The Spirarch

The Spirarch
"We rise together."
Origin	Light
Titles	The Spirarch The Mediator That-Which-Binds
Names	The Martinet
Aspects
Date of arrival	428 B.C.E.
Owner(s)	Lyrositor

The Spirarch, also known as the Mediator and That-Which-Binds, is one of the Hours of the Second Fansus, created by Lyrositor. She was the first God-From-Light, to descend from the Glory, arriving shortly after the Mother Bear's awakening. Her primary aspect is Forge, with secondary aspects of Lantern and Knock. She seeks to this day to unite the Glory and the Ground, as she did when she first emerged.

The Spirarch busies herself with bonding and agreements of all kind, preferably their establishment but also, when required, their rupture. She abhors endings, choosing instead to improve that which works and to repurpose that which does not. She is not an unkind Hour, and will advise those in need, but in exchange requires adherence to the paths she has laid out. Those who fail her or, worse, renege on their agreements are always given one more chance, no matter how heinous the offence; those who fail to redeem themselves will be made to do the Spirarch's bidding, one way or another.

Her sole Name, the Martinet, acts as her agent in the Histories, though she retains only nominal control over it nowadays. The Martinet attempted an ascension to Hourhood once, but was rebuffed by the Spirarch, who bound her with the threads of the Histories as punishment. Never again will she rise.

Description

Appearance

FNORD: Upside-down tree descending from the Glory and attached to the Mansus, forming the Arbory section. A small bird the size of a sparrow is attached to it, with its wings and legs always tangled up in its branches, and flies through the Arbory but never beyond. It is unclear whether the bird is part of the Spirarch, whether it is the Spirarch and the tree is simply an extension, or whether the bird is an emanation of it. Either way, the bird speaks with the Spirarch's voice.

Relationships

• The Die-Cutter: While the Spirarch holds nothing but contempt for the Die-Cutter's promotion of gambling, she has sometimes found herself needing its assistance when her best laid plans failed. She respects its power, if not its methods.
• The Mother Bear: The first Hour the Spirarch met was the Bear, and their relationship has since been a genial, if largely uneventful one. They appreciate and respect each other, and are content to go about their respective business. The Spirarch only wishes she could change its mind more often.
• The Succulent Glow: While she is conflicted in her view of the Glow, ultimately the Spirarch pities it more than anything else, along with those who hide beneath its cap. She sees it as living proof of what can happen when her paths are not followed and still hopes one day to "heal" it.
• The Shambling Dawn:
• The Monument: The Spirarch has had few opportunities to interact with the Monument, but though it admires its willpower and ambition, it considers them tragically misdirected towards a past that is now irrelevant.
• The Cub:
• The Worm Funktastic: The Spirarch does not understand the funkiness of the Worm, but she has decided she does not like it. The Unending Worm appears to appreciate it, however, which goes some way to raise her opinion of it.
• The Rotted Ox: Everything about the Ox is repulsive to the Spirarch, who has no desire to conduct any business with it as a result.
• The Unending Worm: Of all the Hours, the Spirarch feels closest in kin to the Worm, though it comes from a diametrically opposed place and they are the furthest apart physically. It understands its yearning, and though its own ambitions are not quite as all-consuming, it empathizes with it. She will not be satisfied until they have met. Rumors of a romantic interest have been greatly exaggerated.