[Champion Lore] Tale of the Cat and the Mouse
Hey all, this is a story I've written about my new champion concept, Syril the Lightbringer. The main page is here.
I press and shove my way through the crowd. More people than I thought showed up, unfortunately. It's going to make my job a little bit harder. I get as close as I can to the stage before the people become a solid wall. Craning my neck, I see the man who until now was just a voice resonating throughout the underground hideaway. He certainly makes a striking figure, clad in his golden robes, violet eyes, and - oh, yes, who could forget that rose-shaped amulet of his. That's what I'm here for. Nothing more heretical than to steal their icon, that will be the best revenge...
Focusing back on the situation, which is how to actually get that thing off him. Waiting for him outside is pointless, his guards would stop any attempt to stab his back, or crack him on the head. A commotion in the crowd then, something fiery in this claustrophobic room... yes, they'll burn, they'll all burn. They took my brothers in crime from me, and I won't stop stop until their light fades...
Damn, this guy's speeches are getting to me. Attending these clandestine meetings, following the protocol, worming my way into their oganization, it wasn't easy. Took time. Speaking of time, it'll be a while until my chance comes, when everyone's tired from the late hour and less likely to notice one more cultist who accidently knocks over a torch. What's this fool saying, anyway?
"...The heretic felt the light, and he wished to repent. He was informed that he could undergo a 'trial' if he wished." The crowd guffaws at what I now know is an old joke. The Thorn's 'trials' consisted of torture by fire and light, until a confession was made, which resulted in being 'sentenced to the shadows' - in this town, that meant being thrown down an old well. Bloody zealots.
"... Now, tonight we have a very special guest. A brother, who came from the shadows." He lifts up his amulet, giving me a real nice look. A three-quarter-circle of thorns, wrought in gold, with an ornate yellow gem in the shape of a rose suspended in the center. Candlelight flickers in it, and I'm blinded for a second.
Rubbing my eyes, I find I'm in a cage up on the stage. "Wh- hey! Brothers, wh-what's going on?" The Thorn's voice whispers in my ear. "Your trial, shadowmonger. Evil has no place here, and your thoughts are simply the shadows of mine! Of course I know them." This last part is no louder than the rest, but pierces my mind, and I fall to the ground. "Now," he announces to the crowd, "we will see what happens to those who live in the dark. Shall we open his eyes, my children?" The crowd roars it's approval, and I know my end is near. "This worm has tried to steal the light from our temple, to make our glory darker. We will give him what he wants, and give him his light!" The roaring is continuous, and starts to give me a headache. Visions of fire fill my mind. "His eyes, mind, body, and soul will be opened, and filled with our light!" The cage starts to get unconfotable, and I realize there's something wrong with the roar of the crowd... "So he will burn, children, burn!" With that last phrase, I realize what it is - the bars of my cage are slowly lighting on fire... no, becoming fire. I run at the flames, hoping to pass through, but they sear my skin and leave scars. I think I scream. As the flames grow, the room gets dimmer. I hear his voice, and it runs underneath every thought I have. "They'll all burn, Caspar, oh yes, you'll all burn..."
"How's our project coming along?" "Wonderful. We've made our own worst enemy." "A shame they can't see the irony that their light comes from the shadows." "Truly a shame." "Is the puppet prepared?" "As much as he can be. Finding his kind is much harder now." "Yes, magical experiments are mostly left to theory in these days." "What a waste of potential." "At least our kind has not died yet." "Our kind never die. We only trade faces." "Spoken wisely. Come, let's move the plan forward." "Let's show them 'the light'." "Enough."