I.

     The struggle was over, and he had lost.  Not for the first
time, mind you, or even the second.  No, this was his third loss,
and though his record remained impressive, it was an impossible
loss to deal with.
     "What happened," he thought, "How could I lose?  It was open
and shut, an easy victory.  Well now they are stuck with Reyler. 
It's not my damn problem anymore."
     Unfortunately for the rest of the world, the man, or rather
man-shaped creature, was correct in being depressed.  The trial
he had just lost would place a terrible entity in an extremely
powerful position.  The evil being he thought of, Reyler, was, in
the literal sense of the word, a demon.  Well, he was no longer a
demon, but now a god.
     While the loser, Kirig, sat staring blankly upward, the
newly reborn god laughed in his new heavenly home.  
     "What fools they all are," Reyler said to himself, "Shows
what overconfidence will do to any case.  They were amazed I even
got the nomination."
     Indeed the council was amazed, amazed any demon could even
be considered for the position left open by the heroic self
destruction of its previous holder.  Unfortunately for them
Reyler had been able to call upon old, virtually unbreakable
promises for favors in order to be given first nomination for the
council position.  No one even imagined he would get past the
trial phase, for his devious reputation was a well known one. 
While well known, it was also well deserved. Well deserved enough
to deceive even the infinite eyes of the high council despite the
incredible amount of evidence brought against him by his old
enemy Kirig.   He recalled how smoothly he spoke, how easily the
lies found their way into the minds of those said to be
omniscient.  Now it was over, for the moment he was judged fit
for his position as god of the Earth realm he had changed the
course of history for its inhabitants, who so arrogantly call
themselves human.

                                    II.

     Of course the self-sacrifice of the earth's major god, their
only high council member, went unknown to the small world's
inhabitants.  They did not even hear word of the colossal battle
by the high council to ensure the safety of the universe, or the
dread of the trial to find the successor to their former savior. 
No, the evidence reached these people in a far more subtle
manner.  
     It started with a few deaths.  First was the that of a very
old Pope.  Then came a well known Jewish Rabbi.  Then an Islamic
priest.  (Though the world's major religions refused to admit it,
they are were simply sects of worship of the same, now fallen,
divine entity.)  Soon faith in the god had broken down across the
world.  Most people simply did not seem to see the odd string of
deaths and resignations from religious positions as any sort of
sign of the death of their religion.
  Small cults appeared and disappeared faster then they ever had
before in the world's history.  Only one cult seemed to last more
then a few months, and this one was so small that they received a
minuscule amount of media coverage if at all.  This cult
worshipped a being who they called Reyler.   
     At the head of the cult stood the Great Emmisary, a man who,
before he decided that Reyler was his key to power, was called
Gregory Tramme.  He was a spectacular figure to behold with his
gray eyes, jet black hair, and nearly white skin.  He always
spoke in a soft, but very convincing tone.  The Emmisary had
found out about the Reyler cult just months before he took his
current office.  He had seen the band of twenty or thirty
wandering outside of a small Colorado town that he was making his
home in.  Eventually he visited their camp and secretly watched
as they held a religious ceremony.  
     It wasn't the technicalities of the faith, or the being
worshipped itself that fascinated Tramme, but rather the
fanatical devotion that the people seemed to display for their so
called god when that sort of zeal had been dead for what seemed
like years.  Tramme had always longed for power, but his horrible
social position as well as his isolation from any sort of power
base made his dream seem impossible.  He realized that those who
follow so fanatically would be the easiest to sway to him, if he
was careful about how he went about his convincing.  
     He joined the group as a mere follower at first, but then
through several actions "for the greatest good of Reyler" was
able to rise to be the only apprentice to their leader.  A well
placed dagger in the back of his teacher quickly landed him his
long hoped for position of power.  Little did he know how much
power though.

                                   III.

     Earth's old seat on the high council was, as far as most
gods are concerned, a very inactive one.  The god, who's original
name was Jevlahsu, had but a brief period of history where he
took any active part in the advancement of the world's dominant
species.  Reyler did not intend to follow his predecessor's way
of thinking.  The old demon had other, much grander, plans in his
twisted mind.  The first of which necessitated that he establish
himself quickly among the high council members.  He could not
afford to keep his old reputation, which was so advantageous as a
demon, any longer.
     Reyler's first action was to attempt to become friends, or
at least that's the closest human word for it, with the two
highest seats on the Council.  The first was a being by the name
of Trillyw.  He was the only original council member left.  Hid
form was  pristine, and all in his presence were visited by an
feeling of total comfort.  Reyler felt that he would be the
easier of the two, as Trillyw was generally  good natured and
trusting.
     It started at the first council meeting.  The highest of the
gods gathered around their giant table and began to discuss what
would be to humans the fate of the entire universe, but to them
it was merely minor details of some regular government process. 
Trillyw was a well respected member, but was known for his
inability to plan nearly as well as his actual actions
demonstrated.  As a consequence, the others thought of him as a
front line genius, but mostly useless in any sort of unseen
governmental strategies.  Of course Trillyw did not share these
opinions, and felt he, as a high seat, should have everything he
said at least considered.  Such an obvious flaw was the perfect
mechanism for Reyler to gain his desire.  
     The next meeting Reyler seized the opportunity when for the
next in an uncountable number of times Trillyw decided to make
known his opinions of the current establishment.  
     "We cannot afford to have anything outside of the council's
duristiction," stated Trillyw as the other members laughed at the
statement which broke the cardinal rule of council purity.
     Quickly Reyler spoke.  Hushing the crowd he said, "Our high
brother should not be taken so lightly by the new members.  You
may consider him to be a fool because he does not agree with your
ridiculously unfounded opinions of the purity of the
duristiction, but look what happened because of your wish for
purity.  The one among you who was perhaps the greatest died
simply because the council decided that they were to good to be
bothered governing the worlds of the Garren.  They weren't good
enough for your standards, but they were angry enough with you to
cause a major shaking in your ranks.  If it was not for the
breaking of this rule hundreds of cycles ago by the now gone
members of the council, the demons, the group from whence I
myself came, would be outlawed form sitting under council
duristiction.  Just think of what would have happened to all of
you had they not accepted Lucifer to be allowed to join.  Can you
imagine how he would have led the army of demons against you? 
Can you see how the very essence of the council would have been
decimated in order to make all your lives just a bit more
comfortable.  Well Jevlahsu is not very comfortable now, and it
is because you didn't want to listen to someone regarded by you
as a fool with government."
     The crowd stood awestruck that so new a member, and one not
trusted by many, would take such a radical view as far as the
governing of the realms of the council duristiction.  They
expected it of Trillyw, who always looked at things
simplistically, from a warrior's point of view, but to hear such
convincing, well thought out arguments form the mouth of someone
they thought would play no more than a minor role was
unthinkable.
     Reyler simply smiled.  He had won yet another battle, and he
knew it.

                          To be continued...

                          

                                P’üDRàâíï
                                 7þ14þ94
                               Guildmaster