Akkh'gherr

Akkh'gherr
Status Information
Status	Unknown
Home Reality	Original Universe

"Those waters do not abide by the laws you know."

―Lord Void

Akkh'gherr was a nightmarish planetoid at the edge of the universe that was home to the domain of Bour.

Description

Akkh'gherr was an inhospitable planetoid that was home to a midnight blue-colored ocean that did not seem to abide by conventional water physics: the human Aeturnus was able to breathe its waters, and any feelings of atmospheric pressure seemed to be nonexistent even when submerged far below the surface. The ocean contained a deep trench that was inhabited by a species of 'vile crustaceans' which were larger than humans and lived in cities built into the sides of the trench. This species was seen to cluster around abstract, warped idols that radiated stifling heat and sickly green lights. Other types of creatures lived even further down in the domain of Bour on the other side of the abyss. These creatures were half-formed, pitch black-colored, mindless monstrosities whose size could even dwarf whales, but were capable of little other than acting on violent impulses against visitors to Bour's domain.

The surface of Akkh'gherr was home to several gray, stormy, mountainous islands that were inhabited by an unseen civilization.

History

In 150,081 CMT, Lord Void informed Aeturnus and Nabonidus that he would be sending them to meet with one of his generals deep in the ocean of Akkh'gherr, though he reassured Aeturnus that he would not drown there because the waters of Akkh'gherr did not abide by the water physics that he was familiar with. A portal that Void had created then sucked Aeturnus and Nabonidus in and transported them both to the planetoid, depositing them in an area of the ocean that was far below the surface but just above a massive abyss. Aeturnus assumed that Lord Void was keeping them both alive in the ocean with his powers, but Nabonidus replied that the properties of the ocean were "not Lord Void's doing". As the two travellers swam downwards into the abyss, passing a myriad of aquatic cities inhabited by twisted crustaceans, Nabonidus revealed that the abyss was the entryway to the domain of Bour, Lord Void's General of Power who could help Aeturnus to achieve his goal of becoming powerful enough to defeat Blackout. However, Nabonidus warned Aeturnus that this power would drive him insane, albeit temporarily, meaning that he would have to hold onto his identity with all his strength in order to emerge from the process intact. Nabonidus gave Aeturnus the choice to return home, but Aeturnus chose to proceed, so Nabonidus led the human deeper into the abyss.

Though Aeturnus was alarmed by some movement in the shadows, Nabonidus reassured him that none of Akkh'gherr's creatures could harm him while he was present, generating a forcefield around Aeturnus and himself. Three creatures who interpreted this statement as a challenge lunged towards the travellers, only to be eviscerated on contact with Nabonidus's forcefield, with a huge chunk of flesh being burned out of a massive fourth creature that also came too close. As Nabonidus formed a pair of flames to illuminate the area, the travellers found themselves arriving at the throne of Bour, a massive, formless black entity. When Nabonidus informed Bour that he had decided that Aeturnus should receive Bour's blessing, Bour chastised Nabonidus for recruiting another human commander, though he did ask Aeturnus what he thought of the situation. Aeturnus quipped that Bour could probably read his thoughts without needing to ask, but Bour replied that he could not look into minds without damaging them. When Bour asked Aeturnus what he thought power should be used for, Aeturnus replied that power was only ever useful for accumulating more power, but that the hunger for power was in his nature, and he would follow the Nightmares to Hell if it meant being true to himself. Satisfied, Bour imparted some of his power onto Aeturnus, starting the transformation process.

After suffering through a multitude of nightmarish visions, Aeturnus emerged from the experience a changed man, with a clear vision of what to do next in addition to a new supernatural power. At Bour's behest, Aeturnus demonstrated his new power by walking into a dark corner, which he could now see perfectly due to an enhancement to his vision. By picking up a rock, Aeturnus also discovered that he could now handle different weights absolutely perfectly with no loss of balance, giving him pinpoint accuracy with his weapons. Bour recognized the power as one that a previous recipient had named "Battle Tendency", so Aeturnus renamed it "Bellum Tendit" by the tongue of his forefathers. When Aeturnus asked Bour what he wanted from him in return, Bour merely replied that he wanted Aeturnus to stay true to himself and to use his power as he saw fit, as long as he did not turn into a mindless monster like the creatures seen swarming around his lair. Bour then granted Aeturnus and Nabonidus permission to leave, so Nabonidus teleported Aeturnus and himself to the surface of Akkh'gherr, where they floated above the waves in another one of Nabonidus's forcefields. After some deliberation, Aeturnus asked to be taken back to his brethren, so Nabonidus teleported him to a League of Oblivion encampment where most of his old acquaintances had settled.