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"The Beacon of the New Age lasted for thirty days, bright purple light shining into the sky. The light itself boiling flesh off of bones, changing sand to glass, melting stone and igniting fires for miles.
The Islanders, those who lived there and claimed it as their home- had mixed reactions to it. Those fortunate enough to be above level 10 when it happened survived unscathed, while injuries were worse for those below the level 10 mark. Fatalities of anyone under the level of 3 meant thousands of dead.
10 might seem low by todays' standards but back then the average was level 7.
Religious schisms were very prominent the world over. The old Gods declaring that Thomas the Reaper needed to be slain. Every church for every God declaring their intentions to smite the Dungeon turned God.
One by one they were silenced.
The church of Aaston was the first. A message displaying the announcement to the world, it happened in the morning, some accounts reporting roughly around midnight.
Thomas (God of Fates and Death) has Slain Aaston (God of Light and Virtue) in physical Combat!
Those who slept through the first notification woke up shortly after as monarchies, theocracies and empires fell. Some happening simultaneously the world over.
Society broke upon his wrath. Civilizations that had been in existence for many centuries falling as officials, nobles, traders and any who held power fell to the SNAP of his weapon."
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"Every time one of the Old Gods was slain several Dungeons disappeared. Less Dungeons leading to more Masaara in the skies. The Soulstorm erupted after the fifth Old God fell. Millions died.
New Dungeons sprung up, seeded by Thomas, every three miles like road signs. It took a while but people figured out these ones were different from previous Dungeons.
In a crude fusion of Divinity and Necromancy he had turned the pure existence of a Dungeon Core into a jail housing the souls of "corrupt" rulers, others housed the souls of people who had Volunteered.
We learned in time the difference between the two types. The Volunteered Dungeons are where we train our young. The Cores' with these souls more kind and compassionate than those marked as Corrupted.
There are three types we're aware of.
V type Dungeons are typically themed around the host Souls' life. These do not innately try to kill the Delvers but help them learn and grow.
C type Dungeons are death traps yielding much higher leveling speed, tougher fights and deadlier traps.These dispense more difficult to obtain resources and grant Titles and Abilities to those who destroy their Core.
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G type are severe. There is one G type every hundred miles or so, from what we know about these they are basically suicide to anyone under level 300. Just stepping into a G type is deadly for those under level 300."
The old elf with gray hair sighs, taking a sip of a cup of tea. He pushes a pair of glasses back up his nose, lost in thought with a smile brushing at the side of his face. He continues when he notices his audience waiting with excitement in their eyes.
"The Church of the Dead, those who worshipped Brille before the rise of Thomas- are the only Church still in operation to this day.
They are now known as the Church of The Dark Lord, or the Cult of the Dark Lord. A name meant to terrify those not knowledgeable about His motives. A name meant to unite peoples across the world against it."
The old man laughs a bit and points at the sleeve of his robe. A skull is embroidered there with a scythe of the Reaper in front of it. Purple and blue flaming sockets denote him as one of the higher priests of the Church.
"We are open about our goals to all who ask; one of our pillars is Honesty after all. How honest however, that is at your discretion.
If someone comes to you and asks why you are a follower of the Dark Lord, look at them and utilize our Soul Appraisal skill. Remember it gives general insight into their motivating factors and instantly as well, allowing you the ability to determine how much of the truth you tell them.
If they need someone to hate, tell them you follow him because he's strong and the God of Death. If they kill you as a result of this, Thomas will personally revive you.
If they need someone to care about their life and their problems, tell them it's because he does care about the problems of the world.
When they ask why he causes suffering if he cares, tell them simply that the World as it is needs someone to unite against, that the Old Gods were corrupt. The old world was weak.
Thomas saw it for what it was, and remade it into a peaceful version through war. Peace however leads to complacency. Complacent civilizations stagnate. So he became a villain and we his cult, a means to drive those of the World to seek strength.
Speciesism and racism, classism, the rich and poor. None of that matters in the present but they were once issues that He solved. Strong people still end up being in leadership roles, but no one can control the weak enough to exist as a Tyrant in our age."
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Snickers and laughs circulate among the acolytes, surrounding the old elf, The name King Resson being one of many that is brought up. Spoiling my cheerful mood.
A former adventurer, at level 301 when retiring, who had started his own monarchy. Oppressing the weak until I was motivated to eliminate him.
"He lived for two hunded years, before one of his "Peasants" surpassed his levels and abilities, killing him in a glorious fight. She's actually here in this room right now. I won't say who, it's up to her if she wants to be known."
I'm grateful to the old Elf, he could've outed me to my peers. He didn't, though I didn't think anyone knew of my background to that detail.
"What He wants for the world is not death nor destruction.
He wants his children to develop and grow.
He wants us to become the best versions of ourselves possible.
To continue to level up and grow.
To reach the skies far above and the depths down below."
The Elf is joined by a Foxkin with an Aura of Power, several acolytes in my group unable to fight it as the whispers about who she is are silenced.
She whispers something to him that I couldn't hear and sets down a new cup of tea, taking the empty cup and giving him a kiss before vanishing.
He dismisses the crowd, offering to answer more questions another time before hurriedly and embarrassedly drinking his tea and excusing himself.
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I head back to my village, satisfied that I was right. The Cult of the Dark Lord isn't dangerous or my next enemy to face down. I don't need to continue fighting. I have the tool I need to keep my life from being burned. A new title too.
I am Entissa, I am free, I am nobodies slave.
Entissa the Purifier LvL. 502
Bearer of Special Core VG-0001 (2 Days Remaining Before Activation)(Soul Merging- 3%)
I will help the future.
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