Shiva

393 AC - Maw returns to its shell and shakes its rings defiantly. Freed from its clutches, I summon Shiva to protect myself from Kali. Only certain Initiates are allowed to summon her. But that doesn't stop the Initiate from walking towards us. I glance at Maw. I've never felt him so defensive. And for good reason. The man in front of us doesn't seem to fear the power of my Eidolon in the slightest. With a blink, he could destroy the vessel we're on. With a blink, he could conjure oblivion. When he's only a few steps away, the mage stops and raises his hands to show no aggression.

I look at the chains linking him to his Eidolon and clench my teeth as I realize how he summoned the goddess. He didn't gain permission; he used enslavement. The realization fills me with disgust, not only at what he did but also at my own situation. Who is he? How can this simple mage stand toe-to-toe with an Exalt? Has he worked out what Maw is? The Chimaera is indeed hesitant. It's poised to pounce on the mage, but something is holding it back. Is it fear? My stomach churns as my mind turns over a strange dilemma. Which side should I take? Should I stick with my jailer, or side with this masked individual? Is this my chance to be free?

The Hindu deity Shiva is the god of destruction, ignorance and illusion. He is also the preserver, concealer and revealer. Alongside Vishnu and Brahma, he is one of the three primordial deities. Though he represents destruction, the aim of that destruction is ultimately renewal. He is often depicted with half-closed eyes because he opens them to create the world, then closes them to return it to nothingness.

LINDIWE