By Miikka64
04/07/2026 - 14:01:00
Type: House building
Rating: 7.5 (Good)
Tags: gaprop
Description
[Vendetta of Vain 3/3]
[ Planet Skoran ? The Plain of Pachamama ? Five Years Ago ]
Two Sentinels marched toward the tree in the distance, weapons at the ready. The branches of the immense tree reached into the dark sky, its leafless limbs resembling skeletal fingers grasping at the heavens. The smell of rot and blood hung heavy in the air. The ground surrounding the tree was littered with corpses?unlucky colonists from the nearby settlement.
"...Eight hundred and eighty-eight," the female Sentinel said aloud as the pair walked past yet another body. The male Sentinel next to her looked at her questioningly, to which she continued. "The number of colonists they took. One of the survivors said it was like they were counting, and the moment their haulers were full, they made a beeline here," she explained, gesturing to the tree. "There has to be some significance to that number. Nothing was stopping the raiders from grabbing everyone, yet they stopped when they hit that magic number."
"I'm sure they'll explain if we ask nicely," the male Sentinel replied, grinning as he brandished his dual blades. "Look, Seranne, when it comes to these sectarian scum, you'll only hurt your brain trying to find any rhyme or reason to their actions. They're nothing more than monsters justifying their atrocities through their twisted beliefs. Don't start losing sleep over 'em. They're not worth it."
Seranne nodded. "I suppose you're right, dad. Still, something about this whole thing is giving me goosebumps..." She looked at the tree, and the countless corpses beneath it. "I've seen Warmonglers put less effort into their massacres. This wasn't some spontaneous attack, this was planned. But why this world of all places?.. And what is up with this tree? Something about it is..."
"Out of place," Sarevox said as he studied the tree. "It's the only plant life around that isn't cacti. Not only that, but the marks on the ground... This tree sprouted from nowhere only days ago. Something bizarre is definitely afoot." He looked at the sky. "Let's split up. We go around the tree and flank the enemy."
"Right. Good idea," Seranne replied and started making her way around the tree. Sarevox gave his daughter a brief nod, and then headed left. As he made his way across the field of bodies, he could hear the faint sounds of chanting coming from the other side of the tree. He readied his blades, and picked up his pace. The sounds of chanting grew louder. He was almost at the other side when suddenly, the chanting stopped.
A split second later, a blinding flash of golden light forced Sarevox to shield his eyes, and a deep rumble knocked him off his feet. He could hear his daughter's shouts of alarm in the distance. He tried to get up, but another deep rumble threw him back to the ground. He looked up, and saw the tree bursting with golden energy. The entire thing shook violently, the bark cracking, its branches falling?the whole tree coming apart.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything ceased. One final blast of wind swept across the land as the last bits of the tree fell apart, a golden trail shooting from the base of the tree into the sky before it too dissipated. All that remained was a smouldering crater and the air was now filled with the smell of charred flesh and smoke.
"Seranne... SERANNE!?" Sarevox shouted, but no answer came. He quickly got up and ran to the crater. The smell was almost unbearable, and he had to cover his face with his sleeve. He looked down into the crater and could only see ash and dust. No sign of Seranne or whoever it was that was performing the ritual. "No, no no no..." he repeated as he dug through the ashes, trying to find any trace of his daughter. But there was nothing... save for a familiar earring. He picked it up with trembling hands, and held it close.
"Seranne..."
By Benjami
A fascinating snippet into the Sentinels as an organization, as well as what appears to be the Garden of Flesh performing a ritual for their god. Very curious as to what happened/happens with the family vendetta.