Teen Titans: Arcanum
Arc Zero: The Voice
You have been given a chance. A chance to avoid all of the pain and suffering you have foreseen that waits for your world. And it is just for you, my youngest child, my little one. All you have to do, my last son, is listen to my voice.
Can you hear it? The sound that builds constantly, the one that tickles at the back of your throat and leaves a resonance in the back of your mind?
Good.
You have listened, and I have shown you the entrance to the place of worship. Use your vehicle if you can but walk if you must.
Ah, you are asking me about the visions. What is coming—the thing you have foreseen—is not something that your world has experienced since the death of the one the Christians called John the Elder.
What you have seen happening in this world so far could be predicted and explained by science. No longer is your species bound by superstition.
No longer does the world believe that the wrath of angered spirits and gods cause the base earth to crack open.
No longer does the world believe that a curse will encourage the oceans to swallow you
No longer does the world believe that foul magics will call the plague upon your house.
But now it is something else that comes. Something that cannot be explained by science. Something that will burn your world until it is nothing but ashes. It is an abomination. It is Trigon the Terrible.
You cannot save your world. The gateway is already being opened. But there is another that you can save, if you are willing to go there.
You have arrived at the entrance. It is an old, abandoned church surrounded by trees and vines, crumbling away and covered in moss. Inside are rows of church pews, a stone altar, and a statue portraying a cloaked woman holding an infant with a diamond in the center of its forehead. This woman is the mother Pride. Remember her child, for if you survive this place, she will become either your closest ally or your greatest enemy.
If you approach the altar, my little one, you will find a key with a gem similar to the one that lies on the center of Pride's head. Take it and go behind the statue. You will find a door there, made of wood and rimmed with silver. Do not be afraid when you open the door, my son, for vortex will not harm you.
Once you have crossed over to the other side, travel to the castle that lies in the center of this place. The castle itself will appear to be made of marble and will be the only thing that glows in this dark place. Stay on the path, or you shall risk non-existence in the embrace of the void.
Once you have reached the doors of the castle, they will open for you. Walk inside and be brave my son, for your first trial approaches.
Inside you will find an altar dedicated to the Yellow Lord, and in front of it you see a young woman wearing a black cloak, a homunculus made in the image of Pride. If she is praying, then approach her. If not, wait until she starts. If you approach her when she is not in prayer, it will mean a quick but painful death for you, my youngest son.
When she is in prayer, approach her and say, "I seek the blessings of the four that are worshiped here."
She will stand. Bow your head quickly, my son. You are not yet worthy to look upon her visage. Close your eyes if you must.
Next, she will say. "Why do you seek their powers?"
You must be honest with your response. "I seek to cross the threshold created many millennia ago."
She will reply with. "You lack the sufficient knowledge to do such a thing."
You must make the request, "Then share with me this knowledge."
Do not raise your head as she walks over to you. Once she has approached you, she will begin a chant in a language that you will not recognize. When she is finished, stand and raise your head, and let her look upon you. If she is pleased with what she sees, the next trial will commence. If not, then you will be marked and hunted by Man, Angel, and Demon to the end of your days.
If she is pleased, she will say, "You are now worthy." And lower her hood. The altar behind her will be split in two with a mighty groan, and a staircase leading downward will reveal itself unto you.
I know that you find her pleasing to look upon, my child, but you must remember that if you linger to long, you will have lost your chance, and you will be trapped here forever. You must overcome your base desires for normality before the end and become more.
Once you have entered the Crypt and left behind the homunculus, travel down the stairway and past the black garden. Within awaits your second trial. Past the garden are three prisoners, covered in scars and scabs from a thousand wounds. These prisoners are three of the children of Trigon, all three of them representing one of the Seven Sins of Man.
They are bound in chains and have been covered in a number of dangerous insects and arachnids, as a method of punishment for their crimes against the living universe. Next to them lie blades of various make and size. If they are let loose, you can assume that they will be very hostile to all those they find. Move past them for now my little one, and claim the blessings that await you in the next chamber,
Within the next chamber, you will find four creatures, each holding an object that resonates with the powers of their respective patron.
The first creature, whom has the head of a deep-sea creature and the body of a reptile extends the hand holding the blessing and says, "CTHULHU" Its voice will sound like the rumbling of a deep ocean.
The second creature, a skeletal thing made up of the bones of various being with antlers attached to its three human skulls will hold out its hand and say. "HASTUR" Its voice will sound like the buzz of a sleepless city.
The third creature, whose head is a mass of worms will look upon you with its hand extended towards you will say. "NYARLATHOTEP" Its voice will sound like the harsh wind of a desert.
The final creature, whose features are obscured by a cloak made of the dark void between stars will hand you its blessing with a shriveled grey hand and say, "AZATHOTH" Its voice will sound like the burning of a thousand stars.
You must choose the order of the blessings that you are receiving, my little one, for the order of the blessings will decide your own fate and the fate of those around you.
When you are finished, leave this chamber and re-enter the castle above. As you leave the Crypt, you will notice that the prisoners have disappeared, along with the homunculus you found so fascinating. Do not be afraid, my little one. Calm your breathing and listen to my voice, even as you hear the hissing breath of Trigon's sons above you. Do everything that I say, and you will leave this place alive.
DODGE, NOW!
RUN!
THE SECOND FALLS FROM THE CEILING! GO AROUND HIS LEFT, HE IS MISSING HIS ARM THERE!
THE THIRD IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU, KEEP RUNNING!
THE FIRST BLOCKS YOUR WAY, USE THE BLESSING GRANTED TO YOU BY NYARLATHOTEP!
RUN, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR WAILS, FOR YOU WILL DIE IF YOU REMAIN!
THE DOOR IS OPENING, RUN THROUGH IT AND BACK THROUGH THE VORTEX AND OUT OF THE PLACE OF WORSHIP!
Good.
You are safe, for now. But soon, your final trail shall begin.
Notice how it is nearly nightfall? Time flows differently in the place of worship. You have a mere hour before Trigon emerges and makes this world his. Exit this place and gaze upon the world bathed in the red light of the fading sun.
I know you are afraid of the sight that greets you, my little one. I know you are horrified by the death and fire that burns your city and home. I know that you worry for your friends and family, but where you are going, they cannot follow. You will have your revenge; I promise you that my dearest son. There is one last thing that you must do if you are to escape this dying world.
Do you see that archway? The one that contains a red door lined with gold. The one beyond the crowd of looters, murderers and vandals that now swarm the streets and destroy the base earth wherever they walk. You must reach it, or you will be trapped here and suffer the same fate that this world is to suffer. You must run…
NOW!
Trigon's servants are here. You have slain one of his children with the blessing of NYARLATHOTEP, and his thoughts are of nothing but ensuring that you suffer the most horrible of torments. You must run if you want to survive. You must run through the burning streets, past the enraged crowds, and away from the Hell that awaits you and all mankind. You must run, even as your limbs grow sore and your breathing becomes harsh and ragged. You must reach the archway before the sun's light dies for the last time! Good, you have reached it. Now pull! Pull at the door my son!
Pull!
PULL!
PULL!
You only need enough space to fit your body through the opening! SO, KEEP PULLING!
You made it. Now shut the door quickly, and do not be worried about being followed, for the door can no longer be opened. Now go into the light, my last son. Search for Pride, the child of the woman in the church, and the one Delta was made in the image of. Find her, and I promise that what must come next will be made clear to you.
AN: Well, this is the story I will be currently working on, since I have lost my muse for 'Other Worlds Than These'
I do plan on returning to that one some day, but for now, please do consider leaving a review. My update schedule is incredibly random, so don't expect consistent updates.
Until next time.