Incubus
I awoke in a new strange world. It was not the first time I had awoken in strange places. So brushing myself off, and looking around, I took in my surrounds. Quiet ponds, and stone steps led into a large hall of sorts. There I learned some instruction of the new lands I was about to venture soon into. Before me lay another door, one leading to a training area of sorts. Taking time to familiarize myself with this new weapon, for what else could it be but that, I ventured into the next room. There I beheld more of the fine architecture first seen as I entered this realm.
Noticing a door, I readied myself to enter UnderLight, but not before casting a glance at a dark recess that said much of hidden doors. Flinging myself through the portal, I prepared for the worse. Only to find another quiet, serene place. Taking the time to look around, I gazed upon sixteen new doors. While eight of these were barred to my entrance another eight appeared open. Sitting on the steps, I absent mindedly kicked at stones, while pondering which path to take from here. Looking down, I saw the carcass of an animal, built into the wall.
Perplexed, I rose to further investigate. It appeared as if someone had used this creature to form part of a step. Looking around closer, I realized there were more of this creatures kin also mounded up so as to shape steps. Fifty Four i counted, before noticing the six larger carcass, placed high on the wall, as if a trophy. So sixty in all. What could it mean i asked myself, before steeling myself to enter the first portal i came upon. Gazing up as i strode to the nearest portal, I beheld a symbol hanging near the entrance, much like a star hidden behind a moon, I thrust myself into the door there.
Then there were many people. All around me they stood. Confused, and lost i attempted to ask directions, or help. Imagine my consternation as no one answered. Again, I entreated the crowd, yet no one answered. Walking away, thinking to myself, How rude, I came to another door. Entering it, I found myself on a path of sorts. I followed this path until i came to a large edifice. Here some were congregated, but as before they treated me rudely, and seemed to be ignoring me entirely. Walking away, and wondering to myself, What sort of world is this that everyone is so rude. I walked aimlessly for many days slashing out at anything i could find, before coming across someone who wished to know the way to Umbric Plains. Laughing, i explained that i too was lost, being newly thrust into this world from my own. We exchanged pleasantries and a few tales of our homelands, before he advised me i should strive to seek teachers of wisdom, and creatures more befitting my station in the dream. Heeding this polite strangers words, I returned to the central hub of this area, and was finally able to find help and guidance, in what i later found to be the House Calenture.
Learning from them the skills needed to hunt, and the ways to the best lands in which to hunt in, I gained knowledge of the lands quickly. But it was lacking, for quickly i gained the knowledge of these lands, but none of its histories, and the feeling of servant was ever there, so i cast my lot to the wind, following a calling i heard inside. Walking the dream without companions, but always with my ear to knowledge, I came across an item, dropped seemingly at my feet. I stooped to pick it up, and examined it further. It appeared something ancient, and mishaps valuable, so i gathered it into my arms, and prepared to thrust it in my pack. With a sudden I was taken from my mind, and shown a past, and a future, and a present, all melding and circling.
I saw myself old and wizened, and heard words from my mouth speak. I heard only a part of these words when I was just as suddenly thrust back into my body. Hurrying quickly to the entrances to Thresh of House Calenture, I hastily found someone to take this dreaded item away from me. Oh had I known then how much its call would sing to me as I walk the dream, I would never have released the Corrupter of Souls from my grasp. Not long after the calling started. I would hear it. Whispering in my ear, calling. Thinking to gain it back, I joined the House Calenture, not knowing the strife and troubles i would find in that house. I quietly walked the halls, and performed the task set before me, but soon came to realize that the Corrupter, was but the conduit of what i had been hearing. Between task I set out on my own exploring the lands and researching histories of the dream. Soon i started uncovering ancient and lost scrolls from lands forgotten, and untrod. There were text I found as if they were hidden. Yet i asked myself why would anyone in this land of knowledge hide knowledge from another.
Soon it came to pass that I would look at often traveled corridors, and pictures had started to come to life. The longer I gazed upon the walls, the more i began to understand that each house served the dream in their own way tho the beliefs of each varied. Taking the time to ask others beliefs and through extensive study of the known histories of the Dream, I came to realize that what the ancient DreamSmiths of old had built in UnderLight, was a finely balanced machine that sustained itself.
Reaching further and further in my travels, I spents months meditating the purpose of objects in the Dream. Seeing what others in their haste had missed. Now I walk in the true belief. My steps have carried me to the place the true faith will call home. Knowing that my path has not been easy, nor one seldom rewarded did not keep me from the undertaking. For I believe that the balance of the dream is in danger, and will do all i can in my power to help rebuild The City of Dreams. It is my path and destiny, as is my place on these steps.
