Light dies as day is done,
Brilliance fading with the setting sun.
As though a solemn closing rose,
The morning jewel sets that once had rose.
Something falls to the ground, wriggling. It seems that the poet responsible for the last bit of verse has been sacked! You let him out of the bag and he scampers off, tugging at his thick white whiskers.
Then the sun sets.
Though it is dark you see something white and rising over what had been plaid hills, a roar in the ear, a faint scent of smoke.
It's Batman!
It's a plane!
It's a bird!
In the moon's cold halogen light, a silvery avian flies over the mountains. Its wings seem to be made of metal, though you can also see blinking red lights grafted onto the end of its feathers and the distinct bulge of jet engines tucked close to its massive body.
It has the heavy beak of a bird that cracks Brazil nuts, a steel-plated macaw with artillery mounted in its tailfeathers.
It is coming closer, and there is nothing you can do. You stand captivated in its long, lean shadow, and as it turns in for an approach you can see every detail of low-slung body, mirrored eyes, and the giant fish it holds in its talons.
As its mighty wings flap, feathers fly into the air. One impales the fleeing poet. He lies pinned to the floor, seeping blood and slant rhyme but seemingly unable to die.
The bird drops its burden and wheels away majestically. As the wriggling trout falls like a stone, the booming voice says
GlyphGryph, what have you done with your brothers? Now we are all sons of bitches.
"I am not my brothers' keeper," he says. His voice is calm and cold.
A vast flash, greater than any sun you have known or ever will see again, lights what remains of the quiet secret world you have come to consider home. No more houses. No more people. Nothing but GlyphGryph, and his crown of stars.
=============
GlyphGryph has won!
GlyphGryph is Provost Zakharov, megalomaniac and world leader. Since only he is alive, his win condition has been fulfilled.
Vector was Mao Zedong, innocent and world leader.
Neruz was Vanilla Townie, scum.
Zai was Mariusz Wodzicki, scum and mathematician/Secret world leader.
Nirur Torir was M. C. Escher, innocent and artist.
LASD was Pál Erdos, innocent and mathematician.