"Hrm. 'The word for 'gods' in Select Artigas' native language, which originates from his home of a different world, is impossible to say or hear without becoming disoriented. The phenomenon did not replicate in the Select's homeworld, or for the common word spoken here, even after an explanation of the translation. The phenomenon also does not replicate for the Select himself, or anyone not granted a magical understanding of his language by a spell. Some theories have been suggested, such as a world-spanning interdict or decree, or some catastrophe or incursion relating to the gods of the Select's home—which unlike ours are not dead—but there is yet no substantive evidence for any theory over another.' Something like that."

"All right, perhaps I was reading too much into things, but - could you indulge me for a moment and tell me what you think it might have been like the week before the 'gods' died?"

...

"Yes, we were just talking about how they... I've never really thought about it. It's just known that they're dead."

"Yes, but in order to be dead, something has to have... been alive."

"That stands to reason. It's just—a silly question to theorize, I don't know. What if the sky were green?"

"Why is it silly?"

"...Because the gods are dead."

"They are now. Are you - not generally interested in history?"

"I don't read history books for fun, but... I suppose technically I'm not terribly interested in history. But putting it that way makes me seem incurious, and I don't consider myself incurious; and nor am I contemptuous of the study, of course! Certainly there are lessons to be learned in history, and great amounts of wisdom to draw from the past, even if it's not my field of expertise. My historian colleagues wouldn't describe me as 'not generally interested in history'... that makes me sound overly defensive, doesn't it."

He looks a little embarrassed.

"I'm not trying to criticize you, I'm just trying to compare - whatever other events might have happened unknown thousands of years ago - to the one that you said was silly."

"Other events that happened thousands of years ago, to... the death of the gods. Right."

Arxam makes a face.

"I... don't know what the difference is, but... the gods are—have always been—dead? As long as anyone knows?" He ends it as a bit of a question. "So it's a little incoherent to theorize about, well, what was the question again, how it was before they died? Who can say, really."

He shrugs, looking a bit unsure.

"But you agreed that they were not dead in the way you might say a rock was dead, but dead in a way that implies a life."

"Yes, so that implies, at some point, they were—in theory—living, and they died, and they're dead now, that's a fact." Arxam nods firmly. "But the question of how it was before they died, that's unknowable, isn't it? And of course an ancient time is very different, as all ancient times are, but... well, what are gods, really. 'How was it before sand was sand?' Presumably, the sand was some sort of rock, and an eon ago many features of the world are different. But it is a sort of pointless presupposition."

He looks very proud of having come up with the analogy.

"It's not unguessable. Golarion's... blickets... are mostly still alive."

"And that's interesting! I don't know if it reflects a lot... on..." He frowns. "I can see how there might be some historical interest, but... the gods aren't really studied. They're just sort of..."

He sort of blanks out for a moment.

"...dead."

"You're... skating off the concept again."

"Am I." He rubs his forehead. "That does explain why I'm feeling strange and tired. What's the trigger now?"

"Thinking about the 'gods' having once been alive."

"...The gods were... once alive," he repeats to himself carefully. "I... terribly unusual. I do think you're right. Is it—more progressive with—"

He shakes his head. His claws are trembling a bit as he tries to tidy his desk.

"Sorry, nervous habit. Ah. It's very curious, but who would go to so much trouble about a lot of dead things?"

"- my guess was that nobody did this on purpose and it was a consequence of the deaths, since comparable deaths on Golarion caused dramatic problems."

"Not a [Witch] or an [Emperor], but a death knell? It is hard to imagine anything so powerful as to evoke this, but if your gods can command souls across a world..."

He's beading with sweat.

"Do you feel all right? Share Language will last twenty-four hours, it would be no trouble if you wanted a break."

"I... that may be a good idea. Or perhaps we could talk about something else? I worry I'll dwell on it and aggravate myself. Or if you want to take an hour I can get started on that paper I've been meaning to get around to..."

"I can drop by the Watch and see if they want to buy some Lesser Restorations and come back after lunch."

"Yes, yes. I don't have obligations in the afternoon."

Drawer shuffling.

"I hope you know the way out?"