The Heretic Rises

by JerZeyCJ

"The Heretic Rises" followers the journey of the newly awakened Tenno "Iscariot," who once was part of an order that worshiped the Lotus as their Goddess. Now awake, Iscariot takes up the task of exterminating those he deems "heretics" in the name of the Lotus. Iscariot's journey will take him across the Origin System and he will stop at nothing to cleanse it of heathens.

Sleep. He had been asleep for so, so long. Dreaming inside his cryopod, he had been oblivious to the changes to the outside world around him. He was Iscariot, the last of those who worshiped the Lotus as their Goddess and defended her honor to their last breathes. Those who did not trust in the Lotus and defiled her name were not worthy to bask in the sun of the Origin System. Iscariot, and the others like him, were the judge, journey, and executioner of those who would deny the Lotus and curse Her name. But that was a long time ago. Before the Deep Sleep.

Iscariot does not remember much from the time before; only glimpses and flashes of faces, locations, and death. There was so much death and slaughter, the crimson blood tinted his memories. The last thing he could remember was a celebration. There was cheering and much praising of the Tenno in their gleaming Warframes. Iscariot and those in his Order were more removed from the festivities, standing just outside of the crowds, letting their other brothers and sisters soak up the praises of the masses. She spoke then, the Lotus, three simple words that would bring the darkness of sleep and drift in Iscariot's mind while he slept.

"It is time." The Lotus' words were spoken softly, but deliberately and then the sound came. War Drums. It was the sound of war drums pounding out a beat that reverberated in the skulls of Iscariot and his fellows. At once, all of the Tenno in the crowds stood up straight, all of them hearing the drums. Then the slaughter began. Swords were unsheathed, guns were un-holstered and the massacre of the Orokin began. Iscariot passed out and dropped to the ground. The last thing he saw was an Orokin noble being cut clean in half.

Iscariot had lived that and many other memories over and over again in his dreams until the Lotus called to him again and awakened him. He thought that he would never hear her voice again, that he was forgotten and abandoned, then her words came. The Lotus' words crashed over him like waves on the shore.

"Wake up, Iscariot. It is time."