Eternal
You’re fooling yourself. You’ve only been struggling with your loyalty issues because you were brought up to obey the Emperor and serve the Empire.
But really what have you learned since then? You’ve learned that a great majority of it is all lies. True, the Shadow Guard has their own agenda, but it isn’t just based on following their god, it’s actively trying to free others under the tyranny of the Empire. And are they seeking to take the place of the Empire? No, they’re just going to return to Derlerg and return to how their lives used to be, before the Empire arrived, everyone else is free to do as they please.
Is that something you really need to fight against? People that want to bring freedom to not just themselves, but to others as well? Dendrin said that he didn’t believe you were going to serve him and you were just saying you were to survive. He also said you weren’t as rigid as your fellows. He’s right on both accounts. You don’t think that you’ll ever be a true shadow, but perhaps you agree with their goals at least in this case. Besides, you’ve bonded more with the people at Gloom who have actively helped you in the past than you have with a faceless Emperor who you haven’t even seen let alone gotten any help from. If anything the Empire has nearly tried to kill you since the moment you were born.
You make your choice within that moment. You’re going to remain quiet and not tell Mr. Mol anything, but if you get accused you doubt if you’ll kill yourself, you’re more likely to make a valiant escape attempt instead.
Mr. Mol sits down and begins his line of questioning.
“So how are you today?” he asks.
“I’m fine.”
“And how are your duties going in the Shadow Guard?”
“Fine sir. The rooting out of dissidents and traitors to the Empire is a tireless one, sir.”
“Yes, it is…” Mr. Mol says with a pause. “Tell me, are there times when you have found someone not guilty?”
“Never sir.”
“Never? Really? Surely not all your searches come up with violent dissidents. Perhaps some of the citizens are merely just speaking harmless nonsense?”
“If they are, then they would’ve been wise to keep their mouth shut sir. The Emperor is not to be criticized and his will is what guides the greatness of the Empire.”
“I see…” Mr. Mol says and takes some notes.
“Tell me, what do you think of the Shadow Guard?”
“They are the hands of the Emperor, sir.”
“His hands huh? That implies they are so important that the Emperor cannot do without them.”
“Not at all sir. The hands are nothing compared to the mind that controls it. The Emperor is the mind that controls the hands. They are nothing without his direction and guidance. This is known and accepted as it has been from the beginning. But I am not truly a Shadow Guard, I am an Eternal. My duty is and will always be to the Emperor first. If you order me to abandon the Shadow Guard because you feel my talents would be better served elsewhere, I shall do so.”
“Hmm, no I do not think that’s necessary.”
Mr. Mol asks you a few more questions and you answer in the best way you can. All in all Mr. Mol seems almost bored by your answers, like he was hoping to hear something much more exciting. You’re not sorry to disappoint him, but you’re definitely trying your hardest to maintain a cool demeanor in the face of certain treason if he suspects the slightest lie.
Eventually he finishes and you are lead out of the room and back into the main room where you see Cyrus and Talia waiting with the soldiers.
“Okay I believe we are done here. I am pleased to find that all of you are obviously living up to your potential. I was a little concerned only because a couple of your non-shadow Eternals already have proven to lack the discipline we thought they had. One was executed for killing his superior officer and another one died by breaking a solid fighting formation during a battle. I’m glad to see all of you are much better in that regard and I can only chalk that up to the Shadow Guard’s superior training techniques. Perhaps more Eternals in the future will join as it is obvious you all have tremendous willpower and great loyalty to the Empire.” Mr. Mol says.
And with that, the three of you are lead back to the carriage, which takes you back to Lenet, and from there you walk back to Gloom. You’re all more talkative at this point, Talia and Cyrus go on about the questions with each other and you. Of course you lie and state you were asked similar ones.
“So do you think he suspected anything?” Talia asks.
“Doubt it. The Empire fool didn’t even ask anything remotely important. It is obvious Dendrin’s shadow covers his eyes from the truth. So much so that it required minimum effort on our part to even lie to him. I mostly just omitted truth.” Cyrus mocks.
“Omissions of the truth are usually better than outright lies anyway. Less of a chance to get caught up in a web.” Talia comments.
“Oh I dunno, all I did was lie and he never suspected a thing.” You say.
After the three of you report to Master Ebon, he seems pleased with how things turned out, but states that he’s pushing to enact the plan sooner for concern that the Empire may still suspect something. He then says to expect things to get hectic soon, but with Dendrin’s guidance you all will surely prevail and the Empire will collapse.
You retire to your bed to get some rest as it’s been a long stressful day. You’re finally glad to have settled your crisis of loyalty though. With these comforting thoughts you drift off to sleep…
As you sleep you begin to dream. You dream that you’re in the same void like space when you walked into that portal two years ago. You feel nothing and you sense nothing for a long time then you hear the voice, but it isn’t oppressive like the first time.
“So you did not betray me after all…I am a little surprised mortal. Perhaps you see after all.”
“I see that the Empire is indeed a corrupt system that needs to be brought down, but I don’t feel the need to worship you.”
“It is a start, but know that this path you take now will be very dangerous. As strong as you are your survival is not guaranteed. It shall be interesting to see you try however.”
With those last words, you wake up. You try to go back to sleep, but it isn’t easy. Just like bringing down the Empire isn’t going to be easy. You just can’t figure out why Dendrin, doesn’t take a more active role in helping his followers. He obviously has the power, but you don’t know. The best you can do is what you can achieve in the mortal realm and leave the motivations of any gods out of the picture.
But really what have you learned since then? You’ve learned that a great majority of it is all lies. True, the Shadow Guard has their own agenda, but it isn’t just based on following their god, it’s actively trying to free others under the tyranny of the Empire. And are they seeking to take the place of the Empire? No, they’re just going to return to Derlerg and return to how their lives used to be, before the Empire arrived, everyone else is free to do as they please.
Is that something you really need to fight against? People that want to bring freedom to not just themselves, but to others as well? Dendrin said that he didn’t believe you were going to serve him and you were just saying you were to survive. He also said you weren’t as rigid as your fellows. He’s right on both accounts. You don’t think that you’ll ever be a true shadow, but perhaps you agree with their goals at least in this case. Besides, you’ve bonded more with the people at Gloom who have actively helped you in the past than you have with a faceless Emperor who you haven’t even seen let alone gotten any help from. If anything the Empire has nearly tried to kill you since the moment you were born.
You make your choice within that moment. You’re going to remain quiet and not tell Mr. Mol anything, but if you get accused you doubt if you’ll kill yourself, you’re more likely to make a valiant escape attempt instead.
Mr. Mol sits down and begins his line of questioning.
“So how are you today?” he asks.
“I’m fine.”
“And how are your duties going in the Shadow Guard?”
“Fine sir. The rooting out of dissidents and traitors to the Empire is a tireless one, sir.”
“Yes, it is…” Mr. Mol says with a pause. “Tell me, are there times when you have found someone not guilty?”
“Never sir.”
“Never? Really? Surely not all your searches come up with violent dissidents. Perhaps some of the citizens are merely just speaking harmless nonsense?”
“If they are, then they would’ve been wise to keep their mouth shut sir. The Emperor is not to be criticized and his will is what guides the greatness of the Empire.”
“I see…” Mr. Mol says and takes some notes.
“Tell me, what do you think of the Shadow Guard?”
“They are the hands of the Emperor, sir.”
“His hands huh? That implies they are so important that the Emperor cannot do without them.”
“Not at all sir. The hands are nothing compared to the mind that controls it. The Emperor is the mind that controls the hands. They are nothing without his direction and guidance. This is known and accepted as it has been from the beginning. But I am not truly a Shadow Guard, I am an Eternal. My duty is and will always be to the Emperor first. If you order me to abandon the Shadow Guard because you feel my talents would be better served elsewhere, I shall do so.”
“Hmm, no I do not think that’s necessary.”
Mr. Mol asks you a few more questions and you answer in the best way you can. All in all Mr. Mol seems almost bored by your answers, like he was hoping to hear something much more exciting. You’re not sorry to disappoint him, but you’re definitely trying your hardest to maintain a cool demeanor in the face of certain treason if he suspects the slightest lie.
Eventually he finishes and you are lead out of the room and back into the main room where you see Cyrus and Talia waiting with the soldiers.
“Okay I believe we are done here. I am pleased to find that all of you are obviously living up to your potential. I was a little concerned only because a couple of your non-shadow Eternals already have proven to lack the discipline we thought they had. One was executed for killing his superior officer and another one died by breaking a solid fighting formation during a battle. I’m glad to see all of you are much better in that regard and I can only chalk that up to the Shadow Guard’s superior training techniques. Perhaps more Eternals in the future will join as it is obvious you all have tremendous willpower and great loyalty to the Empire.” Mr. Mol says.
And with that, the three of you are lead back to the carriage, which takes you back to Lenet, and from there you walk back to Gloom. You’re all more talkative at this point, Talia and Cyrus go on about the questions with each other and you. Of course you lie and state you were asked similar ones.
“So do you think he suspected anything?” Talia asks.
“Doubt it. The Empire fool didn’t even ask anything remotely important. It is obvious Dendrin’s shadow covers his eyes from the truth. So much so that it required minimum effort on our part to even lie to him. I mostly just omitted truth.” Cyrus mocks.
“Omissions of the truth are usually better than outright lies anyway. Less of a chance to get caught up in a web.” Talia comments.
“Oh I dunno, all I did was lie and he never suspected a thing.” You say.
After the three of you report to Master Ebon, he seems pleased with how things turned out, but states that he’s pushing to enact the plan sooner for concern that the Empire may still suspect something. He then says to expect things to get hectic soon, but with Dendrin’s guidance you all will surely prevail and the Empire will collapse.
You retire to your bed to get some rest as it’s been a long stressful day. You’re finally glad to have settled your crisis of loyalty though. With these comforting thoughts you drift off to sleep…
As you sleep you begin to dream. You dream that you’re in the same void like space when you walked into that portal two years ago. You feel nothing and you sense nothing for a long time then you hear the voice, but it isn’t oppressive like the first time.
“So you did not betray me after all…I am a little surprised mortal. Perhaps you see after all.”
“I see that the Empire is indeed a corrupt system that needs to be brought down, but I don’t feel the need to worship you.”
“It is a start, but know that this path you take now will be very dangerous. As strong as you are your survival is not guaranteed. It shall be interesting to see you try however.”
With those last words, you wake up. You try to go back to sleep, but it isn’t easy. Just like bringing down the Empire isn’t going to be easy. You just can’t figure out why Dendrin, doesn’t take a more active role in helping his followers. He obviously has the power, but you don’t know. The best you can do is what you can achieve in the mortal realm and leave the motivations of any gods out of the picture.