Prologue: The Prisoner

The sound of footsteps could be heard long before the shadow was seen under the door. The slot in the metal door clanged open loudly before the food (if you could call it that) slid through, followed by the clang of it closing. The prisoner sat up slowly, pulled the bowl closer, and crossed his legs. Meals were sustenance, but also routine, the only anchor to sanity in a place like this. Anchors were vital when you couldn't remember who you were, where you came from, or why you were here. If only he could remember his name...

Flap flap flutter flap. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a bat landing to hang above the door. That's when he heard the voice in his head.

Steam

Was the voice real or had he imagined it? And what did it mean? He lifted the bowl, meaning to hurl it at the creature, when he noticed its eyes glowing red. Had he ever seen a bat with eyes like that? There was an intellect behind those eyes, seeming to pierce his mind. Then it turned towards the food.

Steam

The bowl was filling the room with steam. That's when it came to him. Steam meant warmth. Warmth meant energy. Energy meant power. Beginning to remember, he glanced back up at the bat. It seemed to nod. Resting the warm receptacle in his lap, he closed his eyes and began to chant as he had not done in a long time. As he performed the ritual, glowing red markings faintly appeared on the wall. What did it mean? He must remember. With renewed focus, he chanted again.

"Urruku ya zi xul"

As the ground trembled, the markings became clearer and clearer, until finally he knew what he was looking at: the Rune of Jupiter.

He was filling with a feeling he had not known in a long time...HOPE.

Entered by: 0x8F45…5f63 and preserved on chain (see transaction)