Terminus: What is Redemption?

A swelling beneath the surface -- a surge of entropy taking form within the ebonic substance. It was mana, yet of alien attributes to those native within the dominion of the lifestream. The clergymen seemed a tad bit more energetic as of late -- whether it'd be the coming of the nearest election day, or something else.

The Husk of Terminus remained idle at the bottom of the depths, pulsating with sapphire across his left arm, laden with inscriptions to emulate an external circuit.

While no voice could openly reach out to those abroad, the few attuned to his essence would find the silent cooing of his influence, suggesting that they lean closer to the pool -- To the edge, to listen...
(Etheric Presence)

Harbinger had ascended the spire as the slow call from the Great Beyonder beckoned for his attendance. There was no hesitation -- the farms could wait. The moment the telepathic call was sent, Harbinger would head towards the sunken husk of his Patron. Upon his arrival, however, he took notice of the jovial tune of the surrounding clergymen.

"Mm?", he mumbled to himself before bending a knee at the edge of the inky black waters.

"I am here as commanded, Lord."
(Harbringer)

Etheric Presence's voice (to Harbringer): *A psionic connection was forged, with much more ease than usual. It would appear that with time, the entity below had time to stabilize their wellbeing within their alchemical preservative bath. Between the maladies they had suffered, and blood shed -- The mixture and presence of magics and substances formulated a medium for which to amplify their prowess.*
I have come to sense the shift in tides. Antefinem grows with every passing day... You have grown from once I had found you. A shame, you bear so little of my blood, as to lack transmogrification in a stature deemed eternal.


Through the mind of Harbinger -- Terminus' voice continued to speak out. This time however, it seemed to amplify across the surface of the waters -- pinging off the magus anatomy and minds of those nigh to sound out for the ears directly, in a form of magnified speech born from telepathy.

"Aldorin… Azu… Shirudo… I do not sense their presence any longer... Aspects of me, gone."


For all intents and purposes... Terminus would deem them Votaries -- To be hunted to the ends of Eternia. However, their mind had long since abandoned the concept.

"Truly a shame... But a problem, no longer."

The focus had entirely changed.

"You're imperfected, riddled with ailments -- Human. Though, such has always been within my capability to fix."


Without Cambions, a true restoration in the image he saw fit was impossible. No lineage to pull his essence from... Thus, thoughts shifted to another... Of Efespane -- An entity that managed to stand against the likes of the Perfect Demon Indras.


"I have established a pact with you before... You, as one of my Insignis, have proved to be a valiant aid. However, like my Heralds before, they have all perished... You are no exception to this.

It is your flaw... Your mortal limitation. Time, shall wither you to oblivion like the rest.

I will require of your service, long beyond the extents of the common man. Thus, I ask of you this...

What bindings hold you to the flesh and desires of man?
What is it that drives your hunger and thirsts for the world?"

(Etheric Presence)



Harbinger had remained silent, head lowered in a bow, and bent on one knee. The telepathic messages were powerful -- almost like there was a speaker booming in his skull. At the mention of his mortal limitations, however, Harbinger's demeaner seemed to sour.

"If there is a way to help me serve you in perpetuity, then I beseech you to grant me such a gift.", he paused in consideration of what drove him. It was the perfect time to answer honestly -- not just lofty ambitions catered to the ears of the masses.

"One," this had remained true since his induction into Terminus' service, "return the Ruuheerin back to life. To undo my sin of pride and naivety.", after all, while he truly cared for Antefinem and her people, it was a substitution for what he'd lost. Even now as he closed in on capturing the presidency, he simply felt like this was a warped version of what he'd already experienced.

His coronation.

His leadership of a nation.

... His inevitable failure to serve them as they deserved.

"Two,", he fought back the negative thoughts and feelings of de-ja-vu. What came next would likely surprise Terminus, but it came from a place of genuine care and warmth maybe totally foreign to his Patron, "to simply serve you. Despite the cinematics of what we believe, our worship, and nature of how we pursue things... each time we've melded minds in past rituals, Lord, I've never seen a good memory from you.

There are no glimpses of joy. No fond memories. No joy.", it wracked Harbinger's mind to think that such pleasantries, while not necessarily ''vital'' to existence, were rarities to something so far beyond a mere mortal.

"I want to you to be able to look back upon those whom have served you, and think fondly of me even when my time inevitably comes one way or another. I want you to remember me not justas a loyal servant, nor your champion, but dare I say... a friend?", Harbinger wanted a bond with his Lord stronger than steel.

He wanted him to experience a memory unique and unlike anything he'd ever seen first-hand. These intentions need not be explained, for his mind was laid bare to the Great Beyonder. They came from a place of genuine kindness that sought to return all the blessings and gifts he'd given with something uniquely rare for something such as himself. Something that should never be exclusive to only a meek mortal such as himself.

The love of a friend...

Of a Son.
(Harbringer)






The stage went silent to provide Harbinger the place to speak, to be heard, to be mulled upon...

'To return the 'Ruuheerin' to life.'

Surely, this was possible in some twisted aspect. It was not necessarily beyond his willingness to conduct. Thus, it was given consideration.

'I've never seen a good memory from you.'

Such thought had never truly been proposed to Terminus prior. Up until now, his life had never grasped the concept of a kindness without a twist -- it was all wicked in his eyes, born from Hel and forged by Man's Sin, only to further bridle and writhe at the ends of swords and spiked tongues for the entirety of its existence.


"You are on the path of repentance, unlike your human kin. In time, you shall find yourself selected upon Rapture, to see the existence I have in store. Prior to such, I will grant your wish... The Ruuheerin, shall live again."


The latter bit however, was afforded pause before being delivered an answer:

"Humanity is cruel, Insignis. Humanity pervades every aspect of existence... From the living realm, to that of the spirits, to that of even Hel itself. The very Nethradin, the Marqui, the Pantheon they worship -- They are all the same, save for the Constants beyond them.

All Shades of Wickedness, born of Humanity -- used to justify their bloodlust, their wars, their cravings for destruction in different cloaks and variances.
It is contagious...
It is tainting...

I, was born a slave... In chains to them...
I, existed to entertain their blades, to justify their Hatred...
I, was butchered, slaughtered, and drawn from Death, to experience it... Again... And Again… For their satisfaction.
Humans, they butcher their babies, their children, their families -- all for an iota of prowess over another.

I, have seen them murdered by the thousands by emperors that rose, and fell... It is all I have ever known. All I have come to exist to know.
All I shall ever know.

It is for this reason, I exist...
To End the cycle, once and for all...
So that I may finally know Peace."

There was a shift in the air, encircling Harbinger as though to investigate their apparel and material alike. Though, attention was applied especially close to Chutakatu. The runic enchantments proved it to be a potent weapon -- however, the bow was dwarfed by another presence making itself known through the veil of phantasmic smog. It was once shrouded, but it peered through the ethereal domain to prod at the eyes with its sheen. What subtle light existed within the room by candle, was amplified by its edge. This construct, was not born of light however... But rather-- Moonstone.

Mythril filled out portions beyond it to give it a balanced stature, more durable and heavy than Arcanium itself, and more potent to match. An entity that sought to match and surpass the powers of the Cosmos had manifested a blade that emulated its bite. Its very presence sung a consistent metallic ring, for even the air was cut by the fringe. Telekinetic prowess allowed it to rotate for better examination of it from all angles:

An Astral Blade

Surely, there weren't many... Moonstone was far too uncommon -- vastly out of physical reach.


"For even finally experiencing Death, shall I be enslaved by the very humans that exist within the depths of Hel below...
Should all come to fail...

I will not fail."

Through all of it... Terminus had not given much thought up until that point...
What Harbinger spoke of was... Foreign to him. 'Friend'?
It was a word he had never actually -heard- up until now, beyond reading it in books and interpreting it in minds. The definition was enigmatic...
An ally for the sake of alliance.
It didn't make much sense...
Though, perhaps this was much like that one chance encounter with the fae…
The fae that dared to put themselves between him and an assailant for a chance that he may be redeemed.

An admirable trait... But was he not already redeemed?
Was he not already the hero of this story?

"You speak of terms I have not familiarized myself with...

You are strange to me, Insignis... In my many years, none before you have conjured such sentences nor sentiments.
It proves to be a matter to challenge...
To mull over...
For now..."

The weapon that was presented to them repositioned itself, blade pointed to the side, to allow one to grasp it formally.
(Etheric Presence)

You drop Astral Blade.

Harbringer picks up Astral Blade.

Harbringer assumes an evasive, dexterious stance!

Harbinger was a blessed soul -- more blessed than so many others, and he made sure to try and keep that humility about him. To be grateful for the opportunities presented before him regardless of pursuing or surrendering them. As he grasped the relic by the handle, a look of awe came over him.

It was beautiful, and as it's pommel fit into his hands, he shifted its weight. Twirling it slowly, Harbinger got a feel for it.

"Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.", he muttered to himself. His tempest winds encircled the blade -- readying to be launched at a moment's notice. It commanded the might of a storm at either side of it's double-edged blade. Power radiated from its glinting metal, and it brought that gentle smile on Harbinger's face to reflect into his eye.

"You have my sincerest thanks, Lord.", he sounded so at peace saying this -- knowing that he was to address Terminus' opinions on how ''strange'' he was.

"I do not mean to contradict the fact in your words, Lord.", he wanted to make sure he did not come off as disrespectful, for that was not, and would never be the intent.

"For all the suffering you've experienced in the thereafter, the wanton violence, the pain...", Harbinger could relate to some of what he'd seen firsthand, but never to the same magnitude. Terminus' negative experiences ranged too far back and were far too bountiful in number.

It'd made them so reasonably bitter, but in turn...

Much more ''human'' than they might of believed.

"Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.", the blood of millions stained his hands. Harbinger knew that under the light of the Pantheon, he was unredeemable and damned. Yet, despite his self-loathing, guilt, and failures, here he stood -- a better man than when Terminus had first found him.

"I learned that from you, Lord. Not by your wise words, nor litanies, but the way you carry onwards. You inspire me, as you do your children of the isle, you know?", the kind words wouldn't stop there.

"For all our flaws as humans -- the Hel we've managed to make from our own negative emotions and intentions, we're still the most potent and versatile form of mortal. For every act of selfish or nonsensical wickedness, humans are capable of the same level of incomprehensible kindness.", the same energies that'd birthed Terminus -- that cursed him with such a low starting point in life, were just as plentiful in complete opposition to his natural disposition.

He knew this far better than Harbinger themselves, after all.

"I just wish to show you some of that which you have been denied. After all, darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.", it was a love that he felt Terminus had unintentionally shown disguised as a hidden contempt for the world.

"You seek to end a vicious cycle, and I believe in your cause whole-heartedly. But...", a pause. "The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.", maybe this was the Beyonder's chance to do it differently enough that their efforts would yield dividends beyond their wildest dreams.

"I doubt I can convince you to somehow turn a new leaf within a moment after centuries of so much suffering.", the thought of the memories he'd seen made his eye mist. The amount of pain that'd marred Terminus' past agonized Harbinger.

"I simply wish to remind you of the transcendent human ability to make light of horrible, despicable things and smile. To persevere. To not simply be defined by our scars, but choose how they define us. If a mere mortal such as myself and billions of others can do such a thing, then something so much farther beyond such as yourself can do that and so much more.", he was right, and Terminus likely knew it too.

The wisdom he'd gleaned from his time here on Meranthe, from Terminus' visions, from his own trials and tribulations. It was coming to a head. Harbinger had accrued a great deal of wisdom, and at this very moment he was reminding Terminus of a unique esoteric ''magic'' long gone unnamed...


Spiritual Alchemy.


The practice of "transmuting" negative aspects of oneself into positive ones, much like the alchemical goal of turning base metals into gold; it focuses on inner work, self-awareness, and integrating shadow aspects to reach a higher state of consciousness.

"You will not fail. Not again. Not ever. This time, Patron Usque Terminus you have me. You have your Harbinger.", rising from his bow, something came to mind to him -- a King's Affirmation:

Part 1

(Harbringer)

Part 2

[ Poem Ref.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSnTmDWU19Y ]


"Out of the night that covers me,
 Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
 For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
 I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
 My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
 Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
 Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
 How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
 I am the captain of my soul."


He was Terminus' sword and shield. His soul would be the bright beacon that illuminated the path for him to pursue their goal. On their back, they would carry their husk. With their legs they'd trudge through the mud for his Patron. With his blade he would strike down his foes.

This was an equal exchange -- not one sided wish granting.

For everything Harbinger was gifted, he would try to give back ten fold. Terminus' dreams, were what he would help them achieve, and he would do it in a way that'd give his lord something he likely never thought of...

A friend, and a reason to smile.
(Harbringer)



Darkness couldn't drive out darkness...
Hatred could never drive out hatred...

These were fundamental truths -- something that Terminus himself could not outright deny... So foreign, given all those that he'd encounter with the willingness to speak to him, did so solely for material gain or intermittently between bouts of wrath.

They were provided silence to speak...
Surely, they were mulling over the weight of their words -- they were valued, but had they proven realistic by Terminus' perspective?

He had been in constant pain...
But was he suffering? Were those, he grafted unto his flesh so long ago -- suffering? Some seemingly did, but the others? They relished in it... The euphoria of being gifted immortality, of liberation from their humanity. Despite it all, there were always glimmers of humanity through all of the scum he had come across... Thus, it could not be mistaken.


Harbinger was right after all...
Terminus could do so, much... more...


If a faceless entity could smile, this would be the moment where a crooked expression were force itself in jagged fashion across a face never meant to emote such a gesture. The air responding in kind to this non-existent smile, curdled with the stygian energies fused to his very essence -- tainting his very soul in a way no other entity of his stature could naturally behold.

An orchestral audience would offer a tense glissando to crawl down the auditory spectrum for the morbid tone that'd taint the realization of the fruit of this effort -- of coming to comprehend just how limited the ancient's course of thought was, up until this point...

"You're right..."

The Fallen Patron answered...

"My failures come in lacking understanding inthe error of my ways... Repeating my mistakes... Yesss… It makes sense."


The mind plotted as it oft did, but now...
It sought to consider the possibilities beyond what it originally considered. No longer did it restrict itself to the commonalities abroad, but even toil at the most mundane of matters for even an inch in the direction it sought to pursue.


"I believe... I understand now..."

Had he took a physical form that proved capable of smiling, perhaps Harbinger would've achieved his endeavor right here and now...
A reason to smile...

For better, or worse...
(Etheric Presence)

Forever in pursuit of wisdom.

Forever the student.

Forever the Patron's loyal servant.

Despite the bitter-sweet nature of not being able to see his crooked and warped smile, Harbinger felt a sense of great accomplishment. Maybe if not for but a moment, he had managed to deliver a crucial moment of light upon Terminus' outlook. If even for only but this instance, he outlook was not so bleak.

"Nihilism tells us the limits of humanity. Optimism helps us get there with a smile.", he thought to himself on what he'd told the Shattered One but a fortnight ago. While Terminus lived rent free in a portion of Harbinger's head and could hear what he'd thought, the statement still applied just as much to him as it did a mortal man.

After all, to be ''human'' inning of itself was a statement that transcended the limitations of the flesh. It was an all-encompassing school of thought that crossed borders and included all species with sentience and sapience.

"I believe in you, Lord. I know you can do so much more than any of us.", he was thrilled to know he had made such an indelible act upon the Great Beyonder. It brought some form of peace to his turbulent soul. With a final bow, the Harbinger would begin to take his leave.

"In your name, I continue onwards, Lord Patron. Please, continue to watch over me as I try to make our dreams reality. For you, and for Antefinem.", and off went the wise man in the making.

The all-but-assured future President of Antefinem.

Terminus' Harbinger.
(Harbringer)