Part One: Reflections.

Is that... me? I wondered as I stared at the creature that looked back at me with equally inquisitive body language from within the pond. I studied it carefully, examining each of its odd features.

The thing from within the waters that looked back at me was a handsome looking being. It had a face the shape of a bulb, with nearly no features aside from the antennae that riddled its bulbous head. The more I looked at it, the closer I studied it, the more convinced I became of two things: that I was in fact what I was staring at, and also that a strange thing, most probably my creator, instilled a wealth of knowledge within me that gave me an innate command of language.

The best example I could think of, of that second thing, was that when I looked at the pond's reflective surface and studied the creature either trapped within it, or myself being reflected by the blue water of the pond. The more I stared, the more words I found deep within myself which I could use to describe the thing, and the more I became convinced that it and I were one and the same.

Wasplike body. Atrophied wings. Crablike form. I had no possible way of knowing what these words meant, or were in reference too, yet they lingered in my mind the more I tried to understand myself.

If this is me... how can I come to that conclusion? How can I test this possibility? I wondered, my brain firing off all of the cylinders so as to come to the right conclusion. I must be certain! I told myself, desiring to know the truth.

I spent the next few seconds in an indecisive huff before I felt a surge of determination well up within me. The answer to my probably came from an unusual source. The reflection itself!

Inspiration comes from unusual sources, and an instinct told me that only sometimes could those sources be as handsome as the source of inspiration for my first experiment. It was in looking at the entity in the water, the one I was starting to believe was merely a reflection of myself, that I realized that there was a sure-fire way to test out if the creature was my reflection or an independent being. Specifically, it was in looking at the clawed hands that the entity possessed, that I found my answer.

I have a solution! If I strike the thing in the water, how it reacts might well prove whether it's an independent being or just a reflection. I felt proud of myself as I realized that if it were a reflection then I'd be able to tell by attempting to strike it. I rose a clawed hand high and studied the water.

The thing in the water did so too! "Ahh!" I roared as I aimed my clawed hand at the pond, and brought it screaming down into the water. I kept my eyes glued to the pond and watched as the thing in the water also struck, continuing to mimic my actions perfectly in sync with myself.

I did my best to prepare myself for a painful sensation, expecting to feel the heat and crunch of my claws crashing into the pond dweller's claws but was pleasantly surprised to feel no such thing. Instead, all that happened was that my claws splashed into the pond and caused ripples to spread out from where my claws smashed into the pond.

"What?" I buzzed, my insectile voice escaping from my core, confused and concerned as I felt no impact. I rose my other hand and watched as the entity in the ripples rose its hand as well. Again we clashed, our claws slamming into the same point in the water. And again, no impact.

I took a step back from the water and opted to clear my head. I took a deep breath and then considered what I had learned.

This thing is an eerie reflection of me, possessing my appearance and skills. We operate so perfectly in sync that the only possible conclusion, barring magic, is that this thing is nothing more than my reflection. Especially when I attempt to strike the thing down, and it defends itself, yet when our claws should hit, all that happens is that my claws get wet. I thought, finding the idea that the water was somehow producing an optical reflection of myself more believable after the trials of the past few minutes.

That must be it. But just to be sure... I began to think about a reckless experiment, one that felt as though it would truly test the idea that this was a reflection of myself. I charged at the pond! And then, right as I reached the edge of the pond's shore, I leaped into the air and threw myself into the water. My oddly shaped body crashed into the pond and quickly began to sink into the water.

I searched inside of the pond for my double, scanning my surroundings both visually and auditorially. Nothing... It's true then, isn't it? I've spent the past few minutes studying... myself. I realized after my careful study of the interior of the pond revealed that my double was gone. My reflection was gone. In the darkened pond-water, I accepted for the first time that I had seen my reflection, and could now visualize what I looked like.

And that moment, for the first time since right before I sprung to true life, I heard a mechanical voice speak directly into my skull.

[New Feat Gained: Endless, Reckless, Curiosity.

Benefit & Flavor Text: Some creatures possess an insatiable desire for knowledge and understanding. They question what others believe to be established facts, and boldly go where others don't if such destinations possibly possess the answers to questions they've asked. They are reckless and insatiable, but they also possess perfect memories, and of a strong natural understanding of the scientific method and of science.

Method of acquisition: Unapologetically pursue knowledge even to the point of possible injury.]

My mind... I observed, as shortly after the odd green text and the strange, emotionless voice flooded my mind. I felt my knowledge expanding, bit by bit.

Experimentation. Hypothesis. Biology. Science. These words and more... their definitions are surging into my brain, expanding it and letting me learn about the world. I thought. excitedly.

I felt excited to know that my knowledge was expanding and that what I did just now was a reckless, ill-thought-out and foolhardy experiment, but an attempt at experimentation nonetheless.

But still... this was hardly replicable huh? Next time I really ought to come up with a... better experiment. One I could actually repeat, and document. And if I do it correctly, I doubt I'll have to do something as silly as throw myself into the pond. I thought, chastising myself.

If I am to become wise, I ought to strive to balance my reckless thirst for knowledge with my continued safety. Recklessness doesn't have to define my approach to knowledge, even if it can result in fortuitous moments like this. I told myself, striving to make that the forefront of my future be defined more by the moments of careful knowledge-acquisition than by reckless attempts to advance my personal knowledge.

Part Two: Visions

World-changing moments aren't often recognized right when they occur. But when they are, it's because they are truly historic.

The vision fell over the city of Undermoon all at once. Thousands of people, dark-elf, human, goblin, dwarf, and other kinds of creatures, witnessed it at once. As one people, the multitude of the city's inhabitants' were shown the eerie radiance of the mysterious usurper of Infernius, the one who was undergoing the trials to ascend to his rightful place as the ruler of Infernius, who was leading a rebellion against another usurper.

They heard his voice, they saw two of his forms, and they witnessed his powers. They saw him create life and reanimate the dead. They saw him shake the earth, and conjure plants out of nothingness. They saw his eldritch magic weave shadow into being, create acid.

He made promises and spoke the language of the mighty. He offered power in exchange for servitude, in exchange for their worship. And that was an offer dark elves were all too familiar with.

It was an offer which many of them were eager to agree to, with a handful of them even recalling with pride the old days where dark elves ruled their cities at the whims of ancient demon lords, serving them and worshipping them.

And he made an announcement to the people of the city of Undermoon. An announcement that doubled as an order for those who either were already his faithful servants or who would like to become his newest worshipers.

Come to the ancient temple at the heart of the city, in half a day's time. If your heart belongs to Althos, if your soul is his and his alone, you will be there.

The vision, an eerie, alien thing, created by an equally eerie, alien, god deprived me of a restful night's sleep. And then when it was over, it ended by awakening me with cruel indifference, as if the vision I had just endured had been little more than an odd dream.

But not before he gave me a command. Not before Althos' voice once again entered my head, blessed me with cruel utterances. He asked me to do him one service, one that in his mind would go a long way towards undoing the harm my actions had caused. He asked me to prepare a gift. Though... not in those exact words. And then he told me that I was special. That of his servants, of his worshipers, only my family had been given special commands. And that there would be a price, were they not fulfilled.

I knew this of course. One doesn't fail a god of tyranny, of demons and of devils, and not pay a price. But there was something... exhilarating about being given a command by a god, a secret command. A bloody command. Something that excited me, even before the vision ended. Something that lingered in my mind, as I awoke.

I awoke in my bed, a simple thing made of locally mined stones and made bearable through simple magic that was cast on it nightly. The first thing I noticed was that I was sweating.

The second thing I noticed was that I could feel the gross liquid coming off of me and coating my stony bed. I could smell it in the thin air of my private chamber, where it lingered and where it coated the air in a cloying way. I quickly threw myself off of the bed, leaving it and its sweat covered sheets behind. I walked hurriedly over to my washroom chambers, my feet taking me there at an urgent pace.

It took me mere seconds to arrive at the washroom, where I quickly began to prepare myself for the day ahead. A day that would no doubt be... historic. And for me, and no doubt countless other dark elves, positively euphoric.

As I gazed upon myself in the dark mirror, my mind wandered to things I enjoyed more than acting normal, more than hiding my intentions. It wandered to poisons and to the faces that people made when poisons first began to take hold. It turned to pain and to the eventual reward I sought to receive for my loyal service and for my zealous worship.

Breakfast had never been so filled with meaningless prattle. Maids and "family" alike, prattling on about what they had witnessed from Althos' dark and delicious vision as if they hadn't all witnessed the same thing, and as if their perspectives on it differed somehow.

Listening to them chat mindlessly, arrogantly, was exhausting. But perhaps not as exhausting as waiting for the surprise in their food to take effect.

They ate their food stunningly slowly. Their utensils took what felt like hours to slice apart the vegetables on their plate, and longer still to deliver the envenomed items to their lips. I waited. I watched. And of course, I did my part to ensure they fell for my ruse. I too ate vegetables and occasionally mentioned an observation I had from the vision.

I distracted myself from their worthless "observations" by day-dreaming about what I had witnessed. I daydreamed about the nightmares Althos rose from the dead, about the zombies that crawled out of the dirt and in their own way, praised and served the god of darkness.

And when the sedative in their food, in their wine, began to take hold, I smiled for the first time since I woke up. If it accurately reflected my mood, it was no doubt a cruel and bloodthirsty smile. I watched as they passed out, my eyes flitting from one of them to the next, as they attempted to study themselves, attempted to discern who would poison them, who could poison them.

How weak. I thought as I watched each of Drow's siblings slump to the floor, unconscious. How... fitting. I thought as I watched the maids slump to the floor, also unconscious.

How disappointing. I mused, when Qiloth's face slumped forward, unconscious, into the bowl of food that contained the fruits he had been eating. Is he... truly a worthy sacrifice? I wondered as I rose from my seat.

[Stop questioning me. I gave you your orders, Hagitha. Fulfill my commands. Prove your worth.] A voice, a low, cruel voice, whispered into my mind. Its power sent a chill down my spine. Its power surged through me, as I rose from my seat and steeled myself for what was to come.

[Quest: Convert the city of Undermoon.

Update: The following conditions have been fulfilled or are nearing completion:

Convince the high council of Undermoon that Althos exists and is a deity. (9/9)

Gather the support of the 6 noble houses of Undermoon. (3/6)

Convince the dark elves of Undermoon that Althos exists and is a deity. (10,000/25,000)

Gain the service of a witch/ward/warlock, oracle, and dark night. (2/3)

New Objectives:

Turn half of the city's dark elven inhabitants into Althonians. (705/12,500)

Gain the support of the high council, by turning them into Althonians. (2/9)]