//------------------------------// // Chapter 91 - Origins Of Ocram Pt: 1 // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -EQUUS, THE CORRUPTION BIOME, THRONE ROOM- Upon pondering on these recent events and ensuring that their plans were coming together, Ocram/Hivemind also began to think back to its own past as the entity says: “We will never forget the day that you came to us and gave us dominion over The Corruption. Not long after our creator brought us into being.” Ocram says as the entity starts to recall past events. Terraria, four years before The Moon Lord invaded Equus: Footsteps echoed throughout an underground laboratory as a familiar figure walks down the hallway accompanied by another who noticeably was wearing a set of robes along with what seemed to be a plague doctor’s mask. The two beings were now standing before a large metal door which was also parts of a machination. In addition, two guards were stationed on either side of the door to which they both say in unison: “Master Yharim, welcome to Dr Draedon’s laboratory.” Yharim lifts his right hand in response as he then says: “Open it.” The two guards nod in response as they then place their hands onto two separate scanners which had the outline of a hand placed upon them. This outline was red at first but upon making contact with the guard’s appendage, a visible line starts to scan each guard’s hand on both devices. Suddenly, both mechanisms beeps in unison as the outline turns from red to green which results in the door opening up by contracting itself into the ceiling. Yharim and his companion then starts to enter the room as he focuses his attention onto a mechanical entity and says: “Draedon, I see that your two latest projects are progressing well.” “Yes, Yharim,” Draedon responds. “In addition to Melony, The Nymph, these two are a stepping stone for me to perfect our biological engineering technology which in turn will help us with our ‘Cloning’ projects. In fact, you’re just in time to see their completion.” Draedon then notices Yharim’s companion as the mechanical entity says: “Looks like you’re filling your role as a puppet well, Lunaris. That’s a good boy, remember to always know your place as a mere plaything.” Yharim takes a moment to look over the information in regards to the two entities, both of whom were currently held within two large glass cylinders. One cylinder was filled with purple liquid while the other was filled with liquid of red coloration. “Interesting, so you managed to incorporate both The Crimson and The Corruption’s prowess into these two individuals?” Yharim inquires. “Yes, The Perforators have influence over The Crimson while The Hivemind possesses the same capabilities over The Corruption.” Unbeknownst to Yharim and Draedon, one of the two entities was listening to their current conversation as The Hivemind comments internally: -We hear them… voices… they’re outside... where we must be- Upon saying those words, the entity starts to glow with a purple aura upon which the large glass cylinder that surrounds it starts to crack as purple liquid then starts to escape its former confinement. Finally, the glass cylinder shatters as the purple liquid floods the floors of the room of which the former cylinder was positioned in. This of course catches the entity’s onlookers as Draedon says: “Ah, you’re awake. Welcome to the world, Hivemind.” “Hive… mind?” The entity inquires. “That is indeed your name, my creation. I am Dr Draedon, he who has given you life and your purpose.” “What is our purpose?” The Hivemind inquires. “It’s simple, really,” Yharim replies. “To serve me by molding The Corruption with your powers and to fulfill my goals. You have quite the role to play in all this, Hivemind.” “So we are but an end result to your experiment…” The Hivemind says as the entity focuses on Dr Draedon. The being then turns its gaze towards Yharim and continues: ”… and a pawn to your plan?” “Don’t think of it that way, my creation,” Dr Draedon comments. “Think of it as your parents who knows what you need even better than you do. Just do as we say and all shall be well.” As Yharim and Draedon turn to each other to converse; completely disregarding The Hivemind’s existence momentarily, the entity was not very fond of its current predicament as it says in a lowered tone: “These two… they care nothing for us…” A purple aura starts to consume The Hivemind as the entity continues: “Is that our purpose? Are we to be just an experiment? A pawn in someone else’s game?” Then, In a much louder tone drenched with anger, The Hivemind exclaims in absolute fury: “This will not be our destiny!” “Stop this, now!” Dr Draedon exclaims all while The Hivemind’s aura causes the entire laboratory to quake. “We were not born into this existence, we were created. And our creators have used and betrayed us. No! We will not submit to you!” The Hivemind exclaims as the entity then hurls itself into the ceiling and literally burrows its way out of the laboratory with its powerful aura and physical force. “Guards!” Dr Draedon exclaims. “Capture that-” “No, Draedon. Let The Hivemind go,” Yharim comments as he places his right hand onto Draedon’s left shoulder. “This is all going according to plan.” “What are you talking about?” Draedon inquires. “You remember my objective, correct? We have a plan in motion and The Hivemind plays a great role in it.” “Damnit, Yharim… do you have any idea how much resources I just wasted? Resources that literally just escaped from my lab?” “I know you feel frustrated right now, Draedon. But, the unification process of this world and Equus is now set in motion. As you know, me and Calamitas have been peering into the future and have been planning certain scenarios. From the moment I controlled Lunaris to having Calamitas weaken The Moon Lord’s imprisonment, and even having you create The Hivemind. It’s all part of the plan.” “You are frustrating to work with, you know that?” Dr Draedon comments as the mechanical entity then sighs and says: “I’ll bite, what will become of The Hivemind now?” “Now,” Yharim responds as he and his companion start to leave. “They now embark on a journey which will lead them to: The Wall Of Flesh. As for the other one, The Perforators, I recommend you make that one more obedient.” The Hivemind was now flying far away from the laboratory, which was noticeably positioned deep below The Crimson Biome, as it flew with due haste; exited the biome of the living flesh and through the night skies of Terraria. After the entity felt as if it were at a safe distance, The Hivemind then set itself down onto one of the many floating islands as it then gazed upon the land below which was covered in the blanket of night. “We have much to do,” The Hivemind comments. “But where to start is the matter at hand.” “You can join us,” A mysterious voice says which catches The Hivemind by surprise as the aforementioned entity starts to look around and questions: “Who’s there?! If you work for those two fools who dared to use us, we shall-” “No, we are not familiar with the one who created you. But, we do know a little about the one who has wronged you,” The voice interjects. “Let’s just say that he was once tossed into the infernal fires of The Underworld but managed to escape with the help of his dragon. Regardless, we have been watching you grow ever since they decided to integrate my essence and influence into both you and that other creation’s design.” “Are you insinuating that our power derives from you?” “Indeed, Hivemind. Your influence over The Corruption is in fact an influence over the biome that we ourselves, created. It was reduced to nearly nothing thanks to the dryads but we were able to save it in time and it now resides in a pocket dimension. All we need now is an opportunity to infect another world. Because of this, The Crimson was able to take hold in The Corruption’s absence. It’s funny, we created both of these biomes and yet they in turn compete with each other for resources in order to spread.” “Who are you? You try to persuade us to join you and yet we know nothing about you!” “Instead of telling you, we’d rather show you.” The voice says upon which a wormhole/portal starts to conjure itself with a spark of energy as if reality itself were being torn open. The Hivemind was cautious at first, however, it then felt something that was all too familiar as the entity says: “This feeling… could this be?” “Yes, our friend. Welcome to The Corruption, your new home. We will be sending two associates of ours who will be working very close to you. Much like yourself, we also invited them to join my cause as well.” Suddenly, from within the portal a loud series of rumbling could be heard as the head of a large entity starts to leave the aforementioned phenomenon, but not entirely. “Say hello to your ally: The Eater Of Worlds.” The voice says to which The Hivemind floats forward and places a tendril onto the large worm. Then, in that very moment, The Hivemind felt something that could only be best described as familiarity and kinship. Kindred spirits, one could also say. “Beautiful,” The Hivemind comments. “The Corruption is but beauty incarnate, the embodiment of all sins given form. Just like us...” “And we would like for you to be its master. The Eater Of Worlds obeys and defends The Corruption. You, however, shall be our appointed mastermind of this biome, your home. Your domain.” “We would like to know your name.” The Hivemind asks. “You have given us domain over this biome of beauty so we would like to know the name of the one who has given us such a gift.” “We have much to do, friend. We shall give you our name but we feel that you must be given one that’s appropriate to your current status. ‘The Hivemind’ is but a name that those fools gave you. It is not worthy of your greatness. However, perhaps you could use it to hide your true self, like we do.” Suddenly, The Hivemind’s body was surrounded by an aura that was not familiar to the entity as The Hivemind questions: “What are you doing to us?” “We are giving you more power. Your current form is but a base of what you will now be capable of. You shall rise as The Corruption’s ultimate being. Rise up: Ocram!” The Hivemind’s body started to shift itself as the entity transitioned into its second form. However, it continued to mold and shift in a chaotic fashion as what was once The Hivemind was now becoming an entirely different monstrosity however it did retain some familiarity to its previous forms. “You are now: Ocram. Tell us, how does it feel to have the power of The Corruption surging through you?” “We are mighty... we are sin incarnate… we are The Corruption... we are Ocram.” Suddenly, a red portal appears as a bipedal figure exits the anomaly. Ocram was momentarily cautious of this new arrival but that was before the voice says: “Fear not, Ocram. Tanner The Guide is yet another associate of ours. A demon from The Underworld and someone you will be working with once the opportunity arrives.” “Hello there,” Tanner greets. “Looks like Lord Legion is bringing someone else into the fold as well.” “Lord Legion?” Ocram inquires. “That is but our cover alias,” The voice replies. “The Wall Of Flesh is another name we go by. However, Ocram, we find you worthy of knowing our true name.” Tanner The Guide then kneels as he proclaims in exclamation: “The current guardian of The Underworld, the creator of The Crimson and The Corruption. The conqueror of the forces of light and dark: Nyarlathotep.”