《Ignis》Chapter 0 Part 3: Lure of the Void
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You consider the goblet briefly, but decide against drinking its poisoned contents. Your soul is your own, and you plan on keeping it. You open the book to start reading, and feel another breeze tug the goblet away after the other gems. The sapphire sits comfortably on its chain about your neck as you read, time slipping away. Eventually you close the book and look upwards longingly. You can see stars up there now, three clusters of three, twinkling in the darkness between landfalls. You can hear their siren song.
But there are three clusters to choose from, so you take your time considering them, separating each voice from the chorus.
"Duty" the first cluster calls. You shut the other two clusters out of your ears for a moment and sort out the three bass voices.
"...to the Throne" sings the first. Your will would strengthen, as would your contempt for all others not of the Imperium.
"...to Humanity" the second intones. Your perception would increase, but a small fraction of your wealth would flow out to charities.
"...to your Dynasty" the third trills. Your Nemesis would grow in strength, but so would House Von Sebastion, your house.
You tune out the Duty cluster and shift your ears to the second set of stars. "Zealot" they chant as you begin to parse their tenor voices.
"Blessed Scars" calls the first. You would be much more intimidating, much less charming, and gain an augmetic of some sort.
"Unnerving Clarity" responds the second. Your will would strengthen, at the cost of a small sliver of your sanity.
"Favored of the Faithful" counterpoints the third. You would strengthen your fellowship with your fellow man, and with the Religious Authorities in particular, at the cost of your durability.
You neglect the second cluster's chant for a moment and listen to the third. "Chosen by Destiny" their sopranos soar.
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"Truthseeker" the first Warbles. You would be better able to parse the best way forward, but at the cost of ignoring conventional wisdom on occasion and thus irritating the Religious Authorities.
"Xenophile" echoes the second. You would strengthen your understanding of non-humans and their cultures, at the price of being more vulnerable to their influence.
"Fated" calls the last. Your will to live and achieve greatness would increase, at the cost of a tiny fragment of your sanity.
You lay back on the ground and bask in the lure of the void, contemplating to which star you might hitch your fate.
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