How the gods died during the Sixth War of the Gods (post-Starfall war):

• Spellcaster Divine - Sword of Nullification hurled from the White Moon to Shem, Sealed through her heart, by Vigis the Spellslayer, Nemesis of the Champion of Magic
• Spearbearer - Cursed to suicide by the warlock Mnemnon
• Jester - slain by the Tyrant of Furich Amol with the Obiefune sword Dominion, with a writhing army of slaves
• Thinker - Alma Cree, Hand of Despair, used a fuligin sword to kill him
• Hearthmother - Seolus Ironsword, wielding his namesake, slew her, for reasons unknown; he is a fallen fir bolg, tearing her to pieces with it
• Matriarch - Angel of Stillbirth slew her with a baalsword, killing her beyond recovery due to the blasphemy of the blade

Zodiac Minds: the Kyellezhians tell of how the Zodiac Minds have changed, slightly, since First Shem. There have always only ever been twelve at once, but a total of 16 have existed. Two (the Sage and the Harvester of the Night) were excised by collective Kyellezhian will. The Sage was replaced by the Spearbearer, and the Harvester was replaced by the Colony. The Sage was a lying bastard who would regularly ruin people's lives, while posing as a wiseman. The Harvester was simply a killing force. One was killed during the Apocalypse of First Shem by the Messiah of Flowers. This one was the Galactic Spider, and it had allied with the Webweaver. It was replaced by the Horned Snake. The fourth was the Atelier, who collected artists and made them do great works. It left during the interim between First and Second Shem and was replaced by the Warbler. It is said that each one's departure was marked by a supernova, except the Atelier. Many believe the Atelier could be summoned again somehow.

Silver Mother: the Ailanans of yore are certain the Silver Mother expects to die when the Ailaneans are evolved. They see several clear solutions to this conundrum:

• Merging - one who has spoken her Name thrice may merge with her to save her in the moment of her death.
• Evolution - if two seeds of great power are used in the ceremony, she can be evolved with the new race.
• Resurrection - if she dies, you can revive her with the Tree of Life seed.
• Reincarnation - if she dies, you can reincarnate her with the Tree of Life seed.
• Replacement - if she dies, you can do as the other lost faiths are and choose a replacement.
• Divergence - before you evolve the Ailaneans and before they die, find a way to change her Prime Patroned Race. If you do this, be careful not to choose a race that is a subrace of an already Primary Patronage, or you might cause a war or simply be stopped by the Law.
• Pre-replacement - before you evolve the Ailaneans and before they die, create a new Race to be her Prime Patroned Race.

The Sons of Shem: this is what you were told about them. No one knows where they are, but it is thought there is a way to summon them.

• Aram - child of Mother Shem and the Alpha Shemir, he is the Exalted
• Asshur - child of Mother Shem and the King of All Dragons, he is the Strong
• Ziezi - child of Mother Shem and the Leviathan
• Elam - child of Mother Shem and the Eleventh, he is Eternity
• Lud - child of Mothe Shem and the Prince of Zeronys, he is Strife
• Arphaxad - child of Mother Shem and the Judge Manifest

Puzzles: the Pallanians speak of the Five Puzzles: Bloods, Thoughts, Hearts, Souls, and Names. There are many meanings for these things, including a set of chess-like games, and metaphorical uses (Bloods - genetics; Thoughts - neuroscience; Hearts - psychology; Souls - faith; Names - ontology). But there are literal Puzzles, which are ceremonies of Law that are technically Legal if done just right. Their main focus has always been the Puzzle of Thoughts, which is an impossible set of riddles, actual puzzles, and logic problems that can unlock what they call the 8 layers of the Mind. Essentially, it allows for control of the Collective Subconscious. The Puzzle of Bloods would allow for control of genetic history, the Puzzle of Hearts would allow for control of the emotional archetypes, and the Puzzle of Names would theoretically control all of existence.

Collective Subconscious: The Psyarans also have an interest in the Collective Subconscious. They tell you that if you find the Nexus of their people there and release it from the Collective (and into the world), it will serve you. It is an intense psionic force to have on your side, if you can find a way to release it. They do not know how you might do so, but they believe it is possible, even for feeble minds like yours (not their exact words, but they couldn't keep that undercurrent out of their voices).

Grayson's Vestige: The Bright Elves tell of their homeland, Bright Isle, and how it still exists just off Starfall in the west. They also speak of the Vestige of the Swan Offerant Grayson Caer. It's a cross on a hill in a valley in Starfall, and the quasi-messianic power there is great enough for, say, slaying evil gods, if you have one pure and good enough to wield it. If you resurrect their people as something else of the Light aspect, the Manifest of that race might serve well for that purpose, if you choose.

End of First Shem : at the end of First Shem, Mother Shem died. On Second Shem, she was resurrected. The Apostles of the Messiah tell you this, but they do not elaborate. The implication is that if she dies again, she will not be able to be revived.

Mother Worm: an ancient Iniseli story that the world is a coiled worm--Mother Shem in the form of a worm--suggests that she can be summoned via the greatest wormsong ever done. Other tales tell of the ten worms that guard the world, the Worms of Law, which coincides with tales Da'sabash has heard about crossing the fuligin desert.

Candidates: the various faiths with dead gods or potentially dead gods have selected candidates for their replacement.

• Esca-Kael - the unique female judge you met in Zurash, who will replace the Arbiter if he is dead.
• Nigindil - a wise fey warrior in Cantus who will be escorted to the Mountain of Trials to become the new God of Wisdom
• Fiyoh - an islander on the Isle of Far who has been elected at a drunkmoot to replace the Jester
• Waldane - twin to Wardane, she was chosen to replace the Matraich. She is an Uordian "witch" (their term for a magical ruler; not the same as the faith)
• Wardane - twin to Waldane, she was chosen to replace the Hearthmother. She is also an Uordian witch
• Brinnemaah - a psionist in Psyara who has penetrated deep into the Collective Subconscious, he is chosen to replace the Thinker
• Ijica - an unknown figure in a magical circus who was chosen to replace the Spellcaster

The Machine of Vewel: The Vewelians refer to it as the Machine, or the Irriton Complex. It is a vast computer that contains the consciousness of every Vewelian that they could get a hold of. They have become a race of cyborgs with a hive mind, basically. The Machine is very powerful and has enough shared void energy to probably kill a god. They are eager to try it, but Endhathef is very skeptical and wary and heartbroken by it.

Drawing down the Moons: Valhonian witches have a series of ceremonies by this name, but stories tell of this being a more literal thing. There is a ceremony that will summon the lunar elementals, who have slept for Ages. They are called the Three Sisters, and together, they have the power of a nephesh (apart, they are equal to gods). The ceremony has not been performed since First Shem, but hints of it exist still.

Absolute Zero: the Absolute Zero is a nephesh of a frozen world that has simply expanded and started consuming the universe, freezing it solid. The Evernortherners tell how the gods turned it away from Shem, but it still exists out there somewhere. It is thought that it could be summoned and controlled, if only a fraction of its power were used. It might be enough to face the nephesh, or The Pit, with.

Nephesh:

• Colos the Messenger - in Khurshid in Mati, where Lamaera was recently--she did not meet him. He is seeking to awaken Sol Angelos himself in order to put an end to the trouble. He is very close to the sun both physically (Colos is the closest planet to it) and politically/emotionally. It is thought that if he succeeds, this will cause the solar prominence that will wipe out the solar system, though Colos himself is unaware of this.
• Behial the Warrior - in Tohoniuk in Palhur; would be seeking to conquer nations, but is currently being distracted by the Warden Tecumseh
• Jahur the Temptress - in Frohm (Unseelie Empire) in Lyrilla; she has made an alliance with the Unseelie and will probably react if a war breaks out between seelie and unseelie... which reports say is likely any day now, if it hasn't already started, as the Red Hunt is primed to ride.
• Sister Ruiz the Twin - not on Shem. Probably on Ruiz. Is rumored to have connections to the Dealmaker.
• Kruurach the Stone Giant - underground in Nathaus, part of the Alliance of Twenty. He seems to be content to create tunnels and no one knows what he is up to.
• Inoxuil the Mindflayer - in Urayme, the Walkerian Empire, in Gyrah; she is making an alliance with the Alliance of Twenty, seeking domination and control.
• Weptaram the Marshall - in Qeernarajarah (asterian homeland) on the Green Moon; this is as close as he is comfortable being. He is simply watching at the moment, but if he acts, it's probably Game Over for everyone.
• Thurudrill the Duke - in Basuri in Taggarus; seeking to control random heroes on Shem, tricking them into gathering aetherial keys that will unlock Shem's aether and give it to him.
• Mytoth the Duchess - in Ledea in Ranu; consulting with the sorceresses Medea and Circe about using magic to get what she wants (control of Shem)
• Unim the Wanderer - went missing in Oram in Ansulym, a nation of the Deceiver.
• Ane the Daughter - underwater around the Island Bridge, among the Thousand Thousand (what the IB is called underwater). She is using metapolitics to follow what is going on, waiting to act.

World Tree: the Arboreals talk about the World Tree and its connection to Mother Shem. It is both equal to her and separate from her, which is paradoxical. It has the power to hold the world together. Lamaera is one of the few Arboreals to every commune with it directly and survive, and it is thought that now that she is stronger, she could be able to channel it more powerfully and wirld its power.

The Oceans: The Six Oceans of Shem each have an elemental of incredible power. They belong to various Courts. Wyren is in the Court of Shells (Water), Altic is in the Court of Winter, Palhuric is in the Court of Dragons, Black is in the Court of Webs, Great Southern is in the Court of Shells as well, and the Aurul belongs to the Court of the Sun. Alone, they are very powerful beings, but if their might is combined for some reason, they are incredibly powerful and perhaps great enough to take out a god. The Kesanese speak of the Six Shells that can control these oceans, and, if combined, can unite them.

Vault of the Sky: like the Oceans, Moons, Continents, and so on, the Sky has powerful elementals representing it. Each layer of the Atmosphere has an elemental, and combined, they are called the Vault of the Sky. The Windkeeper talk about how the Vault of the Sky is like the oceans in that it can be equal to gods if need be. They tell you to seek out Pazuzu, Lord of Birds, to know more.

Epochal Elementals: The Broker of Viridian Pillars, Thurdha, is a former ashurite turned samfie user that creates elementals out of Epoch and Ages. The elder elves theorize that the Epochal Elemental of the Current Age is probably insane and evil and dangerous, but elementals of former Ages and Epochs might have the power to stop the current elemental, thus literally altering History and stopping The Pit from forming. They are also certain this would create paradoxes and be met with disapproval from the watchers, among others.

Flame of Flames: the Firestoners speak of the Flame of Flames, a fire so hot it burns fire elementals, and pretty much anything else, that can be created by ars ignis, the alchemical art of fire control. It requires legendary alchemical arts, but it can possibly be used to kill a god.

The Core: the Stonedelvers tell you about the Core of the World, where the World's Soul can be found. They tell you to seek Tooh the Hare, a blind, gigantic hare that dwells there and can guide you into the World's Soul.

The Bonds: the Qallurgians speak of the elven bonds to living things. They tell you that a sequence of bonds can be used to create an Avatar--much like Nas was in the dream--of all beasts:

• Indrik Manifest
• Sponge Manifest
• Fish Manifest
• Mollusc Manifest
• Snake Manifest
• Bird Manifest
• Frog Manifest
• Worm Manifest
• Beetle Manifest
• Wolf Manifest
• Behemoth Manifest

Any elf can do this, but it requires great arts to be able to manage it. Any such being that makes these bonds would have incredible power, however, over animals and in general.

Nine Children: as of Collianthus 38. It's unclear the mechanics of it, but the Children must first Choose an Aspect, then Bind to the World. There seem to be some rules about who can Bind when--i.e., good Children can't Bind if evil ones are, unless there is a Child of Balance.

• Rosalie Renoir - Child of Love, fully bound to the world. She is protected in Madziar in Cassaru.
• Khitrost Anatul - Child of Darkness, chosen his aspect, not yet bound; must kill Rosalie to be able to bind. He is seeking her out to kill her.
• Xue - Child of Agony, chosen his aspect, not yet bound. Under protection in Agikaan in Dabusen.
• Ango Daggerteeth - Child of Hatred, chosen his aspect. Under protection in Tzuk in Palhur.
• Angwur Zul'Bradr - Child of Destruction, chosen his aspect. Under protection in Zul'Bradr in Palhur.
• Ail'leannas Vieve - Child of Life, chosen her aspect. Under protection in Ailanean in Lyrilla. Most people think Thannas Faebrenner, Ailanean Last Elf, is the Child, but this is a ruse devised by the Silver Elf.
• Irisilla - Child of Utopia, chosen her aspect. Under protection in Aon Ait in Lyrilla.
• Ereshma Halladam - Child of Neutrality, chosen his aspect. Under protection in the Wren Lands in Ranu.

A lot of Children have died in the last few months, mostly shortly after they choose their aspect. The Children of Hope, Equality, Nature, the Sun, and Death have all been killed recently, mostly by Stillborn Cultists, Harkanian agents, or agents of the other Children.

Final Sword: the prophecy of the Final Sword states that the world will enter a Golden Age when a mortal creates a sword greater than any Gifted Sword. The current candidates for this sword include:

• Obiefune Swords - Obiefune was erased from history, but his swords remain. They have become paradoxical, and therefore, capable of incredible things. There are about 100 left, but each one that is destroyed makes the others stronger. When one is left, it will potentially fulfill the criteria.
• Waylon Swords - Waylon was Obiefune's apprentice, and his swords work the same way. They may or may not need to be destroyed along with the Obiefune swords.
• Nephesh/Logos weapons - Nephesh and logos create weapons sometimes, and they are incredibly powerful. The only known such weapon is the sword called Mother's Wrath, crafted by one of the Sons of Shem, and wielded by him. There are others, however, including a logos blade rumored to be called the Starsoul Blade that may or may not exist in the solar system somewhere. These are not formed by mortals, however, so it doesn't quite fit. This doesn't keep people from claiming they do.
• Baalswords - swords of pure blasphemy that can kill gods, Illegal, but capable of incredible damage. 13 are said to exist on Shem at the moment. Supposedly, warlocks can create these.
• Law swords - swords forged by the Law. These are also Illegal. Dwyreans--people in a lost nation west of Harkanheim--created a few of them.
• Planar weapons - weapons from other realms. The problem is that they are not usually forged by mortals, but some are. The most famous ones are definitely not mortal-forged--Shadowslayer (wielded by Balkis) and Angelslayer (wielded by the Webweaver). They can be Mastered, though. Other examples include Shimmering, a sword of the Jewelled City, and the Sword of Elevens, legendarily lost in the lost plane Manaheart.
• The Sword of Vanev - the sword that killed Sidney Bronccour, said to be in the Tara'hinian Vaults [note: you've been there and seen it] is incredibly powerful.

Shadow's Tongue: in a similar vein, the Dwonnics speak of the planar sword of the realm of Shadows, called Shadow's Tongue, which is a souleating sword that only one truly hideously evil may wield. They believe the Webweaver is seeking this out as well, and that the Serpentmother might know where it is (which is why they think he hasn't killed her yet). They tell you it can kill a god, but not a God of Darkness.

Shield of Dale: the Shield of Dale was an artifact of the Homelander elves that was made from the combined hegnhic arts of a thousand and one Homelanders during the Eschatonic War on First Shem. It is currently being used by the Champion of the Hearthmother, but it has been seen to block the powers of evil gods.

Final Vengeance: the Blued elves want revenge for their deaths, caused by the Guardians of Mortality. If you swear a blood oath to wipe out every Guardian that lives (or unlives), they will empower you with their vengeful spirits. Basically, commit genocide in their names, and they will grant your the strength of their entire race.

The Impossible Light: the Kesarans speak of something they call the Impossible Light, which they say is simply a manifestation of Paradox, that exists somewhere beneath the mountains of Kesarah.

Book of Names: the Vesaritians speak of the Book of Names, telling you that it is generally used as a metaphor for the universe (the Name of a Thing is the Whole of a Thing. The Book of Names contains all Names, thus, the Whole of All Things, thus the Book of Names is Everything that Is, Was, or Shall Be). But legends speak of a manifestation of it, an avatar of the universe that exists within the universe. This avatar is usually depicted as a literal Book.

No Raesians: It is worth noting that not a single Raesian was present in the dream.