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NerdArtist23

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when he was eight that he was presented with his father’s sword upon his death.

“Sorry,” apologised Ariane. “But you know what will happen if you go against Guthix’s wish and stop the gods. You can prevent the death and suffering of countless people. Why go against that? Guthix clearly had a plan for you, and if you follow it, it would lead to greatness for you and all of Gielinor. Why would you reject that?”

Because Zaros has a plan too, Bryce thought, remembering Azzanadra’s words to him before when he had asked about his plans. The Mahjarrat’s voice was still clear as a bell, it was as if he was present in the pub with him.

I can say that you should ensure no mishaps befall you. Zaros requires you very much in one piece.

“I’m sorry,” Bryce said once again. “But out of loyalty to the one I follow, I’m not sure if I can join the Guthixian cause--

Ariane interrupted him before he could finish. “You’re using the same flimsy excuses as the fanatics of Saradomin and Zamorak, telling yourself how great your god is, and not wanting to act against him…it’s an act of blind faith.”

“It’s not, I swear” promised Bryce. “I’ll never be like…them.”

Especially not Zilyana.

Ariane took a gulp of beer before replying. “Your actions speak louder than your words, Bryce. You have every reason in the world to devote yourself to Guthix’s last wish and yet you wouldn’t. Your actions are that of a fanatic. You’ve really changed, Bryce. You might still be able to see reason, but…I wonder…how long would it be before you operate on blind faith alone like so many others?”

Bryce downed the rest of his glass. “I’ve already told you, I am nothing like them, and I will never turn into one of them. And the god I follow…he’s stronger than Saradomin and Zamorak combined, some would say he’s even stronger than Guthix, and I wouldn’t say their claim is too far off. He’s a good, honourable god who rewards his followers, and he has great plan for the... -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:28:11 - Last edited on 13-Aug-2016 02:28:30 by NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

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world. And when he returns--

Ariane interrupted him again. “Bryce, who do you follow?”

“I can’t tell you,” Bryce answered.

“Please, can’t you tell me just a bit about him?” Ariane asked again. “Must his name remain I secret? You can trust me, you know. I’m your friend.”

Bryce sighed. “Another beer for me, bartender?”

The bartender got him another beer, and Bryce paid for his drink, before taking a bug gulp of it.

“The others are counting on me,” Bryce said. “I cannot fail them.”

“Bryce…have you joined a cult?”

Bryce’s eyes widened. “No! It’s not a cult!”

He took another gulp of beer, and a second later, Ariane did the same thing. A moment of silence passed between them before Ariane started talking again.

“You know, I never considered myself a full Guthixan until today,” she said. “I only became interested in his ways because of my dislike for both Saradomin and Zamorak. But now…even though he’s dead…in a strange way, I think I feel closer to him than ever. And it has everything to do with the fact we share the same…philosophy.”

“I understand that,” Bryce agreed. “I never gave much thought to Guthix until today, and he does have a point; several good points actually, but I still cannot give up on…him.”

Ariane tried again. “Bryce, you’ve seen it yourself. Gods do not embody the ‘good’ they stand for, that’s if they consider even themselves ‘good.’ I’m sure Zanik can tell you everything about Bandos and his unquenchable bloodthirst, as well as his attempt to enslave her people to achieve that. Zamorak is unquestionably evil, and Saradomin says he’s good, but his actions tell a different story. Why should the one you follow be any different?”

Bryce did not respond. The only thing that went through his mind was I know he’s not evil, I have proof from Azzanadra.

“Do you remember the time you told me about the Dorgeshuun you discovered?” Ariane asked. “Do you remember the story you told me... -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:30:16

NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

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“...about Zanik and the way she defied Bandos because his plan would involve the death of innocent people? Do you remember telling me about how you defeated his avatar? Do you remember what I said afterwards?”

Bryce smiled grimly. “How can I forget?”

It was true. While he always cherished his moments with her, so he could always recall them with the greatest clarity, her haunting words about that matter were unforgettable, they were almost prophetic. I wish I could have seen the look on the Bandos avatar's face when you fired that crossbow. You struck a blow not just for cave goblins but for all mortals. No one keeps us down. No one keeps us ignorant. Gods are more powerful than us but not infinitely so--they can be brought down.

That wasn’t all. He then thought of what she said next. I sometimes wonder if there's a new God War brewing--not god against god, but gods against mortals. If your defeat of Bandos is any indication, I think we could win.

“And do you remember your response?” Ariane questioned.

He nodded. And if that happens, I’ll fight by your side, he had said.

But that was just like what Ariane said before about her thoughts of a godless Gielinor. He dismissed it seconds after he said it, because it sounded so crazy, it was impossible. And it was before he started to follow Zaros, so he could afford to think like that, however impractical it was.

“I’m sorry,” he told her. “But plans change. And so do people.”

Ariane’s eyes widened in shock, and she stared at him. “So you won’t help…at all? You won’t be helping the Guthixian cause?”

“I never said I wouldn’t help,” Bryce replied. “I am just unsure of which side to pick. You don’t have to tell me how right Guthix is, I already know that. But at the same time, I’m too loyal to the god I follow to fight against him. I have arrived at the fork in the road, but I don’t know which path to choose.”

Ariane pursed her lips and Bryce took a gulp of beer. -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:32:27

NerdArtist23

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“I’m truly sorry, Ariane,” he said. “But I until I make my decision, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Even while Gielinor’s in danger of another all-out war that would bring only suffering, death, and tyranny?”

Bryce nodded. “Please understand, although I do not know which path to choose, I do know that now I’m the World Guardian, I can shape the future, and I must make my decisions carefully. I cannot make one choice on a whim, only to regret it later on.”

I n theory, it does not matter whether it’s Guthix or Zaros, he thought. I can’t pick one side and fight with everything I’ve got for them, only to change my mind in the future. Should that ever happen, I would have to focus all my time and energy to undoing the work I did before, and that might not even be possible.

“That’s why I’m so indecisive.”

Ariane didn’t respond, and Bryce kept on talking.

“Look, I’m sorry. But I really need some time to think about this. Everything today happened so quickly, my mind still needs time to process all this properly.”

“I know how you feel,” she agreed. “I need to do the same thing.”

She finished her beer. “And then I’m back to Taverley to pay my respects.”

She then stood up, and turned around to leave, but before she took her first step towards the door, Ariane touched him on the shoulder. Bryce turned his head up, and once again, his purple eyes met her green ones.

“You still have some time to consider all this,” she said. “Guthix only died today; it’s too soon for the other gods to act, but soon, a war will arrive on our shores. This is only the calm before the storm. Please, Bryce… make the right decision.”

“I’ll try.”

And then he watched as she walked away, across the blue carpet that covered the floor, and past the round wooden tables that were now occupied by the pub regulars. When she was completely gone, he turned his attention back to the bartender.

“More beer.” -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:34:25

NerdArtist23

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Bryce brushed a lock of his pale blond hair aside, and he turned his gaze back to the blank sheet of papyrus on the desk before him. He then picked up the quill, dipped it in ink, and he began to write in quick scribbles.

A lot had happened since his last meeting with Ariane at the Blue Moon Inn. The gods had sent their emissaries to Gielinor, hoping to gain more followers, and he was very tempted to join the Godless faction that was ran by some Guthixians in Port Sarim, but his loyalty to Zaros stopped him from doing that. Then, Saradomin and Zamorak started a battle in his hometown, and after that, he and Sir Owen had to recover the Wand of Resurrection before Zamorak's followers did.

And I've finally made my choice, he thought, thinking of the time he first spoke to Kara-Meir soon after the two gods started fighting. She had wanted him to join the Godless, ignore the fight and focus on recruiting more members, but he couldn't stand by and watch the two gods destroy Lumbridge. He hated them both, but he hated not being able to do anything while his hometown was attacked even more, and he especially hated it when his hometown is attacked in the first place.

So he went against her, and joined Saradomin's side in the battle. He had decided that Saradomin was the lesser of two evils. If he wins, at least he wouldn't destroy the entire town, whereas Zamorak would do exactly that should he come out on top.

Please understand, he thought as he wrote. I sided with him out of pragmatism. I still haven't forgotten what he did to the Naragi and Sir Owen. ..

Just the thought of Saradomin and his pride made Bryce grit his teeth. After seeing Guthix's memories, he knew that Saradomin should not be trusted with having an item so powerful in his hands because he would simply go drunk with power. He pointed this out before attempting to destroy -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:35:22

NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

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the Wand, only to have Saradomin blast him with god magic for daring to defy him.

I would've died if I wasn't the World Guardian, Bryce thought. And even with my new powers, there was nothing I could do but watch as he used the wand and gave Sir Owen a zombie arm. If I couldn't even stop a god from taking something out of my hands, how can I stop them from starting another God War?

Ever since that, Bryce started to doubt Guthix's philosophy, and he wondered if Guthix's ideal was something he could achieve or a well-intentioned, but hopelessly naive dream that could not be made into reality in the hellhole that was life. Eventually, he realised the latter was right. Guthix gave him power, but he did not leave him with a precise, well-thought, practical plan he could use.

What did he want me to do? Bryce thought. Go to the battlefield, yell at Saradomin and Zamorak, and demand justice before trying to cut them down with my godsword?

The idea of him doing just that was so ridiculous, he cracked a smile. If he ever tried it, both gods would burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity of the situation, before disarming him the exact way Saradomin took the Wand from him, and then what would he do? Kill Saradomin and Zamorak at the same time with nothing but his fists?

But Zaros isn't anything like that, he thought. He has a plan, and I will play my part when--

A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. Bryce got up from his wooden chair, walked over to the front door, and opened it to see Hans, looking nervous as usual.

“A meeting with the Council of Advisers is about begin,” he said. “Duke Horacio requires your immediate presence.”

“Just give me a minute to get ready,” Bryce told him. He went back to his letter, and scribbled one last “sorry” after writing down his final decision to follow not Guthix, but the god whose name he can't mention, before folding it up, putting it into an envelope and -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:37:09

NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

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then sticking a wax seal with his family crest on it. He addressed the letter to Ariane.

Bryce made his way out of his parents' old house and he followed Hans into the Duke's castle, where he immediately went to the third floor room that contained several carrier pigeons and a great horned owl. He gave the letter to a pigeon, who immediately grabbed the envelope with its beak and then took off. Bryce prayed that Ariane would understand, before leaving the room and heading for another one, on the second floor where the Council waited. -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:37:53 - Last edited on 13-Aug-2016 02:41:14 by NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

NerdArtist23

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Again, I tried my best to deal with gameplay and storyline segregation. There are some things here that aren't found in-game like using birds to deliver letters, I noticed that Gielinor doesn't have a postal system (yeah, there's Postie Pete, but I didn't really want to include him he feels too comical, and he'd ruin the atmosphere of a more serious story), and birds don't seem too implausible to me (especially carrier pigeons) because they have been used in the past, and a lot of other fantasy universes use that method to deliver mail. I should mention now that the type of bird used depends on the area you're in. If you're in a cold, northern area, like the Fremennik provinces, you'd use a snowy owl, but if you're somewhere in the desert, you'd use a steppe eagle.

And the council's just the Duke's Dilemma, with gameplay and storyline segregation applied to it, so there's no mass voting and instead of just the player character advising the Duke we've got the Lumbridge Sage and the captain of the Lumbridge guard, and maybe Father Aereck (the Lumbridge priest too. -This account is currently controlled by the Committee for State Security.
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13-Aug-2016 02:43:41 - Last edited on 13-Aug-2016 02:44:16 by NerdArtist23

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