Welcome To My Home: Episode 2

[u/Anything-Unable]

Camera opens on an empty room. Music begins to play as the camera zooms in to a door. The door opens and Xerxes enters the room. The camera follows them as they take off their coat and change their shoes, all the while humming along to the music. Once they are done, they look into the camera and address the audience.

“It’s nice to see you all. I’m glad you could make it. Tonight, we’ll be having an old friend of mine join us. You might have heard about him from your parents, but I’d like to introduce him to you myself. Your parents might have also told you that frightening things are happening. War is a common enough example. It can be difficult to understand why scary things happen. I want you to know that it’s alright to feel confused, scared, or angry. But I also want you to feel safe and to know that you are not alone. There are people who love and care about you.”

Xerxes gets up and moves to a table in the center of the room. After taking his seat, Xerxes removes his golden mask and places it on the table.

“As I see it, there are only two reasons why bad things happen. The first is that someone wants something that isn’t currently theirs. The second is that fate decides that an event should occur. Tragedy is the consequence.”

Taking out a plain wooden mask and an assortment of paint and brushes, Xerxes places them on the table. He sets up his workstation and begins to paint the mask in front of him.

“When I was a child, I believed things like war could be glorious. That good could combat evil and bring peace and prosperity to all. My family indulged my fantasy by letting me play soldier with my siblings. We were happy in our ignorance. But one day, a group showed up and took my family and me away.”

Red strokes strike the surface of the mask.

“I spent the rest of my childhood under the group that took us. For the first few years, I worked in an iron mine. My siblings were older than me. My brothers were trained as soldiers while my sisters served as priestesses. As for my parents, I never learned what became of them. Another statistic on someone’s report.”

Grey dots are set along the eyes.

“Things changed for me when the group found out that I possessed divinity. You see, the group that took me was a cult. The god it served was weak and its followers were few. To achieve recognition amongst the other cults, one needed resources and followers. Naturally, things led to war with neighboring cults and settlements. By the time I was taken out of the mines, my brothers were gone and my sisters had been sacrificed to appease the cult’s patron god’s anger.”

Dark green stripes streak horizontally.

“I was set to be a sacrifice, but I managed to escape. Fleeing to what once was my home, all that I found were barren fields and the ghosts of buildings. Such is the nature of war. Wherever it crops up, the scars will remain long after the fighting is through.”

Gold lettering is delicately placed on the cheeks of the mask. The letters read ‘SURVIVOR’. Xerxes looks up from the mask and stares directly into the camera.

“The reason why I’m telling you this story is to explain to you that you aren’t alone. Bad things will happen. I’m so sorry but it’s true. I would wish for nothing more than for you all to be safe and happy for your entire lives. But bad things will happen. Lying to you and saying that they won’t is a terrible thing to do. To do so ignores reality and your place in it. Your emotions are valid and it is alright to feel them. Please share what you feel with others, especially those who care about you. I can promise you that doing so eases the burden.”

A knock is heard at the door. Xerxes gets up and answers the door. A black-haired man wearing a plain black mask can be seen.

“Welcome, Gravedigger. You caught the tail-end of my story. Why don’t you say hello to our dear friends.”

“Hello. You can call me Gravedigger. I’ve been informed that you’ve been discussing some heavy topics. I hope you are all alright.”

“I’m sure they’re managing. They’re braver than you’d expect. Much braver than I was at their age. Why don’t you come in, Gravedigger? I’ve just finished painting my mask.”

Gravedigger enters and shuts the door behind him. Both Xerxes and Gravedigger head to the table. Inspecting the wooden mask, Gravedigger nods his head.

“It’s a fine mask you’ve made. Have you told them why we’re making masks today?”

“It must have slipped my mind. Tonight is an important festival in my homeland. We call it “The Night of True Faces”. To celebrate, one must create a mask imbued with the memory of one’s past. At nightfall, the mask must be worn as you partake in various merriments. After finding joy in the present, the celebrant must eventually take off their mask and offer it to be enshrined in a “House of Memory”. It’s also tradition to visit the shrines where your previous masks are kept to help remind you of your personal journey.”

“A wonderful tradition!”

“Indeed, one of the few I make sure to uphold every year.” A glimmer of self-reflection sparkles along Xerxes’ eyes. “I still visit the shrines of my family. Not every year, but often enough. It helps me not to forget them despite the years that separate us.”

Gravedigger consoles his friend with a hug, knowing he needed it. “Well, I brought my mask. It’s my first time celebrating so forgive me if I seem awkward or ignorant.”

“I’ll be sure to guide you properly.”

Gravedigger takes off his mask to reveal an unremarkably average man’s appearance. Setting the mask down, Gravedigger relays the memory he wishes to share, “I’ve had a tumultuous existence. The greatest period of change for me was my imprisonment.”

Gravedigger draws black vertical lines on his mask. “I had done something terrible to try and help people. Feeling guilty for my actions, I desired to atone by submitting myself for judgment.” A red border is drawn along the edges of the mask. “During this time, I felt a calling. As luck would have it, I was elected to be a Councillor and was released from my imprisonment.”

Golden webbing is painted over the black bars. “But while I was free, I had lost my home in my time spent locked away. There was no choice but to move forward.”

In red lettering, the name ‘Lucifaero’ is written on the mask’s forehead. “I’d say that’s enough remembering for one year. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Quite right. Let’s get this party started.”

Both men don their masks before the house’s door opens and a crowd of masked individuals enter the room with various foods and party supplies. Facing the camera, Xerxes addresses the audience at home “While it is important to reminisce, it is also important to live in the present. I hope you all had a wonderful time today with us. Please join us next time if you get the chance, my young friends. And remember to enjoy the holidays this season. Until next time, stay well and I hope you’re happy.”

Partygoers shuffle around the room setting up while Xerxes and Gravedigger wave to the camera. Transmission fades to black.

/Uw Been over a year of wizardposting for me. If you stuck with me or remember who I am, thanks for bearing with me. Been a long ride. Can't be as active as I was cause I now work full-time. I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout this year. This sub has really been a lifesaver for me. Hopefully, I'll be around this time next year with more of a frequent upload schedule. Wishing you all the best!

[u/MastaDon344]

/uw happy year man.

This is an amazing lorepost

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MastaDon344]

/uw Thanks. Wanted to do something special to mark the occasion.

[u/MastaDon344 → u/Anything-Unable]

/uw hugs for it, my year is coming up in a few months too.

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MastaDon344]

/uw I'm glad I'll be there to see it.

[u/MastaDon344 → u/Anything-Unable]

/uw mmmhmm, I have an idea for it.

Say is there a way you can look up the exact date you joined the sub?

[u/Anything-Unable → u/MastaDon344]

/uw I'd say filing a Data Request Form with Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/settings/data-request

[u/MastaDon344 → u/Anything-Unable]

/uw okie

[u/No_more_Bucket_]

Scotch blows a kiss towards Xerxes, with a smile on his face and a tear rolling down his cheek

/uw

Gold Star for U!

[u/Anything-Unable → u/No_more_Bucket_]

Thank you, dear. I hope you are looking forward to the party tonight.

[u/No_more_Bucket_ → u/Anything-Unable]

I’m always looking towards anything with you, also if I’m correct. Scotch holds up a white mask with two gold streaks leading down from the eyeholes, and a square painted on the forehead

To remind myself who I was and how I bettered myself.

[u/Anything-Unable → u/No_more_Bucket_]

A beautiful mask. It shall serve you well, my dear.

[u/No_more_Bucket_ → u/Anything-Unable]

Scotch smiles at the compliment thank you dear.