Five hundred and eighty five times he paced the way

Under each circuit was a world

He took up the worlds, he placed them in his hand, he weighed them

From the Golden Amputation to the Gift Mast


The principle he put upon his brow was slaughter

constant and escalating

The principle he put behind his eyes was victory

which is the last true shape

The principle he put into his hands was tribute —

to Oryx, King of Taking

Tithing to his Lord, that the First Navigator might escape

the need to kill for subsistence, the worm need

That He might use His power to lead the final work

A most faithful servant. Most faithful.


From mighty Crota, Son of Navigation, Sword of Pits,

He learned to make his Oversoul

Saying: challenge me, by the law of my ascendance

Match me in bloodshed

Or in blood be drowned