurring simultaneously. It was a world full of chaos, a reflection of the god that had shaped it.

>>16010194
Undrog was itself a miracle, a byproduct of the War in Heavens that no one, not god, dragon or Mortal could have predicted. The world was the final resting place of a god and a dragon, mortal enemies whose lives had bled into this world. Dun the Brazen, giant god of Might and Light had fought the great dragon Gord, a primal force of Iron, and their mutual demise had given the world life and much more, it had given it a soul.

The two celestial beings' memories flooded the world, and it emerged as an amalagalm of the two.

>>16010259
While Dos hadn't always been this way- The Gods, after all, were originally beings of order- the war had taken a serious toll on some of the beings that fought in it. In his efforts to combat the enemy, Dos, had incorporated the power of slain foes, and was almost more dragon than divinity now. He was to be known as The God of Paradoxes.

>>16010270

Lyulith eyed Undrog's power with lust. It was a jewel that he knew he must have. However it was too far away and Lyulith's power was not yet great enough to conquer this once great battleground between gods and dragons. In secret however, he began to try to subvert the energies and the wills of those on Undrog...

>>16010259
Jin'tae, known by his fellow gods as the Great Mind, ruled over a world whose people saw the very stuff of the universe, and used it to achieve a harmony with the universe that not even the Sheltered could muster. They became known as the Star sages, a race whose greatest advantage was the far sight granted to them by their universal attunement

>>16010194
>>16010270

The Rolcors, guided by this soul, lit forges deep in their world, bringing light to the darkness within, and even as Undrog led them and shaped them into beings of living metal might, they too mined their planet and redistributed its resources, shaping their "Mother" into a great organism of stone and smelted iron, capable of propelling istelf and all of them with great burning engines.

>>16010204

Polinar was the god of the oceans and the storms, he was an angry god, his temper fanned by the slaughter that had occurred during the wars between gods and dragons. His creations shared his anger and his malice towards outsiders.

>>16010313

Lyulith seized the opportunity and poured some of his twisted essence into the living metal that formed the core of Undrog before it could cool. Thus the seeds of corruption were planted.

>>16010318
The Polinarians were a strange brood- a race of hard-shelled, one-eyed amphibious beings, who could not survive long outside of the water. They had little mechnical ability or inclination, besides what was necessary to survive, and for want of any dry surface to forge metal upon, they produced all their inventions from the bodies of their feallen, and from rapidly hardening mucous secretions which accompanied copulation and the laying of eggs. Their entire civilization wa,s quite literally, built upon life and death.

>>16010313
The Rolcors knew all along what Lyulith wanted to do for they only obeyed their mother and decided who they would make war upon first.

>>16010383

...Becoming pirates of the stars, purging and raiding any world they came across to feed their planetary matron.

So, what remaining main gods/dragons and races need fleshing out? Just finished reading here, and I can help out!

>>16010118

Lokinomi, meanwhile had spent years wandering through the cosmos. He spoke with gods and dragons. Crowned kings and saved nations. Yet still he failed to create the peace in the universe that he had always desired. He had left the Crying Goddess because she had not come forward with the blood he had asked for. With that blood, so pure and crimson, he had hoped to forever establish peace and prosperity on Oandamp. He knew it would work, and if it worked on Oandamp, it could work everywhere else too. Alas, she had not granted him that boon and so now he searched the cosmos for another way to bring order and peace to the universe. As he searched, he slowly came to a conclusion, it was not the fault of those who inhabited the universe that there was evil. It had to be the fault of the entity that had set the events in motion that had hatched the universe in the beginning. So Lokinomi travelled off into the deepest recesses of the universe, searching for the creator. He knew that if he found the being, peace could be brought to the entirety of existance....

>>16010421

"The three most powerful "free dragons" were the twin brothers Eos and Theros and Mankin"-need those

Someone please archive this shit

>>16010431
OP here. Seconded. This is pretty great so far.

>>16010421
>>16010421

Also Mankin was the leader of Lyulith, so make sure that if you write his backround that you dont forget that part

>>16010204

It came to pass that Lyulith spawned a shadow of horror that left only a void in its wake. He commanded the shadow to engulf the worlds that resisted him. The shadow obeyed and began removing entire worlds from existance. Morrownor, Hoporine, Falacay and Soros were the first worlds to be revoked from the universe by the horrible shadow.

>>16010451

Mankin was a dragon repentant, for she loved the vibrancy and unpredictability that chaos craeted, but he had no love of war or death, and she regretted the role she had played in creating and shaping Lyulith's race alongside Iyulith during the dawn of the war. She, like the twin dragons beside her, did not create a world of her own. Instead, she roamed the worlds under the gods' guidance, ensuring the spread of free will and keeping their divine creators' more totalitarian ideals in check. To this end, she utilized only her rambunctious "children", the Espreet. These incorporeal, luminescent demi-dragons were created solely from her own blood, for she only trusted herself.

>>16009365

The shadow Lyulith crafted was bon from the Crying Goddesse's tears, teh black holes. he once again exploited the power of the holy being who had trusted him to undo her works through wanton destruction. He gave it to Iyulith as a pet and a weapon, and Iyulith used it sparingly, keeping it sealed to use only as a weapon of last resort against those who resisted his Iyuli invaders.

>>16010470

It was Dos that confronted the great shadow. When the evil thing engulfed him, it was consumed by the chaos within the great god. The chaos caused the shadow to consume itself as well as the god. Dos and the shadow were forever gone from the world. For the Free gods and dragons, this was a great blow, for Lyulith a great victory. He had come one step closer to his victory.

>>16010504

The other gods and dragons, and The Order, sought to save what they could from Dos' world. After teh tolls teh war had taken on him, however, he had been unable to craete any being of intelligence. Those beings they did save and returned to Oandamp were that world's first "monsters".

>>16010542

Dossac crumbled into chaos behind them. Without its god to keep the chaos in check, the planet too fell out of existance. Meanwhile, Lyulith began moving his armies, and those of the gods and dragons that followed him, to the ruins of Y'gonheim where he began to plan his assault on Oandamp

>>16010567
>>16010504
>>16010428
Eos and Theros, each took up the guardianship of one remaining "free world", to protect them from the fate that had befallen Dos'. Eos guarded the Star Sages' world of Jin, while Theros guarded the Polinarians of Poltanis.

As the legions of death swept forward, however, and the gods of these worlds fled, the dragons were forced to escort to Oandamp the last of both proud races. The Crying Goddess's world was rapidly becoming life's last bastion.

The suspense is mother-fucking killing me

>>16010481
>>16010596

With the gods' other worlds fallen, and all those unprotected realms rapidly being consumed by the great shadow, stripped by teh Rolcor, or recolonized and subjugated by the Iyuli, Mankin and the Espreet made it their new mission to save the last vestiges of the universe's sentient beings wherever the could. Eventually, they too returned to Oandamp, the dark empire hot on their heels.

Mitur'geam rallied all of the free gods and dragons on Oandamp for what he knew was the coming battle. With his forces already mustered, Lyulith began his invasion. The Order of Lambent Tears was tainted when Lyulith had taken some of the goddesses blood. With their allegience unclear, many stayed out of the fighting. As the battle raged across the surface of Oandamp, storms raged in the heavens above. It was there that Lyulith met Mankin an fierce combat. Although her heart and will were strong, Mankin was no match for Lyulith. After toying with his former leader, the Monochrome dragon snapped her neck and sent her plummeting to the ground below. On the ground Mitur'geam fought with reckless abandon, cutting through all the foes that dared stand before him. By his side stood the mightly free gods, each more massive and powerful than the last. Lyulith's gods were little match for the free gods and quickly they and their hosts were routed.

Lyulith's dragons however, empowered by their Monochrome leader were more than a match for all the free dragons except Eros and Theros. The skies above Oandamp were alive with flame and thunder as the great leviathans danced in the heavens.

>>16010740
>>16010596

Meanwhile, Eos and Jin'tae battled for the hearts and minds of the Star sages within the Crying Goddess' protective sphere. The race owed them both fealty for the creation and slavation, but while Jin'tae would have had them hole up in their sanctuaries on oandamp and retire from the other races, Eos encouraged them to achieve unity with all living things on their new planet.

Similarly, Theros sought to liberate the "Polinarians" from their short, brutal lives of constant inward and outward turmoil, and to teach them of the finer things in life beyond sex and war. He split off a sect of them, taking advantage of the gift of free will mankin had earlier given them to mould them into the calm, unemotional "Therosi".

Then Lyulith decended upon Polinar and the mighty god of oceans and storms buffeted the great dragon with winds and waves. The Dragon ascended high up into the heavens and let loose a mighty roar. He then turned and plummeted toward the angry god below. He met the god in a clash of steel and flesh and claw and bone.

Chaos erupted as the mighty duo clashed. Polinar was as close a match to Lyulith as any foe the dragon had ever faced. Again and again the dragon's attacks were repelled by gusts of wind and swirling tides, and again and again the dragon roared back for more. The contest raged until finally Lyulith managed to get his fangs around the angry god's neck. Another crunch sent the god to his death. All seemed lost for the free gods and dragons....

>>16010808
>>16010775

>Fangs
>Wings
>Necks
>Bone
>Claws

>>16009639

>Primordial energy beings

As Lyulith rose victorious from the clash, he heard a warcry like none he had heard before, and suddenly Mitur'geam was upon him. The mortal was filled with a surge of raw emotion as his great axe rained blow after blow on the Monochrome dragon. His hairy body moved as fast as lighting as he swung again and again, each blow causing the great dragon to retreat further and further.

>>16010481
>>16009901

Lyulith =/= Iyulith
Lyulith =/= Dragon

OP here.

>>16010832

Uhh... Dude? Cosmically pwoerful energy gods. I'm sure they can amange to take on a physical form or something.

>>16010880

I sorta' see where you're coming from with teh first, but who says Lyulith couldn't become a dragon after stealing the blood and consuming it?

>>16009901

Lyulith is a dragon. OP, I'm the one typing this battle out, shall I continue?

>>16010916

I'm liking it. Go for it!

I am curious to see how Shaecallum and that preserved blood-drop fit in, too.

All around them the battle surged, an impossibly confused storm of beings as diverse as the cosmos that had given birth to them. For Mitur'geam, there was only Lyulith and the axe that he swung at the Monochrome dragon again and again. Finally when the mortal thought he had won the contest, the dragon began to laugh, a horrible laugh. "Foolish mortal, this game has been interesting. I would have given you great gifts had you been my servant. As you are not, I have only one gift for you, death."

The dragon advanced, raw energy crackling off his powerful form. Mitur'geam couldn't understand where the dragon's energy was coming from. Had the beast been playing with him all along? It didn't matter, his strength was waning. His axe blows fell slower and slower. His arm felt like it was made of stone. The end was near, he knew it. The Monochrome dragon was almost upon him now.

>>16010916

Fuck OP! this was getting good when we were building a setting instead of writing stupid contradictory fanfics that wrap up the conflict rather than leaving it open for PCs. Are we on /tg/ or not? How can I use a setting where the final battle's already over?

>>16010984

It's... Collaborative. use what you like, don't use what you don't. Doubt if any players will fact-check you against a 4chan thread.

Mitur'geam, in a flash of insight remembered the drop of blood that he had contained within the Oandampian crystal. He took the small gem from a small pouch in his belt. It was glowing blindingly bright. Even Lyulith seemed to be dazzled by the light's brilliance. All around them, the battle ground to a halt. All eyes were on the glorious gem Mitur'geam held in his hand.

>>16011001

Chekov loads his gun...

Mitur'geam took the gem and smashed it unto the ground, with its shattering, a great portal opened in the sky, suddenly the great Monochrome beast shuddered as he and his armies were sucked into the portal. The gem was gone, but Oandamp was saved. The battle was over. Lyulith was not destroyed however, at the edge of the vast cosmos, he began to gather his remaining allies. It is said that he is there still, awaiting his chance to re-invade the realms of the free gods and dragons. But that's only a story..... right?

I did my best there my good chums, hope it was slightly better than getting caught watching porn by your grandma

>>16011049

As OP, I declare it awesome. Did this get archived? I don't know how to do that stuff, due to noobitude.

Seriously, OP, this guy just hijacked the story and told it the way he wanted. If this was truly "collaborative" it should have been all of us posting, not just him.

>>16011084

Well, why weren't you, then? Or why AREN'T you? Just because the big cosmic battle's over doesn't mean tehre isn't stuff to flesh out. Empires? Races that still ahve very little written about them?

>>16011033

Certainly, the Black Iyuli and White Iyuli, the two dangerous and despised races said to have been left behind in the wake of the conflict, await the return of their dark lord and his army. Now oppressed and a shadow of their former selves, it's all they have to look forward to in these days. There are many who, believing teh story, still seek to wipe them out.

>>16011129

The Rolcor's, gigantic iron and stone behemoths, are much rarer than the Iyuli, but they make a much better living in the modern Oandamp. Still feared and hated by many, they are nonetheless frequently employed as mercenaries.

They pray to the world's moon, a cold, dead behemoth they claim is their race's mother.

From SCRATCH, you say?

>>16011193
Oh god, someone flesh our a race or nation quick, before this devolves into... Whatever this is.

The thread... Is dead.

Well, good job, folks. Archival complete?