The Auspex's Last Words

Campaign: Bound

Chapter 5 / 4-4

The Auspex's Last Words

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In Low Spirits

Summary

The prince secures a pact with Zodiark—who now hosts his father's soul—but Zethia is lost and her double defeated. Now in possession of Zethia's body, the Other claims that she is the new empress.

Dialogue

Euden, my son... You've grown strong... Father! I am he, yet I am not. I am Zodiark, the Shadowwyrm. I am he who waltzes in the black... I am darkness incarnate... And I am soul-fused with your fallen father! From this moment on, I will be your shadow, ever vigilant and protective! It is sealed. The prince now holds pacts with all surviving Greatwyrms. Stop, Other! The Greatwyrms are with me now, and you will go no farther! I suppose that DOES explain the noise. Still, you've come racing to your death, freshly pactbound to that sorry corpse. But no matter. Compared to the grand change awaiting the world, your existences are meaningless. Release Zethia! Impossible. I am she, and Zethia is me. We are one and the same being. And with that, a new era begins. A new world dawns, filled with otherworldly life, fed by the corpses of the deceitful dragons, and watered by the Flow Eternal. GrrrrROAAAR! What'n the hell is THAT thing?! I ain't never seen a fiend that big before! That's a manticore! A primeval fiend! But...we wiped them out. How did this one survive?! Oh, it didn't survive... It has returned! Then these ruins... Indeed! It was born anew thanks to the power that had long been sealed away in this place! The taint here churned and thickened until I laid claim to the Auspex's body and set its true form free. Such ruins are scattered across this land... and soon dark life will spring forth from each and every one! And once the final seal is broken, a flood of fiends will wash over everything! The Flow Eternal! The Flow Eternal... Then you would set loose on these lands all the corruption that lies below! Correct! And yes, there will be some annoying self-styled ＂heroes＂ who rise up and attempt to stop it... But I will claim this land, remake it as my empire, and tear those threats out by the throat! That is the true purpose of the Dyrenell Empire—to defend the Flow Eternal! In a few centuries' time, all who inhabit this land will worship me utterly. That grand transformation begins now! I will right this twisted world and reforge it into the one it was meant to be! Your world is broken! You speak of righting wrongs, yet even now the Empire causes innocent people to suffer! Alas, this is a necessary step in correcting a world so far distorted. You are wrong. Stop this madness... No right can come of...such suffering... Is this...another Zethia?! You... Aaah ha ha! What do you think you can do, broken and powerless as you are? I have lost...everything... But I have power enough left to send them far from here! Wait! What are you— Forgive me. My journey ends in failure; I was unable to avert a future of misery. But next time... If I might be granted just one more chance... Etch these words into your heart, Brother, for there will come a time when you must decide. Do not worry about my life. Seek the Dawnshard for your own. And please...live. Zethia?! ZETHIA! She's gone... But no matter. All is fated. Come forth, vassal! I await your command, Highness. Issue a proclamation across all Grastaea... The king is dead—long live the empress! For all Grastaea will now bow before her TRUE ruler: Empress Zethia, Auspex of the Nether!