In Slane theocracy, the most popular belief is in the 6 great gods. Believed to be the strongest beings known in the world. Sadly all that remains after their great reign, is only one country, one religion, one weapon and promise of greater times. One would think that after the last of the great gods has been killed, those times may never come back. And to an extent, it's true. Prosperity has slowly declined across the known world, the Kingdom has been overtaken mostly by the nobles, Church is controlling any means of healing across the international trade, Empire of Baharuth went under reforms that in the end yielded great potential for change, but were quickly undermined by the needs of the few.
Far south of the Slane capital, was a small town called Diosa Erese, in ancient dialect meaning “Erased by Gods”. Partially true but not quite, indeed the town has been reformed under the rule of 6 great gods and yet the religion of the 6, has been rapidly going downhill with the amount of believing people. The townsfolk have been unsatisfied with the church, being so close to the wastelands caused them to harden their will and bodies too. But the church still is alive there, with few believers non the less.
The church that day was open to all, but only 3 people were inside with the exception of the cleric, in the far back of the holy place, was sitting an old man, with gray beard, and ruffled clothes, currently sleeping. Meanwhile, the cleric has been preaching the holy words of the gods. And just before him was kneeling a pair of humans, dressed in black and white, as if they were getting married.
-Reas von Meora. Do you take this woman for your wife? The only one you will ever love, cherish and stay with forever in health and in sickness so help you gods?
-I do.- he answered, wearing a beautiful tailored suit. His white face was so bland that one would mistake him for a clean peasant, but his eyes and hair gave a different tale. Blonde streaks of hair and blue gems in eye sockets shined with light given from the candles.
-Jhanna Misette. Do you take this man as your husband, protector, the only one you will ever love, in health and in sickness so help you god?
-I do.- gave her answer also the woman, with beautiful chestnut hair and eyes green or emerald shade. Her lips were plump and red, but what was on them was not lipstick but blood, probably her own.
-By the word of the holy, with the blessing of the everlasting gods. I dub thee, husband and wife. May the light of never ending prosperity always look out for your family. You may kiss each other.
The mass ended and the pair of birdies flew out of the front doors with the strength of a thousand suns, holding the fake flowers they'd been given by the cleric. Marriage in Slane was very common for the folk that had money for it, but in the secluded place of Diosa, it spawned some controversy.
-What are you two birds screeching about?- said a man drinking with his buddies outside the church in defiance of all commandments. Noticing they wore marriage clothes, he laughed under his breath and with a shaky stance walked over.-Marriage? Ptfoo. Those gods have abandoned us centuries ago, and yet there be some folk still kissin their asses.
-Watch your language, old man.- said Reas, with clear dominance over the situation.
-Beautiful wife ye got there, young bastard.-he took a swing with the clay bottle, to next see his hand cut clean off with a slash of Reas’s rapier.- AAAAAA!!! ME HAND! BASTA…- the next sound he made could not be recognised by anyone that had not heard man choking on his own blood as it gushed out of his artery. The man dropped dead, and the pair simply walked off.
Entering the tavern, the two had already changed beforehand in appropriate clothing, the man currently wearing light clothes made from thick hide, with chainmail underneath, rings on his fingers and a beautiful amulet resembling an eagle head on his neck.
The woman stayed close behind him, dressed in a long dark green dress, with gold ornaments and magical letters written all over the green background. On her head, a tiara was loosely sitting, clearly not made for her, but emanating a strong magical aura.
And yet, their attire was not what made all other customers stare and glare at them, it was their weapons. Woman having silver staff with 4 gems imbued in it at the top, while the man had a giant war axe on his back with runes written on it.
-The same as always?- asked the barkeep, being the only one of black ones around here, clearly happy to see them together again.
-No John, we need… this.-Reas looked at him with a stern look, seeing it, the bartender peeked at the bride. She nodded in approval.
-Well, suit yourself. I have three, one from La Valette, one from Sir Kassadin and the last one was recently posted by someone named Vincente.
-Kassadin is boring, as always. He does pay solid numbers though. La Valette… Ehh, you know her. You know what she wants.
-I know, and I can't, I’m married as of yesterday.
-Well then may your way be lightened by happiness! I’m sorry I didn't get you both anything.- he scratched his head a little embarrassed, after all he always knew what's going on in the town first.
-Don’t worry John, I’ll take the apology.- said Jhanna, smiling softly with her eyes closed but not all the way.
-Then for an apology, I’ll add 5 gold to the last job I have. This guy came here riding on a black mare, almost as if he tamed the Darkness herself. I couldn't recognise the weapon he had, but it looked expensive…
-Specifics, John.
-Right, he left this here.- The barkeep took out a piece of paper, but it was not the usual low grade paper for any wanted posters. It was pure white as if snow turned into thin sheets of unmelting air. On the paper was written something in an unknown language, but the picture painted on it represented one of the great gods, right under the picture was a number of 1000.
-So, this thousand… copper? Silver?- asked Reas with curiosity and yet suspicious.
-I can’t know, he didn't even say a word.
-Curious. So how are we supposed to find him?
-He rode back where he came from, towards the Capital.
At that point, it was clear, the man was not just anyone, he had wealth, and he had a goal. What this goal was, no one knew. That much information should have given them enough, but it was not.
-His looks? His style of clothing? Any guild symbols? Any noble crests?
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-He walked as if he was a cripple, prosthetic left arm, yellow eyes,black short hair. Thought he a demon or a cat. Arm looked wood to me, or maybe copper… No symbols. Well, one. But it did not give me anything. I can’t say I saw it anywhere.
-Sketch it.
He went to do just that, he took coal piece and sketched a big circle with thorns inside and a snake within it, that held a rose,
-Very… specific.
-I know, it’s bullshit.
-We’ll take the job, thanks John. You're the best.
-Stop it. Just paying my debt.
INTERLUDIUM
Time came to an end, only the void remained. Empty and greedy void that would consume anything entering. But when God spoke, the void filled to the brim with life. Planets awoken from their slumber, stars smashed together from the fabric of reality. Creatures of unfathomable intellect evolved into their final state. That is what one of the Great Gods preached. In the "Book of Eseiah", at the first page, in the first chapter.
And yet people do not believe. For how they can be sure something is watching over them. When horrible creatures walk the same earth as the God chosen.
Legend has it that at the edge of this realm, between the elements, was a place that no one ever saw with their own eyes. Watched over by lamp of eternal prosperity. That rumor spread like wildfire, for it said that the light of the lamp could banish any evil that spawned into this world.
So people ventured, some to their doom, others into eternal glory. Yet none found it. Slowly the legend turned into a myth that digested the minds of those filled with greed and those filled with hope alike.
Yet none found it.
But throughout the years. The legend never changed for how can you change something you can not understand…
"One of nine, stood in the line. At the 5th place in the order. The third one held a staff and he did not change or bother. The second had a string, and was 8th in the line. The fourth was filled with greed, so he did not stand behind. The fifth had a great urge to strangle the fourth one true. But the sixth standing before the first told him to stay put. The seventh was a man so pure, he let everyone before him, to get the cure. The next one and the last one argued to pass through. The first one did not like the ninth, so he let the 8th stand behind him soon. And so the order was settled, so the saying goes, if you try and disturb them, you will also fall. But light shows the way to only those who know."
To what this legend referred to no one knew, some thought to wealth, others to all doom. Yet it is still somehow, unchanged and still. Maybe at the edge of the world, where the elements collide with reality and state of the soul, is a place that holds the answer.
Space changed suddenly, with a little bending and waving, all that was before his eyes, turned to something completely different, the walls of his room, turned into scenery of wasteland and death, scorched earth from before 100 years and more, mixed with sand and gravel from ocean that was here millions of years ago. He looked around shocked, as if what he believed turned into crumbles and dust. He looked to the left, and saw scorched earth, he looked to the right, he in front of him was only the sight of sandy hills with rocks sticking out of them.
-What the fuck…This a dream? No… No, what the fuck. No… I was to be gone! WHY AM I NOT LOGGED OUT!?
The screaming inside his brain did not stop there. It continued. For minutes.
-I WANT OUT! PLEASE!
Rolling around on the dirt he realised he can't, the despair in his brain grew stronger and stronger. The memories of that fateful night, brought back by waves upon waves of self doubt and guilt, mixed with a pinch of anger.
-P-Please…
He cried out, but none came to answer. Finally when his thoughts reached the deepest of the depths. He got a horrible idea. He took a deep breath. Pulled out Fear if the Dark… and put to his fucking head.
-C'mon, like in the game. One, two… th-!
-Ahh, tsk tsk tsk, not the smartest idea my dear friend. The show must go on, why would we give it up at that point? So much to explore! So much art to spread!
-W-What? Wh-who? No… it's my brain… shut the fuck up…
-Oh, but I am very real. More real than you can imagine. In fact… Could you take me off the ground?
-What? No…- he looked at the only thing that was on the ground except himself and nearby rocks, his mask.- Bullshit.
-Well to you probably yes, it might even be, but let us not be hasteful and take one thing at a time, like in Ode to joy.
Ixlente looked at the mask for a solid, and very long second before reaching out for it. When he touched it, he widened his eyes.
-You're… alive? What?
He grabbed it firmly and looked at it from the front.
-Splendid, now that that's done, could you perhaps put down your gun?
-You are just in my head…
-I am or I am not, who knows. Now PUT DOWN THE GUN. Please.
And he did, the gun went to his belt as it should have been for a while now. He looked back at the still mask and blinked a lot of times.
-How… How are we still in the game?
-Ahh… Another mystery yet to be revealed, now tell me. Are you sure, this is still the game? As far as I am concerned. I was not able to communicate with you before.
-Wh-wha? What? No. I mean it has to be the game, I have my equipment, I have my gun, I have my map…?- He could not see the map in his vision. Nowhere to be seen.
-Ah you see, so it is not a game. At least, not anymore.
-Impossible…
-Now, you can try and blow your head right open like a bag of worms, but I guarantee you, it won't be fun.
-Shut! Shut up for a second…
The mask did shut up, while Ixlente took a few deep breaths, smelling the air he realised that normally he would not be able to smell. Then he touched the ground and remembered that touching was very limited in the game.
-So it is not. What happened?
-Good question my friend. But I think as of now. We should create shelter.
-You're a mask. In my brain. Shut up.
With anger he threw the mask away, next the reality ripped open engulfing the mask in it before quickly closing in on itself.
-Fuck me…
Days passed by in the wasteland. No creature in sight, no plant living as far as the eye can see. Only thing was earth, of course, rough, awful earth. But, one lost and confused man was slowly walking his way through it towards the horizon while chanting some things that would normally be taken as gibberish.
-Inventory… open inventory, E. Equipment… FUCK YOU!
And much more… yet all proved futile. His base stats were very high thus the prolonged thirst and starvation only grew stronger and caused more pain and suffering. Finally when he was on the verge of death, he fell down and reached into the void. Death creeped in from all sides slowly grabbing parts of his soul, piece by piece, wanting to drain him of all that he had left.
Until he woke up, with an Unending Water Goblet in hand, and mask in the other…
-Not dead… Haaah…
-Should thank me.
-Shut up.
-Now you owe me your life, so I am terribly sorry but I will not shut up.
-How'd you get the Goblet?..
-Quite easy. I reached out my hand, thought of an item I had in my inventory, and pulled it out from the void.
-Thanks I guess.
-Oh no need to trust me. If you die we both die. And that is what we do not want. Now. If you are done. Grab the summoning item and let us get out of here.
Without an answer, still laying on the ground, Ixlente reached into the darkness and pulled out…
-...Horn of Black Sabbath.
-Good choice my friend.
"Normally I would push a button on my console… but since I can't bet on what's what anymore…". He blew into the horn with all his strength. And before he realised, a beautiful black horse appeared out of thin air. He sat up, and after a minute he got off the ground and on his own feet. After that, he took on the old black mare for a spin.
-Normally I would use a map… hmmm… scorched earth, high sun and dry air. We are around the equator… Means we are going, North.
With a swift crack of the whip, the Black mare rode off into the horizon with Ixlente on her back. Towards the unknown.