[center][b]Arcturus, Estara[/b][/center]

While the great chains rattled and made their way through the streets of Arcturus, capturing any whom they could catch, there was a very different scene unfolding down below. Not terribly far down below, but merely in the underground storeroom of a local trader. For unbeknownst to most of the town the trader was a Gifted individual, touched by the Bountiful Wheel and a member of the Cult of the Divine Circle. And he was not the only one, for the town was home to a handful of other Gifted as well. But this small number were not the only people within the storeroom-turned-shrine during the present predicament. No, the storeroom was nearly packed, the people within so close that they could feel the heat and breath of almost everyone else in the room. It was not an altogether pleasant arrangement, as the air stunk of sweat and urine; some individuals had wet themselves in fear when Kharathorr's chains had begun their terrorizing raid.

These people were not Gifted, and indeed were not even members of the Cult. In fact, prior to the appearance of the chains some had not even believed in the existence of any prince of Ruin. But Csonugdytuft was a kind Goddess, and she had made her Cultists travel throughout the city and bring them to the storeroom/shrine for safety. They were all too willing to believe her followers since the only alternative was to simply wait for the great chains to come and steal them away. The cultists were their only hope, and so they grasped it and held on, hoping beyond reason that they were telling the truth and that they could truly being them to safety. And, thankfully, they were right. For while Csonugdytuft could not protect the entire town, she could save as many as possible from a life of servitude and slavery to the Great Enslaver.

Within the storeroom a woman shrieked in terror, for she had felt a warmth drip on her shoulder and when she gazed upward her eyes came to lay on a terrifying sight. A great ring had appeared above them, stretching from wall to wall and rotating slowly as eyes bulged out from its rims before dissolving and retreating back into the entity's flesh once more. The terrified townspeople followed the woman's gaze, and a chorus of screams and shrieks came from them all. hey began to push at one another, scrambling and frantically trying to make their way to the door. They didn't care about the chains outside, for at the moment they were farther away and the fleshy ring was right there inside the room with them. And as such they viewed it as a more immediate threat, but then it spoke to them.

"Fear not children, for I mean you know harm. Calm yourselves, and listen to my words," said a voice; it was calm and soft, like that of a caring and kind mother. The voice was not an entirely physical phenomenon, however, as it entered directly into the minds of the people below. The shock from their heads being invaded in such a way made them pause for a moment, and thus actually listen to the words coming from the strange ring.

"I am sincere in my desires to save you, for I love you all. Each and every one of you are precious, and I weep for those stolen by the Enslaver," it said, and it was true; dark red liquid had begun to seep from the eyes and drip down onto the people below. None of them seemed to care though, frozen in fear and awe as they were.

"Here you are safe from the chains of the Enslaver, for this place is under my influence. He may try and force his way in, but he cannot succeed in such an endeavour. Fear not, for I am watchful." At these words the people were all but enthralled, it had become clear that this entity did not desire to harm them, or else it would already have done so. And it seemed sincere in its desire, though they could not tell if that thought was there own or implanted there, not that any of them cared. This entity was a source of hope and safety; if they stayed here they had a chance to stay free and escape enslavement. And Csonugdytuft had already begun to bestow its Gift upon these people, not that any of them realized this or felt any difference. And even if they had they wouldn't have cared, since this creature represented safety and they would do anything to stay alongside it