Resurgent Despair

Campaign: Resurgent Despair

Chapter 10 / 6-2

Resurgent Despair

Previous Quest

The Netherwyrm's Roar

Next Quest

A New Vow

Summary

With Alberius defeated, the prince swears to carry on his will. But after Morsayati regains his full power, he convinces the prince's siblings to join his malicious cause.

Dialogue

Clave Loy'elune Urrrrrgh... Freedom...at long last... And yet my duty is incomplete... Enough, Your Majesty. You fought and suffered to the very end; you have done more than enough. Cleo's right. The people of this world believed in you, and you repaid that faith by granting them peace. I swear to you here and now, we will never let the hope you've given us be wasted. Thank you...Euden... Is...Zodiark with you...? I stand before you, O king. I wish for you to have the power entrusted me by Chthonius... I shall protect this powerful mana for all time in the form of a shadow dracolith. P-please... So you are finally shuffling off this mortal coil, eh, Alberius? How sad that you must fall by the hand of your own descendants! Morsayati! Allow me to thank you for putting an end to Alberius, dear brother. I want no thanks from you! Still, with that dragon defeated, you will probably want an explanation about what happened to the portion of me that was trapped inside Alberius, mmm? But now that Alberius is gone, that should be... Oh, but this is simply TOO much, Brother. Did you truly think that would be enough to destroy the majesty that is me?! Did you actually believe your meager strength would be enough to defeat the essence of all that I am?! Look there! It's Morsayati's core what we saw in the monument vision! And now, at long last, the greatest part of me can finally return to the whole! Behold the hour of my rebirth! It has been so very long... Ha ha! Aaaaaah ha ha ha ha ha! At last, I am whole once more! By the goddess, his mana is ghastly! My body shakes... My hands tremble... Fie, but I fear this thing down to the very depths of my soul... Just lookin' at it makes me wanna pass out... I think I'm gonna hurl, guys... Forgive me, Euden. Zodiark? I know well that the body before us was once that of the Auspex. But I cannot stand idly by and do nothing with this monster possessing the full measure of its power. For the sake of the vow I swore long ago, I must act! Graaaargh! Zodiark, no! Don't harm Zethia! Aaaah ha ha! Oh, what a mother hen you are, my dear brother! Zodiark's attack did nothing! I told you, I am whole once more. But perhaps you need to be shown precisely what this means... You should have simply obeyed me, Shadowwyrm. But now, your only reward will be pain! Graaaoorgh! He took Zodiark down with a single blow... Disappointing, Shadowwyrm. That wasn't even half my power. Feel the depths of your foolishness for daring to raise your hand against me! Return to nothingness! Return to DUST! No! I won't let you do that! Ha ha ha ha! You would stand in my way even knowing the full extent of my power? I am almost impressed, little prince. Therefore, I give you an opportunity: Swear fealty to me and live. Why would I ever do that?! Oh, and this is an open offer to both you AND all of your siblings. What?! No! Leonidas, you can't be considering this! To stand supreme astride the world, one must possess the greatest power IN that world. I have always thought thus. So you'll serve a tyrant just because they have power?! I serve no one—I simply fight at their side in order to lay waste to the old ways. Once this is concluded, we will surely vie for supremacy. And you, Phares?! I have no interest in either a kingdom or the concepts of good and evil. I seek only to follow the path that satisfies my inquiring mind. Chelle! You said you'd cooperate with us, remember?! Surely you won't do this! I said that in PRIVATE, dear brother! *sigh* You have much to learn about diplomacy. Sadly, no promise lasts forever. Let that be your lesson for the day. And Valyx! You would obey the Empire even knowing the truth of the Other? The kingdom cannot be sundered. And a world ruled by inviolable, absolute power is a peaceful one...in its own way. Emile! This can't be what you want! I'll not be lectured by someone of YOUR standing, Euden! Every last one of you has treated me like a piece of moldy gutter trash! The Other can smash this world to bits for all that I care! Do you see the truth of it now, Euden? You stand alone. It...it doesn't matter! I will carry on Alberius's will! I will bring peace to— I believe you misunderstand my goals. You mortals are free to have whatever kind of peace you desire. What do you mean? Despite what you seem to think, I do not wish to inflict suffering upon people. In truth, I am rather indifferent to the joy or pain of your individual lives. But if seeing your fellow mortals enjoy a free and happy life is important to you, I could easily see this thing done. Oh, sure! Like we'd believe THAT line of crap comin' from you! Do you feel empathy for every gnat that lives in your forest, sylvan? Do you invest yourself fully in the existence of each worm that crawls in the dirt? That's TOTALLY not the same! I hate to agree with this guy when he's bein' a total jackass, but he might have a point. I mean, to him, we mortal types ain't nothin' more than ants, yeah? If you wish it to be done, I will order all fiends to stand down and end any remaining human conflicts. This perfect world is yours for the taking, and it will cost nothing but your reverence. What possible reason could you have to refuse this offer? A perfect world... "Let's live happily together once more, Brother." Ah! Surely this is what your sister desires as well, yes? Zethia... I would hear your response now. Will you swear all fealty to me? Will you revere me above all others? Never! What? Why would you fight me when I have offered you a perfect world? Because the world won't be perfect if Zethia isn't in it! You would cast aside true peace for all creatures of the world in exchange for the life of a single person? Zethia means absolutely everything to me, and I could never live in a kingdom built on the bones and ashes of her sacrifice. I desire to live in a world where people protect those they love! I won't live in a world where people are forced to crawl upon their knees in order to seek out YOUR protection! I'll never agree to a world like that! Aaaah ha ha ha! Oh, but you DO resemble Alberius right now. Very well then, Euden! Ready yourself! Henceforth, you will face off against all those with whom you share blood! Be that as it may, I WILL save this world. What magnificent resolve! But let's see if you can even flee this particular area before we start talking about "the world." Urk! What now, Your Highness? Hmm. Perhaps it would be best for me to end this here and now. Entrust the future of this world to your dear sister, Euden! Entrust it to ME! I...will not allow it! Your Majesty! I will not...let the light of hope fade... With what power remains to me... I will spirit you away from this place... Let go, old man. The more you hang on, the more you suffer. Urrgh! I leave this world to you, Euden! And I WILL protect the dream you fought so long for! Thank you... Farewell, Euden... Farewell...Cleo. No! Farewell to...my beloved world... No! Noooooo! ...Hmph. An unexpected trifle, but a trifle nonetheless. Besides, it should make for fine sport to watch this family tear itself apart! Come, descendants of Alberius! Follow your new master! AAAAH HA HA HA HA HA!