Execute Thy Will

Chapter 2

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The sight and sounds of torturous death behind him, Astral Shadow found himself confined to his spartan room for evening meditations. Much like himself, the room was small, with only the basics of comforts to fill the stony space. A bed was set along the right wall, with an end table near the headboard, and a desk pushed against the back wall; along the left, a metal sink and toilet, with a mirror above the sink. A group of magic-infused stalagmites, forming under the ventilation opening of the ceiling in the left corner, provided decent enough lighting for reading and writing.

It was by this light that Astral wrote in his journal at the desk, logging the day's events away for his own records. Even after years of this repetitive tradition, his meticulous need to remember everything happening never faltered. His rather pious thoughts from earlier still poked at his brain however, prompting him to pull away from his logging and retrieve a plain, well-used book from the trunk at the end of his bed. The book was leather, with the words Fin Rah Uth etched in bold across the top of the cover.

This was why he served, the edict of his life and all that governed his very existence.

Settling himself back at his desk, Astral opened his only prized possession and turned to the near-end of the ancient work. The script, hoof-written by the nuns of the alpine Unicorn Range, was both painstakingly precise and beautifully illustrated, with not a stray mark marring the many pages. Not even ear-marks were made, as such a deliberate disfigurement would be borderline sacrilege, and would certainly court misfortune.

Reminding himself of this fact, Astral was careful as he turned each page individually, looking over the myriad of topics covered; death and conduct being chief among them. He stopped on a few key sections, alternating between reading and jotting notes in his journal. In doing so, he sunk deeper and deeper into the literature, finding himself in a place of slight elation. His original intent of searching for more insightful answers to the finer points of death had been lost among the many other thoughts of reassurance flooding his mind as he read.

Having been lulled almost to sleep by the warm, comforting thoughts suddenly pervading his mind, Astral shut both the religious text and his journal, blowing out the candle and heading to bed.

"No matter one's lot, it is better to do good and strive for perfection in all walks of life than to rebel and stray from the righteous path laid by the Line that rules us. For by these blameless acts, those who rule us now and who came before see the purity of our intentions and reward insurmountable blessings upon us in this life. And to those unto who the heavenly have chosen and granted the privilege and power of Unicorndum, They have granted the chance to secure a place in Their glorious land of Elysium, so long as those blessed with Unicorndum walk in the ways of righteousness.

But, to those who stray and choose to scorn the heavenly promises and blessings offered, the Pit of Tartarus awaits them in all its grotesque and horrifying splendor. If such a place was not kept separate from us by our Divine Guardians Who Rule, the very earth beneath our hooves would split and the world would be melted as iron in a flaming forge. The inexplicable punishments awaiting those who travel to Tartarus rank as a fate worse then this, tenfold.

And to those who choose neither of these paths, either to walk in the favor of the Divine or to fall prey to Their exalted judgment, a limbo of isolation awaits. As a boat set upon the open sea for all eternity, so is the one who is set upon the course of never ending emptiness; this void of ceaseless drifting awaits those who do not make a choice. Take heed, for this may be a fate far worse than the pain of Tartarus."

-Fin Rah Uth, pg. 150, lines 50-59