Memories of death, rebirth, and every day in between replayed themselves until he could no longer make sense of who, or what he was. Eli could no longer understand the very basic premise of being; he was nothing more than a figment of his imagination. Something was stripping him raw, mind, and soul, only to rebuild and break him again.
Is this what death is like? The thought stretched out over an imperceivable amount of time if the concept even applied.
New visions became his reality, as images of his once familiar family dying, streamed into his consciousness. Each horrific scene brought with it another twisted visage of death and horror. His broken psyche could not comprehend the very basic principles of life, death, and compassion. After watching his family die for the hundredth time, he asked questions. As he attempted to speak, his voice did nothing but echo through his mind. Who are these people? He didn’t want an answer. They can’t be my family. The memory like illusions showed the once happy family being burned alive, stuck inside of their cabin. Eli watched the visions with an absolute lack of awareness, as the flesh he knew was his own melted and stripped muscle to bone.
“Is this my personal hell?” he tried to whisper, but no sound came forth. There was nothing there to make it.
Eric tried to escape, only to find he had no physical form. His body had vanished. His entire existence was incorporeal. With no way to maneuver, he screamed at the barriers of his mind, finally realizing that he was trapped in the void. A new piece of him died as each image of different lives and deaths replayed relentlessly. His memories unfurled like a ball of a thousand threads. The silence crushed him, its weight immense and unavoidable. He roared into the black expanse before him, but again the sound only existed in his mind. He would break soon, he knew it.
Eli was warped under the pressure of complete dissociation and nothingness. The memories he saw were his alone; he had lived and died only once. He still remembered his one and only life, its end burned into his very being. It had ended at the hands of interlopers from some unknown world.
What were they called again, he thought, Adventurers?
There was no rebirth for the citizens of this world, only life, and death, and he had been born on Entarra. Eli knew he would not be returning. A few people told stories of citizens coming back from the grave, knowing nothing of how they died. These were considered myths and legends. They were nothing more than tales told by the bored, insane, or attention-seeking. Eli dismissed the hopes immediately.
His memory flashed to the point of his death, his real death, and everything stopped. The memories faded as the darkness overtook him, nothing but a shattered subconscious left behind. How long have I been here, he asked himself. The thought had crept into his mind at some point, but he could not focus on it for long. More fleeting thoughts began flickering in and out of existence, each filling him with dread. How long will I be here? How did I get here? What is this place? Where is my family? Before long, Eli’s stream of consciousness was only the ramblings of a madman, focusing on those that killed him.
As his mind twisted, something entirely new took shape in the depths of his subconscious. An image of a world filled with wondrous buildings, each crafted from nearly invisible glass and strange metal. Their tips split the clouds like rakes through the sand. Explosions rocked part of the large city, and strange crafts launched to the stars disappearing into the sky. The carriage sized crafts rocketed through a vast expanse of space filled with moons, a single sun, and clouds of meteors that were all so very foreign. Eli’s mind focused on a single wayward machine, zooming through space to give him a clear view of an odd-looking symbol. A man with a strange visor over his eyes and a massive sword in his hands. What is this?
The craft arrived at a vaporous gateway the size of a large moon. As Eli looked over the doorway, he noticed that it was still floating. Everything in the universe moved, even the smallest particles. Yet here, this object sat, unyielding to the forces of nature. Twin pillars made of luminous gases, star-dust, and an immense viscous-looking shadow surrounded an ominous set of double-doors. The massive barriers were made of what could only be described as nothingness. It was as if passing through them would remove one’s very soul. There was nothing behind the entryway, only empty space.
Eli’s vision switched focus, closing in on the doors themselves as his awareness grew closer. Indestructible looking chains wrapped around the object on all sides. They seemed to be made by blending magic with metallurgy. Each link was made from a strange substance similar to what Eli had always imagined pure mana to resemble. Bolted through by what he only could guess was magical steel, each length of the chain was held together in an unbreakable looking bond. Suddenly, the chains shook and stretched, sending bolts of lightning into the heavens.
The intensity of the struggle between whatever was trying to escape, and its restraints caused the strange chains to blaze with the fury of a newborn Sun, yet they held. Each end of the chain was attached to an altar formed of hundreds of gemstones. Varying types of large precious rocks had been shaped to fit together perfectly. At its center sat a mesmerizing crystalline globe with several landmasses and oceans etched lightly into its surface. A hint of motion swirling at its core caught Eli’s eye as a set of twelve worlds, similar in shape, and size danced around each other. Before Eli could get a better look, they began shifting.
Suddenly, a dark, seemingly tangible, aura filled Eli’s mindscape with pure dread. The fear drew his attention back towards the gate, like an obedient dog. A singular small crack had opened in the center of the doors. The hairline fracture of the seal released an awareness from its eternal captivity. A tendril of smoke trickled out, like the last signs of a dying fire reaching for Eli’s consciousness. This entity had noticed his presence and called out to him.
“Break these chains, and you will be set free,” A harsh ghastly whisper broke into Eli’s mind, “Your world is not what you think.” More wisps of smoke seeped from behind its prison. It boomed, “Release Me,” before it's telepathic calls grew more sympathetic. “Eli, you must find the truth. You must find yourself. But for now, your time here is finished.”
An outside force snapped him away from the strange vision. Something was preventing him from seeing more. Moments later, Eli forgot the encounter, as each moment trickled out of his mind like water from a leaky faucet. Somehow his memories were being quietly erased while space whirled around him. The image in his mind-scape suddenly shifted back to the vision of the strange planet from which he started. A large city laid sprawling before him, busy, noisy, and always moving. Memories of names and places crept back to Eli.
People rode bicycles across a bridge that he knew as the Burnside. How he knew these things escaped him, as the scenes of daily life unfolded below. Everything slowed, and the scenery changed, settling on a tall opulent building. Slipping through walls and other solid objects, he found himself inside a room at the top of a tall building in the center of the sprawling metropolis. Each door and window had all been sealed from the inside. The sight of an egg-shaped pod, which looked like an odd casket in the center of the room, large enough to fit one person comfortably, calmed him. One simple decoration could be found, a picture frame, sitting on a small metal desk next to the large capsule. Every other object had a purpose, some utility, and nothing was out of place.
What is this place? He thought, a hint of remembrance edging its way into his mind. His insubstantial form shifted slightly as he looked through another person’s eyes. He did not know who this man was, and the idea frightened him. Am I possessing someone, he thought. Am I a ghost? Unable to escape his new vantage point, he panicked and began trying to move. Getting no response, he relaxed, thinking it was just another dream. The scene played out before him as familiar-looking hands lifted the picture frame into view, and everything changed.
A portrait of Kata, Eric, Savanna, and himself sat in a simple, yet elegant looking, wooden frame. They were standing atop a bridge, surrounded by trees, being spr
ayed with the cool mists of a waterfall. A large pool of crystal clear water sat below them, pouring spilling its contents into a small stream. They looked happy. His family looked at peace as the massive waterfall drenched their backs. Each one was smiling and holding each other. Eli felt elated at the sight of his family and this strange picture before him.
His eyes traveled upward and fixed on two words carved in intricate lettering on the frame, "Multnomah Falls." The words brought a pang of guilt, sorrow, and immense loss that he could not determine were his own, or from memory. Was this my family? He couldn’t remember. They looked so different. Their impractical foreign clothing was wet from head to toe, but each had a smile plastered to their face. At that moment, Eli knew that he would give anything to find his way back to that place. He had to, even if it meant traveling to another world or clawing his way back from death to reach them. Yet, as abruptly as the vision came, it vanished, leaving hints of joy and sadness behind.
What lingered was enough to burn an after image into Eli’s subconscious, antipodal to the one left behind by his family’s killers. The looks in their eyes, their happiness, and the agony of losing them had been etched into his very soul. The visage dispersed as he pounded on his mental barriers, trying to get back to the lost image, trying to get back to them, before his world returned to the infinite darkness. His screams were rewarded with a strange scrolling golden text, snapping him from his fury.
Has this been here the whole time? He could not tell if everything he had just experienced happened. The process felt like a thousand lifetimes but could have taken only an instant. To him, it seemed more like a dream, or a nightmare, than reality.
Error: Please wait.
Error: Character re-creation failed…
Restarting sequence…
Error: Unable to restart sequence…
Improper character assignment detected…
Loading character profile…
Error: Unable to load character profile…
Profile modified…
Character type modified…
Adjusting to modifications…
Character re-creation initiated…
Character re-creation failed…
New character sequence initiated…
New character creation successful…
Error: Unable to seed artificial intelligence…
Artificial intelligence overridden by consciousness elements…
Loading consciousness elements from source file…
Consciousness elements loaded…
Merging elements…
Merger completed…
Resetting skills and level…
Error: Unique quest items found on character…
Starting items replaced…
Launching creation sequence…
The text crawled to an end, exploding into a brilliant white flash, followed by a booming voice that filled the expanse like a thunderclap, “Welcome Adventurer!” The crisp, clear voice said as if exploding from all directions. The words filled Eli with panic and uncertainty. “Destiny awaits you.”
The haze of light faded and flashed in the distance, like a far-off star on a clear summer night. A sudden sensation filled Eli’s body, warmth, followed by the tingle of a thousand pinpricks. His mind raced towards the now blinding light on its own accord, causing it to expand and take shape. Trying to investigate where the strange sensation came from, he looked down. Breathless gasps attempted to escape a nonexistent mouth, as his familiar body was remade into something new—an ever-shifting form of vapor and flickering starlight encapsulated by a thin barrier of radiant mana.
My body’s been replaced by an entire fucking universe? Eli thought, as planets, stars, and black holes swirled around in a delicate dance, each trapped within his new form. Stunned and unable to think, Eli barely noticed being sucked into the atmosphere of a strange, yet familiar world. As panic took hold, a strange feeling washed over him. He felt as if his emotions had been muted. Anger, fear, and unease blended into a strange, but bearable, sensation of discomfort.
Before he had time to think, the firm, steady voice filled his world yet again, “This is entarra,” floating effortlessly, Eli sat high above a raging battle, unable to fully grasp the situation. “Where nations battle over strongholds with immense power. Each vying for control while the destiny of billions hangs in the balance.” The voices resounded as if its words were law.
Golden skinned Cloud Elves, with long silver hair, fought tirelessly against muscular, gray-skinned, orcs with large protruding horns. Massive, crude, trebuchets stood haphazardly in an expanse of muddy trampled grassland. Cottage sized boulders soared over hastily dug trenches landing in a nearby forest, snapping full-grown oaks as if they were saplings upon impact.
A horde of what Eli knew were forest elves hid in the treeline of the dense woods that bordered the once pristine meadow. They stood stoically, recurve bows in hand, firing sharply barbed arrows into any troll, orc or goblin unwise enough to get within range. As the archers fired, their beast companions guarded their flanks against threats.
One Orc, clad in black iron plate mail, sat atop a large makeshift watchtower near the center of the clearing. His presence exuded dominance, causing the very air around him to shift. Surrounded by goblins, with large calling horns, he lifted one arm and pointed. A massive bellow drowned out the sounds of battle, as a cluster of ogres split in two, then charged. The earth trembled, as the twin packs of eight-foot-tall monsters rushed toward the woods, straight for the wolves and bears that protected their archer companions. Massive clubs and crude axes bounced in their hands as they ran towards their enemy. Their massive legs swallowed ground as they hurdled into danger in a frenzy, drawing closer every second.
In response to the orcs, the elves sounded a call of their own, a musical flare of trumpets that sprang forth from a contingent of banner-men. The melody sounded like a well-orchestrated symphony when compared to the loud call of their enemies. Arrows burst from the treeline, filling the sunlit sky, nearly turning the world below black with shadow. The battle seemed to pause as orcs, trolls, and goblins looked up in awe of the impressive display of military discipline. Then death rained down on the bullish humanoid cavalry.
Yet, their volley did next to nothing to stop the fevered charge of brutish ogres, only causing one of the fifty massive creatures to fall. Arrows sprouted from its eyes, as brain-matter leaked from its wounds. The ogres’ simple but thick armor repelled the arrows as if children fired them. They would be upon the lanky elves in moments, flushing them out of the safety of the pines.
A heartbeat later, a second slightly different call came from the band of trumpeters, this time with a touch of bells. The sound was reminiscent of a hundred birds chirping in unison, signaling danger. If Eli had not seen the men and women playing the bells himself, he would have thought they had a flock of trained birds. Not a moment later, a group of shorter, sturdier, and much wilder looking Plains Elves burst into the once pristine glade. Each rode atop massive woolly mammoths, exploding from the treeline to greet the Ogres on the field. Their long wild hair, in shades of red and brown, flew behind their unprotected heads, free as the wind. Each of the strangely savage, but beautiful looking elves, urged their gargantuan animals forward without fear. Memories of Kata crept back to Eli as the beasts rushed to battle. He stared at the wonderful mammoths, each adorned in iron helms, with curved sharply tipped tusks protruding from each side. Smiling, the riders shook sturdy reigns, causing their mounts to lower their heads to prepare for brutality.
The appearance of the Elven Cavalry sent the Stonekin army into a frenzy as a throng of Orcs carrying large axes rushed to the edge of the woods. Their Goblin cousins ran to support them with well-engineered crossbows, firing quickly, protecting their taskmasters. A wall-like formation of Cloud Elves, wielding intricately crafted shields, greeted the tsunami-like horde of enemies with fine steel spears. Their armor glistened hazily when struck by the sun as if it wer
e made of thousands of tiny water droplets. Each of the Elves’ faces were cold and emotionless as they met their foe. Blue-skinned Mist Elves healed the Elven wounded from the back lines, while protected by magical shielding. The battle met a crescendo as flesh was torn asunder, the sound of metal on metal filling the air.
“This is a world filled with battle, glory, and bloodshed,” the booming voice returned like an explosion, as a third army appeared. Humans, Dwarves, Gladekin, and the mysterious fey creatures known as Aosai formed yet another front. Both armies stopped fighting long enough to steal a glimpse of the approaching military. “Will you choose the path of war, strength, and glory?”
The scene shifted as the world spun, locking on a small makeshift port city in the far eastern reaches of the continent. Even in its infancy, the town was filled to the brim with industry. Time quickened as years seemed to pass in an instant, soon the city became an expanse of commerce and trade.
“Entarra is vast and bountiful; its economic centers flow with immense wealth and opportunity.” The deep voice spoke as if narrating a story.
Ships filled with goods and adventurers of every sort left the safety of the large port to seek their fortunes. Humans, Dwarves, and even the small childlike Gladekin crowded the streets going about their lives. People were selling goods and purchasing weapons, while others thieved from those unwise enough to let their guard down. As time rapidly moved forward yet again, a massive castle seemed to spring from the earth near the center of the now sprawling metropolis.
Ascension Page 4