There was once a beautiful garden. A paradise in the waxing hours of Arcadia where the few citizens could live in blissful, simple peace. All the while the Gods plotted and conspired to find a way to coax them away from Eden into the great unknown.

They couldn’t use violence without tarnishing the strings they hoped to tie them too, every attempt at coercion or manipulation fell flat in the face of their pure minds and even bribery failed for what could be better then paradise?

It was a simple apple and warnings never to consume its supple flesh that was the citizens undoing. One soul ate of the fruit, giving the gods the excuse to force them all out into the unknown. Never knowing that it was a god in disguise that took their choice away from them.

And ever since, the ordinary folk in Arcadia have never truly had a say in their existence.

It’s not just the Gods who have stifled them, it’s every Olympian that’s walked through those halls. The Preservationists who seek to undermine and control, the Seekers who want freedom regardless of the cost. The abusers who suck the people dry, the heroes who claim to fight for them yet never truly ask what they need.

It’s Felix Foley who seemingly saved the children from a false idol yet never asked if someone wanted to keep believing in Sunshine.

It’s the undead duo who fight over simple chains yet ignore the path of destruction that they leave in their wake.

It’s the Rogue who has seen the power and agony beyond yet wants it rip it back open for a petty grudge.

Good, evil, god, or human. Everything we all do revolves around the ordinary people of Arcadia, using them. Fighting for them yet none of us ask what they want.

And I’ve been no different. A so called shepherd protecting his flock that may have never wanted protecting in the first place.

A child who preached giving hope and faith when all they wanted was someone to do the right thing.

And let them have a stake in their own goddamn lives for once.

So unlike everyone of you arrogant, selfish assholes.

I’m not here to participate in the slaughter.

I’m here to end it permanently.

The shepherd who not only puts down his staff but shatters it over his knee.

As he opens the pen and gives the lambs the choice.

The calm, cozy, familiar warmth of Arcadia or the bright, exciting, terrifying unknown behind the door.

There’s no right answer, there’s no shame, no coercion,  there’s simply a decision that they deserve to be able to make.

A decision that I will fight to my final breath to give them it.

At Pandemonium, Destruction itself takes one step closer to what should have been done long ago.

One man stepping over nineteen selfish pricks and with White Fleet Protection, opens that door.

As an Olympian finally does the right thing and gives the people back their Eden.