What are you doing here!
Now now, no need to be hostile. It's just another wanderer! Look, they don't even have weapons in their hands.
You need to learn to not be so rude. And besides, you woke me up.
Welcome, wanderer. What do you want to know?
You ask to know about him. About who he is, where he came from, and what is planned for the future. What is his purpose, and what is his goal?
Another one who wishes to hear some stories? Well, if they ask for it nicely then I would be rude to deny. Come, sit and let me tell you a few tales of my own.
Welcome to the Dark Collective
A hub for the lore of the Dark Sovereign's journey
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Well, starting from the beginning would only be appropriate. Come, let me tell you about the dawn of it all. I do hope my memory suffices, and my sisters might be able to help me too.
Ah, I remember that time. It was so long ago, and it hurt so much.
What did, specifically?
All of it.
I regret a lot of it. Pushing you away was my worst mistake.
Well we are together now, and that is what matters to me.
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Ah yes, the M.E.G. came through. I know a good deal about this "organization," though I have more knowledge of the Eternal Repository. Mr. Valentin and I are good friends.
That Russian guy you really hurt because you touched his shoulder? How are you friends with him? Wouldn't he hate you?
Yes, I too am very curious about this circumstance.
After I escaped my domain I met up with him by chance, and we reconciled. But that is a story for another time. Where was I… oh yes, the M.E.G. and their documentation. They dubbed our home as "Level 197." The numbers are nice, but I would have named it differently.
"What would you have named it?"
A pause follows.
Ornatum. Simply home for us.
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Oh yes, the M.E.G. happened to find me. That is something I'm not fond of remembering.
"Why is that?"
He killed. Simple as that.
I never wanted to, but I did not understand myself enough at the time. They had created the file, and I had a mobile device from a deceased wanderer, so I clumsily tapped the screen - without breaking it, surprisingly - and edited what I could. They popped up as errors, but somehow the text remained. I'm not sure of how, but I'm glad it persists.
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Yes, they gathered many secrets of Ornatum. Almost every detail they wrote down, including my sisters. I had to intervene to make sure they were preserved appropriately until I could have them return.
Thank you. For bringing us back, I mean. You've already done so much for us.
Of course, Ita. After all, you are my sister, and I wanted my sisters to come back.
I love you, Brother.
I love you too, Ita.
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It is, yes. We were all hurt that day. I didn't know it at the time, as I was still floating in a void, but I could feel that something had changed.
"What happened next? Isn't this where you met Kazuo?"
Yes, my good friend! Kazuo is a great companion and excellent listener. A true comrade.
I remember meeting Kazuo a long time ago, before I created the Cove. He is a very nice person, that man. Very respectable.
Didn't he show up here a few weeks ago?
Correct. He comes by frequently and tells us of happenings with the other humans. I hope he is doing well, he's been silent for a while.
He'll be fine. He's a trooper, and a great fighter.
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Oh, I did, didn't I? After a few months of waiting and countless banter from the whispers I finally figured out how to travel between dimensions. Well, "levels" as you would dub them.
The looks on their faces were hilarious. As if he'd go on a killing spree
As if you're one to talk.
What, you wanna go right now?!
YEAH! BRING IT ON!
Enough! Both of you! Don't make me get my hands dirty! Ita, you need sleep, dear. You're irritable again. And Killian, you need to cool it, girl!
Neither of them talk, and the Sovereign sighs.
I apologize. Things have been rough here lately, but that's a story for another time.
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Vials?
I think they mean these.
Vivian produces a vial from seemingly nowhere, with a pitch black liquid and a blue crystal inside. You nod your head, agreeing that those are indeed the ones you're curious about.
Oh, those vials. Apologies, I forgot about those completely. I'm not entirely sure how they came to fruition, but I do remember us using them as an attempt to be gifts. I'm saddened to think that mine killed people. I'll have to refine it in the future.
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I do. I remember that in my early days of lonesome I wanted someone or something to keep me company, so I attempted to make beings from rock and crystal. It never really worked, but somehow these Howlers started popping up in dangerous levels. I do not know how they appeared, but I assume I can be blamed for their creation.
Ita yawns and scratches scars on her chest. It seemed like a habit of hers.
Those things are… grotesquely interesting. I like them, but they're just plain odd.
The Sovereign would turn and kneel before Ita, holding her hand that had previously been scratching and fixing her crown.
Well, we're all odd in our own ways, aren't we?
Ita smiles.
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A fight? You must mean my fight with the humans. Yes, it was a particularly unfavorable fight, one that forced me to retreat to my domain. A fight I didn't not want to lose, but was forced to withdraw from.
Not before you took out a buncha those UEC fuckers. I hate those people.
They only wish to destroy, yes. I despise them for it as well.
It was hard, watching him be hurt like that. Not even the monsters from that brick prison gave him injuries like those. He was bleeding for months, and had to stay home for a while.
Well, I can thank my whispers for stopping the bleeding. They knew what to do, so I conjured what they told me to get. In my own way, of course. Human medication and first aid did not work very well. Trust me, I tried.
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Ah yes, their revival. It took everything within me to bring them back, and with eternal life to boot. I will admit I had help from other omniscient beings in other dimensions to see how I could make them come back, but most of the work was my own. I remember Lady Blanche telling me that since they were of my own making, and she had no documentation on such a race as ours, I was on my own for most of the process. She was still an essential part of the plot, however, and I cannot thank her enough.
She's the one that wears dresses, keeps a library, and likes tea, right?
Correct. You have not been able to meet her yet, but in due time you will be able to see Lady Blanche. I think you will like her. Very nice, she is.
I'm still in awe of how you managed to do all of this. My room has never looked so pretty since you brought me back. I've been able to take care of Meditation Cove and meet so many new people since you struggled to revive us.
Vivian begins to tear and looks at the Sovereign happily, a smile on her face. He would move and hug her, and Kilian would also join in.
Ita stands beside you, somehow not instantly killing you, seeing as the file said different, but she also gave a smile. Maybe she was happy to see her family bonding. Maybe she was happy to stand beside someone and not kill them. Maybe it was both. You didn't really know, but you smiled, too.
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Of course. "My stories have no purpose unless shared." I believe Lady Blanche tells that to a lot of humans, and she is indeed right. What point do we have to keep these experiences to ourselves? They are best shared.
You ask if there are any more stories that he or his sisters have. Suffice to say, it's been hours since you entered Level 197, but you loved the stories that the Sovereign told. It took up time quite well.
For now that is all I have. I'm happy that you liked these tales of mine, as I've never actually spoken them aloud. Do any of you have stories to share?
Not from me! My memory is quite blank, with only slight glimpses of what you have done. Most likely from your crown.
Yeah, I don't have anything either. I'm too tired to speak a whole story, I dunno how you do that.
I just remember a whole lotta red, not somethin you'd be interested in!
Regardless you thank them for their hospitality, standing up and collecting some more water that Vivian held our for you. They all stand up as well, watching you walk off out of Meditation Cove. You didn't see it before, but three new tunnels emerged from the walls behind the crystal mass: one purple, one red, and one black.
Until next time, dear wanderer. I hope you live safe and well.
He waves at you, and you wave back, smiling. The Sovereign had made an exit for you, and you step through, entering Level 11 once again. Your recorder beeps a few times, signifying that it was reaching its capacity.
And it was worth every kilobyte.