The Recordings of Sebastian the Crab

[DM Betelgeuse]

//The following information is not entirely IC knowledge, unless shared by those involved, it is for entertainment purposes. It is a story arc that came from some dungeon spicing I did a year or so back and has gradually grown.

    It has been nearly a year since the chaos energies of a dying Borghild possessed a near by crab... with the absorption of the chaos energies our crustacean, the antagonist of this tale, was forced to realise it's own sentience... it became self aware in an instant, having to take in the shock and horror that being self aware brings. As it opened his eyes, it declared loudly to the waters and drowned corpse before it... "I am Sebastian and I am... power". With new life before it, Sebastian began to search for answers. Why did he exist? What was the point of life? Was their a greater purpose? All of the questions that plague humanoid kind now flooded the mind of our hard shelled companion.

    As he walked the lands, searching for the answers he desperately desired, he found himself constantly crossing paths with Borghild. After a while he realised that maybe that was his job... maybe his job was to humble the adventurer... reminding her of the time she fell. He had heard some of the local bards playing songs, singing of glory and wealth... which caused an emotional crab reaction... he was drawn to the bardic arts. He began penning, as well as a crab can, songs that detailed the demise of the pink one. So sing these songs he did... at every oppertunity. It was a good distraction from the questions that screamed inside his mind. What is butter? Why do people mention it when they look at him?

    They... eat my kind? Was all he could ask, when he discovered the significance of the butter related comments. This... this was genocide, in his mind. Genocide seasoned with butter and herbs. Surely there was more... his purpose was greater than to be boiled alive, poached in butter or pan fried... surely he was not just meant to be devoured... but no greater purpose was found. This revelation sent Sebastian into a deep depression, for many a tenday, as he wallowed in the despair of his culinary nightmares. In the night... a voice spoke to him from the shadows. It was sweet, delicate and light on the ears... almost like a crab poached in butter... and it explained to him the nature of the worlds... it had explained that through lawful tradition... Sebastion would be forced head first fatal heat... and then consumed. His claws would be ripped from his body, his shell beaten in with hammers... for what? To feed the other races? It went on to explain that law was not the answer... tradition for traditions sake was wrong... that chaos was the only fair way to exist. Bad things happen to good people... at random. Rather than bad things happening to good people, intentionally.

    At first... our clawed friend shunned the voice. He did not want to hear it... he could not believe what he was being told. But as each night passed... the voice became more pleasant. Like a cold drink at the end of a long, hot day... it began to satisfy his mind. His being. It filled him with hope... of a greater tomorrow. As he became more receptive, in true grooming style, the voice began to turn Sebastion's attention to how he could seek revenge for his race. Seek revenge for being forced to learn all of this. With a clawed claw he scratched his chitin../ pondering. The voice was right. He nodded... who are you? He asked, curiosity getting the better of him. The answer that returned was simplistic in nature but horrifying in concept... "I am the chaos child. And for a price... I can grant you everything you desire... to claim vengeance for your race.".

    Sebastian took a moment, thinking hard... but the faint scent of butter drifting in through the windows made his decision for him. "Yes... I will pay your price. They will all die by my claw... starting with the one who forced me unto life... Borhild."

    Over the coming days Sebastian found his form changing. He was growing larger, stronger... his shell was hardening... and he had become impervious to most attacks. It was time... tracking her down, Sebastian first confronted Borghild in the Hullack. She had gathered a collection of her companions with her. A pointy eared archer, a clawed humanoid and multicoloured human. They would not be able to stand before the might of the meatiest crab, Sebastian! Herald of the Chaos Child. He waited for his moment... and finding it... he ambushed them! He clackaclacked with claw, snarled with mouth and generally shoved the group around. But it was not enough... his chaos charged form could not withstand the onslaught... he held his ground for a while, but eventually had to retreat.

    Within the deep tun... Sebastian loitered. Thinking over his recent campaign against the pink one, he could not believe that he did not manage to beat them. He cried a solitary, salty tear for his failure. He wondered if there was a greater power of vengeance... but quickly dismissed the thought. The Chaos Child gave him everything he needed... he had failed. The voice of the chaos child erupted in his head, demanding to know why he had not yet paid the price... he had not yet delivered the souls of his progenitor... Sebastian weeped, begging forgiveness. But none was given... the Chaos Child took a bite of his energies, his soul... did it taste of butter? But with the punishment, came more gifts. Sebastian felt a growth between his eyes, within his shell... it was a large, cylindrical device. When around pockets of chaos... it would absorb the energy, allowing him to fire chaos projectiles. With this... he would poach Borghild in butter.

    But that was not all... he noticed that other crabs seemed drawn to him. Bisqueing in his presence. With a slight exertion of his will... he could imbue them with just enough chaos energies to have them bend to his will, temporarily augmenting their prowess. With his allies, he would match Borghild's numbers, with his new powers... he would boil her, before craking her open with a hammer. Vengeance would be delicious. With one final gift from the Chaos Child, Sebastian was able to project his likeness into the mind of Borghild, issuing a challenge. One of them must die, for the other to live. He informed Borghild that the time of slaughter was coming.

    A tenday later... while Borghild and her allies relaxed outside of Suzail... an image of Sebastian appeared, telling Borghild it was time. They traded words for a short while, amognst the visible confusion of her companions, before they began to cast spells. Once spells where cast... they followed the crabs likeness to a portal, which took them to a location unknown. Upon arrival, with the first chaos projectile fired... battle commenced.