Heroica RPG - Quest #48: Death's Homecoming

[Dannylonglegs]

"Hmm... Yes, I too would like to purchase two trial brews, bringing my total to 245."

[Endgame]

QM Note: I'll move this along when everyone buys what they want... Revelations are coming up, folks, and I'm eager to get this final chapter of our story going!

[Bricksandparts]

"Could someone lend me a nostrum? I can probably do the most with it."

Johon purchases a mead and smelling salts as well.

[Jedi master Brick]

Elgar does not buy anything and drinks his nostrum in preperation for the final battle with the Regret

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Alexandre drinks the nostrum he just bought, then lends his other to Johon. "Just pay me back when this is over."

[Dannylonglegs]

"We don't know if he's planning to fight us yet." stated Sylph. "Frankly, I'd be surprised if that was what he was planning. He might. I won't deny the possibility, but I think it may be wise to hold onto your consumables on the off-chance that he simply wants to talk." Sylph was rather reluctant to battle the monster who had devastated a castle with a passing glance. " He's been next-to-neutral through-out this ordeal, after-all."

[Endgame]

The party looks wearily at the doors of the Town Hall, sinister black gas still leaking out. Knowing that a grueling battle may very well be ahead, they stock up on a plethora of goods - even paying the depot's exorbitant fees. They'd need every single bit of help they could get in this battle... The Regret was waiting for him, and his intentions were as enigmatic as ever. The Progg was not a foe one should want to face in open combat.

"Hey, hons - while you're in the presence of a nurse, why don't you let me heal you up?

The Party:

Sylph Solanum (Dannylonglegs) *Party Leader!*

unknown age, unknown race Druid

Level 21.33

Power: 29 (21+7+1)

Defense: 0

Health: 37/37c(21+17+7+1)

Ether: 24/24 (5+16+1)

Gold: 37

Equipment: Shrapnel Bow (WP: 9, Bow. Every successful hit drops the target's SP by 1) , Ranger's Quiver (WP +1 to bows and crossbows), 20-20 glasses (headwear, +1 turn of effect for scrolls)

Inventory: Mockthril Rod (WP:7), Scroll of Frailty, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Confusion, 2 Potions, 1 Grand Potion, Tonic, Venom, Smoke Bomb, 2 Fire Bombs,Ice Bomb, 3 Water Bombs, 2 Lightning Bombs, Floral Bomb, Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Magnifying Glass, 6 Bones, Signet Ring, Saber Teeth, Journal of The Bleeding, Sword Fragment (1), Helmet (Max. health +1), Quartz, Tale of the Invincible King, Psych Documents, Merry Bow (WP:7, ranged, steals 1 gold with each successful hit except Shield-skills), Journal of The Wound, Sword Fragment (2), Emerald, Trial Brew x3, Suffering's Journal, Sword Fragment (3), Smelling Salts, Nostrum x2, Grand Tonic

Johon [AKA Alf Gregory] (Bricksandparts) 25 years old male human Barbarian > Raider

Level: 22.33

Power: 34 (22+8+4)

Health: 39/39 (22+8+1+7+0)

Shield Power: (5)

Ether: ~/0

Positive effects: *Immune to:* (*Fragile*, *Cursed* *Stunned* *Poisoned!*), *Natural Respite*

Negative effects: (none)

Gold: 1882 (186G(1), 0GB(50), 0CB(50), 0GO(80), 0CC(70), 0GC(100), 0M)

Equipment: Sword of Decay (WP:8)(once the target is inflicted with damage they lose a quarter of the power of the strike each following turn for three turns. the effect cannot be compounded with more strikes. Suitable to Mages, Knights and Barbarians.) Heavy Armour – SP:5, protects from fragile-effect, suitable for barbarians and knights, Bravado Boots (1/6 chance of being Lucky at the beginning of every battle), Scarlet Hood (+4 to power, immunity to stunned)

Extra Artefacts: Helmet (+1 max health), Blessed Amulet – Protects from cursed-effect. Dog Statuette - (suitable for anyone, SP: 1, once named (Rover), speaking the name summons a dog almost certainly to tag along on madcap adventures and make snippy comments.), Hide of The Bleeding (Backwear, restores 10 HP and 5 ether for every enemy the wearer kills, suitable for anyone), Hide of The Suffering (Bodywear, Power +7 when under a negative status effect. Doesn't stack.)

Extra Weapons: Greatsword (WP:3), Meteor Blade (WP:8, Light elemental), Focal Staff (WP:5, Focus Fire-Roll a 3 for 5 ether Suitable for clerics and mages)

Tools: Shovel (1), Pick-axe (2), Magnifying Glass (1), Magic Compass (1)

Consumables: Potion (6), Venom (2), Trial Brew (1), Remedy, Smelling Salts (2), Mead, Nostrum

Elements: Aquamarine (1), Emerald (1), Topaz (1)

Scrolls: Scroll of Sleep (1), Scroll of Blindness (1), Scroll of Sealing (2), Scroll of Confusion (1)

Quest items: (None)

Elgar Gligin (played by Jedi master Brick)

Level 21.33 Evoker *Immune to Fragile!* *Lucky!*

Power: 32

Defense: 6

Health: 31/31

Ether: 20/20

Gold: 621

Equipment: Mockthril Crossbow (WP:11), Chainmail (SP: 2, Bodywear: half damage from Fire elemental enemies and double from Electric elemental enemies) Emerald Hood (SP: 4, headwear, protects from Fragile)

Inventory: Fauxthril Longbow (WP: 5),Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Opal, Venom x4, Spade, Pickaxe, 4 Potions, Trickster's Mask of the Elf(Accessory, Changes user's appearance into an Elf),Scroll of Poisoning (Grants target’s weapon the badly poisoned effect for one battle at the cost of 5 ether), Needlessly Large Rod (Non-Artifact Item, Curses a random enemy. Usable once per battle.) Does not prevent free hits. Grand Potion x3, Scroll of Sleep, Scroll of Blindness, Scroll of Confusion, Scroll of Sealing, Fireworks, Remedy, Tonic x3, Dualis Scepters (WP: 8, Club/Staff, Dual-striking), Phoenix Incense

Alexandre le Chevalier (Played by Capt.JohnPaul)

Level 20 Paladin, 20 year old elf male *Lucky!*

Power: 30

Defense: 13

Health: 40/40

Ether: 20/20

Gold: 151

Equipment: Sword of the Elven Blademaster (WP: 10 ;ignores SP, +1 gold per successful strike), Cross Heater Shield (SP: 10) (Mail of the Renegade Commander (SP: 3; Damage of all Free Hits is halved; suitable for Knights and Barbarians), Dapper Hat (Headwear, wearer has a 1/6 chance of becoming encouraged at the start of each battle)

Inventory: Potions (5), Bedroll, Smoke Bomb, Tonic x2, Smoke Bomb, Fire Bomb, Potion, Grand Tonic, Scroll of Sealing, Elixir, Feather Duster of DOOM (WP: 1) Deadly Venom, Decaying Venom

Lycan Romulus Dean (played by theBoyWonder)

Level 15 Rogue *Immune to weakened* *Immune to Stunned*

Power: 35

Health: 19/19

Gold: 751 (95 gold owed to Thormanil and 30 to Loreal)

Equipment: Combrys (WP: 15, consecutive successful strikes raise Combry's WP by 1, unsuccessful strikes drop it to it's base WP), Pugilist Gloves^{(Power +2, protects from weakened)}

Inventory: Bedroll, Staff of The Frog Paladin (WP:6, ^{1/6 chance of Amphibianocs Blessing (protects from damage)}), Throwing Dagger (WP6), Deadly Venom, Venom x3, Sylvania's Cowl^{(grants Animal Talk to Wearer)}, Garnet, Scarlet Hood ^{(Headwear, Power +4, Protects from Stunned)}, Mead, Garnet, Phoenix Essence x2

Galen Woodward (Fugazi)

36 year old male human Rogue

Level 17.5

Power: 27 (17+10)

Defense: 1 (+1)

Health: 27/27 (7+15+4)

Gold: 3257

Equipment: Murkwood Thread (WP: 10), Chimera Headdress (Headwear, Suitable for Rangers and Rogues, +1 SP +4 Health), Stretchy Rubber Band (Accessory, returns thrown weapons immediately)

Inventory: Fauxthril Shuriken (WP:5, ranged), Throwing Dagger (WP:4, ranged), Bedroll, Venom x2, Grand Potion x2, Fire Bomb, Goblin's Wrench(WP:10 ,retrievable), Black Katana (WP:8), Trial Brew x3, Goblin's Wrench (WP:10,retrievable), Cast, Leather Armour (SP:1), Hide of The Wound (+6 power to throwing weapons), Smokebomb, Potion, Mead, Remedy, Soma, Phoenix Essence, Deadly Venom, Plague Venom

"One more *wheeze* battle..."

Punii, 2 month year old Progg Alchemist

Jellies: Red x4, Green x3, Blue x3

"Hmph."

Hal Bohrd, Luosh Guard Captain

Level 19.5

Power: 29

Defense: 3

Health: 36/36

Gold: 50

Equipment: Halberd (WP: 10) Luoshian Armor (SP: 3, Bodywear)

Inventory:

Rolls:

6: Charge! Does damage to the target equal to all conscious party member's WP added together. The special effects in the weapon (such as decay) are not transmitted.

5: Critical Hit: WPx3+Level

Some party members have already downed their obligatory consumable cocktails, knowing that behind the door may very well lay hell itself... you could never know with The Regret. He was a complete enigma, but if the beast was true to his word, then the twisted history of the Proggs would be laid bare. All 7 solemnly stand in front of the gargantuan door, the entryway dwarving them all... the massive door was taller then even Eidolon. Resolute, the party unsheathes their weapons and goes to open the collosol door. The putrid black gas seems to creep out from even the smallest cracks, slithering towards the party... as if trying to pull them in.

"I though this nightmare was over. I had hoped this nightmare was over. But... I guess not. Our final battle could be waiting behind this door, heroes - that beast could easily reduce Luosh to ashes. The only thing stopping him right now is his sick desire to "enlighten" us. If he has ill will against Luosh, Eubric, or anybody... vow to take him down and out."

"This is *wheeze* it, heroes. I'm... I'm kind of scared, really. The Regret is twisted horribly, warped more then any Progg I have ever seen... But he *cough* can't be allowed to hurt another soul."

With that, Johon tries to push open the door... but to no avail. Then Romulus joisnn in, then Galen, then Elgar... one by one, everybody combines their might to open the massive gate, the entry creaking open effortlessly when Punii joins in. Another mind trcik? Nevertheless, the party stares into the inky blackness before them, not a single them discernible in the shadow that had engulfed the Town Hall's interior. Trading nervous waves of good-bye with the Toxiproggs and Beatrice, the party takes a collective deep breath...

and walk into the depths of darkness.

Even when walking into the inky depths of the shadow, nothing was discernible. Not even the party could see each other as they cautiously tread through the darkness. There was nothing... nothing to feel, nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell.

And that was what frightened the heroes most.

It seemed that they had stumbled through the dark void for hours... although they didn't share the feeling, they knew they were all feeling it. Dread engulfed their entire beings, fear plaguing their minds. it almost seemed like they were damned to wander in the void forever when it began to thin... the heroes became visible to each other, and the sickening shadows began to disperse. The immense darkness was immediately replaced by a cold wind, a freezing draft billowing through the entire party. As they shiver, the veil of darkness lifts...

Only for the party to get even more baffled about where they were.

They were now nearly knee deep in snow, Punii once again clinging to Sylph's leg to prevent getting stuck in the white powder. They were outside... but certainly not in Luosh! Above them hung crystal clear night sky, dotted with various constellations. A brilliant streak of shimmering light ran across it,slowly moving in a wave-like formation. Wet, heavy snow fell from the sky in erratic patterns, every square inch of the earth covered in snow. Trees dot the landscape, mounds of the white substance piling up. A small rock ridge ran across in the East, dotted with various shards of ice. A biting wind scattered the snow in every which way, the party becoming colder then ever... Even colder when they were when confronting Rhodus. In the middle of this disturbingly serene scene stood The Regret. He was chuckling softly, apparently unaffected by the freezing climate.

"Welcome, heroes. Enjoying the cold, I take it? You know, this place goes by many monikers, even by its residents... There is a list a mile long of how many names this island has been called. "The Winter Wonderland", "Unending Season Isle", "Pyyroll", "Cryogg", "Island of Four Drafts", "Fahre", "Origin", "Hell", for those who didn't particularly enjoy being a slave here... But. There is one name that sailors use that I think describes this fateful place best.

The Lonely Isle.

This, I suppose, is where this 3,000 year long tragedy began... So welcome, heroes. Welcome to my home. Welcome to our home. Welcome to The Lonely Isle."

Edited March 23, 2013 by Endgame

[Dannylonglegs]

This, I suppose, is where this 3,000 year long tragedy began... So welcome, heroes. Welcome to my home. Welcome to our home. Welcome to The Lonely Isle."

"Aww, how sweet." snarked Sylph grimly. "So after all this time, all you wanted was some company?" he questioned, not quite sure what the progg was getting at. "Wanted someone to fill that little hollow part inside your carapace?"

[Fugazi]

"Punii, I have a feeling that we're not in Luosh any more."

Through frozen lips, Galen managed to mutter some of his thoughts.

"This is much better than a lecture though. Hands on experience. Let's find out what brought the invasion of Uland, why humanity deserved to be wiped off the face of Olegaia."

[Endgame]

"Aww, how sweet." snarked Sylph grimly. "So after all this time, all you wanted was some company?" he questioned, not quite sure what the progg was getting at. "Wanted someone to fill that little hollow part inside your carapace?"

"I sift through my heart and find the kindness to call you one of the sharpest humanoids I've ever met, and yet... now you say this. Do you have ears beneath that piece of scrap metal? I thought I was quite clear previously... I despise you humans. Each and every one of you, sick, diseased beings bent on snuffing out everybody's life and happiness but your own. A plague of destruction and suffering has sprung forth onto Olegaia, and every single human is the host... and all you do is spread it. All you do is cause pain - disputes become arguments, arguments into feuds, feuds into rivalries, rivalries into war. The only way to purge the despicable virus is to unite all humans under one rule.... and yet, it seems impossible. Although your species has been given century after century, millennium after millennium, eon after eon, you still always fail! Your kind has been given more second chances then it ever deserved... the only way to kill this disease is to wipe out each and every creature who carries it!

Your kind took everything from me, you know... riddle me this. If the Mythrogg and his wife, Eve, only had 3 children... where did the rest come from?"

Edited March 24, 2013 by Endgame

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Regret, part of what you say is true, part of it. The humans who enslaved you certainly deserved to die, along with a lot of others. But not ALL humans carry this disease. A bunch of people obviously do not deserve second chances, but there are a ton of innocent people. That's why I joined to stop the progg invasion. If you had a reason and/or a trial for each human killed, then I would not fight you. What you did was not justice, it was genocide. Can you give a reason for EACH AND EVERY human that was killed? All of them. Did you even know their names?"

[Dannylonglegs]

"Your kind took everything from me, you know... riddle me this. If the Mythrogg and his wife, Eve, only had 3 children... where did the rest come from?"

"Hmm." chuckled the ancient Druid. "I was under the impression that the humans made your entire race... But if you weren't all created by humans, then, or birthed from Eve, then who made you? It wasn't the Brothers. They're not they creator types. No. Was it Mythrogg then? Do you all come from him?"

Edited March 23, 2013 by Dannylonglegs

[Fugazi]

Your kind took everything from me, you know... riddle me this. If the Mythrogg and his wife, Eve, only had 3 children... where did the rest come from?"

Galen had a fleeting thought for Beatrice and how she was forced to bear Aquos's progeny. Since Eve gave only birth to three boys, perhaps they were in turn forced to impregnate their mother, or some other barbaric breeding program. If Proggs were only raised as slaves, such procedures were probably regarded as inconsequential by their masters. Where did The Regret fit in?

But no matter how hard he tried, Galen was shivering too much to be able to speak up his thoughts.

[Endgame]

"1,000 year olds making a 3,000 year old. Yes, your logic is absolutely sound.

Haha, no. I already told you... The Gladius Unit you murdered was the second generation. Creating a summon permanently tethered to this world requires all of the resources of a dozen Evokers... an enormous amount of magic, more then most mages uses in a lifetime. The Mythrogg was created first. The humans got incredibly lucky when creating him - after all, this was the first time such an ethereal feat was ever performed. I will confess, our creators were meticulous - they managed to create the Mythrogg correctly. However, one Progg was useless to them - thus, they set to work creating a wife for the Mythrogg. This was far trickier, and it didn't work as well as it should've. For several years, it seemed as if Eve was created just as well as they had hoped... but then they noticed a glaring flaw. Eve couldn't serve the purpose she was created for. Somewhere along the line, the Evokers made a mistake - and Eve was rendered unable to have kids. Despite this, Eve and the Mythrogg loved each other dearly; meant the world to each other. No surprise, considering they were quite literally made for each other. Only until she and her husband were about two-thousand could they give birth to Rhodus, Aquos, and Eidolon in a stroke of luck... Still, a mere three compared to three hundred. But we are skipping a couple thousand years.

Mythrogg and Eve essentially obsolete to them, they went to work once again a mere week after, creating a second pair of Proggs. Re-evaluating their calculations and mustering all of their resources, they performed two more rituals, back to back... and from this Prometheus and his wife, Primii, were born."

The Regret goes into a sadistic fit of chuckling over the party's bewilderment. This wasn't making any sense... how was any of this possible?

"You guessed it, heroes... Prometheus and Primii came out as well as their slavemasters had hoped. And from them, an entire species blossomed from them. The four Proggs, being the original Proggs created from ether alone, eventually banded together to plot to overthrow their tyrannical slavemasters. Thus, the four formed The Gladius Unit... Generation One.

Your ears are not deceiving you, heroes. Every single Progg that you have killed and encountered... Barring the Princes, all of them were descendants of I.

Let it allll sink in..."

[TheBoyWonder]

"Oh god. So you were the true ultimate progg. Not the princes, not even the Mythrogg, you were the greatest? "

[Endgame]

"Am I the ultimate just because I jump started the species? A very controversial question. Mythrogg got the title of king through seniority, and I must confess he did a far better job then I ever could've or would've. We were equals, back then, but I knew he was the better Progg to hold the crown.

Not a single lie was ever written about the Mythrogg. He truly was invincible."

Edited March 23, 2013 by Endgame

[Dannylonglegs]

"Hm." grunted Sylph, pleased. Knowledge was power, after-all. "Ah. That would make sense." He began, slowly. "So it was you. Regret... Who sired this horde, your army of Proggs. And your wife, she birthed them. What became of her?"

[Endgame]

"Not all, mind you. Only about 100 or so. But from there, we only multiplied faster."

The Regret seems to become more attached and as aloof as ever when his wife's fate was mentioned.

"Dead. Killed in the siege - Eve suffered the same fate. By the time she was dead, Primii... we had been divorced, I suppose you could say, for over a thousand years by that juncture. The only contact we had at that point was minimal - her doing. To think... I somehow drove away the one Progg that was made for me... Cruel, cruel fate.

Shall I continue on top the next chapter of our tale?"

[Fugazi]

Galen managed to produce some sounds again.

"But... Aquos, Rhodus, Eidolon... they must have had children with your descendants. Aren't the lineages mixed now?"

[Endgame]

"Rhodus and Eidolon had no son - only Aquos, to leave a heir. Aquos's son will be the only Progg to have that mixed bloodline. Lucky him, woohoo."

Edited March 24, 2013 by Endgame

[Fugazi]

"Lucky I wouldn't say... but he is the heir, after all. What will become of him? He's a mere baby and you hold the power. Or should I wait for the rest of your story before jumping to the conclusion?"

[Endgame]

"Do you not remember seeing the little larva hatch? Hmph. After you lot are dispatched, I may apprentice him... be the father he never had. Heh heh heh..."

[Dannylonglegs]

"Not all, mind you. Only about 100 or so. But from there, we only multiplied faster."

The Regret seems to become more attached and as aloof as ever when his wife's fate was mentioned.

"Dead. Killed in the siege - Eve suffered the same fate. By the time she was dead, Primii... we had been divorced, I suppose you could say, for over a thousand years by that juncture. The only contact we had at that point was minimal - her doing. To think... I somehow drove away the one Progg that was made for me... Cruel, cruel fate.

Shall I continue on top the next chapter of our tale?"

"Ah." noted Sylph, not in the same voice, though, but a sadder, more feminine voice. "How tragic." his voice returned to the grim snarky voice that he'd been using before. "Fate... is indeed cruel." The masked, cloaked, hidden figure spoke. "and now, now you are alone once more. No wife, no Mythrogg or Eve. Not even their siblings. Just you. Alone in a void of power. Yes, let us hear of this new chapter."

[Endgame]

The Regret's eyes narrow into slits over Sylph's constant tirade over remarks. He was unfazed - simply annoyed that the Druid though he could penetrate with his words. The Progg is cloaked in a veil of snow as the frigid draft picks up, freezing the party further.

"Hmph. You think you can simply upset me with your hollow words... I have experienced pain beyond any comprehensible measure, dragged myself through every hell known to Olegaia. Your words are as meaningless as your life, Druid.

Rewind a bit - back to when the members of the first Gladius Unit were all about 800 or so, before I had my fallout with Primii - in fact, before I was The Regret. Back when I was simply Prometheus. We were in the early stages of planning the siege - back then, it was a mere concept that seemed so out of reach. Nevertheless, in the short time we were given between acts of menial labor, we conspired against them. After one of my meetings, I went to go back to the mines... there, I was to dig up gems for those tyrannical spell-slinging bastards. Why? No damn reason whatsoever. They didn't utilize them - they established slave labor just a means of control. That night, my supervisor got a bit more drunk then he was used to. That bastard must've downed an entire keg of booze. Nevertheless, with an opportunity to slip out of "work" presented to me... I got a brazen idea. A foolish idea, a stupid idea.

I broke into the slavemasters' library.

This was no typical, as you would expect - a sprawling source of all arcane knowledge known to them, carefully cataloged. Of all of the pieces of magic I could snatch, one enamored me more then any other type of magic I have ever seen - the forbidden scroll: Animutilav, the mutilator of souls. A cryptic piece of magic - if used on the living, it splits their soul in two. If used on the dead, it can re-tether a soul to a dead body... powerful. Most powerful. By now, most copies have been burned for their devastating power.

Anyway, to continue with our little tale. The next day, with my smuggled piece of dark magic in tow, I went back to my little slave post. I suppose I was skittish - my master remained drunk, but I was overly cautious. I was deep underground, mining for gems for those dictators... and then I made a mistake. I suppose I was nervous - unfocused. Either way, I'm not sure how it happened, but I managed to cave myself in. In a mere second, I had loosened a stone of obsidian and crushed my way out. In a second, I had entombed myself deep itno the world, and not a single damn being, person or progg, would know. It would take them days, weeks, to tunnel me out... and why go to that length? I was just a lowly slave who died on the job.

I... I went mad. Hunger and thirst came over me, gnawing at me always... the isolation whittled me down... all I had was myself, almost a mile beneath the surface. Allk I could do was confront the hellish reality I was in, and accept it. But I didn't. I... I unfurled the Animutilav, studied it for days on end. I would get no sleep, scrutinizing every single detail for hours on end in my madness. Then one day... I did it. I didn't want to die, and I was in dire straits. I was left skeletal from the lack of food, not a scrap of food or a drop of water blessing me for almost two weeks. I was afraid of death. Petrified it. So, in an insane attempt to cheat death I cast Animutilav... on myself.

The repercussions were insant, and the regret immediate. It was excruciating beyond measure - the greatest pain one can feel! Have you ever felt it, heroes...?! To have your very soul ripped and torn into pieces, slowly but surely splitting your spirit, your being, and reducing it to shreds?! It was torture! The pain came quick and escalated even faster... for three days, I wasn't just close to hell - I wasn't just in hell - in those days, I somehow delved into somewhere deeper. All I could do was scream and beg for mercy as the magic I had brought upon myself ripped my very soul apart...

It mutilated by body, as well as my soul. I was reduced to a ghostly pale color, spines emerging from my back and tearing holes in it to emerge... by the time the magic had ran its course, Prometheus was dead. Parts of my soul had drifted into the realm of the dead, while through sheer will I managed to at least keep a portion attached to my now disfigured body. Despite being separated by the greatest distance possible, the pieces of my soul were still able to communicate... and thus, from the Animutilav, the spirit medium Regret was born. Prometheus killed himself that day, and in his tattered corpse only The Regret remained..."

The Regret sighs for a moment, but a hint of maniacal laughter is subtly intertwined within it... he allows the horrifying tale to sink in before he continues.

"After using Animutilav on myself, I was considered dead by my own body. As a result, I didn't grow after the little incident - thus my smaller size, despite my age."

"Unsurprisingly, when I got out of the prison of my own creation, things did not fare better. Primii was, understandably, disgusted by me... I reached out to her, but she wouldn't have it. In her eyes, her husband was Prometheus... And Prometheus was dead. The abomination before her was just a twisted monster, an imposter. In one fell swoop, my life, the very woman who was created so that we could be together, my children, and their descendants... all of them gone, taken away from me. My name sunk into taboo, then legend... soon, my existence became a myth. Little did Progg-kind know it was The Regret that gave them life."

[Dannylonglegs]

Sylph remained silent for a minute after hearing the Regret's next chapter.

"Magic. Unnatural magic such as this." The masked figure spoke in a heavy, cold voice. He started to say something and then stopped, near-anger in his voice. "You and I are nothing alike. How many times did you split your ether-made soul in twain? Was it just the once, or more? It only figures that..." he trailed off from his tirade. He wasn't about to speak his mind after so long for so little an offence. Why did he feel compelled to converse with this ether-born monstrosity as if they were equals? No.

He took a step back from the mad Progg.

"My condolences for your loss." spoke the druid, distantly. "It would appear, however, that your motivation in seeking the destruction of humanity lies not in revenge, as was the case in your misguided nephew, Eidolon, but rather in self-loathing. A far more worthy emotion, I myself confess. Self-Loathing... and regret. Yes, you wield god-like power. Yes, you will likely live forever. But you shall wield and live alone. Not just alone, though, but empty. I was right before, then. You do have a hollow crevasse within yourself." The druid grunted a hmph in what might have been empathy... or pity. "So this is what you brought us here to discover: the truth behind the Progg race and yourself? It is a truly tragic tale. And I wasn't sarcastic earlier when I remarked that Fate is cruel. I agree with you there. There is much sadness in this cold air."

Edited March 24, 2013 by Dannylonglegs