... Continued:

A terrified shriek from the outer limits of the Garden pierced the solemnity of the proceedings, a heavy tread shuddered the masonry beneath the audience's feet.

Suddenly, one of the Demigods charged with keeping guard of the Gates burst forth and the Great DwarfFather regarded him with an uncharacteristic frown.

A pregnant silence ensued, glances were shared between Brother and Sister about and across the Amphitheatre. Finally, the Smith nodded to the Demigod, who paled and disappeared with a blink.

Crown in hand, King Ugrach, Lord of the Underworld, faltered only slightly before his bound and defeated son. Kneeling humbly before the gathered Gods, he began to speak.

"Lords, Ladies of the Pantheon. I am here today as a father."

The stunned silence of Phaestus and the rest of the Gods bid Ugrach to continue.

In a small voice, words fell from the kneeling figure in an uncharacteristic tumble, "I have shaped many creations, but the Prince lives and is my son. He has been cast in many roles since his birth, many of his own devising, and he has initiated much. I do not apologise for nor excuse his actions."

The scornful timbre of Artemis' voice filled the Amphitheatre, "Does this ruler of Undeath seek to sway Gods?"

Met with silence, this question lingered in the uncomfortable air. Interrupting, Vastar queried, "If you do not wish to excuse or explain, what do you offer?"

More of a soft plea than any demand or request, the humbled King of Undeath bargained his own future for that of his son's. "Take from Slith your punishment, but not his life. Bind him in the Underworld, his childhood home so quickly outgrown and castoff for ambition. It is a cell for one of his desires. Place me in Thoth's halls."

Lord Aegis was the first to give any response, answering with a solemn salute. Subdued but clarion across a thousand regiments, Aegis declared that He too, was a Father. Materialising alongside His Brothers and Lorielan upon the western sand, He wordlessly announced His change of disposition.

With a dove-soft clap of Her immense wings, Valnurana offered no word or inclination as She departed to tend the Dream. Those gathered in the stands shifted in silence for what felt like an entire age. With His sumptuous and rich tones, Prospero took the helm, "It seems this unseemly business falls to My hands."

With a rub of His gilded hands, the Lord of Wealth drew out the terms for the most impactful bargain in recent history. "You will be our ally in this? You will give up the Underworld, your fortress, your vampires, to serve Us?"

Ugrach nodded, but the deal would not be set without a final collateral term. Should the handling of the Halls of Death or any of this arrangement go awry, both Ugrach and his son Slith would be summarily ended.

And so it was. "All this I do agree and swear, upon the Underworld, upon my son, and upon myself." spoke Ugrach.

This accord, however, did not save Slith the combined punishment of all Those seeking to destroy him. Every eye in the stands were upon the Smith as He announced the final tally on both sides of the sand.

In favour of killing Slith: The Ladies Artemis, Aurora, Gaia, and Ourania, and the Lords Deucalion, Scarlatti, and Twilight.

Those in favour of sparing Slith: Lords Aegis, Babel, Neraeos, Vastar, Prospero, Sartan, and Phaestus, and the Lady Lorielan.

Deeming Their wrath just, the DwarfFather announced that each of the Divine voting to end Slith would take Their turn at retribution...

Aurora reclaimed the small sliver of Light and Hope left within Slith and returned it to Creation, where it would serve to rectify in a small way all of the damage done. A tendril of Righteous Fire lashed forth from Deucalion, coiling around the collapsed form of the defeated Prince to scourge away the energies long-ago stolen from Pandemonium.

Tumultuous shard hail and fire-laden rock formed a blistering cyclone to envelope father and son at the behest of Artemis, Ugrach innately attempted to shield his nary-conscious son from the storm as, with a contemptuous utterance, She further bound Slith to his birthplace. Bid with words from a strange and primal tongue, Gaia summoned forth a great storm of thorns, rending flesh from bone as they scoured the pair.

A disembodied voice echoed across the sands and galleries observing, "A gift granted. Protection against those that would seek to displace you from your prison and your own poor judgement. An unbreakable tether, tightening with each step you take from your throne, inevitably returning you to where you belong."

Scarlatti produced a great and terrible dirge, the tones maddening as each crawled into the minds of the father and son, consuming, fragmenting, and tearing psyche asunder.

"That which fuelled your fall, clever ambition and selfish genius, I take from you. Never again will your mind have the capacity to rise above your station."

With a simple, neglectful gesture Ourania dismissed stars from the sky, each falling to darkness first in a fiery cascade, erasing the existence of Ugrach and Slith from the stars - never to be writ in the heavens again.

The last to exact revenge, the Dark Father's fingertips met the temples of Slith. The red gaze of the Prince's eyes turned black as he finally screamed himself into unconsciousness, utterly stricken by the combined might of Divine assault.

Gathering his son in his arms, Ugrach departed the Amphitheatre with the permission of the Smith, echoes of the historic accord ringing through the hushed tones of mortal whispers and speculation. For the first time since the beginning of the moot, Phaestus addressed the mortals assembled. "You were invited to this Moot of Gods to bear witness. As We each abide by the accord struck, so too will each of you. For your part in this, you have Our thanks. The mortal world and your lives await you now."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Summary: Ugrach arrived at the Gods Moot to plead for his son's life. Bargaining with Prospero to break the tie, it was agreed that Ugrach would take over the duty of Death in return for the survival of Slith. Those Gods who stood for the death of Slith were accorded the job of retribution.

Penned by My hand on the 16th of Chronos, in the year 717 AF.