This time, in the spot where you met Tefnut before, it's Apedemak that sits on the cliff. As you approach, your eyes shift briefly, looking for the sunset lioness. It seems she's somewhere else today, perhaps resting within the cave den, or hunting under the cover of night. The sky is glittering with stars... Maybe that's why Apedemak chose to be here tonight.

As you sit down next to the Celestial King, he gives you a very cold, tired look. He doesn't look like his usual self. Perhaps the falling kingdom is concerning him.

"I've been watching. I see all. I see that absolute pathetic excuse for a lion hitting on my daughter. Can you see what they're doing right now?!"

You wince your eyes, checking the surroundings around you carefully. It's just the two of you on the cliff, and the vast landscape below.

No, I don't

Yes, absolutely

"What?! How can you not see? It's right there, near this filthy waterhole!"

Apedemak points at a distant, barely visible shape between hills. You've never even realized there was a waterhole. Huh.

"She's carelessly wasting her precious, untainted bloodline with this vile creature she calls her boyfriend."

"So it's not only me! I had a feeling I could trust you! Menhit should know better than that! A princess should never mingle with filth from the lands of fire, far beyond Africa."

Apedemak snarls, sounding like an evil character from a fairytale. Maybe he's just a protective father? It can take a long time to trust a foreign lion.

"Menhit is my precious daughter. I spent centuries on selective breeding to produce a Skyward coat so pure it almost emits light. I have great plans for her, and no giant-chinned asshole will ruin it!"

You raise your eyebrows, wondering if Apedemak is really just a protective dad, or maybe a very cold breeder of celestial lions.

"[NAME], I know your name, everyone knows your name. You're a very, very brave warrior. I want you to fight Apollyon in explore and win a fight with him! Tell him Apedemak sends you."

"Defeat Apollyon in explore and tell him I sent you!"

"Ha ha! I saw you beating his useless ass. That will teach the bastard. These are for you, my promising henchman."

Apedemak grins at you and leaves, mumbling he'll see you another time.

As you rest on the cliff, watching the sun slowly rise on the horizon, a faint rustling sound catches your ear. You peek over your shoulder to notice Menhit approaching you, with a very concerned look on her face.

"[NAME] ... Did my father make you do it? Did he make you fight my boyfriend? He really is just... overprotective. There's no need to beat up anyone, I am sure everything will calm down some day. He's manipulating you, just as he does with everyone else. I... I promise you, Apollyon has a good heart. Talk to him, and you will understand."

You nod your head, thinking. If you meet with Menhit and Apollyon, Apedemak will surely be displeased. Or you could just meet Apollyon to beat him up again and suck up to Apedemak a bit more. He did reward you, after all.

Follow Menhit (Apedemak's reputation will reset)

Deceive (Menhit's reputation will reset)

You follow Menhit until you reach a secret meadow. In the light of dawn, it looks very cozy, and the morning breeze feels refreshing after a humid, hot night. Apollyon is chilling on trodden grass, waiting for Menhit. He stands up to respectfully welcome you.

"I believe we should properly introduce ourselves after that fight. Greetings, I am Apollyon, the Firelord of Burning Lands, deep within the crests of Azerbaijan. Don't be alarmed by my fiery paws, I am a worshipper of the sun, and it granted me a special power for higher purpose by turning me into a form of the Efreet demons - or a Firelord, in short."

He seems very portentous, but nothing can intimidate you. You exchange the introduction, along with your title, since he had to be so official himself.

"Why do you think for centuries that everyone celebrated the sun? It defeats the cold of the night and its fearsome darkness. Apedemak's heart is full of darkness, and I was CHOSEN to overthrow his cruel reign. The sun will rise in the celestial sky once again."

You peek at Menhit, who sits behind Apollyon. She's just staring into the distance, perhaps bored by hearing this story over and over again or maybe she's just listening to his voice, charmed. Apollyon continues, thrilled that he can explain his purpose to somebody new.

"His madness and reckless choices are turning the Celestial Kingdom into ruins. The sky cracks and crumbles, and as shards of it fall, the whispers of your ancestors no longer have a safe place to spend eternity at. I will bring this all to an end. When it all burns down, I will restore the Celestial Kingdom into a Kingdom of the Sun, and Menhit will be my queen. I will trust her with all decisions, as nobody knows their own kingdom better than its princess. I seek no power. I seek only to purge the blight that Apedemak brings. He lost his right to the throne the moment he started putting his own purposes over the good of the kingdom."

You take a deep breath. That guy surely is passionate about this whole thing. Menhit looks at you, but her gentle smile suggests that Apollyon's obsession is less scary than Apedemak's madness. Or maybe just the outcome.

Apollyon smirks at you, shaking his head.

"It's not that grim, [NAME]. It happened in the past before. Sometimes the destruction of a rotten object is needed in order to start anew. It is a very big challenge for me though, as Apedemak is a god, or at least some form of a powerful creature. I wouldn't even dream of doing this if Menhit wasn't helping me. She knows him very well: his weaknesses, as well as his good sides, of which seem to be diminishing. If his own royal subjects and family are done with him, I think I am only doing the right thing, don't you agree?"

You nod slowly, as Menhit nods with you.

"He has a good heart," she rubs against his chin and looks at you softly, "I don't even care if we take the Celestial Kingdom or not. I can even live with my Apboo in the Burning Lands, as long as it's with him. But if he has a dream, I'll help him with his dream," she smiles, sitting in front of you.

Apollyon rolls his eyes playfully and shrugs.

"If I don't succeed, I won't let Menhit suffer from her father's control issues and unreasonable demands. We'll settle down somewhere either way. Will you help us, though? In case we need you?"

You look at both of them and surely have no other choice but to help the young couple. Apedemak is kind of a big asshole. A supermassive one.

You spend a short while with the couple, listening to Menhit's jokes and giggling at the dirtiest ones. You interject with some ridiculous stories from your pride, as Menhit tries to braid your tail with Apollyon's. She's a very easy-going young lioness and definitely enjoys her time away from home. They seem so nice together, maybe you could convince Apedemak some day that this isn't a bad idea. If they will leave the Celestial Kingdom alone, why not just... Let them be?

Return home

You follow Menhit until you reach a secret meadow. In the light of dawn, it looks very cozy, and the morning breeze feels refreshing after a humid, hot night. Apollyon is chilling on trodden grass, waiting for Menhit. He stands up to respectfully welcome you.

"I believe we should properly introduce ourselves after that unfortunate fight. I am Apollyon, the Firelord of Burning Lands, deep within the crests of Azerbaijan. Don't be alarmed by my fiery paws, I am a worshipper of the sun, and it granted me a special power for higher purpose by turning me into a form of the Efreet demons - or a Firelord, in short."

He seems very portentous, and it pisses you off. You snarl and inform him that Menhit belongs to Apedemak's pride. The two of them exchange a look, and Apollyon steps forward.

"You're just very mistaken. We're done here."

You seek Apedemak's cave, knowing he hides there when the sun comes up. Indeed, you spot him there in the darkness. He's staring at the wall in a very disturbing manner, with his face very close to the rocky surface. When you look closer, you notice faint sigils drawn all over the wall. Is he speaking to beings from another world? Are they dangerous? You cough quietly to make yourself known.

"[NAME]! I saw you talking to my daughter. Do you wish to disgrace her as well?"

He snarls, looking at you. You just shake your head and explain that she tried to convince you that Apollyon is a good guy, but you kicked his ass one more time, right in front of Menhit. Apedemak stands up as his face brightens with delight.

"You did WHAT? You humiliated that buffoon in front of my daughter? How perfect is that! You surprise me, young man. You and your pride will be close to my heart now that I know I can trust you. I will make sure nothing harms you. Oh yes, yes! Let me reward your actions, after all, you should know that the Celestial King never lets his subjects down."

"You're just very mistaken. We're done here."

Apedemak lets you stay inside his cave for a while, showing you a collection of skulls and odd mummies that you have never seen before. All of them are glistening with a soft blue whispering light.

These artifacts mesmerize you as you listen to Apedemak's long chant about how the energy of lion souls can be manipulated into a powerful magic. How he can store the whispers into crystals, using them to charge his spells and twist newborn souls into his vision. You are not sure if he's just inventing things and believes them to be true.

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