The Trial of Avroc Strongman
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Avroc punched upwards through his coffin and the 6 feet of earth that stood in his way, using a miniscule amount of Titan Clap to move the earth in such a way that he could rise from the hole he was in easier. And as if on instinct, he grabbed his soul-bound partner, Hamma' along with rising. He could hear weeping from the moment he woke within his mind. Though a somewhat weird response, he smiled from the incoming telepathic signals coming into his mind.
It was so looonnnnnng I missed you soooo mucchhh
There was no sniffling or crying, just a empathic explosion of simultaneous joy and sadness along with the telepathic words from his greatest companion.
"I did too."
Well, as per usual with Avroc, he went straight to the point.
"Where youz think we are Hamma' ?"
We appear to be within a vast metamagical cosntruct within a pocket dimension fueled by divine energy, likely for some esoteric purpose to further our personal development
"Wot?"
Avroc could feel Hamma' brimming with joy and vibrating in his hand, they clearly dearly missed these interactions. Though Hamma' could gush and reminisce later, they had something to do.
We have been given a trial by Father Hope
Avroc smiled at that, not really knowing what it entailed. But he knew Father Hope wanted something from him, and he would always be willing to oblige.
"Alrighty, less go then."
And so Avroc walked, and walked, and walked. For hours the two stay silent, though their incredible bond still strengthening just by being in one another's presence once more. That was until he picked up something really, really burnt with his nose. In curiosity he went further until he picked it up with his eye.
Avroc and Hamma' didn't like what they saw.
Forgecity Koort
"Home."
Without saying another word, he ran as fast as his Cyclopian body would take him, rushing towards his former home.
Forgecity Koort was a constantly bustling place of commerce, with stores that hung with what would seem with garrish and overbearing signage everywhere. Though the signs were perfect for the primarily Cyclopian inhabitants. There were always people walking the streets, whether they be tourists or residents that ooh'd and ah'd at the constant new products. This was a place of worship of Father Hope, and thus the fires of ambition, optimism and invention were seen through every building and everyone within them. The craftsmen and inventors here were those of legend, often hosting competitions with others from Giant or Dwarven to further fuel their ambition and friendly trade relations....
...None of that mattered now. For the Craftsmen of Koort were many a great things, fighters were not one of them. They put their hope into one man and one weapon. They failed. Avroc and Hamma' failed. The world-renown flame of ambition was snuffed out into piddling ashes under draconian and demonic hands alike.
While Hamma' was quickly catching on to what they supposed was the point of the trial, Avroc wasn't quite onto it yet. Hamma' was as patient as ever with him, as it was his trial as much as it was his wielder's.
So they went further into what remained of the city, and found the things they desperately hoped weren't there. Corpses. So. Many. Corpses. All Cyclopian. The Dwarves had long since retreated into their holds, and the Giants fought their own war against evil. The Cyclopians knew they weren't being left to rot out of malice, but it felt like a stab to the gut all the same.
One of the most unsettling things was that all the corpses that had enough of their face intact were twisted into smiles of varying length and seeming "warmth", it seemed that the demons that came here had their fun setting up decorations for whomever came back.
Another of the most unsettling things was just about to be found out. As the two painstakingly went through all the wrecks of homes, and then later the schools, they came to a chilling realization.
There...appears....to be no corpses of....children....within the entire Forgecity.
Avroc suddenly had a very inopportune moment of clarity and intelligence.
"They took em'.....didn't they. To do bad things."
The resulting silence wasn't actually that long, but it certainly felt so.
That...appears to be the most likely occurrence
Avroc furrowed his brow. How could they let this happen? Let everything they loved and cherished be burned and violated?! Well, there was one last place that they had yet to go, and it was for a reason. The Temple of Hope.
It was in the very center of the town, with the rest being built around it with Hope's various blessings. Even through the assault the Temple of Hope stood tall, dents and scratches pockmarked the temple throughout its exterior, but the sublime metal worked architecture of which every inch was painstakingly forged was still there, standing defiant against the rest of the town that was reduced to nothing but ash.
For the first time perhaps in his entire life, Avroc was nervous. Nervous to stand within the home of Father hope after failing so very gravely to the point where it was the only thing that stood.
This is his trial. We now face Father Hope's judgement for what we did, and for what we failed to protect.
Avroc nodded solemnly. Hamma' was right. Whether now or whenever he managed to work up the nerve to walk into the temple, he would be judged. Better now rather than later.
When he walked into the temple, he gazed upon something truly horrific. Instead of the noble and intricate metal statue of Father Hope that always presided proudly over the entire temple from the back, set upon the podium of which preachers would hold mass was a small statue made of stone. Since Avroc couldn't see it when he first walked in, he went in right in front of the podium to take a better look.
And there it was, the representation of what remained of Father Hope. A man struggling within an uncountable number of chains dotted with runes even Hamma' couldn't begin to comprehend. What was worse was his expression. Father Hope always had a proud smile upon his face, a smile that warmed the heart more than enough to have motivation to build 10 new inventions in his name. Yet, this new "statue" had a face of complete and utter rage and hatred upon it's depiction, a seeming blaspheme upon who Father Hope once was.
Though, at the end of the day, it was still Father Hope. The one who had granted the Cyclopians of Koor not only a home, but the means to elevate themselves far beyond their base savagery and instead into the heights of civilization. A God. Their God.
And so, Avroc kneeled before this meager stature, closing his eye, putting Hamma's head onto the ground while still holding them and put his left hand in a fist atop his heart.
"Father Hope, we failed you. I...we, don't know wot to do."
Avroc wasn't ever one for long explanations, even during prayer.
Father Hope, I do not know why we are here, even though we may very well deserve continuing to bear the burden of our grave failings, I wish to know what you wish to teach us. Please teach us how not to fail again.
you....didn't...fail.
It sounded like the crackling whisper of someone who hadn't drank for nearly a week and desperately needed water. They looked up at the miniscule statue where the sound was coming from. Although Father Hope was still bound in chains, his mouth was transmuted into a small smile of low-quality glowing slag iron. It was still far form the glowering grin from the masterwork statue made from large amounts of master worked various mythical alloys, but the spark was still there, and growing ever so slightly.
My...Guardians....You...Didn't....Fail
They looked at the statue in awe, and slight confusion as the statue's smile widened a bit more . Avroc elected to let Hamma' do the talking
What do you mean we didn't fail, Father Hope? The entire Forgecity was burned down and every one is dead or...worse things
*Not Everyone...Some Younger People...And...The Children....Escaped.
Avroc widened his eye. The smile of the statue widened even further, with the stature now being free of his chains, growing slowly into what remained before.
The People of Koor Died With Smiles Upon Their Faces Knowing Their Future Would Live To See Tomorrow And Many More.
Avroc went slackjawed, with him getting an empathic signal from Hamma' doing their equivalent of the same. The statue of Father Hope grew to it's full majestic size, free from even the slightest blemish.
My Guardians, Your Actions Brought The Flame Of Hope To The Utterly Hopeless. And That Is All I Would Ever Ask Of You. You Both Have Made Me So Very Proud.**
The Statue's eyes and mouth glowed molten hot.
GO FORTH MY GUARDIANS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.
The Statue then slowly shrunk in on itself until it eventually arrived at the blasphemous depiction that stood there when the two first entered.
Avroc and Hamma' indeed knew what to do. Avroc had a hard time memorizing things, but this in particular was a permanent fixture in his head.
The Guardian's Oath.
"Whether It Be Might Of Arms or Might of Brain"
Whether It Be Might Of Arms or Might of Brain
"We Shall Stand In Front Of Darkness's Reign"
We Shall Stand In Front Of Darkness's Reign
"To Keep The Flame Alive Is Now Our Cause"
To Keep The Flame Alive Is Now Our Cause
"We Shall Show No Fear, And Have No Pause"
We Shall Show No Fear, And Have No Pause
"No Matter What Means Shall Be Employed"
No Matter What Means Shall Be Employed
Avroc rose up, pointing a now glowing Hamma' to the skies above with his other hand still on his heart, as if claiming this to the Heavens themselves.
"SO LONG AS HOPE LIVES, EVIL WILL BE DESTROYED!"
SO LONG AS HOPE LIVES, EVIL WILL BE DESTROYED!
The light from Hamma' glowed like the flame of the stars, as Avroc now stood in the cemetery of Anfitrian, Alive.
The Guardians of Hope from The Forgecity of Koor, Avroc Strogman and his faithful companion Hamma' were were among the living once again.