Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Something spits at you, hissing. It's extremely sticky.

 

"What's wrong with my jokes?" Helianthus asks.

 

"We don't feed off stupid jokes."
"If you're going to waste our time, at least have good content."
"Or feed us, as not to waste our time..."
Other twisted voices chime in agreement afterwards from all directions.

 

"Ah, I see. How about I tell you all a story?"

 

"Only if you walk off the path after..."
"It won't hurt for long, we promissssse..."

 

"Eh, that sounds like a bad idea." Helianthus says.
"Oh, can you guys tell me what's at the end of this path?"

 

"What?"
"Her Pathsssss have an end?"
"We cannot say what we do not know."
"We seldom move."

 

"An endless path? I guess that's why no one's ever told what's at the end of it." Helianthus says, "Well, let me tell you a story."

"Once upon a time, in a world much different from this, there was a knight. This knight was noble and righteous. He helped those in need, fought for the right, and was kind and caring. One day, this knight found two other knights fighting. He mediated the battle, but a assassin came out of nowhere and killed one of the Knights. The knight was shocked, and followed the assassin to question him. The assassin lead the knight to his group, and the knight befriended the group. All was well, but then a quarrel broke out between the group. People took sides, and eventually fighting broke out. In the midst of this, the knight was almost slain, had it not been for a wizard that appeared out of nowhere. The group got together and settled their differences. One day, an assassin from the group asked the knight to meet him in a field, for he had found something of interest. The knight obliged, but this turned out to be a trap. The assassin and two other accomplices descended upon the knight. The knight fought back, and was able to kill one of the accomplices, but he was eventually slain. The attackers buried the knight's corpse, and a flower grew from where the corpse lay. The end." Helianthus says.

 

"It'sssss only endlessssss becaussssse nobody's bothered following it..."
"Didn't we say no stories?"
"What would you be if you became just a story?"

 

"What do you mean if I became a story?" Helianthus asks.

 

"Walk off the path and find out."
"It won't take long..."
"Join usssss. Embrace the darknessssss..."

 

"Ah, I see." Hey says.

Helianthus grabs a ration from inside his cloak and tosses it off the path.

"A parting gift, if you will." Helianthus says, before continuing to walk along the path, making sure he doesn't step off.

 

A wall of hisses and growls echo behind you as you press on.

The surroundings ahead become worse, some of the patterns looking oddly familiar or hypnotic.

 

Helianthus stops and looks around.

 

The creatures around you seem to be shifting into images of past events, though their stare is more than enough to put you off.
The current one looks to be a wall etch of you assigning the two new captains of Greenhill Stronghold.

 

"Interesting." Helianthus comments, before continuing on, again making sure that he doesn't step out of the path.

 

As you hit a long, straight section, you realize that many creatures are flocking around the path, hoping you fall. Beyond them, you can see massive etchings on a dungeon wall, along with a set of tally marks big enough to be made by Xlentia; and you can't see the end of the wall or the tally.

 

Helianthus stops.
"Is this the end of the path?" Helianthus asks to the creatures.

 

There's no comprehendible response, but a twisted beast who looks to be a cross of a sea serpent and a bird lets out a cry, leaving silence. It then coils loosely around the path, not touching it or you.

"Human, I see you are one permitted to serve the queen. Pardon their cries; the Void is a harsh place. I wish to answer your question."
It pauses, spinning slowly around the path, some of the creatures parting as it goes.
"The path does have an end, but it is not for a long time. Those of us who seek the end of the path die before we find it, our corpses becoming energy for future travelers. If you can die of age or starve, I suggest you turn back. Less honorable abominations lie further out, and they do not respect the safety the path is supposed to offer."

 

"I see. And what may be that dungeon?" Helianthus asks, pointing to the wall.