A Strange Stone

Atop the altar stands a stone. It is lustrous and largely opaque, struck through with bands of gold and amber and black. You would think it was tiger’s eye, but it is a full foot tall, and shaped like an egg that is marred on one side by golden cracks.

You almost can’t believe it, but you think you know what it is.

A Dragonstone. A relic of the days before the Angelic Court drove the dragons into the Underworld. A source of power and a symbol of fear only outdone by a Dark Chalice.

But if this is a Dragonstone, why has it been left here, undisturbed? Under any normal circumstance it would likely have been claimed by a new dark ****. Varast is not devoid of intelligent life; just intelligent life that isn’t out to kill anyone from the Northlands or Alsteria.

The stone gleams in the dim light, and you can’t take your eyes off of it.

The power to change everything.

You’re drawn to it, the sensation of something calling you stronger now.

If only you reach out and take it.

You don’t even notice your hand reaching out until you’ve almost touched the smooth stone, and even then you don’t pull your hand away.

After all, what is there for you to lose? You’re trapped here, doomed to either a slow **** or years of isolation. If you don’t touch it, you haven’t touched it and you’re leaving yourself with unanswered questions. If you do.... You’re possibly damning yourself in the eyes of the Angels, but you also might have a chance of surviving.

Taking a breath to clear your thoughts, and even pushing down the compulsion that brought you here, you find yourself already decided.

You press your hand against the stone.

Ah, so the choice is made.

What?

We wondered. You’re decisive. That’s good. Very good.

What is….

We are the magics of the Stone of Teriss, mortal. And we have an offer for you.

There is a voice inside your head, but it is not a voice. It is both heard and felt inside of you, and it feels like time itself.

But first, we must see what it is that you have lost, before we can show you what you might gain….