Chapter 3 - The First Encounter

Tal’s eyes shot open as for the second time today, he came to coherence alone in an unknown room. “Let's not make a habit of this” he muttered.

Oddly enough, a semi-transparent screen inscribed with letters was filling almost half his vision now. A small part of his consciousness spoke up that he should definitely be more worried than he was. Especially after his last prompt. It’s not every day you’re told you've died. Still, he was obviously alive and still kicking and yet another window awaited him.

Tower of Judgement

Welcome, new Contender. The Tower of Judgement births untold opportunities. Face this Tower’s challenges and reap the rewards of your labour.

Progress down through the tower to earn your freedom and shape your newborn destiny.

Tower of Judgement

Rejoice! There are many paths to power in the Tower Of Judgement. Being a Contender, you are unrestricted to pursue whichever of them you like.

Beware! As you have not formally paid for entry into The Tower Of Judgement, your time here will be fleeting. You will be ejected from the Tower in the near future. Do not squander your time.

To obtain an avenue of power you can expand upon outside of the tower, complete an act of Binding with the desired Entity. The extent to which one can Bind is a factor determined by your own Spiritual Pathways and Soul Development.

Successful Binding comes with untold consequences and rewards. Prove your worth!

Tal’s eyes bulged as he took stock of what was very similar to player prompts in various games he had played. He was no stranger to skill systems from previous games he had played, and while he was excited to “Progress through the tower” he didn’t know enough about this ‘System’ or his location to feel at ease in the slightest. Even if various elements were similar enough to what he was familiar with. He there decided he did not want to be on the end of an ‘unsuccessful’ binding. The absence of any explanation there could only be described as foreboding. Tal decided he did not want to know what would happen if this ‘System’ deemed him unworthy.

Tal decided it was past time to take stock of his situation. It was obvious he had been transported away from the safety of home into an unknown place apparently dubbed ‘The Tower Of Judgement’. Where or even what that was, however, was anyone's guess. Tal narrowed his eyes, suddenly all business. This could be dangerous.

Mossy walls flanked Tal. Their only distinguishable feature was a small lantern giving off barely enough light to see where he was going. What Tal could see, however, was that the only moveable direction was forward; into the unknown.

With a shake of his head, Tal moved towards one of the walls, inspecting the lantern. It was held together by a simple metal prong dug deep into the wall. A rusty screw attached the prong to the rest of the lantern. Without thinking, Tal tugged on the lantern and with a snap that reverberated throughout the hall, it came free. “Bloody screwed if I had to go into whatever that is blind” he mumbled.

On unsteady feet, Tal continued onward and came to the first chamber. Each footfall echoed throughout the deadly silent chamber. From here the hall split into yet more branches; each indistinguishable from the next and shrouded in impenetrable darkness. Now, this is just stupid. I don't even have any string or breadcrumbs. This doesn’t seem so much of a Tower as a labyrinth. Feeling no wind from any passageway he determined he was either very far from an exit or this place simply didn't have one. Tal decided not to think about that last option.

He wasn't sure where he was supposed to encounter one of these so-called ‘entities’ he could bind with, but he wasn’t sure he actually wanted to do that either. The only option really was to keep moving and hope that some solution to this hell-hole would make itself apparent.

Tal snapped back to the present and decided to follow his gut and take the firstmost entryway. Before he stepped through, he ripped off a piece of fabric from his shirt and dropped it on the floor. Tal strode through the entryway only to return back to the other side the second he emerged. When he returned Tal looked around. There was no fabric on the ground. Now, isn't that just great.

Tal thought there were three distinct possibilities. Either, in the seconds he was gone, the room had reset or some creature lurking in the shadows had cleared the room. Or, the exits to the entryways would not take stay constant. Neither option bode well.

Tal couldn't help but feel his heart racing as he edged back down through the entryway. Though he consoled himself that being stuck in a creepy old tower with no discernible exit will do that for you. Finally, Tal found himself out of the darkness of the entryway and at last into a distinguishable room, though maybe not for the best.

The room only had two notable features. One; a bronze and wooden behemoth of a door, sitting flush against the cobblestone walls towards the far end of the room. And the second, a large podium positioned smack centre of the room, almost impossible to make out through the small mountain of life-like chains writhing atop it. The more Tal looked at the bizarre configuration, the more a smaller body became apparent, moving in and out to avoid the chain’s grasp. It made a sort of odd dance, both erratic and yet with rhythm, as the chains sought to restrain and the figure sought to remain free.

A figure, not even a span in size, sheltered beneath. The figure noticed Tal as it moved in and out from the chains. Tal noted the slight opening of the creature's mouth and widening of its eyes as they made eye contact. It was clearly just as surprised as he was. A pair of clipped blood-red wings protruded from its back and stretched over its shoulder, almost touching the small curved horns upon its head. The Imp-like creature spoke in a rasping voice befitting of its stature while still somehow dodging the chains as they swept around the podium. “Greetings Earthling. I am Xuerix, one of few residents in this forsaken Tower and master of the arcane”. Xuerix paused as if waiting for Tal to introduce himself. When no reply became apparent the Imp ventured on “I can see from your Status that you are very much new to all of this so let me explain”

Tal cursed internally, as he remembered the status screens players would have in the old games he played. And now, apparently, the creature who he had no idea if it meant to harm or help, could see supposedly minute detail about him. At least I might be able to glean some information he thought.

“While here” Xuerix continued “the few creatures of infinite wisdom, like myself, are able to offer various boons to creatures like you”. The imp smiled slightly “I can assure you, what I offer you won't be able to find anywhere else. In exchange for an oath of servitude, conditional on your binding, I can teach you to become a master of myriad disciplines. I can take you further in this world than you have ever dreamed of. And better yet, once I am free of this stupid tower I will allow you to rule over all of those lesser species. Ruling second to me of course.”

Oath of Servitude

The Infernal Imp Xuerix has offered you an Oath of Servitude. Under the condition that you perform a soul binding with this creature, he promises to deliver on teachings to “become a master of myriad disciplines” and the promise of quasi-rulership.

Accepting this Oath requires you to serve under Xuerix in all matters. You must obey any and all commands, implicit and explicit. Additionally, your safety becomes the responsibility of Xuerix.

Tal frowned. Not visibly, of course. He didn't want to give this creature any more information than it already had to be used against him. The Oath of Servitude, while suspicious in its implications, would at least grant him some measure of safety. Tal didn't put much stock into the promises of the Imp though. For all, he could tell they sounded as empty as they could come. Losing all sense of freedom though was a tough price to pay. Too tough.

Belatedly, Tal thought ‘Profile’ hoping for some screen that would help illuminate the danger he thought he might be in. After all, surely no benevolent creature would try to swindle him to become essentially a dressed-up slave. Instantly another blue screen opened.

Player Profile

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Name: Tal Cael

Species: Human, Male

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Stats:

Level: 0

Health: 100/100

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Primary Attributes

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Traits

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Tal focused on the contents of the screen, skimming over the screen and noting the familiarities from previously played games. He mentally selected the first header, ‘Primary Attributes’.

Primary Attributes

Dexterity: 10

Agility: 10

Strength: 10

Constitution: 10

Intelligence: 10

Wisdom: 10

Charisma: 10

Further focusing on each attribute brought a description of each. Tal came back to himself with a mirthless smile. From what he could see, he was starting from a truly blank slate.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, dismissing each screen with a mental wave. It was certainly a lot to get a hold of but he wouldn't give up. He couldn’t. Not now. Not ever. Tal pulled his eyebrows down as a concentrated expression overcame his face. The prompts were gone. It was time to get a move on.

Tal readied himself as he met Xuerix’s narrowing eyes “Well Human. What will it be? A lifetime of struggle or unstoppable supremacy by my side”. Tal didn't even deign to answer the scheming Imp. His footsteps as he edged around the podium towards the bronze embroidered door did all the speaking for him.

“You’re making a mistake petty human” Xuerix began. He slowly began to emerge more completely from the mountain of chains. The Imp wasn't even breaking a sweat as he effortlessly dodged all the chains snaking their way toward and around his body. What Tal mistakenly thought was a smaller figure at first, slowly getting larger and larger by the second.

Tal realised his mistake too late. He had played his cards too early, not leaving himself enough time to get out. “The only mistake I've made so far," he paused, "is not getting away from your sorry ass the second I got in here”.

The Imp curled his hands into two meaty fists. A dull red glow grew around his fists, crackling now with menacing energy. “Last chance, Tal Cael” the Imp sneered “Either serve me alive. Or I’ll find a way for you to serve me in death”.

Tal continued onward, keeping the demon-creature in sight, leaving plenty of room. Or so he thought. The Imp lurched out. Streaking away from the podium in mere seconds. It extended a dark red fist glowing with menacing energy towards Tal’s throat. There was no time to dodge. No time to move. The Imp was too quick. He wasn't going to make it. Tal closed his eyes, trying to accept his fate.

A crashing boom rang throughout the chamber. Tal opened his eyes, somehow unharmed. A quick survey of the room revealed why. Frozen inches from his throat was the extended hand of the Imp. A thick ring of chains finally encased it. Slowly but surely the chains snaked fully around the immobile creature, pulling it back toward the podium.

Tal whipped the sweat off his forehead. He jumped when a ding abruptly rang in his head.

Rebalance the Scales (Quest)

1/?

The Tower of Judgement has many denizens. Whether they are Tower-born or from the outside world. Each denizen must pay its dues.

This Infernal Imp was donated to the Tower in exchange for another creature's entrance. This Imp killed it's captor before its power could be properly bound to the podium, and thus the tower, sitting before you.

For securing the assets of the Tower, it has seen fit to grant you a unique Mark.

Tal quickly checked his Status sheet - now displaying a section titled “Marks” with one entry.

Tower Marked [Unique]

The right path, a little clearer.

Tal made his way to the great oak door, his heart still hammering, and more than a little excited about his mysterious new perk. Whatever it's making clear, it's definitely not these descriptions. Two big heaves and the door was sent creaking ajar. One quick step and Tal was inside, the door slamming shut. Locking him in.