A massive earthquake sends waves of tremors through the lands. You feel like this one is way stronger than many others you've experienced before. You climb on a nearby kopje hill that towers over a valley. You can see the ground moving as if it was made of water, shifting in waves, crashing into each other and causing dust to explode into the air. A shiver under your skin makes you realise how monumentally frightening this is. How is it possible, after all, for the earth to move this way?

Is it the end of times?

With a loud, thunder-like roar, a breathtaking rift rips through the horizon in the final, biggest earthquake. The ground opens like the throat of a gazelle hunted down by a lioness. Massive clouds of dust and dirt shoot into the sky, like an eruption of a dormant volcano.

Watch in dismay

Along with the debris and clouds of dirt, you spot a dark shape lifting itself from the chasm. It is gigantic, and you feel like it is a living being, albeit it's difficult to see. Two red, glowing eyes fixate on you as a loud roar echoes through the valley. Your body feels paralysed, almost hypnotised. You cannot look away, despite the dust eating into your nose and lungs, making every breath a painful experience.

Hold on

A few painful moments pass and you realise the eyes aren't there anymore. Were they ever really there? Maybe it was a hallucination, caused by the gas the earthquake ejected? It would be unwise to stay in this dust, so you force your body to listen and turn back home, coughing and hacking during the journey. The landscape is changed by the rift's eruption. You hope it won't last long.

Go back to your den

There was no sunset today. The dusty sky only got darker... So dark that your feline eyes can barely see the nearby area. Your pride cuddles with you, scared of tomorrow. You feel uneasy, but your words spoken to your family are chosen carefully to assure them that everything will be okay, and that you will protect them. Their warm and soft bodies soothe you and make you sleepy. You succumb to the dreams, as if they were a safe escape from the unknown fate of your pride.

You start dreaming

Your dreams are so lucid, your sleep so deep, that you feel trapped; you can't wake up. You're roaring in anger and fear. You dream of the clouds swirling around the sun and swallowing it. The shapes and colours begin changing into something you don't remember seeing ever before. There's a celestial presence. It's soft, like the whispers of your ancestors, and it finally makes you feel good.

Embrace the dream

When a face begins to morph in the pulsing light, you consciously begin to realise that this is not a dream, but a vision - the lion Sangomas described them in this exact way, but... usually, they needed herbs to achieve this state. You try to embrace the presence and focus on the apparition. You feel like you should... no. You WANT to understand the meaning. You need guidance in this terrifying time, and you feel thankful that this ancestor decided to appear before you. You hear the sound of its voice, coming through like an echo from afar, but the whispering sounds so clear, it's almost as if it were next to your ear.

Listen

"I am not your ancestor, lion," it speaks like it knows your thoughts. "You have dreamt many times before, wherein we spoke of this moment, but I chose for you to not remember. Perhaps it is why you think of me as your kin. I am, however, a god. This is the only state of your mind that can comprehend my presence naturally. My name is Shai, and I am the ancient concept of fate, for your time has come to take your path, as your life has been interrupted by great evil. You need to choose your way, so that you can save yourself and your family with the help of a dormant god. I will describe the paths for you, but you must be aware that although I can reset your path later on, your final fate cannot be changed once you awaken a god to be part of your life forever."

I don't understand

"Listen closely." The god morphs into different shapes in your vision, to help you remember what you saw during the eruption. "You have witnessed the awakening of the Serpent of Chaos. This was not supposed to happen during the great slumber of gods. This is too early; they are weak, forgotten. The Serpent awoke during this time to take advantage of this. Thankfully, the demon is weak as well, but still stronger than living creatures, such as yourself. He wants to kill the sun, to gain power from the darkness and overcome the gods. You looked into his eyes when he arose, binding your fate with his death. You've inhaled his breath, the very first one on this world. You shall inhale his last."

How can we kill the demon?

"You cannot kill the Serpent yourself, but you can awaken the gods whose temples were freed by the rift. There are three beings that could be asked to defeat the chthonic demon, although not all of them are warriors. It is unfortunate that only one of the gods is a skilled fighter - but, with your help, any of them are capable of the task. Once you approach the rift, you will only be able to open one of the temples, so I will present you with a vision of each god. This way, you can choose your path and your ally, along with their gratitude. Listen. At one point in the future, within each temple, you will see an altar dedicated to me. A trance will let you come back in time and do everything all over, as many times as you desire... but that moment will be available only before your final fate is sealed."

Who are the gods?

"Seth, the god of war, the desert, and the power of rage. Bast, the goddess of royalty, light, and life. Anubis, the guide of the dead, the transition of afterlife, and everlasting death. You are lucky to have options, lion. You will be able to awaken a god into a physical vessel, and help it become strong. The vessel will join your fight against the Serpent of Chaos and its minions who swarm the lands."

Tell me about Seth

Tell me about Bast

Tell me about Anubis

I have learned enough

"If you approach Seth, his battle fury will help you smite enemies in battle. He will fight alongside you and deal great damage to your foes. He will reward his servants with tokens related to war, decay, and the desert. His final gratitude will come in the form of a gift for your body: a fur-changing spell, favour of Seth - a coat named Deshret."

Tell me about Bast

Tell me about Anubis

I have learned enough

"If you approach Bast, she will do everything to protect the sun and her loyal friends. She will make sure the enemies will not hurt you badly during battle. She will also reward you with tokens related to royalty and light. Her final gratitude will come in the form of a gift for your body: a fur-changing spell, favour of Bast - a coat named Nefer."

Tell me about Seth

Tell me about Anubis

I have learned enough

"If you approach Anubis, he might be reluctant, for he is not a warrior. He has the great power of death, though, which may help you deal great deadly critical blows in battle. He will reward his priests with tokens related to death and the dark night. His final gratitude will come in the form of a gift for your body: a fur-changing spell, favour of Anubis - a coat named Wepwawet."

Tell me about Seth

Tell me about Bast

I have learned enough

"Good. When you wake up, you will remember everything this time. Be careful, as the Serpent's minions will follow you and attack you. The Serpent saw a lion in his future when he was sleeping; he wants all lions dead, to be safe. Fight off the minions, even though they are strong. Soon, one of the gods will join your struggles and help you become the chosen warrior. Collect Khepri Beetles to trade with Ushabti, the temple servants, so that you can acquire rewards from the royal tomb chambers. You should visit the rift when you wake up. Think of your options. Choose a path. Help the god you want to side with, restore their power, get stronger, and then smite the Serpent of Chaos - or else he will swallow the sun." Shai's voice fades away.

The dream is collapsing

You open your eyes. Your body is violently twitching. The vision is over, but you're sure it wasn't all just a dream; the sky, even in daylight, is dark and grim, just like it was when you were falling asleep. You spot dark, slithering snakes circling your den. Perhaps it would be best to check out the temples right now.

Go to the rift

You walk back to the chasm. The spot where the Serpent rose from smells of sulphur and has begun filling with lava. You run your eyes along the crumbling cliffs. It's difficult to miss the tall obelisk in the distance, overshadowing dozens of temples uncovered by the earthquakes. You spot many more obelisks that just didn't quite make it. Below them, some temples are collapsed completely. Some are entirely inaccessible, but, just like Shai had said, three gates appear to be untouched... Still, there are no bridges, and everything is destroyed. They are unreachable.

Look around

There seems to be no other way. There are no paths, and nowhere to climb safely. You sit down and contemplate how to reach any of the temples, until the sun creeps out of the clouds and casts a shadow. Of course. You need to tip the obelisk to create a bridge. Indeed, it does mean that you can choose only one god to awaken, as there will be no way to access the other temples. Shai mentioned you could go back in time to pick a different path, in case the god you've chosen is not what you've expected. So, which temple will you tip the obelisk towards?

Seth

Bast

Anubis

Choosing Seth temporarily locks you into doing essence quests with Seth, up until Chapter 2 opens, at which point you may either do daily quests with Seth or choose another deity.

Aligning with Seth means that once the Battle Buddies perk unlocks, Seth will add +3 Damage to each of your successful attacks against Chthonic Snakes. You will also be able to purchase items from the Temple of Seth, and, if you choose to stay with Seth in Chapter 3, you will earn the base applicator exclusive to his storyline.

Choosing Bast temporarily locks you into doing essence quests with Bast, up until Chapter 2 opens, at which point you may either do daily quests with Bast or choose another deity.

Aligning with Bast means that once the Battle Buddies perk unlocks, Bast will frequently heal you for +5 HP when you are battling Chthonic Snakes. You will also be able to purchase items from the Temple of Bast, and, if you choose to stay with Bast in Chapter 3, you will earn the base applicator exclusive to her storyline.

Choosing Anubis temporarily locks you into doing essence quests with Anubis, up until Chapter 2 opens, at which point you may either do daily quests with Anubis or choose another deity.

Aligning with Anubis means that once the Battle Buddies perk unlocks, Anubis will occasionally hit an NPC for +20 Damage when you are battling Chthonic Snakes. You will also be able to purchase items from the Temple of Anubis, and, if you choose to stay with Anubis in Chapter 3, you will earn the base applicator exclusive to his storyline.

Go back.

Proceed to the Essence Quests.

Page managed by

Shad

Page last edited on 10 June 2023.
This page has been viewed 9404 times.