Siren77
Bored Ancient
They must be tested
Just as quick as the Ancient had moved to offer his hand to your numbers, it was snapped back into a clenched fist. At the moment their fist tightened, there was a soft click as flames erupted around the decayed remnants you stood among. A circle now barred all means of escape or entry, locking you in close quarters with the Ancient that greeted you upon your arrival. He held no position of threat, not yet at least. The blades he wielded remained at his back, though it was clear they were not his only means of destruction.
In the face of this sudden encounter, some of your fellow whisps thought to test their luck in the flames, fleeing into their warm embrace only to be entirely consumed. Others thought themselves able to contend with the old man, forfeiting their lives to dare and take a step forward, only to be met with a similar fate of incineration. He needed only to extend his hand, and the power he wielded took care of the rest. There was no escaping or fighting, and the fools deaths only benefited the Ancient. Fewer souls to be judged, less time to be wasted.
Unless you dared to move, death would not greet you. So it was that the Ancient remained still amongst those that braved the danger and stood fast amongst the embers that blazed behind them. He’d merely grunt, clearly unimpressed with those that still lived. Their choice to stand before him did not guarantee their survival. It merely prolonged their lives in this moment.
A cold silence overcame the room, with nothing save for The Ancients crackling flames and the occasional hiss of melting flesh sounding off. Heat to the rear, and an icy cold stare to the front. He was analyzing them, looking upon their faces as if expecting some sort of answer to be etched into their skin. Those bold Crimson eyes held no warmth to them. While once inviting, he now looked upon you all as if trespassers or pests. Perhaps a combination of the two. It was unclear why his behavior had changed, until at last they finally spoke again.
“I recall a similar set of circumstances in my arrival to this world. I remember standing amongst a group of whisps not unlike yourselves, except it was no man that we were faced with. It was a cruel and twisted creature that feasted upon our flesh seemingly without a proper cause, save for the barbaric cravings of a wild beast. But when it’s sickening maw stood face to face to us, we found that it could read our souls, and questions our deepest desires, pulling the truth from our mouths without the slightest hesitance. It was our Judge. The test that allowed us to prove our strength to the goddess, in answering a simple question. It demanded of us why we deserved to live... or... was it what we were willing to sacrifice to survive?” It was clear their mind was conflicted with the time the blinded his memory, “It matters not, for it was long time ago.”
The Ancients expression hardened.
“I require a similar test of you all before I am to trust you. I am not as gifted as The Goddess or her Judge. I cannot perceived your thoughts or understand the machinations of your souls. So similarly I must answer a question, and I suggest you think carefully on your answers. For if you seek to deceive me, I will know you are a child of the corruption, and you will be purged without a second thought. Through this question you will prove your worth, and potential your intentions.”
The Ancient slowly walked to the rightmost member of your numbers, his eyes locking with theirs.
“Listen close, as I’ll only ask once.” He’d call out to the rest of them. “What was the first thing you can remember just before your arrival? In the space between worlds, what memory of such things stand out to you? What did you feel? Or perhaps what did you think?”
It was not a question that could easily be lied about, as there didn’t seem to be a right answer in the first place. Which begged the question, why think he’d be deceived in the first place? Was it sheer paranoia? Or perhaps the answer lay within the Corruption he so briefly mentioned. Whatever the case, now was not the time to seek answers of him.
“Answer quickly. I’ll not have my patience tested.”
Just as quick as the Ancient had moved to offer his hand to your numbers, it was snapped back into a clenched fist. At the moment their fist tightened, there was a soft click as flames erupted around the decayed remnants you stood among. A circle now barred all means of escape or entry, locking you in close quarters with the Ancient that greeted you upon your arrival. He held no position of threat, not yet at least. The blades he wielded remained at his back, though it was clear they were not his only means of destruction.
In the face of this sudden encounter, some of your fellow whisps thought to test their luck in the flames, fleeing into their warm embrace only to be entirely consumed. Others thought themselves able to contend with the old man, forfeiting their lives to dare and take a step forward, only to be met with a similar fate of incineration. He needed only to extend his hand, and the power he wielded took care of the rest. There was no escaping or fighting, and the fools deaths only benefited the Ancient. Fewer souls to be judged, less time to be wasted.
Unless you dared to move, death would not greet you. So it was that the Ancient remained still amongst those that braved the danger and stood fast amongst the embers that blazed behind them. He’d merely grunt, clearly unimpressed with those that still lived. Their choice to stand before him did not guarantee their survival. It merely prolonged their lives in this moment.
A cold silence overcame the room, with nothing save for The Ancients crackling flames and the occasional hiss of melting flesh sounding off. Heat to the rear, and an icy cold stare to the front. He was analyzing them, looking upon their faces as if expecting some sort of answer to be etched into their skin. Those bold Crimson eyes held no warmth to them. While once inviting, he now looked upon you all as if trespassers or pests. Perhaps a combination of the two. It was unclear why his behavior had changed, until at last they finally spoke again.
“I recall a similar set of circumstances in my arrival to this world. I remember standing amongst a group of whisps not unlike yourselves, except it was no man that we were faced with. It was a cruel and twisted creature that feasted upon our flesh seemingly without a proper cause, save for the barbaric cravings of a wild beast. But when it’s sickening maw stood face to face to us, we found that it could read our souls, and questions our deepest desires, pulling the truth from our mouths without the slightest hesitance. It was our Judge. The test that allowed us to prove our strength to the goddess, in answering a simple question. It demanded of us why we deserved to live... or... was it what we were willing to sacrifice to survive?” It was clear their mind was conflicted with the time the blinded his memory, “It matters not, for it was long time ago.”
The Ancients expression hardened.
“I require a similar test of you all before I am to trust you. I am not as gifted as The Goddess or her Judge. I cannot perceived your thoughts or understand the machinations of your souls. So similarly I must answer a question, and I suggest you think carefully on your answers. For if you seek to deceive me, I will know you are a child of the corruption, and you will be purged without a second thought. Through this question you will prove your worth, and potential your intentions.”
The Ancient slowly walked to the rightmost member of your numbers, his eyes locking with theirs.
“Listen close, as I’ll only ask once.” He’d call out to the rest of them. “What was the first thing you can remember just before your arrival? In the space between worlds, what memory of such things stand out to you? What did you feel? Or perhaps what did you think?”
It was not a question that could easily be lied about, as there didn’t seem to be a right answer in the first place. Which begged the question, why think he’d be deceived in the first place? Was it sheer paranoia? Or perhaps the answer lay within the Corruption he so briefly mentioned. Whatever the case, now was not the time to seek answers of him.
“Answer quickly. I’ll not have my patience tested.”