Eternal
There’s no way you’d ever murder your father least of all over allegations from Semra and Jacob. None of this makes any damn sense anyway.
Semra’s lying and trying to manipulate you as usual. She’s taken her treachery to its next logical level, attempting to overthrow the Emperor. As for Jacob, the man is just a weak willed traitor that’s easily fooled by her lies. He’s also probably harboring a petty grudge for the countless times the Emperor scolded him for his incompetence.
Without another word you turn back to Jacob and quickly run him through. He looks at you with a mixture of pain and surprise as if he really though Semra’s words would reach you. He makes a slow groaning sound as the life drains from him. Meanwhile Semra’s image continues to look on at you shaking her head.
“And now your subservience is complete. I believe I really am truly done with you now. I’ve tried to always make you see the truth, but you continue to insist on remaining ignorant. Even when you betrayed me with your little monkey shield maiden by marrying her I at least knew you weren’t completely a tool for the Emperor. I knew you at least had a modicum of free will and your own mind even if it was lost on some crude human trollop. Now? I can see I was just wasting my time and at your core, you’ll always be a mindless drone longing only to serve”
“Enjoy your taunts now Semra, because you won’t have time to run off at the mouth when I’m cutting out your tongue.”
“Chances are this will be the last time we ever see each other. Enjoy your trip to Mortos, perhaps there you will finally see the truth. Of course by that time it’ll be too late, but at last you will see it. Goodbye Eternal.”
Semra’s magical projection disappears and you’re left alone in your quarters with Jacob’s dead body. After a bit of clean up, you go back to see the Emperor.
“Hello son, is something wrong? You’re a bit early for our trip.” He remarks.
You explain everything that just happened about Jacob and Semra.
“Can’t trust anyone these days can you? I mean Semra, I knew she’d pop up again trying to cause trouble, but Jacob? The man could be so timid at times, though sometimes those are the ones you have to watch right? Still, I can’t believe he’d be foolish enough to actually try to talk you into siding against me. Guess Semra’s lies were good enough to convince even him, not you though it seems.” The Emperor replies.
You don’t respond. Despite the fact that you’ve dismissed what was told you as lies, you can’t help but wonder.
“I see… I guess maybe their words did convince you more than you’re letting on. So what is it that’s troubling you exactly?”
“Everything I suppose. I don’t even know where to begin and I know I shouldn’t even be entertaining anything that Semra says, but…(Sigh) Semra said something that I DO know to be true. She said that I harbored a desire to kill you and take over the Empire.”
“And is that what you want to do?”
“No! You’re my father. Other than Alison, you’re the only person in this world that’s always been there for me. I owe you a debt that can never be repaid other than my everlasting loyalty and servitude. However, I can’t deny there have been moments where I’ve felt negative feelings towards you. Granted they’ve been very fleeting, but they’ve become more frequent lately. As much as I don’t like it, Semra does know me and if she told the truth about that, then I can’t help but wonder if she has told the truth about other things as well.”
“Well the best liars do mix the truth with their lies. Svelk do it better than most and Semra is definitely a master. First of all with Mortos, I do intend on rejuvenating myself, but I need your help because you’re the only other person with magical aptitude that I trust and I’ll need your sword arm as well. Let’s just say when I left, it wasn’t on good terms and my return may be met with hostility.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“I’ll admit I probably should’ve told you about my former homeland a long time ago. Honestly, I didn’t because its partly because I have my own feelings of shame tied to that place. Yes, there are things in my past I do regret. Not many, but what happened there is definitely one. Which bring me to one of your other concerns and believe me son; I had nothing to do with the murder of your wife. It is true I didn’t approve, but that was just because I’ve had my own experiences with love and loss and didn’t want you potentially going through the same pain. Pain that is greater than any wound that could come from a battlefield as I’m sure you know.”
You nod silently in agreement and the Emperor continues.
“That lost love of mine you might even say is one of my other regrets. You are special. Unique even. Its what makes someone like you or me powerful. But it’s also something that makes us doomed to follow a lonely solitary path. I knew that long ago, but I also knew you had to experience it first hand, so I let you do your own thing. Who knows though, if it hadn’t been for Semra, you may very well have had a long happy marriage or you may have grown out of love due to unforeseen differences. I know this is of very little consolation, but at least your Alison died knowing you loved her and she loved you. A lot better than what I experienced…but that’s a tale for another time.”
The Emperor’s words make you feel a little better now that he’s explained himself and defended his position a bit. Still, he didn’t address your last concern.
“And what of my other fear?”
“Oh, yes that. Your hidden desire to kill and replace me. Heh heh. Well I’m not too worried, not because I don’t think you couldn’t do it, but rather because that feeling is probably no different to what all children have felt towards their parents since the beginning of time. You’re not always going to think positive things about me, nor would I expect you to. As you said, Semra does know you and she just played upon your emotions. She forgot though, I also know you and I know you would never willingly harm me in any way. If you did hold that desire, you would’ve never killed Jacob and told me all this. You would’ve came busting down the door and challenging me instead. And you certainly wouldn’t have been troubled about your feelings over it.”
Funny how the Emperor can make everything seem okay with just a few words. Maybe that’s why he’s right about you and that’s why he knows you’d never kill him. With this last concern put somewhat at ease, you feel much more at ease. You have to ask though…
“Are Eternals really unable to have children?”
“Yes. An unfortunate side effect of your enhancement I’m afraid. Another regret I suppose. I do not know if you ever desired to have offspring with Alison, but if you did, you have my everlasting apologies.”
With this last piece of information the matter is now at rest or at least you feel less apprehensive about going to Mortos now. The Emperor says that with Jacob’s death he’s going to have to promote another bean counter, but that it can wait until you get back.
“The Empire isn’t going to suddenly collapse just because its ruler and second are gone for a day or so.”
“But who’s technically in charge then?” you ask
“Good question. I suppose Marik!” The Emperor laughs.
The next morning you meet the Emperor in one of his preparation rooms where you used to practice the magic that he taught you. It is there you see a large glowing blue portal and the Emperor standing right next to it. He looks tired.
“Glad you’re here, I’m anxious to make this trip. Whew. I really should’ve had you help me open up this portal; I underestimated how taxing it would be. No matter. Are you ready?”
“I suppose so, but is there anything I should really expect? I mean will there be a horde of undead horrors? Will there be ghosts trying to attack my mind? Will there be creatures as powerful like the one I faced during my wife’s murder?”
“I wish I could give you better information, but I don’t have any since I myself haven’t been there in centuries. I can only suggest to be prepared for all of the above. Though I will say there probably won’t be something like a revenant there. Unlike Semra, the necromancers of Mortos have enough sense to not go around creating powerful free willed undead. Well, usually anyway. You probably should just stick close to me the whole time; Mortos can be pretty unfriendly to the living.”
“Well I would imagine so.”
“No, I don’t just mean the undead roaming about, I’m talking about the very land itself. The entire island feeds on life energy, you step in the wrong area and you could suddenly find yourself transformed into a thousand year old skeleton. As you might expect the population’s life expectancy isn’t exactly a long one save for the necromancers.”
“Wait, there are living people that exist on the island?”
“Sure. Quite a lot of them. Mostly in magically protected enclaves thanks to the necromancers. Mostly humans, but eh…I’d hesitate to call a lot of them that anymore. Let’s just say living in an area filled with undead tends to make people either very pragmatic or bat shit insane or both.”
“So they’re basically tall derro that live on the surface?”
“Ha ha ha! Yes, I suppose is some ways they might be.”
With this little joke to lighten a potentially very grim trip, you and the Emperor enter the portal. Before you know it your surroundings are very different.
All around you land is dead. Dead trees, rocks, barren soil, cracked ground. Everything has a gray looking appearance mostly due to the unnatural sky. Its not night, its not day, its just a dull gray and you get the impression its always this way. On top of all this you have no idea where the Emperor is. He isn’t by your side and you’d start to worry, if you suddenly didn’t hear his voice in your head.
“Son? Are you there?”
“Yes. I’m here. Where are you?”
“I’m at the location. I’m communicating to you psychically since my powers are enhanced here. Blasted portal still didn’t work properly though. I’m sorry son, but you’re going to have to walk over here. Your destination is a small isolated temple; you won’t miss it if you keep walking west from your location. You aren’t too far, but you’re going to have to walk through one of those inhabited settlements I was talking about earlier. Be on your guard. I’d tell you to go around it, but there’s a lot of harmful energy in the area. I wouldn’t want you to step into a negative zone. I’d also keep in contact with you, but I believe I’m about to be attacked by the guardians of this temple. Seems they upgraded the defenses since I was here last time. I can handle it, but do try to hurry.”
Acknowledging the Emperor’s directions, you begin heading to the west
You haven’t been here a few minutes and you start to understand what the Emperor was talking about as far as it being unfriendly to the living. You can feel a slight loss not just of endurance, or even mental fatigue, but almost like hope and zest. Like the place is slowly telling you lay down and die. While it’s certainly not a pleasant feeling, after years of mind fuckery from Semra, you’re more than capable of shrugging off the effects.
Eventually you stand on the outskirts of a small deteriorating village. You don’t see anyone about at first, but then you do notice a few figures peeking out from the windows of nearby houses. Since your presence is most likely already known; you figure the best bet is to just run through as quickly as you can.
You pass by several houses and begin to hear a combination of hisses, snarls and howls. Eventually the figures that you’ve glimpsed start to make their appearance and pour out of their homes.
They look worse than you imagined. All of them have a sickly appearance with either grayish or yellowish skin and wearing either tattered rags or in some cases nothing at all. Deformities plague most of them; some have missing limbs or extra ones in the wrong places. Unsurprisingly they begin screaming at you in whatever bizarre language they speak and give chase.
You don’t get unnerved too often about dangerous situations, but the combination of their disfigurements, their numbers, the unnatural sounds they make and how they lope after you is a bit unsettling. You need to stop or at least slow them down quickly.
Semra’s lying and trying to manipulate you as usual. She’s taken her treachery to its next logical level, attempting to overthrow the Emperor. As for Jacob, the man is just a weak willed traitor that’s easily fooled by her lies. He’s also probably harboring a petty grudge for the countless times the Emperor scolded him for his incompetence.
Without another word you turn back to Jacob and quickly run him through. He looks at you with a mixture of pain and surprise as if he really though Semra’s words would reach you. He makes a slow groaning sound as the life drains from him. Meanwhile Semra’s image continues to look on at you shaking her head.
“And now your subservience is complete. I believe I really am truly done with you now. I’ve tried to always make you see the truth, but you continue to insist on remaining ignorant. Even when you betrayed me with your little monkey shield maiden by marrying her I at least knew you weren’t completely a tool for the Emperor. I knew you at least had a modicum of free will and your own mind even if it was lost on some crude human trollop. Now? I can see I was just wasting my time and at your core, you’ll always be a mindless drone longing only to serve”
“Enjoy your taunts now Semra, because you won’t have time to run off at the mouth when I’m cutting out your tongue.”
“Chances are this will be the last time we ever see each other. Enjoy your trip to Mortos, perhaps there you will finally see the truth. Of course by that time it’ll be too late, but at last you will see it. Goodbye Eternal.”
Semra’s magical projection disappears and you’re left alone in your quarters with Jacob’s dead body. After a bit of clean up, you go back to see the Emperor.
“Hello son, is something wrong? You’re a bit early for our trip.” He remarks.
You explain everything that just happened about Jacob and Semra.
“Can’t trust anyone these days can you? I mean Semra, I knew she’d pop up again trying to cause trouble, but Jacob? The man could be so timid at times, though sometimes those are the ones you have to watch right? Still, I can’t believe he’d be foolish enough to actually try to talk you into siding against me. Guess Semra’s lies were good enough to convince even him, not you though it seems.” The Emperor replies.
You don’t respond. Despite the fact that you’ve dismissed what was told you as lies, you can’t help but wonder.
“I see… I guess maybe their words did convince you more than you’re letting on. So what is it that’s troubling you exactly?”
“Everything I suppose. I don’t even know where to begin and I know I shouldn’t even be entertaining anything that Semra says, but…(Sigh) Semra said something that I DO know to be true. She said that I harbored a desire to kill you and take over the Empire.”
“And is that what you want to do?”
“No! You’re my father. Other than Alison, you’re the only person in this world that’s always been there for me. I owe you a debt that can never be repaid other than my everlasting loyalty and servitude. However, I can’t deny there have been moments where I’ve felt negative feelings towards you. Granted they’ve been very fleeting, but they’ve become more frequent lately. As much as I don’t like it, Semra does know me and if she told the truth about that, then I can’t help but wonder if she has told the truth about other things as well.”
“Well the best liars do mix the truth with their lies. Svelk do it better than most and Semra is definitely a master. First of all with Mortos, I do intend on rejuvenating myself, but I need your help because you’re the only other person with magical aptitude that I trust and I’ll need your sword arm as well. Let’s just say when I left, it wasn’t on good terms and my return may be met with hostility.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“I’ll admit I probably should’ve told you about my former homeland a long time ago. Honestly, I didn’t because its partly because I have my own feelings of shame tied to that place. Yes, there are things in my past I do regret. Not many, but what happened there is definitely one. Which bring me to one of your other concerns and believe me son; I had nothing to do with the murder of your wife. It is true I didn’t approve, but that was just because I’ve had my own experiences with love and loss and didn’t want you potentially going through the same pain. Pain that is greater than any wound that could come from a battlefield as I’m sure you know.”
You nod silently in agreement and the Emperor continues.
“That lost love of mine you might even say is one of my other regrets. You are special. Unique even. Its what makes someone like you or me powerful. But it’s also something that makes us doomed to follow a lonely solitary path. I knew that long ago, but I also knew you had to experience it first hand, so I let you do your own thing. Who knows though, if it hadn’t been for Semra, you may very well have had a long happy marriage or you may have grown out of love due to unforeseen differences. I know this is of very little consolation, but at least your Alison died knowing you loved her and she loved you. A lot better than what I experienced…but that’s a tale for another time.”
The Emperor’s words make you feel a little better now that he’s explained himself and defended his position a bit. Still, he didn’t address your last concern.
“And what of my other fear?”
“Oh, yes that. Your hidden desire to kill and replace me. Heh heh. Well I’m not too worried, not because I don’t think you couldn’t do it, but rather because that feeling is probably no different to what all children have felt towards their parents since the beginning of time. You’re not always going to think positive things about me, nor would I expect you to. As you said, Semra does know you and she just played upon your emotions. She forgot though, I also know you and I know you would never willingly harm me in any way. If you did hold that desire, you would’ve never killed Jacob and told me all this. You would’ve came busting down the door and challenging me instead. And you certainly wouldn’t have been troubled about your feelings over it.”
Funny how the Emperor can make everything seem okay with just a few words. Maybe that’s why he’s right about you and that’s why he knows you’d never kill him. With this last concern put somewhat at ease, you feel much more at ease. You have to ask though…
“Are Eternals really unable to have children?”
“Yes. An unfortunate side effect of your enhancement I’m afraid. Another regret I suppose. I do not know if you ever desired to have offspring with Alison, but if you did, you have my everlasting apologies.”
With this last piece of information the matter is now at rest or at least you feel less apprehensive about going to Mortos now. The Emperor says that with Jacob’s death he’s going to have to promote another bean counter, but that it can wait until you get back.
“The Empire isn’t going to suddenly collapse just because its ruler and second are gone for a day or so.”
“But who’s technically in charge then?” you ask
“Good question. I suppose Marik!” The Emperor laughs.
The next morning you meet the Emperor in one of his preparation rooms where you used to practice the magic that he taught you. It is there you see a large glowing blue portal and the Emperor standing right next to it. He looks tired.
“Glad you’re here, I’m anxious to make this trip. Whew. I really should’ve had you help me open up this portal; I underestimated how taxing it would be. No matter. Are you ready?”
“I suppose so, but is there anything I should really expect? I mean will there be a horde of undead horrors? Will there be ghosts trying to attack my mind? Will there be creatures as powerful like the one I faced during my wife’s murder?”
“I wish I could give you better information, but I don’t have any since I myself haven’t been there in centuries. I can only suggest to be prepared for all of the above. Though I will say there probably won’t be something like a revenant there. Unlike Semra, the necromancers of Mortos have enough sense to not go around creating powerful free willed undead. Well, usually anyway. You probably should just stick close to me the whole time; Mortos can be pretty unfriendly to the living.”
“Well I would imagine so.”
“No, I don’t just mean the undead roaming about, I’m talking about the very land itself. The entire island feeds on life energy, you step in the wrong area and you could suddenly find yourself transformed into a thousand year old skeleton. As you might expect the population’s life expectancy isn’t exactly a long one save for the necromancers.”
“Wait, there are living people that exist on the island?”
“Sure. Quite a lot of them. Mostly in magically protected enclaves thanks to the necromancers. Mostly humans, but eh…I’d hesitate to call a lot of them that anymore. Let’s just say living in an area filled with undead tends to make people either very pragmatic or bat shit insane or both.”
“So they’re basically tall derro that live on the surface?”
“Ha ha ha! Yes, I suppose is some ways they might be.”
With this little joke to lighten a potentially very grim trip, you and the Emperor enter the portal. Before you know it your surroundings are very different.
All around you land is dead. Dead trees, rocks, barren soil, cracked ground. Everything has a gray looking appearance mostly due to the unnatural sky. Its not night, its not day, its just a dull gray and you get the impression its always this way. On top of all this you have no idea where the Emperor is. He isn’t by your side and you’d start to worry, if you suddenly didn’t hear his voice in your head.
“Son? Are you there?”
“Yes. I’m here. Where are you?”
“I’m at the location. I’m communicating to you psychically since my powers are enhanced here. Blasted portal still didn’t work properly though. I’m sorry son, but you’re going to have to walk over here. Your destination is a small isolated temple; you won’t miss it if you keep walking west from your location. You aren’t too far, but you’re going to have to walk through one of those inhabited settlements I was talking about earlier. Be on your guard. I’d tell you to go around it, but there’s a lot of harmful energy in the area. I wouldn’t want you to step into a negative zone. I’d also keep in contact with you, but I believe I’m about to be attacked by the guardians of this temple. Seems they upgraded the defenses since I was here last time. I can handle it, but do try to hurry.”
Acknowledging the Emperor’s directions, you begin heading to the west
You haven’t been here a few minutes and you start to understand what the Emperor was talking about as far as it being unfriendly to the living. You can feel a slight loss not just of endurance, or even mental fatigue, but almost like hope and zest. Like the place is slowly telling you lay down and die. While it’s certainly not a pleasant feeling, after years of mind fuckery from Semra, you’re more than capable of shrugging off the effects.
Eventually you stand on the outskirts of a small deteriorating village. You don’t see anyone about at first, but then you do notice a few figures peeking out from the windows of nearby houses. Since your presence is most likely already known; you figure the best bet is to just run through as quickly as you can.
You pass by several houses and begin to hear a combination of hisses, snarls and howls. Eventually the figures that you’ve glimpsed start to make their appearance and pour out of their homes.
They look worse than you imagined. All of them have a sickly appearance with either grayish or yellowish skin and wearing either tattered rags or in some cases nothing at all. Deformities plague most of them; some have missing limbs or extra ones in the wrong places. Unsurprisingly they begin screaming at you in whatever bizarre language they speak and give chase.
You don’t get unnerved too often about dangerous situations, but the combination of their disfigurements, their numbers, the unnatural sounds they make and how they lope after you is a bit unsettling. You need to stop or at least slow them down quickly.