January MCC Round 2
Divine discovery
The story continues.
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Okite reached the river. It looked like any other one, only covered in and surrounded by mist. He felt like he was exactly where he needed to be. The drive that was pushing him to walk there was no longer there.
"Yes, but what am I supposed to do now?"
That was his first thought. The second one was:
"Maybe I'm supposed to drink the water of the river for some reason? Well, I'm not understanding a single thing that's happening to me, I might as well try that."
He knelt down and took some water into his united palms. As he was about to drink from his hands, he heard a noise from his left, where the river made a turn. At the same time curious and scared by that noise, he separated his hands as a reflex and the water he thought he was supposed to drink fell back into the river.
"Not a big problem. I'm not thirsty now anyway."
Then, a few seconds later, he heard another noise. And then another. Then one more. Now he recognized them:
"These are steps. Somebody's big is walking around here... or something big? Maybe a beast. Maybe I'm in danger!"
Anxiety was quickly mounting in Okite, almost reaching panic levels. He couldn't stay still, he kept walking in circles and looking with his head first on one side, then on the other. He didn't want to be surprised by the attack of a huge beast. If it wasn't that, he didn't know what these step noises, that kept coming, keeping their rhythm like a funeral march, were.
With his head turning everywhere, he happened to look upwards to the sky a few times. There was something strange in the sky. The mist that surrounded him on all sides didn't cover it. He could see a clear starry sky, with neither that mist or a single cloud covering the view. But then Okite thought to himself:
"Okite, why are you looking at the sky. There is nothing there! What is there is a huge beast coming! Don't let it surprise you!"
The steps came closer and closer, until a huge living being apparently made of the same substance of the starry sky appeared in Okite's field of view.
"What's that?", he thought.
One thing was for sure: whatever that was, it was the source of the step-like noises.
"This thing walks!"
And it walked until it was right in front of Okite. It was clear by then that it wasn't a "thing", but it was neither a "person". A person, regardless of their race, gender, whatever, isn't made of stars. And anyway, if it was a person, it was a very strange one, and not just because of that. Its skin was pale, like if it had been more dead than alive. Its arms, if they were arms, were twisted in an almost unnatural way. It was walking in the water of the river, and it arrived at its knee. Its size was impressive. It was huge. Okite estimated that this... whatever it was, had to be tall at the very least ten times as himself. It apparently had a face, but it couldn't be seen, because a long veil covered it completely, coming down on his chest, fully covering the central part of it as well. It also had an enormous wooden staff in its left... arm? Hand? Whatever it was. Once before him, the entity spoke. Okite could hear the voice, but couldn't see the mouth moving, as it was covered by the veil.
"Are you Okite, from Oreskos?"
"Yes."
"You're dead."
"Apparently... is this the Underworld?"
"Not yet. But you'll get there very soon."
"And who are you? I've never seen someone like you."
"Not surprising. My name is Athreos."
"Why is it not surprising?"
"Okite, you're a leonin."
"Yes."
"Leonin have never believed in our existence since the fall of Agnomakhos."
"'Our existence'? Really, who are you to say that?"
"I am a god."
"WHAT?!?"
"Yes. People call me the God of Passage, because it's my job to take people who just died, like you, and bring them to the actual Underworld."
"Wait, wait, wait! No, really, this poses several questions."
"We have some time for those if you want, but then we will have to go."
"Gods are real?!?"
"Yes."
"And you are one?"
"Yes."
"And you've come to take me specifically?"
"Yes. These quesions are easy."
"Maybe to you, but not to one that has been born and raised with the notion that there is no god."
"In fact your name even means 'no god'."
"True."
"But it's a lie. As you see now, there are gods. You can recognize us and our creatures from the starry sky of which we are made."
"Sure... And what about this place, this water? Where am I? Have I had been fed lies for all my life?"
"Probably, as all leonin that get here. Anyway, this isn't ordinary water. This is one of the Rivers the Ring the World, the boundary that separates the Underworld from the rest of Theros."
"And is this the Underworld?"
"No. It's on the other side of the river, and it's there that I have to take you."
"And what about the drive that brought me here?"
"That was my call. Everybody who dies on Theros comes to me, and I take them from the other side. Anyway, the time for questions is over, Okite."
Athreos put his staff deep into the water and it turned into a boat.
"Jump in, Okite."
At the command, the drive was back, and now it forced him to enter the boat even if he hadn't wanted. Athreos crossed the river bringing Okite on the other bank.
"Jump out, now."
Again, that same drive made him board off the boat.
"Now you're in the Underworld. Follow your drive now, Okite. In theory, we shouldn't meet again, so... goodbye."
He went away, again with steps as heavy as an earthquake shaking the ground. His drive took him well within the lands of the Underworld, right in the domain of another god. In fact, he had reached another being made of the by-then-familiar starry sky that Athreos, the God of Passage was made of. It was absolutely clear to Okite by now that this was another god. He had a huge whip in his right hand. He spoke:
"Ah, look! Another soul stolen to Heliod! Now, this is good!"
"Who are you?"
"How come you don't know me?"
He whipped Okite on the back despite being in front of him.
"Ouch! Wait! How is that possible?"
Erebos sighed.
"Do I really have to explain you everything? Will I ever get a leonin who knows how things really are?"
"I don't think so given that we've thought that you gods do not even exist since our childhood!"
Another whip.
"Ouch! And what's this for?"
"Don't dare contradicting me! Ever! This is my domain, and I do as I wish here. If I want to whip you, I do. If I want to insult Heliod, I do. If I want to create monsters to keep you here, I do. There is nothing, nothing! That a god can't do..."
"I don't want to contradict you and get another whip, but you still haven't told me your name..."
"I'll whip you as I want! No, that's wrong, I'll do as you deserve. And you do deserve it again!"
"Ouch! What's your name?"
Erebos sighed again.
"I am Erebos, God of the Dead. And you are dead, so you're under my domain, and you'll stay here for all eternity!"
"What's up with Heliod?"
"Don't mention his name!"
"Ouch! Could you stop please?"
"No!"
"Ouch!"
"It will be one more every time you ask me to stop or try to leave. Anyway, Heliod, or as I like to call him 'the nameless one' or with other nicknames that I will spare you now, is simply my greatest foe! Don't you hate your foes?"
"Of course I do... Ouch! What's this for?"
"Don't answer my rhethorical questions! It's his fault if I'm relegated here. I could have the entire world for myself, everything he has for me, but no, I have to stay down here to prevent ants from escaping!"
"First, I'm not an ant!"
"You are to me!"
"Ouch! And second, is there a way to escape from here?"
"No, there is not. And if anybody ever tells you that, don't listen. They're lying! They're decepting you!"
"Or maybe you are... Ouch! I can't say I didn't expect it this time."
"I'm not the liar! Don't accuse me to be one!"
"Then who could ever propose me a way to escape if there are none?"
"That's the deception! Don't fall into the trap, Okite. Also because if you try that, I'll take you back with Mastix!"
"With what?"
"My whip. That's its name."
"Ok, sure... Ouch!"
"Don't be ironic or sarcastic with me!"
"I wasn't."
"Yes, you were. And you were disrespecting me and my weapon."
"No!"
"Yes, you absolutely were. But don't worry, I know how to use it with people who don't get where their right place is."
"So there actually is a way to escape?"
"I've told you already: no! You'll stay here for all eternity! Do you want another whip?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"For once, you're right!"
"Ouch! But then why do you keep talking about escaping?"
"Because there are... let's say some colleagues who tell people so, but they're lying!"
"If they're lying, and escaping from here is impossible, then why do you use your whip to take back the fugitives? If this realm can't be escaped, there would be no fugitives... Ouch!"
"You're already starting to talk like Phenax! Shut up! Escaping is impossible!"
"Like who?"
"Oh, a name must have escaped me... A pun too, but don't you care about those, or dare laugh at them!"
"Ouch!"
"I see this talk is leading us nowhere. May I go now?"
"Sure, but don't forget anything that I've just told you! Don't trust liars! Escaping is impossible!"
Okite walked away from Erebos and continued his exploration of the place, eventually finding another one to those starry-sky entities. He bent down and whispered to him:
"Okite! Okite, come here. I have a deal to propose you."
Okite didn't know whether he wanted to stay there and fight this other monster, or run away as fast as he could. Caught in between those two instincts, the end result is that he stayed still, and listened. Between fight and flight, freeze prevailed.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a cheater. A liar. A gambler. A traitor. A trader in secrets. I am all this and more."
"What's your name, I meant. And why should I listen to one that admits himself to be a liar?"
"My name is Phenax. And you should listen to me because I've done what that... Uhm, what Erebos told you is impossible!"
"You've escaped?!?"
"Yes!"
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I am helping other people escape now!"
"But Erebos said there is no way out."
"Instead there is one... oh, if there is! And I happen to know it! Don't listen to him. He's a liar too."
"How can two contrary statements be both truth of both lies?"
"Because I'm not lying. He is."
"And he says you lie. You've said it yourself, you've introduced yourself as a liar."
"It depends on the subject... Sometimes I lie, but not all the time. Now, for example, I'm not lying. There is a way out! Do you want to take it?"
"I sense there must be a trap here..."
"No, no traps whatsoever. Only freedom!"
"I have to go back to my comrades. I have to go tell you of your existence! That the gods are real!"
"Yeah, so that they want to kill you again for blasphemy like they do now for that other leonin that was with you as you died. Actually, the one who dealt you the fatal blow."
"Jeff? Where is him? Is he here?"
"No, Okite. He's not here. He has... taken his own path. But... listen to me."
Okite thought:
"Apparently this entity... this god, knows things. How could he know about Jeff then? And he was right."
Then he told Phenax:
"I think I can trust you more than Erebos."
"Yes, you definitely can! You should!"
"How does one escape from here?"
"You can't escape as you are now, if you want to go back to your leonin clan, or whatever it's called... They'd recognize you! Again, they'd kill you and you'll be back here again. What you need is a way to go back there without being recognized. Am I right?"
"I'm following your reasoning."
"And it happens that I have masks. Isn't that what you need? A mask! They won't recognize you!"
"I think you're right."
"Of course I'm right! There is just a little price to pay..."
"Oh, I was waiting for that part... What is it?"
"Your identity."
"My what?"
"Yes, you'll return to the mortal world, irrecognizable. You won't even be able to recognize yourself. But it's the only way to get the mask!"
"I'm not sure I want to do that..."
"You're going to lose your identity anyway by staying here. It's just a slower process than what I'm proposing you, sure, but if you stay here long enough, you'll lose your identity too."
"Are you lying now?"
"Maybe..."
"Yes or no?"
"If you listen to Erebos, yes. If you listen to me, no. Who do you want to listen?"
"I'm not sure..."
"Oh, you can still spend some time here later, reflect about my offer, pondering it, and then come back to me later."
"Yes, I agree. I think I'll do just that."
"Feel free to go then, Okite. If you decide to come back to me, you'll just find me here."
Okite walked away from Phenax. As he walked away, he thought:
"Who's the liar? Should I try to escape from here? In the end, I might even just decide to stay here. Maybe it's not so bad once you're used to it. And maybe I could be able to find another way to tell my fellow leonin about the actual existence of the gods that doesn't involve moving away from here. When you move away from a place you've been, even for just a few days, you leave a little piece of yourself and your identity there. Well, sometimes not even that little, and let alone what can happen if you've spent years, not days, in that place. Twelve hours of twelve years? It's the same if you've grown attached to that thing. But life, or death in my case, needs to move on anyway, regardless of your affective attachments. Maybe I could get attached to staying here and warn the others in some other way, but how? Ouch! What's this, Erebos again?"
No. It was somebody else. Okite turned towards them. He saw a dark figure whose appearance was in-between a leonin and a zombie, maybe actually more zombie than leonin by then.
"Is this what you turn into when you lose your identity if you stay here? This is horrible."
"Finally you're here, boss."
"Boss? Look, I don't even know you, how can I be your boss?"
"You are Okite."
"Yes."
"Then you are our boss. We are your fallen soldiers."
"No!"
"Yes, it's us."
"What did they do to you?"
"Nothing. We've just stayed here."
Okite had like a flash-forward moment. That could have been him in some years.
"Anyway, now I'm no longer your boss."
"You could be. We're ready to put ourselves at your service here and now. We've decided this years ago, when we first got here, and now you're finally here."
"But I don't even recognize you, how could I ever command you even if I wanted? Who are you? I've had many fallen soldiers under me throughout my years of service. Tell me your names."
"Uhm..."
"You! What's your name?"
"I'm trying to remember, boss, but I can't."
"And you?"
"Same."
"You, who first talked to me?"
"No idea."
"And I guess you too don't remember... you that touched me before."
"No, I don't remember either. But we were all your soldiers."
"What use are soldiers who have lost their identity to me?"
In that moment, he had an idea.
"Wait! Maybe you could still be useful to me in a way."
"We'd love that, boss."
"I do have a problem, maybe you could help me solve it?"
"What's that?"
"You must have seen it for yourselves: everything we're teached is wrong!"
"What do you mean?"
"The gods exist! Haven't you seen? I've met some personally here: Athreos, Erebos, Phenax..."
"No, there is no god!"
"What's that then?"
Okite indicated Erebos far on the horizon.
"A thing that pulls us back from time to time."
"That's the whip. What about him? What about the wielder of it?"
"That's the thing."
"No, that's a god!"
"This is blashpemy, boss!"
"No, us leonin not believing in them is the real blasphemy!"
"We've heard enough! If you've started believing in the gods, you're not our boss..."
"Oh, finally you've got it!"
"...you're our enemy!"
And those four leonin attacked Okite. He had no problem dogding their attacks with his still superior strength. A chant acted like a musical background to the battle: "No gods... no gods... no gods..." Okite immediately understood it was a mocking pun, remembering again that his own proper name means exactly "no gods" in the Theran Leonin language. That only enraged him even more, and gave him the motivation to keep dodging their attacks. He couldn't do anything else without his weapons. In the end, they got tired and retired.
Okite was alone again, and his still-working-well-enough mind kept working:
"So that is what a leonin turns on here? No way! I won't suffer that fate. Avoiding that fate, and go to warn my living comrades myself. Two birds with one stone. And I just have to escape. And I know who can make me escape... then later I will find a way to get back my identity."
Okite turned around and retraces his steps to Phenax.
"Oh, so you're already back. Have you already decided?"
"Yes, o great Phenax, I've taken my decision. And yes, I will accept your offer. I want to escape."
"What a wonderful news! I'll start preparing your escape attempt. Meanwhile, just look at the sky and wait for my signal. As soon as you see it, come to me. It means your escape is ready to be attempted."
"What will be your signal? What should I look for in the sky?"
"A falling star."
"Yes, but what am I supposed to do now?"
That was his first thought. The second one was:
"Maybe I'm supposed to drink the water of the river for some reason? Well, I'm not understanding a single thing that's happening to me, I might as well try that."
He knelt down and took some water into his united palms. As he was about to drink from his hands, he heard a noise from his left, where the river made a turn. At the same time curious and scared by that noise, he separated his hands as a reflex and the water he thought he was supposed to drink fell back into the river.
"Not a big problem. I'm not thirsty now anyway."
Then, a few seconds later, he heard another noise. And then another. Then one more. Now he recognized them:
"These are steps. Somebody's big is walking around here... or something big? Maybe a beast. Maybe I'm in danger!"
Anxiety was quickly mounting in Okite, almost reaching panic levels. He couldn't stay still, he kept walking in circles and looking with his head first on one side, then on the other. He didn't want to be surprised by the attack of a huge beast. If it wasn't that, he didn't know what these step noises, that kept coming, keeping their rhythm like a funeral march, were.
With his head turning everywhere, he happened to look upwards to the sky a few times. There was something strange in the sky. The mist that surrounded him on all sides didn't cover it. He could see a clear starry sky, with neither that mist or a single cloud covering the view. But then Okite thought to himself:
"Okite, why are you looking at the sky. There is nothing there! What is there is a huge beast coming! Don't let it surprise you!"
The steps came closer and closer, until a huge living being apparently made of the same substance of the starry sky appeared in Okite's field of view.
"What's that?", he thought.
One thing was for sure: whatever that was, it was the source of the step-like noises.
"This thing walks!"
And it walked until it was right in front of Okite. It was clear by then that it wasn't a "thing", but it was neither a "person". A person, regardless of their race, gender, whatever, isn't made of stars. And anyway, if it was a person, it was a very strange one, and not just because of that. Its skin was pale, like if it had been more dead than alive. Its arms, if they were arms, were twisted in an almost unnatural way. It was walking in the water of the river, and it arrived at its knee. Its size was impressive. It was huge. Okite estimated that this... whatever it was, had to be tall at the very least ten times as himself. It apparently had a face, but it couldn't be seen, because a long veil covered it completely, coming down on his chest, fully covering the central part of it as well. It also had an enormous wooden staff in its left... arm? Hand? Whatever it was. Once before him, the entity spoke. Okite could hear the voice, but couldn't see the mouth moving, as it was covered by the veil.
"Are you Okite, from Oreskos?"
"Yes."
"You're dead."
"Apparently... is this the Underworld?"
"Not yet. But you'll get there very soon."
"And who are you? I've never seen someone like you."
"Not surprising. My name is Athreos."
"Why is it not surprising?"
"Okite, you're a leonin."
"Yes."
"Leonin have never believed in our existence since the fall of Agnomakhos."
"'Our existence'? Really, who are you to say that?"
"I am a god."
"WHAT?!?"
"Yes. People call me the God of Passage, because it's my job to take people who just died, like you, and bring them to the actual Underworld."
"Wait, wait, wait! No, really, this poses several questions."
"We have some time for those if you want, but then we will have to go."
"Gods are real?!?"
"Yes."
"And you are one?"
"Yes."
"And you've come to take me specifically?"
"Yes. These quesions are easy."
"Maybe to you, but not to one that has been born and raised with the notion that there is no god."
"In fact your name even means 'no god'."
"True."
"But it's a lie. As you see now, there are gods. You can recognize us and our creatures from the starry sky of which we are made."
"Sure... And what about this place, this water? Where am I? Have I had been fed lies for all my life?"
"Probably, as all leonin that get here. Anyway, this isn't ordinary water. This is one of the Rivers the Ring the World, the boundary that separates the Underworld from the rest of Theros."
"And is this the Underworld?"
"No. It's on the other side of the river, and it's there that I have to take you."
"And what about the drive that brought me here?"
"That was my call. Everybody who dies on Theros comes to me, and I take them from the other side. Anyway, the time for questions is over, Okite."
Athreos put his staff deep into the water and it turned into a boat.
"Jump in, Okite."
At the command, the drive was back, and now it forced him to enter the boat even if he hadn't wanted. Athreos crossed the river bringing Okite on the other bank.
"Jump out, now."
Again, that same drive made him board off the boat.
"Now you're in the Underworld. Follow your drive now, Okite. In theory, we shouldn't meet again, so... goodbye."
He went away, again with steps as heavy as an earthquake shaking the ground. His drive took him well within the lands of the Underworld, right in the domain of another god. In fact, he had reached another being made of the by-then-familiar starry sky that Athreos, the God of Passage was made of. It was absolutely clear to Okite by now that this was another god. He had a huge whip in his right hand. He spoke:
"Ah, look! Another soul stolen to Heliod! Now, this is good!"
"Who are you?"
"How come you don't know me?"
He whipped Okite on the back despite being in front of him.
"Ouch! Wait! How is that possible?"
Erebos sighed.
"Do I really have to explain you everything? Will I ever get a leonin who knows how things really are?"
"I don't think so given that we've thought that you gods do not even exist since our childhood!"
Another whip.
"Ouch! And what's this for?"
"Don't dare contradicting me! Ever! This is my domain, and I do as I wish here. If I want to whip you, I do. If I want to insult Heliod, I do. If I want to create monsters to keep you here, I do. There is nothing, nothing! That a god can't do..."
"I don't want to contradict you and get another whip, but you still haven't told me your name..."
"I'll whip you as I want! No, that's wrong, I'll do as you deserve. And you do deserve it again!"
"Ouch! What's your name?"
Erebos sighed again.
"I am Erebos, God of the Dead. And you are dead, so you're under my domain, and you'll stay here for all eternity!"
"What's up with Heliod?"
"Don't mention his name!"
"Ouch! Could you stop please?"
"No!"
"Ouch!"
"It will be one more every time you ask me to stop or try to leave. Anyway, Heliod, or as I like to call him 'the nameless one' or with other nicknames that I will spare you now, is simply my greatest foe! Don't you hate your foes?"
"Of course I do... Ouch! What's this for?"
"Don't answer my rhethorical questions! It's his fault if I'm relegated here. I could have the entire world for myself, everything he has for me, but no, I have to stay down here to prevent ants from escaping!"
"First, I'm not an ant!"
"You are to me!"
"Ouch! And second, is there a way to escape from here?"
"No, there is not. And if anybody ever tells you that, don't listen. They're lying! They're decepting you!"
"Or maybe you are... Ouch! I can't say I didn't expect it this time."
"I'm not the liar! Don't accuse me to be one!"
"Then who could ever propose me a way to escape if there are none?"
"That's the deception! Don't fall into the trap, Okite. Also because if you try that, I'll take you back with Mastix!"
"With what?"
"My whip. That's its name."
"Ok, sure... Ouch!"
"Don't be ironic or sarcastic with me!"
"I wasn't."
"Yes, you were. And you were disrespecting me and my weapon."
"No!"
"Yes, you absolutely were. But don't worry, I know how to use it with people who don't get where their right place is."
"So there actually is a way to escape?"
"I've told you already: no! You'll stay here for all eternity! Do you want another whip?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"For once, you're right!"
"Ouch! But then why do you keep talking about escaping?"
"Because there are... let's say some colleagues who tell people so, but they're lying!"
"If they're lying, and escaping from here is impossible, then why do you use your whip to take back the fugitives? If this realm can't be escaped, there would be no fugitives... Ouch!"
"You're already starting to talk like Phenax! Shut up! Escaping is impossible!"
"Like who?"
"Oh, a name must have escaped me... A pun too, but don't you care about those, or dare laugh at them!"
"Ouch!"
"I see this talk is leading us nowhere. May I go now?"
"Sure, but don't forget anything that I've just told you! Don't trust liars! Escaping is impossible!"
Okite walked away from Erebos and continued his exploration of the place, eventually finding another one to those starry-sky entities. He bent down and whispered to him:
"Okite! Okite, come here. I have a deal to propose you."
Okite didn't know whether he wanted to stay there and fight this other monster, or run away as fast as he could. Caught in between those two instincts, the end result is that he stayed still, and listened. Between fight and flight, freeze prevailed.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a cheater. A liar. A gambler. A traitor. A trader in secrets. I am all this and more."
"What's your name, I meant. And why should I listen to one that admits himself to be a liar?"
"My name is Phenax. And you should listen to me because I've done what that... Uhm, what Erebos told you is impossible!"
"You've escaped?!?"
"Yes!"
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I am helping other people escape now!"
"But Erebos said there is no way out."
"Instead there is one... oh, if there is! And I happen to know it! Don't listen to him. He's a liar too."
"How can two contrary statements be both truth of both lies?"
"Because I'm not lying. He is."
"And he says you lie. You've said it yourself, you've introduced yourself as a liar."
"It depends on the subject... Sometimes I lie, but not all the time. Now, for example, I'm not lying. There is a way out! Do you want to take it?"
"I sense there must be a trap here..."
"No, no traps whatsoever. Only freedom!"
"I have to go back to my comrades. I have to go tell you of your existence! That the gods are real!"
"Yeah, so that they want to kill you again for blasphemy like they do now for that other leonin that was with you as you died. Actually, the one who dealt you the fatal blow."
"Jeff? Where is him? Is he here?"
"No, Okite. He's not here. He has... taken his own path. But... listen to me."
Okite thought:
"Apparently this entity... this god, knows things. How could he know about Jeff then? And he was right."
Then he told Phenax:
"I think I can trust you more than Erebos."
"Yes, you definitely can! You should!"
"How does one escape from here?"
"You can't escape as you are now, if you want to go back to your leonin clan, or whatever it's called... They'd recognize you! Again, they'd kill you and you'll be back here again. What you need is a way to go back there without being recognized. Am I right?"
"I'm following your reasoning."
"And it happens that I have masks. Isn't that what you need? A mask! They won't recognize you!"
"I think you're right."
"Of course I'm right! There is just a little price to pay..."
"Oh, I was waiting for that part... What is it?"
"Your identity."
"My what?"
"Yes, you'll return to the mortal world, irrecognizable. You won't even be able to recognize yourself. But it's the only way to get the mask!"
"I'm not sure I want to do that..."
"You're going to lose your identity anyway by staying here. It's just a slower process than what I'm proposing you, sure, but if you stay here long enough, you'll lose your identity too."
"Are you lying now?"
"Maybe..."
"Yes or no?"
"If you listen to Erebos, yes. If you listen to me, no. Who do you want to listen?"
"I'm not sure..."
"Oh, you can still spend some time here later, reflect about my offer, pondering it, and then come back to me later."
"Yes, I agree. I think I'll do just that."
"Feel free to go then, Okite. If you decide to come back to me, you'll just find me here."
Okite walked away from Phenax. As he walked away, he thought:
"Who's the liar? Should I try to escape from here? In the end, I might even just decide to stay here. Maybe it's not so bad once you're used to it. And maybe I could be able to find another way to tell my fellow leonin about the actual existence of the gods that doesn't involve moving away from here. When you move away from a place you've been, even for just a few days, you leave a little piece of yourself and your identity there. Well, sometimes not even that little, and let alone what can happen if you've spent years, not days, in that place. Twelve hours of twelve years? It's the same if you've grown attached to that thing. But life, or death in my case, needs to move on anyway, regardless of your affective attachments. Maybe I could get attached to staying here and warn the others in some other way, but how? Ouch! What's this, Erebos again?"
No. It was somebody else. Okite turned towards them. He saw a dark figure whose appearance was in-between a leonin and a zombie, maybe actually more zombie than leonin by then.
"Is this what you turn into when you lose your identity if you stay here? This is horrible."
"Finally you're here, boss."
"Boss? Look, I don't even know you, how can I be your boss?"
"You are Okite."
"Yes."
"Then you are our boss. We are your fallen soldiers."
"No!"
"Yes, it's us."
"What did they do to you?"
"Nothing. We've just stayed here."
Okite had like a flash-forward moment. That could have been him in some years.
"Anyway, now I'm no longer your boss."
"You could be. We're ready to put ourselves at your service here and now. We've decided this years ago, when we first got here, and now you're finally here."
"But I don't even recognize you, how could I ever command you even if I wanted? Who are you? I've had many fallen soldiers under me throughout my years of service. Tell me your names."
"Uhm..."
"You! What's your name?"
"I'm trying to remember, boss, but I can't."
"And you?"
"Same."
"You, who first talked to me?"
"No idea."
"And I guess you too don't remember... you that touched me before."
"No, I don't remember either. But we were all your soldiers."
"What use are soldiers who have lost their identity to me?"
In that moment, he had an idea.
"Wait! Maybe you could still be useful to me in a way."
"We'd love that, boss."
"I do have a problem, maybe you could help me solve it?"
"What's that?"
"You must have seen it for yourselves: everything we're teached is wrong!"
"What do you mean?"
"The gods exist! Haven't you seen? I've met some personally here: Athreos, Erebos, Phenax..."
"No, there is no god!"
"What's that then?"
Okite indicated Erebos far on the horizon.
"A thing that pulls us back from time to time."
"That's the whip. What about him? What about the wielder of it?"
"That's the thing."
"No, that's a god!"
"This is blashpemy, boss!"
"No, us leonin not believing in them is the real blasphemy!"
"We've heard enough! If you've started believing in the gods, you're not our boss..."
"Oh, finally you've got it!"
"...you're our enemy!"
And those four leonin attacked Okite. He had no problem dogding their attacks with his still superior strength. A chant acted like a musical background to the battle: "No gods... no gods... no gods..." Okite immediately understood it was a mocking pun, remembering again that his own proper name means exactly "no gods" in the Theran Leonin language. That only enraged him even more, and gave him the motivation to keep dodging their attacks. He couldn't do anything else without his weapons. In the end, they got tired and retired.
Okite was alone again, and his still-working-well-enough mind kept working:
"So that is what a leonin turns on here? No way! I won't suffer that fate. Avoiding that fate, and go to warn my living comrades myself. Two birds with one stone. And I just have to escape. And I know who can make me escape... then later I will find a way to get back my identity."
Okite turned around and retraces his steps to Phenax.
"Oh, so you're already back. Have you already decided?"
"Yes, o great Phenax, I've taken my decision. And yes, I will accept your offer. I want to escape."
"What a wonderful news! I'll start preparing your escape attempt. Meanwhile, just look at the sky and wait for my signal. As soon as you see it, come to me. It means your escape is ready to be attempted."
"What will be your signal? What should I look for in the sky?"
"A falling star."
Main Challenge - Design an uncommon card that has exactly one of the four named mechanics from THB (Constellation, devotion, escape, Sagas).
Subchallenge 1 - Your card contains the word "Underworld" in its flavor text.
Subchallenge 2 - Your card has exactly two card types.
Clarifications
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Main Challenge
• Your card has to belong at the required rarity. You can't just take Heliod, God of the Sun, put in an uncommon rarity instead of mythic and submit it as is. Or better, you technically can, but expect huge deductions in several areas of the rubric if you do. Trust me, it's not a good idea.
• Your card must have exactly one or the four mechanics from THB: it has to have one (no cards without any of the four mechanics), and it can't have more than one (no mix-and-match cards).
• Your choices will NOT be tracked this month, so don't worry about them influencing future rounds. They won't. You will be able to make all four rounds with the same mechanic if you want.
• For Sagas, having the Saga mechanic means that your card is a Saga. It can't simply reference Sagas, it has to be a Saga itself.
Subchallenge 1
• This subchallenge only looks at flavor text, NOT at the card name and NOT at the rules text.
Subchallenge 2
• Only card types on the type line count. Ones mentioned in the rules text do NOT count.
• The card types are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal. Exactly two of these must be on the type line.
• Tribal technically counts, but remember that it's no longer supported as a card type. Mind your Viability score!
• Supertypes, like "Legendary", don't matter for this subchallenge. Only card types are counted, not supertypes or subtypes.
• Not all combinations of any two card types make sense. Apply common sense. Enchantment Creatures are plentiful on Theros, and they count. I wouldn't even know what a Land Planeswalker would do. And no, this is not a challenge to try it. Please don't. Or at least, if you absolutely want to try now that I've mentioned it, please don't do it in your submission. Post your attempts in the discussion thread or elsewhere in custom cards.
• Despite Maro's wishes, an Instant Creature has no sense in the rules. It's NOT the same as a creature with flash. Again, if you want to try, please do it elsewhere and not in your submission.
• Your Viability score (and maybe other areas too) will suffer if you do anything unprintable according to today's standards. Remember that. If you're thinking about doing an Enchantment Land, think very well about it. Yes, Uniqueness is high, but is it really worth it? Your choice. I know what mine would be.
• The number of card types must be exactly two, no less and no more. A "Creature" does NOT count. An "Artifact Creature" DOES count. An "Enchantment Artifact Creature" does NOT count.
If you have any other questions that are not covered here, feel free to ask in the discussion thread.
• Your card has to belong at the required rarity. You can't just take Heliod, God of the Sun, put in an uncommon rarity instead of mythic and submit it as is. Or better, you technically can, but expect huge deductions in several areas of the rubric if you do. Trust me, it's not a good idea.
• Your card must have exactly one or the four mechanics from THB: it has to have one (no cards without any of the four mechanics), and it can't have more than one (no mix-and-match cards).
• Your choices will NOT be tracked this month, so don't worry about them influencing future rounds. They won't. You will be able to make all four rounds with the same mechanic if you want.
• For Sagas, having the Saga mechanic means that your card is a Saga. It can't simply reference Sagas, it has to be a Saga itself.
Subchallenge 1
• This subchallenge only looks at flavor text, NOT at the card name and NOT at the rules text.
Subchallenge 2
• Only card types on the type line count. Ones mentioned in the rules text do NOT count.
• The card types are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal. Exactly two of these must be on the type line.
• Tribal technically counts, but remember that it's no longer supported as a card type. Mind your Viability score!
• Supertypes, like "Legendary", don't matter for this subchallenge. Only card types are counted, not supertypes or subtypes.
• Not all combinations of any two card types make sense. Apply common sense. Enchantment Creatures are plentiful on Theros, and they count. I wouldn't even know what a Land Planeswalker would do. And no, this is not a challenge to try it. Please don't. Or at least, if you absolutely want to try now that I've mentioned it, please don't do it in your submission. Post your attempts in the discussion thread or elsewhere in custom cards.
• Despite Maro's wishes, an Instant Creature has no sense in the rules. It's NOT the same as a creature with flash. Again, if you want to try, please do it elsewhere and not in your submission.
• Your Viability score (and maybe other areas too) will suffer if you do anything unprintable according to today's standards. Remember that. If you're thinking about doing an Enchantment Land, think very well about it. Yes, Uniqueness is high, but is it really worth it? Your choice. I know what mine would be.
• The number of card types must be exactly two, no less and no more. A "Creature" does NOT count. An "Artifact Creature" DOES count. An "Enchantment Artifact Creature" does NOT count.
If you have any other questions that are not covered here, feel free to ask in the discussion thread.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: Thursday, January 16th 2020, 23:59 EST
Judging deadline: Sunday, January 19th 2020, 23:59 EST
RUBRIC
MCC Rubric
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Design
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development
X/3) Viability - How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance - Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel "fresh"?
(X/3) Flavor - Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development
X/3) Viability - How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance - Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel "fresh"?
(X/3) Flavor - Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
JUDGES
bravelion83
Ryder
Sojourner Dusk
PLAYERS
[mention]Freyleyes[/mention]
[mention]Gateways7[/mention]
[mention]Henlock[/mention]
[mention]Icarii[/mention]
[mention]Ink-Treader[/mention]
[mention]Jimmy Groove[/mention]
[mention]Legend[/mention]
[mention]netn10[/mention]
[mention]Raptorchan[/mention]
[mention]slimytrout[/mention]
[mention]Subject16[/mention]
[mention]void_nothing[/mention]
A reminder to everyone:
In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Please check out the MCC Guidelines and FAQ if you have the will and time. Link here and in my signature. Among the many things you can find there are a detailed explanation of the rubric (section 6.2) and the recommended card formatting (section 4) that you should use to format your text cards. Expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
BRACKETS
Top 2 from each bracket advance to Round 3.
Judge: Ryder
Henlock
Icarii
Jimmy Groove
netn10
Judge: bravelion83
Freyleyes
Gateways7
slimytrout
void_nothing
Judge: Sojourner Dusk
Ink-Treader
Legend
Raptorchan
Subject16
