This Epoch is that which is known in the vernacular as the Midnight Age, and begins in the year 1MA.
The First Guildmasters
Ascendril: Ianus
Atabahi: Anya
Bahkatu: Irruel
Bloodborn: Irawn
Cabalists: Daelar
Carnifex: Akimoto
Daru: Clio
Druids: Esper
Infernals: Templar
Luminaries: Sahmie
Magi: Belgarion
Occultists: Anya
Paladins: Strung
Priests: Thrain
Sciomancers: Mazzion
Sentaari: Elektra
Sentinels: Arafel
Shamans: Aishia
Syssin: Szan
Teradrim: Alaron
Templars: Mirrfa
First of the Consanguine: Abhorash
Kerrithrim: The Great Beast
The Fall of Kelsys
Within the Ayhesa cliffs along the eastern coast, a group of Spellshaper students gossiped in hushed voices. Their master, Saayar, was plotting something.
Irruel du Vallianse was the first to discover Saayar's plan, after much snooping and questioning, and confronted Saayar with his knowledge. A tense conversation took place, as Saayar strongly denied the accusations and Irruel threatened to intercede. Others soon discovered the plot, the most notable being the members of the Magi Guild.
Saayar's plot was of grave concern to the Magi, for it involved the elemental links of the Silver Spire deep beneath the ocean in the Kelki city of Kelsys. His plan was to harness the power of the links, so that he might achieve his goal: Destruction of Spinesreach and its citizens, whom he believed to be hiding knowledge from the world.
The Magi interrogated Ireia, the Spellshaper Enchanter and ex-Magi, who was quick to realize the risk the Magi offered to the plan. She conjured up a lie, deceiving the Magi into thinking Saayar was mentally unstable and was merely a figurehead. She offered up her own plan to the Magi, which involved going along with Saayar's plan long enough for him to be weakened by his own workings and then disposing of him. The Magi were untrusting, and after much debate amongst themselves, they grudgingly accepted.
On the 2nd of Severin, year 276 of the Midnight Age, Saayar was ready. Annica, Cariv, Esylana, Mazzion, Tralendar and Yarel, all of the Magi guild, arrived at Saayar's office disguised amongst the other Spellshapers. There, Saayar unveiled the latest in Spellshaper innovation - a modified portal wand with enchanted golden rings looping it. He went on to explain that the golden rings would allow the portal to be cast from one location to another, without needing a target to focus upon. Moreover, the actual portal created by the wand offered a vast improvement over the normal sonic portals. It would distort time and space to physically connect the two locations, as if they were part of the same place. One could, in theory, create a portal from a city to deep under the ocean, and the water would flow straight through the portal to flood the entire city.
In shock, the Magi looked on as Saayar proceeded to demonstrate the capabilities of the portal wand by connecting his office to the Silver Spire. The portal wand glowed and vibrated violently as it established the connection, burning away to ashes while the golden rings clattered to the ground. The group proceeded gingerly through the portal, following Saayar, Ireia and the other Spellshaper Masters as they set themselves up inside the Spire. The next stage of Saayar's plan involved casting a protective ward around the Spire, protecting it from both damage and intruders while he manipulated the links. This part of the plan was important to the Magi, for Ireia had told them it would significantly drain Saayar of energy when he cast the ward, and that would be time for their betrayal. Spellshaper and Magi alike worked together to channel the elements into a crystal orb constructed to contain the energy. A flash resonated through the Civic Dome of Kelsys as energy exploded outward from the crystal orb. The light cleared, and it became evident to all present that a glowing magical field surrounded the Spire, cutting it off from the rest of Kelsys. An equally intangible glow surrounded each of the Spellshapers.
Smirking, Ireia informed the Magi, "You may attack. Much good may it do you." As the rest of the Magi struggled to comprehend what had just happened, Mazzion angrily ordered an attack upon the Spellshapers as he realized their fears of deceit were well-founded. A desperate battle began, as the Magi unleashed their combined elemental forces towards the Spellshapers. Their attacks landed upon the Spellshapers to no effect, neutralized by the shield surrounding each one. Realizing the futility of the attack, Mazzion ordered a retreat from the Spire.
The Magi regrouped, heading back to Saayar's office in the Ayhesa Cliffs with hope that the portal was still open. To their luck, it was, and as they stepped through the gloating voice of Saayar could be heard, "Magi! Stop me if you will, but this Spire, this Silver Spire - it grants me power beyond what even you did!" Infused with the power of the elemental links, Saayar gathered more and more energy to him as he prepared for his strike upon the city of Spinesreach. With his voice amplified by his new-found power, he shouted "Your doom is at hand, Spinesreach! At last we have won, thanks to the idiocy of the pitiful Magi!" as he began to direct the energy into a powerful attack.
A great influx of energy surged through Saayar as he arrogantly gathered more of the powers of the five links to him. Horror filled the leader of the Spellshapers, for he had made a terrible mistake - he had harnessed more power than a single man could handle. The Silver Spire exploded as uncontrolled elemental energy swept across Kelsys. Domes shattered and the ocean poured in, greedily flooding the city. Raw primal forces ripped apart those closest to the source of the explosion, shredding both Spellshaper and Magi alike into nothingness.
No longer stable, the elemental links collapsed as a giant, swirling vortex of elemental energy rose violently out of the ocean. As the great forces tore about city of Kelsys, a giant tidal wave formed from the explosion. It bore down upon the village of Shastaan; looming over the small fishing village with an indomitable presence before it brutally broke itself upon the shores of the hapless settlement - everything within its path decimated.
However, that was not all that befell Sapience on the fateful day, for deep beneath the ocean near Kelsys, a monstrous creature stirred, awoken from its slumber by the giant explosion...
The Awakening
A giant, swirling vortex of the elements dominated the eastern horizon in wake of the disaster visited upon Kelsys and Shastaan. Raging with raw power, the uncontrollable energies of the vortex served as a reminder that disastrous consequences can await those who lusted for power beyond their mortal reach. Turbulent waters now wrack the eastern coast, their fury fueled by the towering vortex.
Bodies of both Kelki and Shastaani began washing ashore shortly after the carnage, many of them mutilated by the elemental vortex. Two notable corpses amongst the mass of cadavers were that of Saayar and Ireia - the two Spellshapers most responsible for the disaster that had occurred. As more victims washed ashore, one coughed and stirred, rising frantically to his feet with a wild expression. He was the harbinger of an even greater terror to come.
As if compelled by some powerful presence, the deranged man began heralding the arrival of one known as the "Almighty Kerrithrim". As he raved, he suddenly threw back his head to laugh with a terrible madness, before collapsing into the sand; the psychic force exerting itself upon him taking its toll.
An ominous silence descended over the area as the observers considered what they had just witnessed, broken only by the roaring of the elemental vortex. However, their moment of contemplation was soon broken. A towering monstrosity rose out of the ocean amid the vortex, a multitude of glowing red eyes the only colour upon its black, humanoid body. Masses of tentacles hung down from its oversized head, strands of seaweed tangled among them. Raising a mighty foot, the beast began to crash towards the shore.
Many foolish mortals flocked to Shastaan as the creature approached, hoping to better observe the foreign creature. The Almighty Kerrithrim paused, looking down at the mortals from a vast height. Then, its red eyes flared with a volcanic light that swept over the crowd; incinerating all who stood assembled in one deadly strike. Parasitic creatures called Thrim dropped off the monster's great body and started tearing across the area, latching onto mortals and bending them to their will. The two-mile high Kerrithrim swept its gaze across the land, seeking a target for its rampant destruction. As the glittering city of Enorian caught its attention, the Kerrithrim advanced southwards, each powerful stride quaking the land.
As the Almighty Kerrithrim loomed over the city walls, the metallic voice of the God of Valour resonated across the land, "Courage, Enorian! Steel yourselves, and meet this threat with Honour!" The abomination looked up in surprise to see Lord Arion racing across the clouds upon the back of His noble steed, Azaliel. "This... creature is one most unlike any I have seen, and experienced," observed the God, as He drew the Blade of Valour from its scabbard and held it poised above His head. Spurring Azaliel into a charge, the Lord of Battle yelled "I am your challenger, Monster!" and He thundered towards the great beast, which easily dwarfed the God with its colossal size.
The Almighty Kerrithrim shifted its stance to meet the God, raising its arms before its chest and poising its tentacles. As Arion rapidly approached the monster, tentacles lashed towards Him from all directions. The Blade of Valour strikes faster than is fathomable; its flurried strikes a series of blurs as the Lord of Battle fought to get past the enormous appendages. "Now fall, monster!" the Lord exclaimed triumphantly as He struck a brutal blow to the monstrosity's neck, nestled deep within the forest of tentacles.
As Arion emerged from the tangle once more, dripping in green ichor, He brought His valiant steed around to observe the damage done. The monster straightened up, green blood dripping from deep within its tentacles, as it turned its piercing gaze upon the God. Arion paused, tired; His features marked with uncertainty as the creature seemingly disregarded the lethal blow. With humbling realization that the monster He faced was stronger than He had initially thought, the Lord of Valor shouted, "I cannot defeat this foe! It was created to stand against Us!" as He prepared to spur His steed for another charge at the creature. As the God approached, the Almighty Kerrithrim swung a hand furiously at Him, sending both rider and steed flying into the Siroccian mountains.
Already weakened by His fight with the creature, Arion's essence was quickly diminishing by what seemed to be a casual attack by the Kerrithrim. Several of His followers immediately rushed towards the Siroccians to find the God, but could only stare with disbelief as the God of Valor faded from their very sight, leaving only His mangled armour and broken steed. Broken hearted, all they could do was mourn the passing of their Lord as Ravek, Phoenecia and Lycian carried the fallen God's armour, and His brave steed's body back toward Mostyn, the island that Arion called His own.
With the God of Valour now out of its way, the Almighty Kerrithrim turns its attention back to Enorian. As it advanced, the monster suddenly stumbled, instinctively raising a hand to the wound at its neck. Massive droplets of the beast's green blood splashed upon the ground, and it shot a sullen glare towards the Beacon of Light. With a last glance, the monstrosity retreated, leaving a trail of blood behind as it took mighty steps towards the ocean. Reaching the coast, the Almighty Kerrithrim strode into the turbulent waters, gradually sinking out of sight.
At last, Sapience breathed a collective sigh of relief. The threat, for now, had passed.
The Devouring
For two months, an uneasy wariness fell over both the mortals and Divine of Sapience alike, as they waited for the inevitable return of the Almighty Kerrithrim. Deep beneath the ocean, the monster slept as it recovered the minor wound it received from the fallen God, Arion, during their quick battle.
As if to mock the God of Valour, the Almighty Kerrithrim returned one night in the middle of spring - the month of Arios. Emerging from the ocean near Shastaan, the beast's great bulk left only a dazzling corona visible from the bright display of the elemental vortex. Yet again, the Kerrithrim advanced upon Sapience.
With epic strides, the Almighty Kerrithrim crossed the Siroccian mountains easily, coming to a pause before the Tower of Artifice. Its red eyes glared disdainfully at the structure, and with one mighty swat it destroyed the building completely. Barely sparing the Tower a second glance, the monster moved onwards, crossing the Siroccian ranges.
Its destructive path through Sapience continued until it eventually reached the edges of the great Ithmian forests. The Abyssal Horror swept its gaze over the extensive range of canopies, eerily still as it seemed to contemplate the wilderness before it. Red eyes flaring with incomprehensible anger, the Almighty Kerrithrim stomped a foot down in the middle of the Western Ithmia. Trees splintered and exploded as a giant shockwave swept through the area, leaving naught but a massive, gaping black pit of indiscernible depth in its wake.
As the monster paused to observe its destruction, a trail of green ichor dripped down from the under its tentacles, hinting at a still-open wound out of obvious sight. The Almighty Kerrithrim turned away from the burning forest and started striding back towards the ocean near Shastaan to finish recuperating the injury received from the God of Valour, Arion.
Nearing the coast, the great monstrosity was suddenly confronted by a Goddess - Khepri, the Seething Chaos. Currents of chaotic energies flowed erratically about Her form as She hovered before the monster, which towered over the Goddess. Momentarily surprised, the Almighty Kerrithrim was forced into stillness as Khepri raised a hand. Smiling, the Goddess gestured downwards with the hand, commanding "Sit! You are of My domain, Harbinger of Chaos." The creature simply stared at the Seething Chaos in abject confusion, before taking a step towards Her.
Ire marked the Goddess' features as She demanded once more, "SIT! Together as one force of Chaos We shall consume this world!" Her voice faltered slightly, and became trill as the monster loomed over Her. Looking up into the Almighty Kerrithrim's piercing red gaze, Khepri took a small step backwards and attempted to demand once more "SI-" but was cut short as a monstrous hand shot out to grab Her in a powerful grip.
Shrieking with rage, the Goddess yelled, "Unhand Me, and heed My offer, Almighty Kerrithrim! You do not comprehend what I am saying to you, proposing to you!" Her words were ignored as the Almighty Kerrithrim slowly rose its hand towards its maw. Screaming, Khepri attempted to break free of the beast's fist, but Her struggle was futile. The Kerrithrim's great maw opened, saliva splashing far away to the ground, and jagged, triangular teeth were seen to await the Goddess. Then, with utter lack of ceremony, the Goddess was shoved inside the Almighty Kerrithrim's mouth, and with grim, abrupt finality the great maw shut. Lady Khepri screamed no more. Followers of Khepri shouted in rage at the death of their Goddess, but were forced to watch helplessly as the Kerrithrim walked once more into the sea to rest and recover.
Once more, Sapience was spared the full wrath of the Almighty Kerrithrim - but many began to wonder if they would be so lucky the next time beast awakens. As such, many plans were proposed and arguments broke out over what chance any mortal stood against such a Godkiller. Eventually, Corporal Cazin of the Enorian Army proposed what some called "a suicidal plan" - use catapults to launch mortals at the beast and attempt to find a weak point. Cazin called an old engineer friend, Rhulin, out of retirement to assist with building the catapults. Grumbling the entire time, Rhulin worked diligently to construct the catapults as others helped him by supplying the resources needed. Meanwhile, over in Spinesreach, Severn, the Manipulator, was busy formulating His own machinations. He ordered the city to begin recruiting more troops to use against the Kerrithrim when it next arose, to serve as a distraction while He carried out His plan.
Leaders of the five major cities met with each other, discussing tentative alliances for the purpose of turning the Almighty Kerrithrim back. Enorian and Spinesreach were quick to form an alliance, with Ashtan, Duiran and Bloodloch eventually deciding to join. However, as Villi Selannor, the Ard-Dhasani of Spinesreach, calculated the number of their combined armies, she had doubts. They did not have near enough men to stand any sort of chance of distracting the abomination while mortals tried to scale it and Severn executed His scheme.
With the aid of Dhasan Elene Arcan, Villi set off on a diplomatic mission to the various villages and communes of Sapience. Together, the two utilized various methods such as bribery, flattery and the promise of favours to add more to the alliance's forces: fifty Trolls from Hashan, thirty illusionists from the Mit'olk, twenty-five necromantic students from Tasur'ke, thirty bandits from Three Rock, one hundred and fifty orcs and ogres from the Barony of Dun Valley, and seventy of General Xaeon's goblins from Azdun. The idea was not lost on Enorian, as Kylan D'ashil and Edhain de Verdigris also sought the assistance of various places, eventually managing to acquire forty of Gladius' finest Red Knights and twenty-five mages from the settlement of Salma.
The Almighty Kerrithrim continued its slumber. All knew it was only a matter of time until it awakened yet again - but the next time, Sapience was ready.
The Alliance
Silence. Apprehension. All within Sapience held their breaths, as the surface of the ocean rippled beside the now eradicated Shastaan. The Kerrithrim had come once more, as if the very ocean itself had conceived the creature. Slowly, but steadily, the monster rose and rose, as it took heavy steps towards the shoreline. Its form once more dominated its surroundings, as the creature came to its full height to tower over the land.
Panicking, the dwarven engineer, Rhulin immediately yelled for the immediate retrieval of the catapults. Voice tight with panic and hands trembling from anticipation, the engineer quickly began a hurried lesson on the usage of the catapults. Many came, and started to move the catapults toward the Kerrithrim, but it was Severn, the Manipulator who acted first against the Abyssal Horror. As if in waiting, shadows surrounding the Kerrithrim quickly wrapped around the creature as it stepped upon the shore, in attempt to impede its progress. His attack incomplete, shadows began to recede from the entire realm, as the Manipulator began to draw His power together for His next barrage. In response to the quick action of the Manipulator and in attempt to impede the Kerrithrim's seemingly unstoppable path of rampage, the Earthen Lord, Ivoln, tore the Raphaelan highway in two, creating what appeared to be a bottomless pit.
However, it was the cloud of dust from the Earthen Lord's destruction of the highway that obscured and enraged the Kerrithrim, as it came to pass over Shastaan, causing the creature to swat at the dust and debris to no effect. Its effect was only momentary, however, for the soon the Kerrithrim began to stride through it. As the monstrous creature arrived beside the Raphaelan Highway, drops of its blood from the grievous wound struck by the God of Valour marred the landscape beneath, dripping from its tentacles.
In its pause, a roiling mass of thunderclouds quickly converged around the Kerrithrim, bolts of lightning arcing towards like cracked whips, tearing the ground asunder wherever they struck. It was not long before the clouds parted to reveal the sight of a mysterious Goddess, wreathed by wisps of air and water. Calling out towards the creature, the Goddess enthused the Kerrithrim to cease its attacks, for She was its Master. As she descended to her beloved pet, the monstrosity responded in kind, sending a tentacle to caress its master in affection. The contact, however, proved a dangerous mistake; for as the Almighty Kerrithrim touched the Goddess, it immediately began to try crushing the Goddess' arm. Shrieking loudly in pain, the Goddess' form began to waver, and suddenly the ripple of shadows gives way to reveal the form of the Manipulator.
With grim resolution, the God summoned His Blade of Artifice to hack away at His arm to free Himself, before immediately retreating; shadows trailing behind His path. Blade still steady within His remaining arm, the Manipulator tore asunder the very fabric of reality, creating a rift into the Shadow Plane. As He stepped through the Rift, the God turned to give a fateful glance toward the monster and one of the fists of the Abyssal Horror struck at the deity; sending His crumpled form flying through the rift as a stream of pure white essence sped away from it.
In the meantime, those who manned the catapults positioned the bulky equipment beside Delos, ready to strike at the creature. However, as the operators of the catapult began to fire brave combatants haplessly onto the Raphaelan Highway instead of the Kerrithrim, Rhulin was forced to return and give yet another hurried lecture.
As the mortals once more began to aim for the body of the creature, however, the Lady Dreamer began Her attack too. The Goddess Omei materialized in midair, though it wavered uncertainly as She began Her charge in the form of a Rajamalan Huntress. As she neared the abyssal creature, Her appearance shifted and boiled, morphing into various creatures both known and unknown, before striking into the Kerrithrim in a guise not unlike its own. The creature, however, was unfazed by the Goddess' attack, and responded in kind with an angry, yet careless strike. The creature's fist collided with the Dreamer with such force that Her very form dissolved into an immeasurable mass of moths, before descending upon the Ithmia.
Next to respond to the threat of the creature was the God of Death Himself, calling at the Kerrithrim to face its judgment for its crimes. Without hesitation or apprehension, Dhar raised His gloved hands up towards the sky, calling forth a pillar of white flame to singe the giant hulking form of the seemingly indomitable Kerrithrim. The pain such that it could not endure, the Kerrithrim's cry echoed throughout Sapience, resounding almost deafeningly as the monster transformed its pain into rage, and lashed out at the Underking. Though the God is able to avoid the agile attacks of the creature for a moment, a fateful strike at the back of the rapidly tiring God was enough to cause even Him to stagger in agony. Tendrils of essence pouring from the ashen wound, the flames over the Abyssal Horror began to extinguish, having lost its source of power.
Sensing its upper hand over the fallen God, the Kerrithrim immediately raised its gargantuan foot in attempt to crush the Underking, but in a moment of desperation, the God struck at the earth beneath Him, tearing the land asunder with a flash of blinding light. From within the rift, thousands of translucent forms of varying shapes and sizes began to flow out, collecting into a single unified force before closing into the Kerrithrim with blinding speed. Souls from the Underworld, they were able to momentarily stun the Kerrithrim, as the Underking threw Himself through His created rift, sealing it behind Him. The souls dissipated soon after, leaving the Kerrithrim unopposed once more.
Without ado, a tumescent glimmer in the distant horizon preceded the arrival of the Sky God Galleus, clutching the staff of the Triptych Lemniscate. With one powerful movement, the Sky Sovereign hurled His staff at the Kerrithrim, spinning in extreme speed as it neared the giant form of the Kerrithrim. The Kerrithrim did not deem the attack as remotely dangerous, as with indifference, it simply swatted the projectile away, and struck at the God from its great distance away. The lash connected with Galleus' face, it tore out His eye, causing the Sky Sovereign to scream in pain as mercurial blood streamed out from the deep gash. Filled with abject pain and unfamiliar blindness, the God conjured spiraling torrents of wind that churned the earth beneath Him ineffectually. A churning in the deep belly of the Horror gripped the God's now empty gaze only for a moment, causing the God to retreat hastily into the starscape before the Kerrithrim was able to strike once more.
However, more trials awaited the monster as the armies of various villages and towns amassed, to face the Kerrithrim in what seemed to be a suicidal march. From the necromancers of Tasur'ke, to the Nazetu of Bloodloch, and to the bandits of Three Rock, everyone in Sapience united to face the creature, in attempt to stave off its destruction as the brave fighters launched themselves at the Kerrithrim's body. There, they faced hundreds of the mind-controlling Thrim, latching themselves at whoever was closest and turning allies into enemies. The group of attackers persevered, however; managing to drive the Thrim and those controlled by it back, coming to the grievous wound left by the fallen God of Valour. It was there that the attackers reopened the wound, and through that, entered the very body of the foul creature itself, to strike at where it was truly vulnerable - its great heart.
Before long, jade-tinged clouds began to form over the giant Kerrithrim, the form of the Goddess Chakrasul barely visible within its mass. Heavy acidic rain began falling from the jade clouds to descend upon the creature, causing it to shudder and utter a chilling cry that echoed throughout Sapience once more. Before the Kerrithrim could retaliate, however, the Goddess called forth seeds of Corruption from the Nazetu troops of Bloodloch, sending them spiralling downwards towards the Kerrithrim and causing it to stumble further. Angered, the Kerrithrim turned its attention towards the Nazetu. Intervening, the Goddess Iosyne appeared with a flash of light, speaking words of lost tongue that seemed to agitate the Kerrithrim, distracting it from attacking the troops.
Throughout the Pantheon's relentless attacks on the Kerrithrim, however, the attackers within the creature's body cleft and hewed their way first through the creature's esophagus, then into its intestinal tracts. From the gut of the creature, the attackers found themselves fighting hordes upon hordes of the neverending Thrim, before the Blackwind Lieutenant Sryaen was able to cut through a vein to reveal the way to the heart of the great Kerrithrim. As they entered, the attackers were faced with a fierce Thrim resistance, overwhelming most that were there. It was the Dreadlord Missari and the Azudim Warlord Mazzion who were able to battle on, destroying the heart of the Kerrithrim in the process.
The effect was instantaneous - the Almighty Kerrithrim arched backwards in agony, a deafening roar escaping its gaping maw as the creature bent forward and vomited violently. Its green ichorous blood poured out from its mouth as it faltered, carrying with it the attackers within its body and depositing them onto the highway. The gargantuan form of the Kerrithrim began quaking in its pain and agony, sending both Thrim and attackers flying from its body. Toppling over, now weakened, the creature fell backwards into the crevasse that was once the Raphaelan Highway, its persistent roaring continuing as it fell through - and it is never heard to strike bottom.
Sapience breathed a sigh of relief, having finally felled the creature that had so devastated its landscape. However, it is not long before breaths are held once more, as a mottled, battered hand flies up from within the chasm, grabbing hold on the ledge. Deafening snarls echoed upward from the chasm and it was not long before yet another of the Kerrithrim's hands joined its struggle to climb up once more. Red light burst outward from the black recess and the monster levered itself upward, propping its form against the edge of the chasm on its elbows. Green blood streamed from the creature's broken face, many of its eyes put out by the fall.
Was the Kerrithrim truly so unstoppable? Was it truly so invincible? It began to drag itself onto the highway once more, dragging its way inch by laborious inch, before it collapsed onto the highway with a wet, ichor-like wheeze. Giving a final, vengeful glare, however, the Kerrithrim fell beside the chasm, and stirred no more.
At last, the Abyssal Horror was finally defeated, and no longer did it terrorize Sapience. The experience was not without effect, however, for now the mystery of whence the Kerrithrim came from has arisen. The question burned in the minds of many mortals, for whose form did the Manipulator assume, and why did the Goddess claim that the Kerrithrim was Her pet? What was conclusive, however, was that the arrival of the Kerrithrim has revealed to all within Sapience that there is still much to the world that is unknown to mortal mind.