Eternal
You and her have been through too much to let this end like this, you don’t like it, but you decide to put off your mission. You tell the company commander to proceed to the destination and just help with the defenses until you return. You then inform Brenda’s advisors to take care of things while you personally search for her. They tell you that soldiers are already looking for her, but you say they aren’t doing a good enough job.
You follow some leads based on previous reports, and while nobody else seems to be able to find Brenda, you’re a little more skilled in finding a fellow Eternal. Your tracking eventually leads further south into the kobold reservations. For some reason nobody thought to question these scaly bastards who turn out to be pretty helpful, though it’s probably because they’re very scared of you. They tell you they saw the “Eternal lady in charge of everything” walking by herself heading even further south towards the Usksha Desert. They think she’s going there to kill all the uskshas by herself, now they think you’re going to help her and seem pretty optimistic that the pair of you will eliminate the usksha forever.
Brenda may be an Eternal, you still never pegged her as the sort to deliberately kill herself through battle. This can’t all be because of an argument. You quickly make your way to the last known direction that the kobolds saw her heading in. After a day of non-stop riding, you see her standing at the edge of the Usksha Desert. It’s obvious she hear you, but she continues to look out across the endless sand.
“I thought you’d be on your way to wage war on those barbarians in the east by now.” She says as you get off your horse.
“Brenda, this is silly and not like you. Come on back to where you belong.” You demand.
Brenda laughs at this statement.
“You think you can order me around like a common soldier? Fuck you! You aren’t my commanding officer and haven’t been in years. I’m my own person and I’ll do whatever the hell I want!”
“And what do you want?”
“What I want? I want my husband back and that’s impossible.”
“So…you blame me for his death? Is that it?”
Brenda shakes her head in exasperation.
“No, no, no! This isn’t even about you! This is about me! It wasn’t until our argument, that I finally realized I’ve just been living a parody of life. The Empire is gone, my husband is gone. What the hell is my purpose for living anymore? I’ve just been running Nalin all these years, because quite frankly I don’t know what the hell to do with myself. You think I really care about any of that? No. That’s why I can leave it all behind, just like that.”
“Brenda, something must’ve kept you going, if you only just recently came to this conclusion.”
“Yeah, and that something were delusions. When you first came back, it was a nice. I knew we hadn’t seen each other in years, and I knew you were the same rigid emotionless golem you’ve been since we were young, but you were like a solid anchor in what was a sea of uncertainty during those dark days of the Empire’s fall. I had nobody else I could relate to, but we still had a bond of sorts. So I latched on to you and decided to go along with your ideas and it was comforting…for a while. Then as the years went by, I started to get bored, then dissatisfied. When the little war in the east began and problems began to crop up and headache after headache started, I seriously started questioning what I’m doing.”
“Okay…so you’re bored by the administrative duties…”
“I wish it was just that, but I don’t think you still understand. Let me see if I can explain it better.”
Brenda approaches you and sits down on the ground. You do likewise, but you’re still alert about possible wandering usksha raiders who could ride by. Brenda comments on this.
“See, look at you. Here we are just talking and you’re probably expecting to do battle with some wandering uskshas. That’s what gets you going. I know the fall of the Empire had to be pretty hard for you, seeing a system which you believed in fall apart and dissolve before your eyes. Even though you eventually knew it was all built on lies, a piece of you was still gone forever. However, I don’t think it was your true love. It might’ve been your first, but not your true love. Battle, war, killing. That is your passion. That’s your true love. As strange as that may be to some, I understand it.”
Brenda’s somehow words ring true with you. You still aren’t quite sure on all this love stuff, but you’re listening.
“The Empire was my first love as well. It probably was for all of us Eternals, but Roldan was my true love. I’m not getting him back, and I don’t even have the Empire to fall back on. I don’t know, perhaps by falling in love with Roldan, it weakened me as an Eternal and I should be stronger. I’m convinced it weakened Roldan.”
“We’ve been making progress in making Nalin similar to the Empire. It could even be better or greater if we work at it.” You say, unsure of how to react to her Roldan comments.
“Yes, I know that’s what you’ve been trying to do and for a while that’s what I thought might help me as well, but it’s not. Also, like I said, you at least can keep yourself happy for your love of battle. Nalin won’t replace the Empire, and even if it could, it won’t make any difference. It would be if I tried to replace Roldan with another…it won’t make me happier.”
The way Brenda looks at you with that last statement implying that maybe she feels something for you.
“Brenda, are you developing feelings for me?” you ask and she just smiles.
“As I’ve always said, I’ve always liked your directness. Let’s just say I might’ve, but I came to my senses. And that isn’t an insult towards you; it’s just not meant to be for me. Okay, I think I’ve wasted enough time.” She says and stands up. She begins to walk towards the desert.
“Hey wait!” you call out.
“Goodbye, I’m sure you’ll make an excellent emperor for Nalin, or whatever you decide to call yourself.”
You grab Brenda’s shoulder.
“So this is it? You going to just commit suicide by walking into the desert?”
“I assume the uskshas will overwhelm me before the heat gets me, and why are you trying to stop me. I would’ve thought you of all people would’ve approved of dying in battle.”
“I would, but it just doesn’t make sense here! I mean you still have purpose! You’re still fully capable and healthy enough to accomplish many things!”
“Perhaps, but the thrill of living is gone and I’m not waiting any longer to see if it comes back. Now I’m heading into that desert and you can’t stop me, well you could, but that would no doubt have the same result I’m looking for.”
You let Brenda go and stand in silence for a moment. You think about your own goals and your own past briefly. Brenda is right about several things concerning your personality and your motivations, but she doesn’t know everything. You run up next to her as she makes her first steps into the desert.
“What’re you doing?” she asks.
“I’m joining you. I figure you could use the help.”
“...I don’t believe you. I’m trying to end my life with dignity and on my own terms and you’re going to get in the way of that?”
“Who said I was stopping you? I’m just traveling with you, I don’t have some magical ability to stop the usksha from attacking. And who said I was doing this all for you? My true love is battle remember? Fighting an endless amount of usksha in a hostile environment? Sounds like a challenge worthy of a warrior of my stature.”
“But…you can’t just throw away your life like this!”
“Who said I was? I fully intend on making it to the other end of the desert long after you’ve died.” You remark.
Brenda begins to get annoyed.
“What?! Look I know I’m out of practice, but I’m not going to die that quickly! I’m still a fucking Eternal you know!”
“Yes, I do know and that’s why I’m coming with you. You made a lot of good points about me, but one you forgot is that I’m not quite the emotionless golem you make me out to be. My time with you has reminded me of that bond I used to have with all of you before we all got separated. We’re Eternals, and I’m not going to leave you. Now if that means we die together in this desert, then so be it. BUT I want to propose something.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“If we do manage to get to the other side of this desert, you need to abandon your death wish.”
Brenda chuckles a bit.
“Okay, I guess that’s fair. Hell, if we make it through I might just have to re-evaluate my fleeting feelings for you.”
You don’t answer her on that comment; you just keep an eye out for potential danger. The heat isn’t a problem right now since it’s getting dark, which is at least one good thing. As you continue to walk Brenda begins to speak again.
“So what makes you think there IS another side to this desert? Not like it’s ever been explored before. For all you know it’s just endless desert” Brenda asks.
“Oh I dunno. I just have a hunch. It has to end somewhere. Besides I’m curious now. I once briefly considered leading troops into here before, when we were first assigned to deal with the usksha.”
“Really? What stopped you?”
“The fact that Edgar was screaming in my ear about it meant it was bound to be a bad idea. Common sense mostly. Strange that I had more of it back then, than I do right now.”
“There’s still time for you to turn back.”
“What and run Nalin by myself? Not for me. I’d likely end up executing the entire nation. I wasn’t meant to rule…shh hear that?”
“Yeah, sounds like those lizards that the usksha like to ride. They’ll be here soon. Just like old times eh?”
“Like I never left.”
“I…I’m glad you’re here with me.” Brenda says looking at you.
You look at her and nod.
“Me too Brenda. Me too.”
The pair of you soon engage the usksha in battle, just one of many during your time in the desert.
Many believe you both died in the desert eventually succumbing to the heat and your wounds. The kobolds still tell an interesting story of how you both died, but then became vengeful spirits that continue to stalk the usksha to this day.
A few believe you managed to make it through and made a new life with each other in a far away land.
What ultimately happened to you and Brenda is unknown and lost to time.
You follow some leads based on previous reports, and while nobody else seems to be able to find Brenda, you’re a little more skilled in finding a fellow Eternal. Your tracking eventually leads further south into the kobold reservations. For some reason nobody thought to question these scaly bastards who turn out to be pretty helpful, though it’s probably because they’re very scared of you. They tell you they saw the “Eternal lady in charge of everything” walking by herself heading even further south towards the Usksha Desert. They think she’s going there to kill all the uskshas by herself, now they think you’re going to help her and seem pretty optimistic that the pair of you will eliminate the usksha forever.
Brenda may be an Eternal, you still never pegged her as the sort to deliberately kill herself through battle. This can’t all be because of an argument. You quickly make your way to the last known direction that the kobolds saw her heading in. After a day of non-stop riding, you see her standing at the edge of the Usksha Desert. It’s obvious she hear you, but she continues to look out across the endless sand.
“I thought you’d be on your way to wage war on those barbarians in the east by now.” She says as you get off your horse.
“Brenda, this is silly and not like you. Come on back to where you belong.” You demand.
Brenda laughs at this statement.
“You think you can order me around like a common soldier? Fuck you! You aren’t my commanding officer and haven’t been in years. I’m my own person and I’ll do whatever the hell I want!”
“And what do you want?”
“What I want? I want my husband back and that’s impossible.”
“So…you blame me for his death? Is that it?”
Brenda shakes her head in exasperation.
“No, no, no! This isn’t even about you! This is about me! It wasn’t until our argument, that I finally realized I’ve just been living a parody of life. The Empire is gone, my husband is gone. What the hell is my purpose for living anymore? I’ve just been running Nalin all these years, because quite frankly I don’t know what the hell to do with myself. You think I really care about any of that? No. That’s why I can leave it all behind, just like that.”
“Brenda, something must’ve kept you going, if you only just recently came to this conclusion.”
“Yeah, and that something were delusions. When you first came back, it was a nice. I knew we hadn’t seen each other in years, and I knew you were the same rigid emotionless golem you’ve been since we were young, but you were like a solid anchor in what was a sea of uncertainty during those dark days of the Empire’s fall. I had nobody else I could relate to, but we still had a bond of sorts. So I latched on to you and decided to go along with your ideas and it was comforting…for a while. Then as the years went by, I started to get bored, then dissatisfied. When the little war in the east began and problems began to crop up and headache after headache started, I seriously started questioning what I’m doing.”
“Okay…so you’re bored by the administrative duties…”
“I wish it was just that, but I don’t think you still understand. Let me see if I can explain it better.”
Brenda approaches you and sits down on the ground. You do likewise, but you’re still alert about possible wandering usksha raiders who could ride by. Brenda comments on this.
“See, look at you. Here we are just talking and you’re probably expecting to do battle with some wandering uskshas. That’s what gets you going. I know the fall of the Empire had to be pretty hard for you, seeing a system which you believed in fall apart and dissolve before your eyes. Even though you eventually knew it was all built on lies, a piece of you was still gone forever. However, I don’t think it was your true love. It might’ve been your first, but not your true love. Battle, war, killing. That is your passion. That’s your true love. As strange as that may be to some, I understand it.”
Brenda’s somehow words ring true with you. You still aren’t quite sure on all this love stuff, but you’re listening.
“The Empire was my first love as well. It probably was for all of us Eternals, but Roldan was my true love. I’m not getting him back, and I don’t even have the Empire to fall back on. I don’t know, perhaps by falling in love with Roldan, it weakened me as an Eternal and I should be stronger. I’m convinced it weakened Roldan.”
“We’ve been making progress in making Nalin similar to the Empire. It could even be better or greater if we work at it.” You say, unsure of how to react to her Roldan comments.
“Yes, I know that’s what you’ve been trying to do and for a while that’s what I thought might help me as well, but it’s not. Also, like I said, you at least can keep yourself happy for your love of battle. Nalin won’t replace the Empire, and even if it could, it won’t make any difference. It would be if I tried to replace Roldan with another…it won’t make me happier.”
The way Brenda looks at you with that last statement implying that maybe she feels something for you.
“Brenda, are you developing feelings for me?” you ask and she just smiles.
“As I’ve always said, I’ve always liked your directness. Let’s just say I might’ve, but I came to my senses. And that isn’t an insult towards you; it’s just not meant to be for me. Okay, I think I’ve wasted enough time.” She says and stands up. She begins to walk towards the desert.
“Hey wait!” you call out.
“Goodbye, I’m sure you’ll make an excellent emperor for Nalin, or whatever you decide to call yourself.”
You grab Brenda’s shoulder.
“So this is it? You going to just commit suicide by walking into the desert?”
“I assume the uskshas will overwhelm me before the heat gets me, and why are you trying to stop me. I would’ve thought you of all people would’ve approved of dying in battle.”
“I would, but it just doesn’t make sense here! I mean you still have purpose! You’re still fully capable and healthy enough to accomplish many things!”
“Perhaps, but the thrill of living is gone and I’m not waiting any longer to see if it comes back. Now I’m heading into that desert and you can’t stop me, well you could, but that would no doubt have the same result I’m looking for.”
You let Brenda go and stand in silence for a moment. You think about your own goals and your own past briefly. Brenda is right about several things concerning your personality and your motivations, but she doesn’t know everything. You run up next to her as she makes her first steps into the desert.
“What’re you doing?” she asks.
“I’m joining you. I figure you could use the help.”
“...I don’t believe you. I’m trying to end my life with dignity and on my own terms and you’re going to get in the way of that?”
“Who said I was stopping you? I’m just traveling with you, I don’t have some magical ability to stop the usksha from attacking. And who said I was doing this all for you? My true love is battle remember? Fighting an endless amount of usksha in a hostile environment? Sounds like a challenge worthy of a warrior of my stature.”
“But…you can’t just throw away your life like this!”
“Who said I was? I fully intend on making it to the other end of the desert long after you’ve died.” You remark.
Brenda begins to get annoyed.
“What?! Look I know I’m out of practice, but I’m not going to die that quickly! I’m still a fucking Eternal you know!”
“Yes, I do know and that’s why I’m coming with you. You made a lot of good points about me, but one you forgot is that I’m not quite the emotionless golem you make me out to be. My time with you has reminded me of that bond I used to have with all of you before we all got separated. We’re Eternals, and I’m not going to leave you. Now if that means we die together in this desert, then so be it. BUT I want to propose something.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“If we do manage to get to the other side of this desert, you need to abandon your death wish.”
Brenda chuckles a bit.
“Okay, I guess that’s fair. Hell, if we make it through I might just have to re-evaluate my fleeting feelings for you.”
You don’t answer her on that comment; you just keep an eye out for potential danger. The heat isn’t a problem right now since it’s getting dark, which is at least one good thing. As you continue to walk Brenda begins to speak again.
“So what makes you think there IS another side to this desert? Not like it’s ever been explored before. For all you know it’s just endless desert” Brenda asks.
“Oh I dunno. I just have a hunch. It has to end somewhere. Besides I’m curious now. I once briefly considered leading troops into here before, when we were first assigned to deal with the usksha.”
“Really? What stopped you?”
“The fact that Edgar was screaming in my ear about it meant it was bound to be a bad idea. Common sense mostly. Strange that I had more of it back then, than I do right now.”
“There’s still time for you to turn back.”
“What and run Nalin by myself? Not for me. I’d likely end up executing the entire nation. I wasn’t meant to rule…shh hear that?”
“Yeah, sounds like those lizards that the usksha like to ride. They’ll be here soon. Just like old times eh?”
“Like I never left.”
“I…I’m glad you’re here with me.” Brenda says looking at you.
You look at her and nod.
“Me too Brenda. Me too.”
The pair of you soon engage the usksha in battle, just one of many during your time in the desert.
Many believe you both died in the desert eventually succumbing to the heat and your wounds. The kobolds still tell an interesting story of how you both died, but then became vengeful spirits that continue to stalk the usksha to this day.
A few believe you managed to make it through and made a new life with each other in a far away land.
What ultimately happened to you and Brenda is unknown and lost to time.
