Great One

You peer into the darkness, while staying in the dim light provided by a single lamp next to the door. You can hear something moving, and the clank of heavy chains accompanies the sounds of movement. Though you can’t see anything, you can feel something looking at you. From the darkness, a deep voice rumbles.

“So. You’re the one. The one from inside the barrier, here causing trouble.”

It isn’t a question. “I am. My name is Nicholas, and I came from within the barrier, although I didn’t know it existed until I got here.”

More movement, and you can begin to see a large, humanoid form in the gloom. “You wouldn’t. That is the intention. I should know, I created it.”

Despite your trepidation, you’re curious about this. “What do you mean? Forgive my ignorance, but who are you?”

There’s a rumbling chuckle, and the figure moves closer. Though humanoid, it’s huge, maybe twice your height, and there’s something about it that just seems wrong. “Who am I? I suppose you couldn’t know, chained here as I am..”

It moves closer still, standing to its full height. As it comes into the dim light, you can see that its form is that of a man, grown to outlandish proportions. It is wearing only a loincloth, and veins of black and green stripe its skin, radiating out from blackened lumps on its body. Matted hair and a thick, filthy beard cover most of its face, except for a pair of eyes that gleam with a mixture of pain and insanity.

“I am the Great One, the Creator, the High God…or I was, before the corruption.”

He lifts his arms, showing the rune-engraved chains binding him. “Now, I rule from my prison. I can hold onto my lucidity for only a short time. This corruption, it affects even me. It feeds on magic. I sent my children away to protect them, and erected the barrier to shield them.”

He sighs, his eyes glazed over as he stares into a past only he can see. “I keyed the barrier to them. As long as they endured, so too would their shield.”

He looks back to you, his eyes narrowing. He attempts to walk closer, but the chains snap taut, restraining him. He gives a frustrated huff. “And now you’re here, from within. Your presence confirms what the change storms tell me. The barrier is coming down. What has happened? Where are my children? They should be gods to you!”

A realization triggers in your head. “Was one of your children named Bast?”

“Bast, yes! My youngest son! Tell me what you know, human!”

You back away from the intensity of his stare, until you’re against the wall beside the door. “He…when I was a baby, he gave his power to my father, and faded. He was the last of the old gods.”

The Great One shakes his head, his hands clenching into fists. “No no no! They can’t be dead! I cannot be the last! Hnnngh….”

He clutched his head, slowly stepping back. “We…we will speak again, human. My sanity…is slipping. Go now.”

You hesitate for a moment, unsure what to do. The Great One roars, spittle spraying from his mouth as he does so. “Go!”

You turn to the door, finding it unlocked, and nearly bowl over the waiting Victoria in the hallway. Slamming the door behind you, you surrender to the all over shakes, dropping to the floor as you recover from the shock.