AN: Bit of an info dump today, and tomorrow's will be a major one along with some information about what races our MC will run into within the 'Sins of The Abyss' arc.
As always, thank you all for reading thus far. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to voice them.
_______________________
"... or perhaps to ruin," grinned the Kitsune who then nodded towards a male Bright Elf in a robe of greens and reds. "Yes Solannus?"
Of whom then stood in order to ask aloud, "Two questions, Ageless," when the other nodded once more, he continued with, "How do you know my name if we've never met, and why isn't anything you say in the history books?"
The God of Terra chuckled as one of his nine tails twitched in the Elf's direction, "To the first query, we have already met, but it was a long time ago when you were a child. For you see, there are two instances where someone will meet my person. The first is through your very first dreams, the second is in person, and I remember my interactions with each child I visit."
"But I don't remember you," complained the other.
"You are not meant to, unless you see my person often," he explained slowly, "When you all are children, you are expected to be just that. Children. Especially in my presence, regardless of what others want or demand of you.
"Those dreams I send to your child self is to welcome your person into our world of Terra. Afterwards comes the regular, childish dreams any other would have, but with my presence simply being there in case such dreams become nightmares. To which I would manifest within and help you to overcome the obstacle that has become one of your greater fears. Thus, allowing each of you to continue to be happy without any fears to waylay you as you age."
"But..."
"My dear, young Elf I remember you quite well. Didn't you have a dream of fighting monsters to rescue princesses?" At the other's nod, the Kitsune chuckled softly, "I distinctly recall you and a you she-Orc playing such a game, and also making a vow to one another whilst I simply watched from the ground. For I played the 'Mean Monster' who 'kidnapped' your princess. Do you remember your vow, and did you ever follow through with it?"
"I... I...," the male's eyes widened as silent tears flowed down his cheeks as he recalled the vow he made with the young she-Orc. Of how he promised to always be by her side, and to one day ask for her hand. "I need to find her," was all he spoke of, as his body scrambled over disgruntled bodies and chairs in order to reach a portal to the outside world which opened up as soon as he reached out into the darkness surrounding their persons.
"Once you leave, you cannot come back," was what the Ageless voiced to the fleeing Bright Elf, but such words fell on deaf ears as his attention turned back towards the rest of the gathered creatures.
"As to the other query of our departed Elf," spoke the Kitsune, as his form settled back against the throne once more, "All of what I say can be found in the libraries across our world of Terra. As to why it's not in your primary schools' history books? Well, if you had known of my darkness as children, many of you would become far too frightened to even consider being in my presence.
"Now," he chuckled softly as his words were absorbed by a now somewhat confused group, "Will there be any more queries, or may I return to the story at hand?"
*****
Glory or ruin, this is what I promised those who became a part of my Parade, as the whole of them filled a now expansive room to accommodate their persons equally. In so much as to have the space tear away from the Hub World within Azzarath in order to become a Guild Hall dedicated for us within. Yes. This became a small place of refuge for those who would undergo the plans I had in mind for each of their group, but only after I elevated their persons into that which was called Lesser Immortal.
For you see, though being one is relatively painless, the process from mortal to immortal is not as they tend to lose something of value. Such as the right to bear children, to learn effectively, or even lose their body to the point of needing to remake it. Yes. Such things, and more, occurred within this Hall, but all were quite pleased after the transfer. Even going as far as to brag about it to others, of whom they believed did not join them in such a venture. Well, that is, until I spoke aloud.
"Each of you have been elevated to the rank of Lesser Immortal," my voice boomed within our Hall, calling out to those of whom did not even glance in my direction until now, "Each of you seemed to have endured something dreadful through the process, but I shall not apologise for such a thing. For I have need of you immortals for the next portion of my plans."
"War," growled one of the more tribal Kobolds, of whom now sported a pair of crimson orbs due to the change, "What sort of war are you going to create?"
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"One that will distract all of the gods as I take on another in order to reclaim the world which has been snatched from my claws," all four of my clawed hands clenched themselves as I spoke of this, and only relaxed when the subject changed.
"Oh yeah?" called out one of the few Ghouls in the room, "And what's to stop us from leaving?"
"Death," was my only answer to this, whilst the creature, and those like it, scoffed at such a notion. This then led them to leave the Hall, to which I was not at all pleased, and appeared before their very eyes. This startled their minds, but their bodies quickly recovered and moved to go around my body.
However, "Let go," they cried out, as I clutched the whole of their bodies in my primary clawed hands, and teleported to my original spot. Where I did hold them aloft as a pair of luminous, white orbs flowed from under my shoulder blades, and atop my skull. These orbs were part of a body, which slowly revealed itself to be a small, white spider with only a pair of eyes.
"This is what awaits your person if you dare to revolt, leave, or disobey my person." In so saying, the small spider leapt into the air, changing its form into a white snake with those same orb-like eyes, and burrowed deep into the first Ghoul. Whereupon it did scream as the snake tore into its body, devouring everything before leaping into the next, then the third, the fourth, and back to the first where the process continued.
For you see, Lesser Immortals, such as these, were granted something called "An Immortal's Curse". Which was they could never die no matter what afflicted their bodies. Thus they were tortured in front of my person for their insolence, and once I turned my attention back towards the others, I noted the look of fear within their eyes. They even went as far as to retreat further, but staying away from anything which could be perceived as an exit.
In any case, I was not at all pleased with such a sight, and enacted a spell which should have been cast since the beginning to prevent such insurrection from ever incurring. This spell, by the by, was "Mass Spell: Thrall", and will never be placed into the spell books for you to read, only its effect. Yes. I can see many of you are familiar with such a thing, and for those who aren't, well... Let us put it in another light. This spell has the ability to make any being or creature follow the caster's orders to the letter. However, my version actually allows them to retain their intellect, whilst still obeying my orders.
Which means, my dear audience, I prefer them to think whilst still obeying. For I was not at all as well versed with strategies and tactics at that time. Instead, I preferred to simply know where my enemies are, and call upon them a great torrent of my wrath to destroy their persons quickly. Whereas with this, I shall be needing others to conduct their strategies and tactics in order to achieve what I desire most.
A distraction from my true goal.
Yes. This is the purpose of the guild called Black Parade, and will be thusly until I had taken full control over our world of Terra. For now, though, Azazel had made her appearance and only glanced at the tortured Ghouls, as she made her way towards my person. Once at my side, did she climb my skeletal self in order to perch atop my right shoulder and summon up a wide variety of worlds that are in need of being used as a distraction.
"You are to each go to every one of these worlds, and stir up strife on a massive scale," I began slowly, my voice shaking the entirety of the room in order to garner the attentions of all before our eyes, "Each of you will be given a task in order to advance yourselves to the next stage in your evolution as Immortals, but do not worry. For though you may die as quickly as any other mortal, you are not adherent to their Laws of Death."
"In other words," piped in the little, silver haired girl-who-was-not-a-girl, "You will not be penalised for dying, and will retain your abilities, skills, levels, and knowledge." From these words, I noted many held relief within their eyes, as they seemed to chat excitedly about such a revelation.
"In any case," my voice cut through their excitement quickly, calling their attention towards my person once more, "you will each be given a stipend of one thousand gold coins to fund your work. Which means you must spend it on appropriate tasks which will end in creating mass destruction upon the worlds under your jurisdiction.
"Once the Gods and Goddesses of each world begins to send out a mass call for anyone to help them, will I begin to move towards the main goal in this plan. However, this does not mean you are to shirk in your duties. Instead, you are to see it through until the end. Whether it be that world's demise, or your own. You. Must. See. It. Through."