Unforgiving Cold: Prologue


                                            1.
                                            
                                                > Be Warren Sanchez. Occultist, mage, and horrible person.

                                            2.
                                            
                                                > You've spent countless years studying the twisted reality beneath the facade of normalcy that society floats on.

                                            3.
                                            
                                                > Worshipping the lords of terrors. Sacrificing countless things. Both from yourself, and of others.

                                            4.
                                            
                                                > Today you're tracking down a ritual you managed to detect. Someone is trying something. You're not sure, but you're determined to find out.

                                            5.
                                            
                                                > Especially since whatever they're doing, they're both using something powerful to do it, and also they're doing it wrong. You can tell it's some novice who managed to come across a powerful magical object.

                                            6.
                                            
                                                > You arrive at a sketchy looking apartment building. Sneaking inside you arrive at apartment 125.

                                            7.
                                            
                                                > You unlock the door with relative ease. Having used your twisted powers to corrode the lock.

                                            8.
                                            
                                                > Inside is a disgusting mess, filled with countless paraphernalia dedicated to some franchise about colorful horses. My little pony, you think it's called.

                                            9.
                                            
                                                > Sneaking through the apartment, you find in a gross bedroom a ritual circle made of salt, and an iridescent dark vase with a symbol an upside down triangle with a mouth in the center of the shape on it.

                                            10.
                                            
                                                > Slowly scanning the room, you see a fat messy greasy man with a neck beard and a fedora holding a piece of paper. Chanting out loud.

                                            11.
                                            
                                                > You decide to make your presence known. “You're doing it wrong.”

                                            12.
                                            
                                                > The man jumps in surprise. His eyes wide and full of surprise. “Who the hell are you!?”

                                            13.
                                            
                                                > ”I go by many names. Servant, the cold one, nihilistic fool, Warren. But for you, I'm but a humble occultist. And you may refer to me as such.” You chuckle. “And I'm here because I noticed a novice using a powerful object to perform a ritual. And that they're doing said ritual wrong.”

                                            14.
                                            
                                                > “So, occultist, are you here to help me?” The pathetic man asks you. His tone is full of impatience and irritation. It makes you want to slit the pig open right then and there. But you hold back for now.

                                            15.
                                            
                                                > “Perhaps. Perhaps not. It all depends on what you're trying to do in the first place.” You say calmly. Slowly approaching him.

                                            16.
                                            
                                                > “Well I'm trying to open a portal to Equestria. So I can meet the mane six and be free from this shitty world.” He responds.

                                            17.
                                            
                                                > “Equestria? Mane six? That's something I've yet to read in any of my studies. Tell me, of which occult manuscript told you of such things.” You demand.

                                            18.
                                            
                                                > The man laughs. Pulling up his phone to show you an image of six colorful horses with the text ‘my little pony friendship is magic’. “It's from this show. I want to go there.”

                                            19.
                                            
                                                > This agitates you. This pitiful creature is using a ritual as extreme as opening up a portal and is using a powerful, highly valuable artifact, just to try entering the world of a children's show. It makes you sick.

                                            20.
                                            
                                                > But for now, you hide your rage. Instead snatching up the piece of paper he's holding and looking it over. You recognize it well. You've studied similar stuff.

                                            21.
                                            
                                                > “You could do so much more with a ritual like this. With an object of such power as that vase. And yet you waste it for this. I'm disappointed.” You admonish calmly. “As for why it's not working, you need a human sacrifice.”

                                            22.
                                            
                                                > “Wait what!? I thought magic was all about feelings and stuff!” He shouts.

                                            23.
                                            
                                                > “Maybe in the childish world of your pony show. But real magic is based around sacrifice. Both the sacrifice of oneself and of others.” You say as you expose your arms, revealing countless scars. “If you want magic as powerful as that, you must be ready to sacrifice a lot.”

                                            24.
                                            
                                                > He's stunned into silence. You take this opportunity to reach for the vase. “Now if you excuse me, I'll be taking this. Something so powerful doesn't belong with such a pathetic novice.”

                                            25.
                                            
                                                > “No!” He shouts as he lunges towards you. Intent on keeping it.

                                            26.
                                            
                                                > With a quick flourish of your hand, you slit his throat with a dagger. His body dropping into the center of the ritual circle.

                                            27.
                                            
                                                > Unfortunately for you, you just activated it. Since all that was still needed was a sacrifice. The vase disintegrates into dust as the magic is sucked out from it, and in a bright flash of light, you're blinded and transported elsewhere. Finding yourself in the middle of a grassy field during the day.