Eternal
Cyrus has proven time and time again to be a thorn in your side. You tried to give him a chance, but there is just too much ambition in him. Even if he wasn’t behind Dravin’s actions, his behavior has proven time and time again that he isn’t going to let Dravin’s death go if you spare him. How long will it be before deep-seated resentment and anger get to him and he really seeks out revenge?
You can’t take that chance.
Without another word you perform the same spell that Master Ebon once did to stop Brother Shade from killing him. Cyrus’ silence is now broken by his grunts and gasps of pain as he clutches his head. He begins bleeding from the ears and eventually the eyes.
“I…join…you…Drav…” he manages to utter before her brain explodes inside his head. Cyrus’ body lies motionless on the floor and you address the crowd.
“This was unfortunate, but necessary. Let this be an example to those that would seek to harm or conspire against their brothers and sisters. Dendrin will not tolerate traitors and neither will I. Someone get this out of my sight.” You say waving to Cyrus’ body.
The next few days are a little tense, but eventually things relax a little. You’re still trying to find Brother Theo. When you manage to contact Sam directly he says he thought Theo was going back to report to you weeks ago since he hasn’t seen him since that time. He goes on to say that Theo tended to move about a lot since he was also spreading a bit of the shadow faith in his spare time. He also apologizes for not keeping a better eye on General Ackerson and his latest patrols on your borders, but he’s been having difficulties with Brenda and even some of the other eastern warlords lately.
Sam isn’t the only one apologizing. Yvette also says she’s sorry to you and how she’s just been so upset about her husband that she didn’t meant to speak out of line before. She says she knows that you’ve been leading well as Shadow Master. You tell her that you appreciate her support and tell her to just keep faith in Dendrin that you’ll eventually find Theo even if he’s dead, he’ll be given a proper burial.
Unfortunately when he does pop up again he’s not dead and you find out what he’s been up to isn’t good for the shadows even though he believes it to be.
All the new shadows Brother Theo has been converting in Quala have been following a much different doctrine than the regular one. Namely one that doesn’t see Eternals in the order at all. He claims that the Eternals have created a caste system where you’re on top and humans are at the bottom. It doesn’t help that he’s also been manipulating Sam into helping him so he not only has a loyal group of heretics to his cause, but also an entire regular army.
This in itself is bad, but Yvette has been secretly helping him the whole time and spreading dissention to the other human followers in Delerg as well. Twisting your own words by claiming that the Eternals are not true brothers and sisters of Dendrin because they aren’t human so it’s perfectly fine to harm them. Going on about how the Blades were abominations that you and Talia saw as an opportunity to use as leverage over the human members. How she was forced to see the first hand horrors of where they were “born.”
It is a testament to Yvette’s speech skills that she managed to convince so many under your nose and fooled you as well despite your initial concern about her. You never knew she was so talented in that way, part of you always still remembered her as the girl who obediently followed your orders during the rebellion.
When it all comes out, you curse yourself for not being more observant and suspicious of her. Perhaps if you’d not worried so much about Cyrus being a major problem, you wouldn’t have overlooked another possible coup from someone else.
Yvette’s treachery is taken care of soon after the first Blade is suddenly attacked. It’s at a great cost though, not so much due to the casualties on the loyal side, but more due to the fact that she convinced so many that you had to kill. Yvette herself attempts to escape when she sees the battle isn’t going well, but she is brought down by the eternals she sought to destroy.
Of course this isn’t the end. Theo and his army is still out there and they won’t be as easy to put down.
Year 55
The Temple of Dendrin is in ruins and you’re putting down the last of the culprits.
“You can’t beat me Theo, despite all your treachery you cannot match my power.” You say slamming him into the wall.
“It doesn’t matter! You’re finished! The shadows are finished!”
“Then you defeated your own purpose! Weren’t you trying to save them?”
“YES! But I soon realized that if Dendrin continued to support you then what was the point of serving him at all?”
“Was this before or after you killed your own friend Sam and took complete control?”
“I have no regrets! Anything to ensure your downfall! Look at you now, you rule NOTHING!” Theo starts to laugh.
You imagine he’s gone slightly mad from this little civil war. This latest suicidal onslaught of his pretty much proves it. You aren’t wasting anymore time with him and you unleash a blast of shadow flame straight to his face. You watch as Theo alternates from laughing to screaming while his flesh burns away until nothing is left except a charred skull.
He’s right though, the shadows really are no more. What tattered remains exist cannot possibly rebuild the order even if you still had any desire to do so.
One of your loyal shadows Brother Gannon comes up to you asking what should be done next and you tell them you don’t know, only that you’re going to rest and you don’t want to be disturbed.
You collapse on the bed in your chambers, which feels lonelier ever since Talia died in battle a year ago, but you’re used to it.
You drift off…
“Quite the battle Eternal, but I knew you’d win.” Dendrin remarks.
“Leave me alone, this whole thing is your fault.”
“Back to blaming me for things I see. Some things never change.”
“Well I’ll tell you one thing that’s changing…I’m done.”
“Done with what?”
“You know damn well what. I’m done with the shadows. I tried to lead them, but ultimately they were just as self destructive as the Empire. If anything they were doing better under it. Makes me wonder why the hell I bothered opposing it in the first place.”
“You’re just feeling discouraged, maybe you should…”
“Maybe I should what? Pick up the pieces and start all over again? What for? There’s nothing left and I don’t even believe in this fucking religion myself. Not to mention you did nothing to stop its destruction since I’ve known you, so why should I keep knocking my brains out doing it for you? What has it got me, except a lot of grief and a dead wife. So fuck this. I’m quitting this game and as far as I’m concerned this entertainment of yours is over!”
Dendrin is silent for a moment and then of course comes back with a retort as usual.
“Very well, you lot were getting boring anyway. Goodbye Eternal, it was interesting while it lasted.”
You later wake up in the middle of the night hoping that’s the last time Dendrin ever talks to you again. You then pack up some of your belongings and decide to leave the temple for good. You don’t make a clean getaway though as Brother Gannon sees you exiting the front doors as he’s wandering the halls.
“Shadow Master where are you going?”
“Anywhere, nowhere, I don’t really know yet, but I can’t stay here any longer. I don’t think I ever was supposed to…maybe Yvette and Theo were right in a way. Maybe Eternals shouldn’t be shadows.” You say.
“You shouldn’t say things like that! We need you to lead what remains of us, to interpret the will of Dendrin clearly.”
You laugh.
“You want to see the will of Dendrin clearly? Take a look at the destruction around you. That’s his will. THAT’S what he represents. Do yourself a favor Gannon, get out of this place and live the rest of your life doing what you want. There are already enough people in the earthly realm ready to tell you what to do, no need to add other worldly ones to that list. Goodbye.”
And with that you leave the crumbling remnants of the shadows forever and travel to places unknown. What ultimately happens to you is lost to time, but safe to say you never hear from Dendrin ever again.
You can’t take that chance.
Without another word you perform the same spell that Master Ebon once did to stop Brother Shade from killing him. Cyrus’ silence is now broken by his grunts and gasps of pain as he clutches his head. He begins bleeding from the ears and eventually the eyes.
“I…join…you…Drav…” he manages to utter before her brain explodes inside his head. Cyrus’ body lies motionless on the floor and you address the crowd.
“This was unfortunate, but necessary. Let this be an example to those that would seek to harm or conspire against their brothers and sisters. Dendrin will not tolerate traitors and neither will I. Someone get this out of my sight.” You say waving to Cyrus’ body.
The next few days are a little tense, but eventually things relax a little. You’re still trying to find Brother Theo. When you manage to contact Sam directly he says he thought Theo was going back to report to you weeks ago since he hasn’t seen him since that time. He goes on to say that Theo tended to move about a lot since he was also spreading a bit of the shadow faith in his spare time. He also apologizes for not keeping a better eye on General Ackerson and his latest patrols on your borders, but he’s been having difficulties with Brenda and even some of the other eastern warlords lately.
Sam isn’t the only one apologizing. Yvette also says she’s sorry to you and how she’s just been so upset about her husband that she didn’t meant to speak out of line before. She says she knows that you’ve been leading well as Shadow Master. You tell her that you appreciate her support and tell her to just keep faith in Dendrin that you’ll eventually find Theo even if he’s dead, he’ll be given a proper burial.
Unfortunately when he does pop up again he’s not dead and you find out what he’s been up to isn’t good for the shadows even though he believes it to be.
All the new shadows Brother Theo has been converting in Quala have been following a much different doctrine than the regular one. Namely one that doesn’t see Eternals in the order at all. He claims that the Eternals have created a caste system where you’re on top and humans are at the bottom. It doesn’t help that he’s also been manipulating Sam into helping him so he not only has a loyal group of heretics to his cause, but also an entire regular army.
This in itself is bad, but Yvette has been secretly helping him the whole time and spreading dissention to the other human followers in Delerg as well. Twisting your own words by claiming that the Eternals are not true brothers and sisters of Dendrin because they aren’t human so it’s perfectly fine to harm them. Going on about how the Blades were abominations that you and Talia saw as an opportunity to use as leverage over the human members. How she was forced to see the first hand horrors of where they were “born.”
It is a testament to Yvette’s speech skills that she managed to convince so many under your nose and fooled you as well despite your initial concern about her. You never knew she was so talented in that way, part of you always still remembered her as the girl who obediently followed your orders during the rebellion.
When it all comes out, you curse yourself for not being more observant and suspicious of her. Perhaps if you’d not worried so much about Cyrus being a major problem, you wouldn’t have overlooked another possible coup from someone else.
Yvette’s treachery is taken care of soon after the first Blade is suddenly attacked. It’s at a great cost though, not so much due to the casualties on the loyal side, but more due to the fact that she convinced so many that you had to kill. Yvette herself attempts to escape when she sees the battle isn’t going well, but she is brought down by the eternals she sought to destroy.
Of course this isn’t the end. Theo and his army is still out there and they won’t be as easy to put down.
Year 55
The Temple of Dendrin is in ruins and you’re putting down the last of the culprits.
“You can’t beat me Theo, despite all your treachery you cannot match my power.” You say slamming him into the wall.
“It doesn’t matter! You’re finished! The shadows are finished!”
“Then you defeated your own purpose! Weren’t you trying to save them?”
“YES! But I soon realized that if Dendrin continued to support you then what was the point of serving him at all?”
“Was this before or after you killed your own friend Sam and took complete control?”
“I have no regrets! Anything to ensure your downfall! Look at you now, you rule NOTHING!” Theo starts to laugh.
You imagine he’s gone slightly mad from this little civil war. This latest suicidal onslaught of his pretty much proves it. You aren’t wasting anymore time with him and you unleash a blast of shadow flame straight to his face. You watch as Theo alternates from laughing to screaming while his flesh burns away until nothing is left except a charred skull.
He’s right though, the shadows really are no more. What tattered remains exist cannot possibly rebuild the order even if you still had any desire to do so.
One of your loyal shadows Brother Gannon comes up to you asking what should be done next and you tell them you don’t know, only that you’re going to rest and you don’t want to be disturbed.
You collapse on the bed in your chambers, which feels lonelier ever since Talia died in battle a year ago, but you’re used to it.
You drift off…
“Quite the battle Eternal, but I knew you’d win.” Dendrin remarks.
“Leave me alone, this whole thing is your fault.”
“Back to blaming me for things I see. Some things never change.”
“Well I’ll tell you one thing that’s changing…I’m done.”
“Done with what?”
“You know damn well what. I’m done with the shadows. I tried to lead them, but ultimately they were just as self destructive as the Empire. If anything they were doing better under it. Makes me wonder why the hell I bothered opposing it in the first place.”
“You’re just feeling discouraged, maybe you should…”
“Maybe I should what? Pick up the pieces and start all over again? What for? There’s nothing left and I don’t even believe in this fucking religion myself. Not to mention you did nothing to stop its destruction since I’ve known you, so why should I keep knocking my brains out doing it for you? What has it got me, except a lot of grief and a dead wife. So fuck this. I’m quitting this game and as far as I’m concerned this entertainment of yours is over!”
Dendrin is silent for a moment and then of course comes back with a retort as usual.
“Very well, you lot were getting boring anyway. Goodbye Eternal, it was interesting while it lasted.”
You later wake up in the middle of the night hoping that’s the last time Dendrin ever talks to you again. You then pack up some of your belongings and decide to leave the temple for good. You don’t make a clean getaway though as Brother Gannon sees you exiting the front doors as he’s wandering the halls.
“Shadow Master where are you going?”
“Anywhere, nowhere, I don’t really know yet, but I can’t stay here any longer. I don’t think I ever was supposed to…maybe Yvette and Theo were right in a way. Maybe Eternals shouldn’t be shadows.” You say.
“You shouldn’t say things like that! We need you to lead what remains of us, to interpret the will of Dendrin clearly.”
You laugh.
“You want to see the will of Dendrin clearly? Take a look at the destruction around you. That’s his will. THAT’S what he represents. Do yourself a favor Gannon, get out of this place and live the rest of your life doing what you want. There are already enough people in the earthly realm ready to tell you what to do, no need to add other worldly ones to that list. Goodbye.”
And with that you leave the crumbling remnants of the shadows forever and travel to places unknown. What ultimately happens to you is lost to time, but safe to say you never hear from Dendrin ever again.
