That's twice now that I've experienced a 'little death' with you, Duelist. This time it was just the rude awakening I needed.
When we shared our 'moment' back in the Lunaris temple, part of me wishes I'd died at your feet as intended. The little girl within me that shies from darkness, from greatness.
Stay those mortal instruments of yours, Shadow. I've no wish to test my longevity, nor my sanity, a third time.
When we shared our 'moment' back in the Lunaris, part of me wishes I'd died at your feet as intended. The little girl within me that shies from darkness, from greatness.
Twice now you've baptised me in my own blood, Templar. So believe me when I tell you that I've had all the divine revelations that I can stand.
When we shared our 'moment' back in the Lunaris, part of me wishes I'd died at your feet as intended. The little girl within me that shies from darkness, from greatness.
That's twice I've underestimated you, sister. Twice now that your talents have proved to exceed even mine. So it looks like you'll be the one to finish what I so blindly started.
Part of me wishes I'd died at your feet as was intended. The little girl within me that shies from darkness, from greatness.
It was Malachai who reached out to me, who wrapped me in Nightmare... made me his slave.
He has shown me greatness beyond imagining, so much that I thought my mind would shatter under its weight. And although my mind remains intact, my dreams were not so fortunate.
Malachai is in the Beast's black core right now, harnessing all that the Beast is, and will be. He will destroy this world and forge it anew in the divine image of Nightmare.
Yet as powerful as Malachai has become, he's neither unreachable nor invulnerable. He sacrificed much to become the Beast's prime servant, both in spirit and in flesh, yet three vital organs remain.
His heart, lungs and entrails, keepsakes of humanity lost. They will be our tickets into Malachai's private, little show.
Venture deeper, deep into nightmare's abattoir. I'll follow when I'm able. You find me those organs and I'll get us into the Black Core.
Malachai chose his three most loyal servants to guard those precious innards. His Godless Three. Inquisitor Maligaro, Shavronne of Umbra, and Doedre Darktongue.
If the history books are accurate, High Templar Voll burned Maligaro and Doedre at the stake on his way to lay siege to Sarn. He didn't have to worry himself with Shavronne. Brutus had already sorted her out.
Yet slaves of nightmare seem to be shackled just as tightly to life as they are to the Beast. I, of course, am living proof of that.
Don't worry yourself with that little detail, though. Shackles are made to be unlocked.
Before we walk this path together, it's important that you understand one thing about me.
I don't regret a single thing that I've done. I set out to raise humanity up from the cloying mud of its fleshly ignorance. My mistake was not in the aspiration, but in the execution.
Now I intend to correct that mistake.
Really, I'm not helping you, exile. You're helping me.
You've come such a long way since we first met in Axiom prison. I was that close to snuffing you out, then and there, sister.
But now look at us! Working together to destroy the greatest terror that Wraeclast has ever known. If I were the crying type, it'd bring a tear to my eye.
You, my champion, have caused me more pain than any other man in my life.
Yet do you know from whence my true agony has originated? Not from the violence you have inflicted upon me. I'm a big girl. I can take it. No, it is having to look into those pretty eyes of yours across this chasm of creed that separates us.
You know, prior to meeting Maligaro, Shavronne and Doedre, I rather admired them. Their work, their accomplishments... sheer genius! As it turns out, genius is something better appreciated from afar.
So let's remove this one, last genius from the vicinity, shall we?
Malachai chose his three most loyal servants to guard those precious innards. His Godless Three. Inquisitor Maligaro, Shavronne of Umbra, and Doedre Darktongue.
If the history books are accurate, High Templar Voll burned Maligaro and Doedre at the stake on his way to lay siege to Sarn. He didn't have to worry himself with Shavronne. Brutus had already sorted her out.
Yet slaves of nightmare seem to be shackled just as tightly to life as they are to the Beast. I, of course, am living proof of that.
Don't worry yourself with that little detail, though. Shackles are made to be unlocked.
Malachai knew exactly what he was doing when he created the Rapture.
His primary concern... get inside the Beast and take up the reins of true power. And his second objective... incite a Cataclysm that would wipe the very thought of resistance from this land.
The Beast is the source of all thaumaturgy, the one power in this world that transforms 'what is real' into 'what is imagined'.
The entire world is now at the mercy of one man's vision. It won't be the future I imagined, and it won't be the future you imagined, either. While he remains within the Black Core, the only imagination that matters... is Malachai's.
The Black Core is near. If the Beast were in any way human, we could think of the Black Core as the Beast's heart. I'm not even going to try to explain to you what it really is.
Naturally, the Black Core is an 'invites only' party and we're not on the list. Yet I believe I have a way to correct that little oversight. Malachai gave up much of himself when he became the Beast's prime servant. Both in spirit and in flesh. Yet, in a moment of rare sentimentality, he kept a few pieces. Three vital organs, placed in the safe-keeping of his godless three; Inquisitor Maligaro, Shavronne of Umbra and Doedre Darktongue. No doubt you've heard of them on your travels.
Bring me those organs and, I promise, I shall get us into the Black Core.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. An honest death... the only redemption I was ever likely to get. You know, it's a question that's always haunted me... whose will be the last face I see. I like the answer. Go, my pretty champion. I want that fine arse of yours to be the last thing I see.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. Just before you murdered me in the Lunaris, Shadow, I thought you were about to steal my destiny from me. As it turns out, you gave me back my freedom. So go on, shadow boy, and do what you do best. Murder Malachai.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody saviour. I've seen, felt... been things that you can't imagine, heretic, and I don't regret a damned moment of it. So go. Finish what we started. And when I find out if this God of yours is real or not, I'll be sure to let you know.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. Who'd have thought you'd be so suited to the role? I was convinced I'd made a fatal mistake in sparing your life in Axiom Prison. Fatal, yes, but a mistake? No. Go now, sister. It's up to you to teach Malachai the true definition of Nightmare.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. I was so sure that I was creating a prouder world, and I thought the Karui beneath such a future. I was wrong. Leave me, Marauder. I've got some explaining to do... to my Ancestors. You go and honour Malachai's head with a place on your belt.
You... you were born for this. But you've always known that, haven't you. I've strived my whole life to make something better, of the world, of myself. You have simply lived, and the irony is, that's all that either of us ever needed to do. So go, finish the hunt, Ranger. Do what comes so naturally to you.
This is what I get for trying to be a bloody hero. Not that long ago, you represented all that I hated. But there you stand, possessing the one thing I have always dreamed of. A chance to change the world. Go on then. I've played my part. I asked the difficult questions. Now it's up to you to get the answers.