The Gods of Pegāna · Chapter
Of Skarl the Drummer explained
Skarl, created by Māna-Yood-Sushāī, makes a drum and beats it eternally, causing Māna to fall asleep.
What happens
Skarl, created by Māna-Yood-Sushāī, makes a drum and beats it eternally, causing Māna to fall asleep. The drumming sustains the worlds and gods; if Skarl stops, Māna will awaken and all will end. When the final cessation comes, Skarl will walk into the void, his purpose fulfilled.
Themes in this chapter
Cosmic Cycles and Creation
The drumming of Skarl maintains the cycle of existence; its cessation will bring about the end of worlds and gods.
Time and Inevitable Decay
Skarl's weary arm and the eventual end of his drumming underscore the inevitable decay and conclusion of all things.
Characters to notice
- Māna-Yood-Sushāī
Made the gods and Skarl, then fell asleep due to Skarl's drumming; his rest sustains existence.
- Skarl
The drummer who beats eternally to keep Māna asleep and the worlds going; his eventual cessation will end all.
Key passages
“Some say that the Worlds and the Suns are but the echoes of the drumming of Skarl, and others say that they be dreams that arise in the mind of Māna because of the drumming of Skarl, as one may dream whose rest is troubled by sound of song, but none knoweth, for who hath heard the voice of Māna-Yood-Sushāī , or who hath seen his drummer?”
Some believe the worlds and suns are echoes of Skarl's drum, others that they are dreams in Māna's mind stirred by the drumming, like a sleeper troubled by music—but no one truly knows, for no one has heard Māna or seen his drummer.
Highlights the mystery of creation and the limits of knowledge.
“But, when at the last the arm of Skarl shall cease to beat his drum, silence shall startle Pegāna like thunder in a cave, and Māna-Yood-Sushāī shall cease to rest.”
When Skarl's arm finally stops drumming, silence will shock Pegāna like thunder in a cave, and Māna will wake from his rest.
Foreshadows the apocalyptic end of the gods and worlds.