Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and all characters from the shows are the property of Joss Whedon and Fox. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms.
I've been a servant of Balance for as long as I can remember. But I've always known it was ultimately futile. When the time came, the Great Old Ones would awaken and the Outer Gods would return from beyond. And the Earth would be swept clean of humanity. And of most of the demons that dwell here now. The End Times were coming and the signs indicated they were coming soon. Other powers might try to stop this. Nodens recovers his Silver Hand amulet and begins to wield it. The Dragon King awakens and rallies his order of vampire knights. And N'tse-Kaambl creates two more of her walking weapons, the Shatterers. But ultimately none of this matters. When the stars are right, the world ends. But now I sense something I never expected to feel. From sunken R'lyeh to the Severn Labyrinth. From the Bottomless Chasm to the frozen Arctic. An undercurrent of fear from the sleeping gods. Fear that there might not be a place for them when they do fully awaken. There's this little group of humans in Sunnydale. There's always been an air of destiny around them. But they didn't attract the notice of the sleeping gods until very recently. They defeated Glorificus but she was only a minor deity and off of her home ground. And the Sword of Abraham is a powerful magic sword, but still a sword. Even when it is wielded by a Slayer. Even when that Slayer is Buffy Summers. And they might defeat this avatar or that one but they always had help. And Willow might grow in power but she was still just a human. But then Willow summoned the Hunter of Souls. One of the Great Old Ones. And drained him to save her friend. Destroyed him utterly. Almost by herself. Even the sleeping gods couldn't ignore that. Power. Willow brims with it. I never expected to see that level of power in a human. And she has powerful friends and allies as well. Including the wielders of three legendary weapons. And Buffy is a force in her own right. And a magnet for destiny. Then there's the demon Morningstar. He's been helping Willow for months. Pushing her to new heights. Did he know how powerful she would become? Perhaps he did. He's always wanted a weapon against those from beyond. And she'll let him alone unless he threatens her or hers. Which he isn't likely to do. Morningstar will never be confused for benevolent, but he has a good instinct for self-preservation. And he may even genuinely like Willow. I'm beginning to feel a fragile hope. Hope that we might even survive what's coming. But the sleeping gods are intent on forcing their way through. Right now when the stars are almost right. Before Willow can fully come into her power. And I can't help wondering what frightened gods might be capable of. Or how Willow will handle her power if she does survive.