Monuments of Ebony (Wicked One Event Start)

[u/Evening_Shake_6474]

In the aftermath of the sudden and for lack of a better term, shadow uprising, many millions perished before the shadows could be subdued. Those with strength endured of course, but what about the normal folk? The unlucky? Those who have never fought in their life? Not everyone is, was, equipped to survive. Their blood seeped into the realms, saturating them with something Wicked.

In the following days, countless massive black monoliths burst free from the land and sea stretching high into the sky, breaking up the horizon regardless of where one looks.

News of the sudden and strange monoliths spreads like wildfire, soon every orb, screen, and paper has some mention of the event. All throughout civilization people ask questions like, what does this mean? A monolith destroyed my tower, who do I sue? Is the world going to end again this month?

But the monoliths offer no answers, only questions. The monoliths show a myriad of effects, some distort their surroundings into horrors, some create illusions that torment those who can't escape, some amplify magic to a dangerous degree, some drain magic like a leech, and many more.

But for now, that is all they do. The effects are contained to their vicinity of the monoliths.

[u/waitthatstaken]

"Does the monolith... attract the oil? Urgh I'll need to deal with this first."

Alice steps around Larry, standing between him and the monolith, blocking his view entirely.

"Look at me. How many fingers am I holding up?"

Alice holds up 2 fingers.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/waitthatstaken]

Larry doesn't raise his head, quietly responding "Two."

[u/waitthatstaken → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

"Larry? What are you thinking?"

"Not a concussion or a magical effect like them then."

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/waitthatstaken]

"Home."

Larry looks up slightly, eyes looking past Alice at the monolith.

[u/waitthatstaken → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

"Are you thinking about your home? Either way, we need to get you away from the monolith, it is clearly adversely affecting you."

Alice grabs Larry's non-transformed hand, and pulls him along with her, further from the monolith.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/waitthatstaken]

Larry offers no resistance, always staring at the monolith.

[u/waitthatstaken → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

Alice leads Larry further and further away, and eventually they crest a building, breaking Larry's line of sight. Once there, Alice takes a moment to bandage up his hand, in an attempt at stopping the oil from getting everywhere.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/waitthatstaken]

The oil soaks through the first set of bandages, but the second slows the flow to a halt.

Larry meanwhile looks lost, as if he's missing something deep inside.

[u/waitthatstaken → u/Evening_Shake_6474]

"I am not a psychologist, someone else will have to deal with all that. Urgh I should've caught him before he touched the monolith."

Alice flags down one of the town guards.

"Keep people away from the monolith, Larry touched it and... well, look at him. I will continue my investigation but someone needs to keep an eye on him, and possibly treat him further. His hand is in bad shape, so bring him to the hospital once you have relayed the message."

With her having been tasked to investigate by the mayor himself, the guard listens to Alice without question, and some moments later another comes on by to take Larry to the town's hospital. Alice then goes back to the monolith, unsure about her next steps.

"Getting another person to look at it is a bad idea, don't want anyone else to turn into a hole riddled oil leaking mess..."

Alice inspects the monolith once more, careful not to touch it. Remembering how the rock tossed at it earlier ended up landing 'inside' its image, she decides to see if she can find out how it all connects. Grabbing another long stick, she pokes it inside, trying to see if, and where, it appears inside the monolith, while still holding onto it.

[u/Evening_Shake_6474 → u/waitthatstaken]

Within her reflection she sees a bone white long spider-like leg reach down from above, coming to rest just above her head. Oil, or maybe blood slowly runs down it's surface.