Born of gold and forged in steel

his destiny is set in stone

for though he stands at Emperor's heel

his true path will be walked alone.

- Quatrain MXXXII, The Verses of Magnora

 

The ignorant masses may be asking themselves now, "Who might it be that was born of gold and forged in steel whose destiny is set in stone?" History may have recorded him as a villain, and yet Ghani n'Rotri singularly possesses the attributes to make him worthy of admiration as a Magnagoran, his failing only that he was a plaything of the Fates instead of his own destiny.

 

The most common public record of Ghani n'Rotri is as chronicled by Lolly Pringle, a biased source from a furrikin undergoing a traumatic journey to Astral - who survived only thanks to those very same expedition members that he denigrated so harshly. While transformed by Kethuru much the same as Magnagora was - they were not bound under Kethuru's thrall, and it is ironic that their plan to ascend to Godhood, so hated by Lolly, was the best way to seal Kethuru away. Since that time in the histories, many from Magnagora have been risen as Ascendants both Vernal and True - although due to the Threshold Abyss none may reach true godhood, nevertheless, the fears of if they were to Ascend are unfounded.

 

For the most part in Lolly's chronicles, Ghani n'Rotri merely stands by the Emperor's heel, so let us now examine other sources to get an idea of the man himself.

 

Born of gold, the trill Ghani y'Bolgari did not seek artistic pursuits as his family is known for - instead he desired to be respected for his strength, confiding as such to Ninuth n'Kylbar. It is no wonder then that he married into the family of steel, taking to wife Lady Kirea n'Rotri and her family name. The details behind this marriage are not public knowledge, though Ninuth provides insight that it may have been politically motivated to soothe tensions between the families. At this time in Magnagora's history, marriages between members of the different noble houses were uncommon, especially for those bannered to rival Great Houses as n'Rotri were to y'Kylbar and y'Bolgari were to d'Murani. It is admirable, a man of noble blood - he sought to make a new name for himself, quite literally, and succeeded wildly. Nobody remembers the name Ghani y'Bolgari. He desired to be valued for his strength and he made it so despite his birth.

 

In the time before Project Cosmic Hope - Ghani was the High Prophet of the House of Prophets, and the youngest to obtain that position. He was noted as both ambitious and brilliant by Ninuth n'Kylbar, and before the launching of Project Cosmic Hope he was in frequent meetings in Celest - presumably working to secure his spot on the expedition, and while not publicly recorded one would also presume he was busy championing Magnagora as a launch point for the project itself - the results speak for themselves as he was both a member of the expedition and Magnagora was selected as the launch point. While some may claim the taint and transformation of Magnagora is a point against Ghani n'Rotri, we now can embrace the painful rebirth that forged the great city into the Engine of Transformation that it is today.

 

Many in Magnagora opposed High Prophet Ghani, most notably a group known as Magnora's Promise, who kept many of the prophecies regarding him safe for discovery later and attempted to use the information of his affair with Lady Narcissa d'Vanecu against him. Ghani outmaneuvered them deftly, as they resorted to sealing the prophecies to be found centuries later - unable to prevent Cosmic Hope, and with clippings to show their members dying under mysterious circumstances.

 

We have already discussed the Taint War immediately after Project Cosmic Hope, it is there where he falls off the history books for centuries, that is until he reappears ready to walk his own path.

 

Admirably having recruited a sect of people devoted to him with near cultish fever, he sent them to infiltrate each of the major cities where they gained the trust of the citizenry while working to further his agenda. Especially in Magnagora and the Society, this was a time of intrigue and misdirection, Sirsia Pois acting as both scientist and spymaster - creating a machine that was used to taint the Inner Sea itself, a truly marvelous feat! His ultimate goal, which he very nearly achieved were he not merely a plaything of the fates, was to become the Avatar of Kethuru the Almighty, building the Orrery on the Sphere of Ophiuchus. Despite failing at the endeavor and the ill-fated choice of aligning with Kethuru, one must admire the sheer audacity of the attempt - ambition unbounded. Unfortunately, he was fated to fail - meeting an end in his failed attempt at ascension.

 

So why have I chosen to immortalize Ghani n'Rotri, a man who seemingly was the villain at every turn and who failed at his ambitions, you may be asking? The answer is that despite all of this, he is the quintessential Magnagoran. The plaything of the fates, his destiny was preordained much as ours was - yet still, he fought it tooth and nail at every bend, reforging himself into the man he wanted to be, not what the Fates told him to be. He was brilliant, ambitious, clearly politically savvy, and strong. He had enemies at every turn along the way, sharpening the daggers from all sides, and yet he thwarted them all until the very end. Do not focus on his failure at the end, or whine about wanting to become Kethuru's Avatar. Instead, embrace the strength to fight against the Fates, and the audacity to reach for Godhood, despite what others may think or do to oppose you.