Toward the end of a High, strains begin to show: ■ The elder Nomads, now appearing less cautious than reactionary, begin impeding the Heroes’ expanding ambitions. ■ The midlife Heroes, now filled with the hubris of power, grow impatient to lead society toward ever-grander worldly constructions. ■ The young-adult Artists, now chafing at an unfulfilling helpmate’s role, yearn to break away and take down social barriers. ■ The child Prophets, indulged by adults who are confident in their future, begin sensing a dire spiritual void at the heart of the Heroes’ secular order.
