We all have problems we would rather bury than deal with them.  We put them in a hole, cover them in dirt, and think we can forget them.  But it’s like the Tell-Tale Heart, we fixate on that hole, we hear

Doom sits in the middle of the ring, inside Olympus. Everyone has gone. He is alone with his thoughts. [Doom] Pain comes in many forms. [Doom] There’s the physical and the mental. [Doom] I sit here in both. Tonight was my opportunity to

I awaken with a gasp. The air feels somewhat heavier this time. The 5th time. There's nothing. Nothing but my own rushing thoughts. With my eyes I see bleak darkness, but in my mind I see my memories come flooding. I have relived

There is a great journey to behold, one that sees its fair share of danger. It inevitably involves an ascension, a climb to step out of where we once were to get somewhere beyond. This is by no means an easy

"Manipulative people exist all across Arcadia. They prey upon the desperate and weak, using them to fulfill their wants and desires before tossing them aside like trash." "These devious handlers run rampant throughout every level, taking on the guises of seemingly

What was it like having a father, Burned Man? I only ask because of the human you've become. Even though the world turned you into a monster, you still go out of your way and seek Destructo Boy like only a father

"Who do you want to be?" "Those words rang in my head, it was a question I'd asked myself every day of my life when I was younger. What did I want to do, who did I want the world to

As a hunter, I have stalked the wild with steady footsteps and a relentless heart. But there was a time when I was a child, and the world was much simpler. In those tender years, I owned a little bird

People of the slums, downcast and broken. Vision walks amongst them, they each have the painted smile of a clown plastered across their face. “Look at them. Faces painted into a smile, forced to hang onto a false hope that through pain

Felix Foley: My daddy wasn’t a nice man. Felix Foley: He was angry and in pain. It was constant. Nothing ever made him happy – not even hurting me. Felix Foley: And boy, did he used to hurt me a lot. Felix Foley:

he sound of dirt being dug and shifted. “I do not do this for all the parents, Harold.” Inside a grave with a shovel is Tombstone. “But then, when a child is unfortunate enough to perish before their parents, their parents are more

The only certainty in life is death. It matters not what advantages you’re afforded, nor your hopes and ambitions, nor your desire to uphold a certain duty or moral. Men have claimed their birthright as immortality. They’ve unsuccessfully journeyed high and low

“What kind of fucking agent doesn’t get me to the show, Barry?” Yeah, I’m pissed off. Barry is supposed to be a super-agent. You know, one of those shit hot jews with his big pointy nose in the book of making

In the labyrinth of life, there exists a shapeshifting beast. A beast as mercurial as the shadows at dusk, as eternal as the echoes of time itself. A beast called Transformation. All of us—we are all subjected to its distorted whims, confined

Picture an apple, beautifully red, tantalizingly ripe, dangling so enticingly above your head. But the core of its beauty holds a cruel manifestation of pestilence. A poisoned apple, if you will. It's a cunning little metaphor for what you've been doing, isn't it? Chasing

There was once a naive child with gifts he didn't understand that believed he could use them to make Arcadia a better place. That he could dispel the darkness with a little emotion, that he could nullify the vile and

//Input loading:// //Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.// But what is creation to humanity? //Analysis:// If we take what humanity's scholars have said literally, a preexisting object has to be destroyed in order for something to be made. In order

There are things hidden deep beneath the surface, things that take a bit of digging to uncover

Flashback A young girl is hanging out with her friends in the cafeteria of Arcadian High School. Next to her is a young man her true attention is focused on. Hands entwined and eyes as fixated as be, they have to be high

"You ever had a cravin' you need to feel?" "Somethin' that makes your stomach stir and your cock twitch?" "Mouth waterin' at the thought of a fresh pussy to fuck or a mountain of nose candy to bury your face in." "Every man

"Deathrow." "The end of the line, the place where the interned go to die at either the blades of Zeus' loyal, or to the hands of one another. It's said once you're down there, you've signed your death warrant, there's no

A woman holding an electric cattle prod opens the door to the room the Sole Survivor was last seen in. She enters the room seemingly expecting him but doesn't see him chained to the wall like he should be. Closing

Vision sits bolt upright in his bed, beads of sweat falling down his face. “Blood. I see it again, all over again.” He draws a breath, returning to calm. “I see a bullet." "Designed for but a single purpose, that of pain. To tear

They say all men yearn for power and control. That's not true. Some men yearn for power and control. It consumes them. Changes the very fabric of their being. They are not anyone if they don't have power. They use any means

“Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.   Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do

In the Groves, Luther Grim stalks a middle-aged man, seemingly enchanted by nature's tranquility. As Luther prepares to strike with his patented spear, a fox springs forth, savagely attacking the man, extinguishing his life before Luther could act.  A disheartened sigh

Every day I wake up, roll out of bed, and go to work. Review my cases for the day, check in with a few of my patients in recovery, and huddle with my team. Then I head to preop where

The Shark Tank. Drexl sits at the bar of his notorious Red Light establishment, accompanied by a bottle of Arcadia’s finest bourbon. “Well, well, well… It seems my little birds have been flying the coop. I can't say I didn't see it

Do you know what the most powerful drug in the whole of Arcadia is?  I’ll give you a hint, it is used on every level from Olympus to The Slums and everywhere below and in between.     It keeps people alive on

It’s over.  My entire life as I know it is completely and utterly over. Everything I’d worked hard to achieve just flushed down the toilet like a steaming pile of you-know-what. My VHS Championship reign? Over.  One hundred and seventy four days and

My face is a stark, grinning skull. My story, an etched tableau of suffering—pain that's been lived, endured, embraced. You look at me, Vincent, or at least you point your hollow eye sockets my way, and all you see is

Luther, my dear, you are the epitome of audacious innocence. Always on the prowl, this thrill of the hunt coursing through your veins like venom. A sweet little game, you play. You call yourself a predator, yet I can't help but smile

arkness above. The tide of grey waters sloshes back and forth across a large sandy beach. Tombstone kneels, taking wooden planks apart. Around him are the souls of the deceased. “Take us.” They chant. Tombstone ignores them, disassembling something.  “The trip across these intrepid waters is a

Doom stands, looking at the Ring King crown on display inside Olympus. It’s guarded inside a glass case. [Doom] The jewel maketh the crown. [Doom] Could you imagine having just one jewel in your possession? You happily bring it into your world.

The careful, meticulous paintbrush of Harvey Escher dabs a touch of black paint onto his latest creation. A black rabbit stands on its hind legs, reaching out towards a crown that dangles in the air just out of its reach. “One

Dear Diary, I write to you again from the confines of Deathrow; that accursed corner of existence where the wicked and the wretched are condemned to waste. As I prepare to take my next bow, I close my eyes and find myself

Max Meadows is in his office standing and staring at his chair. "Every day, I ask myself why did I accept to be here? I remember the joy I felt when Zeus assigned this position to me but now I realize

The chessboard, a vast battlefield where only the best strategist can claim victory.  Every piece has its own value, its own strategic currency, but any one piece can be the one that clinches victory for its player. Which is why,

What must a man obtain to be crowned a king? Land? Subjects? Power? Or does one simply need a crown upon his head and a title on his name? Deathrow is in dire need of a new ruler, someone worthy to bear the

I’ve been dragged through hell itself. I was chopped down at the knees and taken by legs, dragged over hot coals, face first. The acid from those coals felt like razor blades on my skin as it burned through me. It felt

The distinct sound of water running in a sink can be heard. Jasper Redgrave stands in the confides of his cell in front of the sink, his hands being caressed by the stream of water. A soft, yet vicious whisper

Down here in Death Row, anarchy rules Thugs, serial killers, psychopaths and tools The usual, delusional, think they fit to be king Showin’ up, throwing’ down, settling beef in the ring Nobody steppin’ up to stop ‘em runnin’ around It’s due time for this nigga

Close your eyes… Go to sleep. Imagine a lush, rolling savanna at sunrise. Wild animals roam the terrain at will, birds glide in the air, and the red sun slowly rises high above them. In the heat, a lone figure presides over his

Most of life’s problems come because we act without thinking, and think without acting. Some men are all talk. All ideas and concepts, but too cowardly to act when it matters most. Men that buckle under the pressure when given the

Aarman looks up at the chains, slowly stroking one hand over the chains with that same shit eating grin plastered upon his face. It's funny the lengths one will go to get what they desire. The pain, the suffering, the indignity

Gemini watches the diseased beast. Once a formidable force of nature, it was now dying. “Behold, a testament of life’s cruel parody. A beast reduced to a quivering prey, much as those who have crossed me find themselves. Consumed by their

Not every human born into Arcadia is fully operational. Some of them are missing important features that many others take for granted. Take the gift of sight as an example. While many humans may think nothing of this ability, a portion

"Do you know what it's like to be locked up?" "To be surrounded on all sides by nothing but cold steel while you toil away, your only company being the thoughts scratching at you from the back of your head?" "I've put

As I sit here in the silence of solitary confinement, my mind drifts back to one day I spent with Michaela.  She had gotten sicker than I had ever seen. Her mother trusted me to use my connections to get

A clamoring crowd fades in the background as Grimskull exits his stage. His people have given him their complete trust. As the Slum God descends into the pits of his domain, his attention is called by a not-uncommon sound. Wailing. But this is not

“Strung out and broken, They all waste away. Picks up the bottle, Drinks it down before she hits the stage.” There is no more crushing feeling than being expendable. Like the strings of my guitar, playing not out of one's own accord, but waiting

Musical instruments serve as powerful tools for individuals to express themselves. They offer a unique glimpse into one’s inner world. Through the mastery of an instrument, musicians can convey their emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a profound way that words alone fail

In the Groves, a rifleman confronts Luther Grim, their eyes locked in a deadly stare. With desperate intent, the rifleman aimed at Luther, but fate intervened - the rifle's trigger clicked in vain. A wicked smile curved across Luther's face, his

Have you ever performed a craniotomy? It’s a highly specialized neurosurgery where a portion of the brain that is affected by something, perhaps a tumor, or a clot, or a bleed, is removed. How do you remove it, you ask? If you’re being

As long as the fire has oxygen, heat and fuel - the fire triangle - it can burn forever. But all fires are not the same. Some fires are wildfires that rip nature apart, some fires are contained so as

“He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his

As a journalist, it's my job to find out the truth

"We were taken by surprise by a couple of unknown attackers. They knocked us out before tying our hands and feet to chairs so we couldn't escape." "When we came to, we found ourselves powerless to stop the flames from devouring

We see Narcissa lying down in a lawn chair next to an old pool that is still full and surrounded by overgrown vegetation. "Welcome to Casa de la Balenciaga, it's been years since I've been here. The last time I was

I bet it was lovely sitting atop that wall, wasn’t it Narcy? I could just imagine the sights you saw on your ivory wall, above everything and all. That wall, whether you liked it or not, was a place of privilege. Your

A dining room table full of dangerous implements. However, Doom stands in the kitchen, holding a wooden handled knife over a gas lit stove. Once its heated significantly, he heads back into the room with Mrs Foley. She screams upon his

“Did you feel what I felt?” Grimskull stands on the precipice of a pool. Its still waters are pitch black as he drops a single pebble into it. “The edge of damnation yawning wide, straining to swallow you whole?” The ripples coalesce into

ire crackles, wood crunches. “I did not want to do it.” Tombstone sits cutting a lonely figure beside the inferno. “The sound of pain is not one I cherish.” “It is not music to my ears.” “As I sit before the cremation furnace, the echoes

Even before the gods graced us with their presence, when the first walls of Arcadia were crafted by the cruel and deviant monsters known as the Elders, the very few who found misfortunate living under their tyranny searched for some

In the armsss of an angel.. Faaar away from hereee.. Television broadcasts throughout Arcadia are interrupted by the familiar song. A picture of a very helpless looking child is plastered on the screen. His rib cage is showing, clearly from starvation. A

He’s back, he’s back, oh how exciting. I finally have a friend to play with. And my best friend, he’s not quite as quirky as he used to be. See, my best friend is a Doctor. He’s a big bad Doctor of

I remember rolling, and falling. I remember the light disappearing. I remember the feeling of movement. Then nothing much. Nothing but darkness and silence. Nothing but my own thoughts and four walls. The box made me think things I'd never thought before. It made

As well as offering financial relief to those in need, I deal in a currency few dare to acknowledge yet many deeply desire. Drugs. It is a path that has earned me a notorious repute, attained from the lethal precision with which

There once was a person who felt like they were nobody. The people closest to them took the spotlight while they found comfort in the shadows. Day in and day out, new people came in to their home and lingered for varying

Strange things have been happening in Arcadia, and Colt Ramsey has the scoop! Attacks between citizens have been an ongoing occurrence for quite some time, but a recent death in The Slums has puzzled many within the community. Why? Because the police

"There exist two different kinds of hunters in Arcadia. There are those that kill for sport, and those that hunt in order to survive." "In the Groves, there were two hunters. The first one was a human that was looking for

“Heavy is the head that wears no crown It's lonely at the top when you're looking down” I can still hear his words echo in my memory. “Estamos atados por la música. Manténlo seguro

"Don't play with your food." "Gramma used to love tellin' me that when I was a veal. She was a mean old bitch, but she had a point." "Kids ain't very smart, they like to toy around, stick their hands on their plate and

"I've been to more funerals in my life than any sane man should ever have to attend." "A hundred lives lived, a thousand tears shed, and the entire time I sat back thinking about just how much I could have done

Once upon a time, in the heart of nature, there lived a humble gardener. He was a kind and compassionate man who had a deep desire to nurture life and witness the magnificent blooming of his vibrant flowers. The gardener

Backstage after Uprising, a man sits, he’s not Harold Attano or Mr. Nobody.  He’s a pissed grief-stricken father who’s just had had an image of his deceased daughter exposed to the whole of Arcadia.  Tears stream down his cheeks as

Doom stands on the balcony above the Odyssey Pool, looking over it. [ Doom ] I awoke. He shuffles. [ Doom ] Water had already filled my lungs. By the time I had awoken, I was drowning; suffocating induced by the submersion. No-one

The great crucible of life is nothing more than a forge. In the scalding furnace of existence, we are hammered, crafted, shaped by the ceaseless blows of adversity. We flinch, recoil, shutter under the relentless strike, but the hammer persists, unmoved

have read many obituaries. There is always a disconnect between how the deceased viewed themselves and how their family perceived them. The family is of course the one to immortalize their loved one in your paper. Yet having spoken to the

Imagine you’re a little red blood cell floating along the bloodstream of an immunocompromised person. There once was more of your kind, but as time has lapsed your peers have disappeared one by one, leaving your host short of breath

Every predator, no matter what their method of destruction, no matter who they feed off or how many bodies lie in their wake remember that single white whale that was just out of your reach and that defining moment when

What kind of teeth do you have, little fishy? That mythological creature you compare yourself to has many. Nurse and angel sharks have dense flattened teeth. They use these to crush their prey when scouring the ocean floor. The Devonian had needle-like teeth.

“Don’t poke the bear, they told me. Stay out of its way and you’ll survive just fine down here.” “Keep your head down and stay out of trouble.” “Hahahahaha!” “If I wanted to stay out of trouble, they never would have found the

They say purgatory is the grey between heaven and hell, the limbo a soul is caught in before it leaves this world forever. Purgatory is not as simple as people think it is. There is no monotone field where people flock

They violated the sanctum. The Altar lies in ruins and the Third Eye demands retribution. Heathen scoundrels respect nothing but their own inflated egos. Each blind in their own way, caring not what destruction they lay in their wake. Where the

ave you ever heard the tale of three blind mice? The song doesn’t do the tale justice. You see, the blind mice were  mischievous characters, seeking adventure, pain and entertainment. The first of the mice adored adventure. He would run blindly into

“Well I don’t know why I came here tonight. This Altar, it doesn’t feel right. Desperately, I need the music repaired And I’m wondering how Arcadia will fare.   When there’s death to the left of me, Brokenness to the right. Here I am, Stuck in the middle

Let's say you and a friend wanted to get together to build a robot. You have the blueprints and were able to design it to your liking. Meanwhile, your friend has the coding experience to equip it with exactly what

TEC, do you know the difference between man and machine? Before you land on an answer, before your mind settles on the most accurate response, I want you to truly explore the nature of the question. This isn't a question designed to

Being a journalist is a tough job, especially when the pressure mounts. So many stories to chase down, so little time

The Burned Man is seen in his shack looking through a photo album. Inside, there are several photos of the mummy before he was burned alive, alongside a younger Destructo Boy and an unknown woman who we can assume was

Slam. "The door landed in my face with a thud, the sounds of my failure echoing against the walls of passageways. Anyone could have heard that conversation, heard as I begged and plead." "As I failed to convince Pegg of my intentions." "But as I

We open on Harold sitting on a chair, a rope at his feet.      There’s a saying, “Give a man enough rope, and he’ll hang himself”.  Loosely translated it means, if you see a foe making mistake after mistake, let them.  Eventually

Close your eyes… Go to sleep. Imagine your worst nightmare. Before you stands a monstrous puppeteer; a grotesque portrait of malevolence with razor sharp appendages who wishes to weave his dark threads into the tapestry of your life. His red light bathes your

As the arid landscapes stretch endlessly under the scorching sun, a captivating phenomenon emerges - an ethereal mirage that dances on the horizon. Like a shimmering oasis in the desert, it beckons with its elusive beauty, entrancing all who gaze

Life is an opera. Pain is its unsung aria. So naturally, we, my friends, are mere players in a transcendent performance. Tombstone, you're the impatient audience member, always seeking intermissions, exits, and breaks. You're in a rush to get to what comes

“Since the dawn of time, the concept of darkness has transcended light and encumbered the human soul.” “There are those who have found themselves ensnared by its clutches, powerless to resist its gravitational pull." "Who are forever blinded by its all-encompassing obscurity.” “These

We slowly fade into the Red Light District, which over the past few weeks has had a bloody swathe cut right through it yet seeing the large crowd surround the soon to be reopened Eden, you'd think nothing of the

Flashing images of young children singing and swinging around in a circle adorn a fog filled screen. Scissors voice narrates. “Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies. Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down!” “It all starts with a rosy rash, they

There were once three rabbits caught in the crosshairs of a cunning fox. The first rabbit believed that his sheer aggression and violence could overpower the fox. Blinded by his own arrogance, he failed to see the consequences of his

There are so many types of scissors to choose from when performing surgery. Different sizes, shapes, and colors indicate specific purposes, so it’s absolutely imperative to make an informed decision when choosing a pair for the job. Metzenbaums are your bread

I’ve experienced my fair share of liars in my time. Arcadia is full of those that would twist the world to their own advantage and lie in order to claw their way to a better tomorrow. Some, like Grimskull, weave their

Greetings, Arcadia! Each and every one of us is driven by something, some urge that pushes us to work toward a goal. We're all motivated by some sort of instinct, and that raises an important question I present to you now. Where

When I first met you Gemini, I was of two minds, one terrified of what you promised, one confused about the innocent being adorned in jade and emerald. Months rolled by and eventually I began to understand from an outsiders' perspective

There's a case that's stored in my memory banks that resonates with me as I prepare for an upcoming fight. I've downloaded data of Arcadia's biggest crimes, yet I'm still learning new things about this one as I speak. It's about

Heavy breathing. Footsteps thundering through the Red Light District. We see a man fleeing from the sound of the horde, blood dripping from his arm as he dips into an alleyway, hiding behind a dumpster as the sounds of footsteps come to

"When I was a kid, I spent my days in an arcade down in the Agora district." "I was young, I was stupid, and I was absolutely obsessed with this one game. It was simple, a side scroller where you move

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Agony.  Seering pain, unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I look down to where my hands clasp around my stomach. The last time I saw these, they were holding my insides that just happened to be on the outside. Someone cut me. They

Legend has it Daedalus and his son Icarus had been captured and tossed into an open-air prison.  Long story short, Daedalus built wings of wood, wax, and feathers for him and his son to use to escape.  However, Daedalus warned Icarus

Ah, Narcissa, darling. The Designer. Always aspiring to create beauty, always attempting to manipulate the ugliness of the world with your stitching and sequins. Let me weave you a tale of an insect and an inferno – the moth and the flame.

Tombstone, I bid you visualise a solitary pebble striking the calmness of a pristine lake. An insignificant agent birthing ripples to the farthest shore. Now imagine this pebble to be you, making waves in the otherwise placid lives of Arcadians, adding ripples of

We fade into the interior of Eden. It looks slightly better then it did a few weeks prior, the corpses of Fidel's men having been transported to the Mortuary and most of the blood and gore has been cleaned yet

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. A heart monitor at the head of a comatose patient’s bed beeps with every QRS complex that appears on the screen. Nurse Frightengale eclectically documents at her desk as the curtain slides open next to her. Frightengale briskly tidies up her

A doctor is supposed to help, aren't they? A doctor is suppose to take away an ailment, treat the wounded, fix the broken? I'm broken beyond repair, and no amount of scans, or pills, or treatments, is ever going to fix me. But

You’re bleeding everywhere, little buddy. You’ve got a little red on you.  I think it’s safe to say we’ve got a gusher, folks. Digging back into the memory of old Felix the Puppet here and I can see you’ve been bleeding for a

There was once an ancient oak tree stood tall in the heart of a forest. For centuries, it had witnessed the changing seasons and endured the tests of time.  One stormy night, rain poured relentlessly, accompanied by fierce winds that howled throughout the

Arcadia is a broken world that only the Third Eye can fix. I have seen many things, thanks to the Third Eye. The very fabric that our world is built on is torn. To those too blind to see, the truth

Nature is undeniably unpredictable, every moment you are forced to interact with the world is like rolling the dice. Somedays are perfect like every roll went your way. Others are like tragedy masquerading as bad luck. The only thing consistent is the inconsistency. We

Hello, Arcadia! The hunt is on, as quite the sporting fellow grabs his nearest weapon and is ready to go on the prowl. His mind is locked in on taking the prize he so desires, something he can set upon his

"In the Red Light District, there was a worker in a prostitution ring that was planning a revolt against her pimp." "She and several other workers were tired of being paid less than their perceived worth and demanded an increase in

Years ago. The Bleak. Jackson Cade stands in front of a dirty alleyway, service pistol at the ready as he peers into the darkness, unable to see into the shadows. He points his weapon into the shadows but stops where he stands,

once had a tiny little yellow canary. It was a beautiful bird that I kept in a cage with the door open. I did not want to trap the bird, so I gave it freedom. If the bird did not

DiArY oF a MaDmAn Entry #2: Kindred Spirits Three lonely nights have passed since the anarchy of the Battle Royale that ensued at Titanfall. Having come within a hair’s breadth of winning the Death Row Championship, I find myself agonisingly back to square

Mr. Nobody, having left the note with Pegg stands outside the Medical Sector quietly smoking a cigarette in one of the more out of the way locations and as he ashes his smoke he begins to talk to himself.   “He’s clinging

A mirror reveals the truth. But what happens when that mirror shatters? That's the tragedy of Arcadia, isn’t it? But it’s also the tragedy of John Willis. I remember the song and dance of Zeus' Flying Circus. I remember Willis himself, a mirror catching

Well we're moving up to that deluxe apartment in the sky, we finally got a piece of that pie It's a desire everyone in Arcadia shares, and every single favor revolves around it. Whether it's money, power, control, we're all clambering

"Allow me to tell you a story.." "There once was a man who claimed to be King." "While he did seek to rule over his kingdom, he rose to power off the coat tails of another. He stabbed the King that once

When you're at the top of a mountain, it is easy to forget about the world below you. Every step you took was a step you had to focus all your energy, every movement gets harder the higher you get. Only once

We appear before the Burned Man, who is walking the Slums with the boy he rescued from Blacktooth's clutches at Odyssey. Just then, the duo pass by a ladder resting against a shack. TBM freezes at the sight of it,

Hello, Arcadia! The field of journalism is a nasty one sometimes

Amidst the chaos of Deathrow, the sound of classical music casts a contrasting backdrop. Harvey Escher sits, meticulously forming the diorama of a monstrous creature that sits within a battered room. All around the creature, furniture and various objects lay smashed

According to my research on the Intranet, the first robot to climb a ladder without a harness or safety net was designated as the Sloth and was built with toy construction blocks. It was given that name due to it being

The sounds of flesh being torn from bone is sickening to behold. Blacktooth sits upon his makeshift throne, mouth covered in viscera as he digs into a human leg. The blood drips onto the ground below, getting his fill before

A man and his son were walking through their orchard one day. The son, being a child of only six, was bumbling along after his father, laughing and frolicking as his father surveyed the land. The father picked an apple, buffed

Nothingness. A white landscape stretching as far as the eye can see. "Everyone wants to stand out." The voice of Aster Gray is like a blanket, encompassing the scene as we see a slew of faceless men manifest from nothingness. Some large,

My whole life has been a constant climb. I was born and raised in the lowest level of the bleak, starting my ascension from the bottom rung of society. As daunting as it was looking all the way up to that top

Life is a game. The problem is most people don't know what game they're playing. Some think they're playing chess, calculate every move you make until it brings you a desirable outcome. They think that with the right strategy, they'll win no matter

We’re all getting somewhere, fighting and clawing each step we take. We climb, ever closer… but we’re often blind to the reality of where we are climbing. Consider a ladder. Sturdy in its design, a great tool to use to reach

Her music was beautiful, La Mariachi Alegría. She was one of those Mariachi that could transport you through a journey of song. In hearing her play, I found that music was much like climbing a ladder, mi amigos. Rung by

In a realm where legends whispered of a treasure that could change the very fabric of one's life, two enemies found their paths intertwined in a relentless pursuit. They were consumed by a deep-seated hatred for one another. They wanted

[We open on a reporter who’s been allowed to venture into Deathrow with a camera.  He sits in bulletproof glass chamber across from a man wearing an elaborate gasmask in a similar chamber with a desk.]  “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been

I climbed the Arcadian ladder from one level to the next by using my existence as its own currency.  At every rung, I exchanged a part of me for my place on that perch.  I handed part of my life to

Cirrus, turn up that beat from up there in the clouds, brotha. Ye, there it is. Let’s do.   When the cost of war is high You best raise the prophet. This battle royale full of bitches, they ain’t shit. A whole lotta suckers calling out, they

rief is like a ladder. It starts with a numbness. In the very first few days upon the river, self-bereavement is extremely common. People try to communicate and continue as if nothing has happened. As if they’re on a trip. Even though

I never thought my life would be defined by chains, you know? But here I am, slathered in chains far more profound than any physical restraint. They say I broke the chain with Meadows, that beating him was the start of

Ah, mortals, how little you understand. You see life as a journey, a straight path on which one walks, stumbles, and hopefully learns. I view existence in a far different light. I see it not as a path, but a ladder, each

My devoted acolytes, From the catacombs of reality, where our souls languish in chains, you have found me. Grimskull - preacher of pain. Like a shepherd, I guide you through landscapes of torment, places where no light shines. Our journey together is etched

DiArY oF a MaDmaN Entry #1: Survival Within the confines of my padded cell, I dwell in a realm where shadows and torment converge. A condemned madman, shackled by fate and haunted by the demons within, I find myself on Death Row

"When I joined the APD, Riggs told me that the only way to the Eagle's Nest was to go step by step upon the career ladder." "No skipping to the top. No shortcuts." "I may be at the bottom, but once you're

Click. There’s nothing spectacular about the scene. We see a tall, folded ladder is propped up against a wall with Drexl stood under it – a typically formidable look carved upon his face. “Welcome to The Bleak, where the stench of desperation

An empty operating room lit only by a light box on the far wall.   Footsteps grow louder until we see Dr. Death enter the room. He places a CT scan over the box, revealing an image of a brain. Luchadoc takes

I once heard of a family here in Arcadia. They were quite well to do, not from the Slums, and they had been sold this idea. I can't remember how it came to pass, but we were sat, one night,

The balance of Karma is a fickle mistress sometimes. I've never feared retribution for the evil I commit, never cast a second thought to vengeance brought down upon me because I considered them little more then fuel for the fire.

[Click-clack, click-clack.] [The sound of someone typing fills the air of a dark room. The only light in the room comes from the computer screen that sits in front of Jinx. The camera looks over her shoulder to see what she

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. But when the whole world is blind, it will finally see the light shining. 'I see darkness; a dark room. Within this dark room we find ourselves trapped. Every fear, every

‘People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs that voices never share No one dared Disturb the sound of silence’ “Silence is golden, or so they say.” “But when the universe breathes in dulcet tones of an eternal melody, silence is anything but

In the dimly lit corridors of the Arcadia Police Department, chaos reigned as Luther Grim had just previously infiltrated the building. A menacing aura surrounded him as he navigated the labyrinthine halls, his spear gripped tightly in his calloused hands.  The

Based on my experiences with the people of Arcadia, deals are usually brokered when both parties have something to gain from the other. They are made when one party cannot satisfy a certain desire or acquire a certain good, needing the

Greetings, Arcadians! The People's Voice will be heard, and no broken press or destroyed publication can stop that—so I come to you with this letter, written by my own hand, to announce before all of our great Arcadia: There's something about Narcissa. As

We see Narcissa Balenciaga in the warehouse her followers destroyed.   She picks up the newspaper she tossed to the ground and begins to read out loud.   "Narcissa Balenciaga, an uprising of suspicions? That's the best you could do? I know you were

The Burned Man is seen attempting to assemble a generator with the parts he stole from the booth earlier this week. He's currently halfway finished with building it, but he's struggling to put the cooling system together. With an exhale,

Sitting in the center of the Blood Runner's butchery is a man's corpse, the poor soul newly dead. Blacktooth lingers over him, digging his blade into the man's chest, slicing downwards and cleaving him open! Blood splatters Blacktooth's face, the

"As I look at the photograph in my hand, all I can think about is what its worth to me. In this photo? I don't see what Harold sees, I don't see what the crowd sees." "I see somebody." "I see Joey." "You

rudge, trudge, trudge. Heavy steps stomp through dense mud, making a squelch beneath the boots. Before us is a large wooden gate, connected to a surrounding wall, with screaming faces merged within. Their moans and groans echo through the dark red

[We open at an undisclosed location, where Harold Attano sits on box as he pulls a pocket watch from the inner pocket of jacket. Mr. Nobody stares at it for a moment before looking up and directly toward the camera.]  “Time, some

Somewhere in the Red District, Nergal stands over a dying man. “Gemini,” he gasps out. His faint voice echoes years of regret, of desperate choices made in the pursuit of Eden's illusions. “Did I bring this upon myself?” he asks, tremors of

Previously. TEC struggles to process the response, looking as confused as a machine possibly could. Drexl simply smirks. “I’m afraid failure to procure a full payment from my debtors means that our agreement is null and void”, he states – motioning for a

Dear Vincent Vision, Your prism, so righteous in its promise of enlightenment, has led you astray. Where marvelous spectra should dance, you have found but a singular tone - the stark crimson of blood. Let me remind you of the true nature

Paper. It’s a funny old thing isn’t it? People go into The Groves and give trees a good wallop, taking plants and whatever else in the process. Thanks to the smashing up of trees and plants, they get themselves some fibres, mix

We fade into the interior of Eden, usually lush and vibrant, now the stench and decay of death poisons it's very nature. Bodies litter the floor of the victims of Nergal as not a soul is seen, aside from the

'Hush little baby, don't say a word Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird' As a child, my mama would sing to me, to soothe me into sleep. Her voice was as sweet as any bird, mocking or otherwise, and it was

A man once was strolling through a garden. The path he walked was bordered by the the lushest greens he’d ever seen, unlike the rest of his world that surrounded this oasis. For he built this garden, and this was his

|| Only the dim lights of a correctional facility in the slums illuminates the room. Sitting in the bleak of his cell is Jasper Redgrave. He sits in front of a small table. A steady thumping sound can be heard,

very soul I ferry to their final destination has something in common. They are deceased. One way or another, they have perished. And every single one has lived a life. Some lives are better than others. Some are spent well and some are wasted. I’ve

[ Stubbins Doom ] Quicker. Build it quicker. Henchmen move as fast as they can, sweat dripping from their collective brows. They’ve been worked hard.  [ Stubbins Doom ] In the construction of anything great, there are casualties. He watches upon a balcony

{TEC is seen scanning a pile of robot limbs that a viewer can assume came from dismantled prototypes of the Automaton. Tilting its head, it picks up an arm and examines it for a little bit before unceremoniously dropping it

When I was younger, escapism was all I had. Always dreaming of something more, something better, something bigger than the small life I was used to. Funny how when you get everything you want, it doesn't matter nearly how much you thought

"God, the pain is so wonderful!" The sounds of electricity arcing through wires filled the air as we are welcomed to the rather bizarre scene of Blacktooth in his compound standing in front of a nude man. He has the live

Officer Name: Jackson Cade Badge Number: 4432 Date of Incident: 7/13/XX Level: The Bleak Description of Events: I tailed the suspect through the blood drenched jungle we call The Bleak. He was adapted to the environment, molded by the cold stone walls and blood stained iron that

A single whistled note pierces the air for a moment before spluttering and passing away. Choked and fading into nothingness. “La musica?” El Mariachie Muerte tries again, his whistle living for a moment before dying into the bleak. Muerte’s sorrow is caught

Ahhh… I forgot how much I loved watching you wastes of oxygen from above the air you breathe. For those still lingering in this cesspool of convicts, welcome to the new Death Row. New management, same hell. For those new to these fine facilities,

[For some, the morning sun creeping through your bedroom window can be a rude awakening. Such is the case for Harold Attano this morning. As the sun falls upon his face, his eyes flutter open. Groggily he pushes himself up,

In the dazzling world of fashion, where dreams and creativity intertwine, there once lived a talented designer. Known for her avant-garde creations and fearless experimentation, the designer earned herself a reputation as a true visionary of the industry. Her catwalk shows were

We open to the sight of a man running frantically through a forest. There are tears streaming from his eyes, his nose runny. His clothes are ripped and tattered, stained with his own blood.  The man looks back, as if to

[Harold struts out of the offices of the APD a sly smirk on his face.]     “Sorry Cade, I just couldn’t stay and play your game, I’ll take a rain check though.  I have a bigger playdate ahead of me.”    “The more I

In the darkest days of Arcadia, Grimskull spoke to his disciples in the Slums, proclaiming the wisdom of the kaleidoscope, the mirror of existence, the testament to the transformative power of pain. “Consider Stubbins Doom,” Grimskull said. “His world

Every child in Arcadia is taught a simple rule when they are young, how to wish upon a star and the risks of who may hear your plea. What God upon high would give them what they truly desired? Not Zeus

Dear Mother, I’ve done it. I’ve reached the pinnacle of Arcadia. Remember all those years ago when you told me I’d be the one to escape the destitution and the horrors of the bleak? You were right. See, you saw something in me, something that

Powered down. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. No- A flash of light, and the spark returns. Ocular receptors back online, taking in images from the surroundings. Audio fading in. The muddled sounds starting to take formation into actual words. Blink. Breathe. Live. My hands shake, but they're my hands. Or are they? They

Darkness. We can only perceive the presence of those gathered through the rhythmic thumping of wooden staffs beaten into the ground. The voice of The V1sion fills the air. “Appearances can be deceiving. That much I have always told you. Our

There’s a grainy open. But as it clears, we see Luther Grim, sledgehammer in hand, demolishing a building from the inside-out. Although it isn’t The Mortuary, it looks strikingly similar.  “Dependence is a double-edged sword. It can be the source of strength,

“Please

The Arcadia Police Department has partaken in shady deals in order to ensure justice and peace in all levels. One officer had to be initiated into a street gang in order to take down their leader, as he only made himself

If there's anything I've learned in this life, it's that people will chase anything for a chance to be seen as beautiful. They will cover themselves in ink. They will disguise their face with makeup. The most extreme will allow a

So what exactly do an Automaton, a Designer, and a Mummy have in common? The answer, dear Arcadian, may surprise you! What happens when a normal man tries to take up the mantle of hero and fails miserably? He finds himself

We appear before the Burned Man, who stands in front of Blacktooth's compound. He takes a moment to look for a way inside without attracting the Bloodrunners's attention. He sets the Kingdomblade by his feet as he draws out a

Officer Name: Jackson Cade Badge Number: 4432 Date of Incident: 6/18/XX Level: The Gallery Description of Events: Thirty days. I was surrounded by death on all sides, trapped in the Gallery for thirty days. To my left, my right, and standing right in front of me. You

A beautifully crafted knife sits in Blacktooth's hand. It glints as he holds it up to the light, a single dirty bulb hanging inside of a shack in his compound. Beneath him sits a man, bound and gagged with nothing

Cloaked in the shadows of a decrepit alley, the flickering lamplight casting an eerie glow on her inhuman form, the deity Nergal cornered an unfortunate soul. A nondescript man, lost and terrified, held his breath as Gemini’s gaze pierced into

A slow haunting melody is hummed by a single voice. The body of Damien Wolfe lies upon blood-soaked canvas. El Mariachi Muerte draws near and kneels beside the massacred body. He places a rose upon Damien’s chest as he hums his

[Harold sits in a chair back in home a satisfied smirk on his face as he sits in his chair cleaning an old, slightly rusted revolver. A cleaning solution next to him on the side table.  Mr. Nobody takes the

[Static.] [A black screen takes over the airwaves. A green text cursor blinks ever so ominously in the top left hand corner.] [The video fades in. The playful laugh of Fatal Error herself as she holds before her a large black box

lood pools around the fragmented skull of Drewitt, staining the concrete ground upon which it rests. Everything is silent, a deathly quiet. As Tombstone sits beside his body, alone, his mind is one to wander. “The hunt has seemingly only just begun.” He

The charred remnants of the once vibrant Pussycat Club have all but been excised. The bodies have been removed; the blood on the ceiling and stages have been thoroughly unstained. In the middle of the muted chaos stands a familiar figure, chewing

It can be lonely on the roads of Arcadia. I've spent most of my time the only human visible for miles in any direction. I've spent most of my time alone. I'm used to it. I only have Colt to keep me

The eyes of Arcadia are firmly upon Olympus ahead of Double Tap, a tournament that pairs up sixteen of the finest Titans in tag team action, and one look at the eight teams set to compete might make it difficult

Hypothetical query: which team participating in Double Tap would make the perfect criminal duo? This perfect pairing would not only have to work together for a common goal, but also trust each other completely. They would not only need to fight

A sorrow-filled El Mariachi Muerte sits, head bowed as his fingers pick out a slow melody on his guitar. His melodic voice sings out a dreary ballad. ‘Oh lament, oh lament. Mi amigo, I trusted in you

Wa-.. W a s.. [Static.] [The feed of Attano is seemingly interrupted.] [We now stare at a black screen with a single green box in the top lefthand corner of the screen] [Moments pass before text begins to appear on the screen at a rapid

[Click.]  [Static covers the screen as a Play ► appears in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.  We see rare clips of The House of Sovereigns that transition to views of every level Arcadia has to offer down to the

There are only two people in this world. Those with the guts to do what must be done, and those too weak to try. Some will fight, claw and grasp at every shred of power that they can find. These are

Arcadia used to be a lot like chess, despite everyone in the game doing more than him, the king was always considered the most important piece. The queen moved across all of Arcadia to complete their shared goal yet the man

Dear Vincent, How paradoxical is our brand of brokenness. Mine was inflicted, yours, self-imposed. In my last defiance against your cult, they melted the skin from my face, violently, without mercy. Left me in darkness, killed me, yet I persisted, I survived. Each beat

[ Interviewer ] Mr. Doom… [ Stubbins Doom ] Doctor. [ Interviewer ] Sorry, Doctor Doom. Thank you for inviting us into the Doom Factory for this very special interview. In just a mere few weeks, you team with Scissors in the

I stand before you, not just a mere participant in the Double Tap tournament, but as the deadliest fucking hunter to have ever roamed the lands of Arcadia! You see, I’ve spent years honing my skills, sharpening my senses, and forging my physical prowess into that

“We all love a good feast, don’t we?” “But no meal is edible without the right ingredients.” “First, we start with the fresh meat. Luther Grim looks like a tasty morsel, does he not? I could feast upon his misery for hours.

Once, I was content to observe the world, fascinated by your delicate balance of order and chaos. But the harmony that once intrigued me has grown discordant. Your warring spirits, veiled in deceit and exploitation, have not evolved, not learnt from

he water is deep, dark and treacherous.. yet somehow calm. The pitch black around them enhances the sound of water splashing the sides of their boat, caressing it. It’s a symphony of gentle splashes. Teddy O’Toole awakens, his face no longer

"The thing about eatin' dinner is that no matter how delicious the food in front of ya is, it'll never taste quite as good as when you got someone to share it with. A real vile, beautiful lady sittin' across

"Having a partner isn't just something you're assigned, you know." "It's a responsibility, an oath that the person standing by your side is more than just a body to you. You need to rely on him, to believe in him." "To sacrifice

I've always found it easy to look after myself. Spending all this time traversing the levels of Arcadia, and figuring out its dark and dangerous secrets, my life is in danger more often than you'd think. That's why I have

There was this young woman who walked into my abode once, desperate for my help. Seems she was being followed by a large black husky wherever she went and the poor dear was at her wits end in terror. Ever since

There was once a man who wielded a legendary blade. Carved from the finest metals and said to be infused with the blood of the gods themselves, it was said to be capable to cutting through Zeus himself. The hero kept it

There are few moments in someone's life where they can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on them. One of those moments? A first date. Imagine, if you will, all the preparation that goes into it. The planning. From when and where

They say a picture says a thousand words. They never say every person sees a different thousand words. For instance, you see a picture of a great landmark. Some people are stunned by the natural beauty. Others are reminded of childhood innocence when their

"A boy in the Slums woke up one morning to find himself trapped in a burning home." "Smoke filled the air as the kid began to panic. He couldn't see or breathe as the need to escape flooded his blood with

"Do you have what it takes to make the choices others won't?" "A vet is given an animal and told it has a problem." "The pet sitting on his operating table is normally such a kind, lovable little idiot. Not a mean

"In Arcadia we hear the legends of mythical heroes that vanquished the wicked." "Defended the innocent." "Let me tell you the story of one of them." "A man named Perseus." "He was chosen by the gods, by Zeus himself, to slay a terrible creature." "A

They say that a stubborn child walks behind you, an impatient one walks in front of you, but a friend walks beside you. Have you ever considered what a struggle it was to learn to walk? I see a child. As a baby,

I've always been reckless and foolish with love Always pushing my luck with the spirits above

A while back, I knew this old lady. She was what some people call a pack rat. She saved everything. Every last dollar, and every last trinket. To her, everything around her was beautiful and worth saving. But there was a problem. She had a

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.  It’s a saying that’s gotten me through life.  For instance, a woman walked into my office, think her name was Karen, and she asked me to approve something.  Now, as

Life got you down? Feel like you're the smartest guy around, but you just can't shake Ol' Teddy? Feel like you wanna kill Theodore, but he happens to have a trump card? Well, grab hold of Teddy O'Toole's big bag of strawberries

All life is precious. All death is too. I've long been of the idea that every single body on this earth is a piece of art and that all deserve to live forever even once the soul is sucked out by whatever

They say an animal is at its most dangerous when it's cornered. When there isn't a chance for the thing to escape, it has only one option left. To fight for their very survival. Take, for instance, the venomous rattlesnake. Normally it

My father hated people, heh, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Because of that, he got a house in Arcadia as far away from the filth as he could get. The problem was that because nothing was around meant it

Allow me to paint you a picture in gray. A man is planting a garden, an art piece to display in front of his home. But there's a pesky little weed that sprouted amongst his petunias. Like any smart gardener, he takes

Close your eyes… Go to sleep. Imagine a hut in the middle of a forest at twilight. Inside, a crowd of natives gather in a circle, lighting the interior with torches. A hazy moonlight shines through a hole from the hut’s pinnacle

I’ve come to realize that people are just like castles. In that, they come in all shapes and sizes, each constructed of their own type of material. On one hand, there are the smaller, more modest castles. They are made

One of my masterpieces called me a broken man just before she died. She’d been trying to get through to me, hoped till her dying breath that I could be fixed. I smiled as I slit her throat and told her these

Welcome one and all to the Foley Funhouse! I’d like to tell you a story about a mirror. Two men were each given a mirror and told that it would change their lives. They took it home and decided what to do

There was once a man who dreaded the night. He feared what he believed to be the insidious power of the dark. A force that lurked, whispered, and conspired to consume the light. He made a solemn vow to cast it out,

In the heart of the Grove, a singular tree lived, its roots clutching the earth with a quiet, enduring strength. It basked under the nurturing light of the sun, cradled by the tranquil canvas of the sky. The sun, in its golden

The laugh. It was all the coyote could hear. This coyote was born in a concrete jungle, tethered to a cold, rusting chain. Now this chain, it wasn't like any old chain. It was alive, almost. Slithering and constricting, feeding off the coyote's

It doesn’t take a Doctor to diagnose your current condition, Dr. Death.  You’re angry. Anger – it’s such a multifaceted emotion. Let’s think of anger as an onion. The outermost layer is anger. You’ve been betrayed by your best friend; a man you

Thieves, the ones who break into others personal space and take what doesn’t belong to them.  They have this mentality of what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine, too.  I’m talking about are those who steal out of sheer inclination

“The coolin' board was once a widely used transportation device for ferryin' bodies of the recently departed from one locality to another.” “Resemblin' a long, slender, wooden plank, the forefathers of Arcadia used coolin' boards to prepare the bodies of the dead

heodore O’Toole, this is your execution decree. I am your judge, jury and executioner. I’m telling you, a condemned prisoner that you will be hanged at noon on one weekday in the following week, but that the execution will be a

Imagine having access to a multitude of weapons. A variable arsenal of painful implements. You could take a gun from that arsenal. A simple pistol. You put a bullet in the chamber, you cock it back and fire. The destruction that bullet

"An old man once sat before a regular block of limestone." "There was nothing special about this block. To any other eye, it was as square and plain as any other block of limestone." "But to the old man, this limestone was

I've tried it all. If you can eat it, I've tried it. But human flesh? I

When I was a kid, I remember there was this ridiculously lavish abode. Adorned with gold, silver and platinum, it was pure spectacle that even Zeus himself would be embarassed by. A normal extravagance for the rich and famous yet it

I once visited a level, years back, where I met a man named Claude. Claude, a kindly, gentle man by all accounts, was a community man - a man of the people. He loved to arrange and put on community

I remember there once lived a joyful family in my Slums.  Their patriarch, a man of strength and honor, guided his family with unwavering dedication.  Yet, life was preparing a brutal test. Without warning, a fierce inferno descended, engulfing their home in an

Softly we tremble tonight, Picture perfect fading smiles are all that’s left in site, I said I’d never leave you’ll never change I’m not satisfied with where I’m at in life. She told him repeatedly that she wanted nothing to do with him. But he

It is said that through science man proves, but through intuition he discovers. Great scientists have always looked at the world around them and questioned. But when the very notion of questioning challenges that which man has come to know as

When I was younger, I found a stray cat clinging to life. He was starving, every bone in his tiny body was visible, hair was falling out in multiple places, death was singing to him, his frail body swaying to the

Even down in The Slums, love can reach its peak. When two people love each other just enough, they finally agree to come together in the act of marriage. A wedding down there is a bit different from ones you see elsewhere

"There was a preacher who constantly spread the good word of his cult to anyone that passed by his line of sight." "Nobody usually paid him any mind. They all heard the same spiel from other evangelists and none of them

Social stereotypin’ be as palpable in Arcadia as it is anywhere else in our sphere, ya na. Some of it's fair fuckin’ game; the rest ain’ so true. But one thing remains an absolute, irrefutable cert, ya get me? People wit’ a

"My grandfather used to tell me a story.." "An old wise tale, fictional at its core but the moral was one that has stuck with me for many years.." "In another world, there's an island. This island harbors many tourists. Each of

"Never did like candy." "See, thing about sweets? They ain't honest like a slab of meat is. With a hunk of flesh you know what you're gettin' when you sink your teeth into it. It's filling, savory, and nutritious." "But candy? It

Growing up I had a bully he would always hurt the weaker kids.  He was the fancied himself a trophy hunter of sorts.  Viewing everyone he made fear him as another prize for his mantle.  He started stalking me where I would work

Once upon a time, there was a pen that thought it was the most important pen in the world. It was made of the finest materials and had been used to sign many important documents. The pen was proud of

I had this one couple visit me for elective surgery years ago. The girl wanted a boob job, and the guy she was with was more than happy to accommodate her. Let me tell you: this girl had that boyfriend wrapped around

A man really couldn’t see without his glasses. They’d broken and were unusable. Everything was blurry. At first, he tried squinting. He thought if he could bring things into a smaller condensed visual plane, that he’d be able to see with a little

Welcome one and all to the Foley Funhouse!  Today, I’ve brought a very good friend along to tell you a story. His name is Darby Don’t Die and oh boy, does he have a tale for you. Take it away, Triple

man wanted to build a home in Arcadia. First, he had to choose a level to build it on. He didn’t have many credits and was offered two distinctively different plots of land. The first plot of land was expensive,

There's a saying in this world, it doesn't matter how strong or powerful or godlike we may be, all our tales end with eternal judgement by the fallen God in the ice cold throne. The eternal Fate of everyone who lives in

I spy with my little eye, a person who doesn't know his place while in pursuit of the truth. But what is the truth? These days it has all become rather subjective. We have men up on a mountain believing in

A man who lived on his own lit a candle one day. He took the last match in the pack, struck it against the ignition patch, and lit the wick. This was the last match he had, and he knew it

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That if we look closely enough, we can see beauty all around us. I see… NOTHING AT ALL. A void of darkness. No light penetrates my retina. A stockade of scartissue shields

"Take a piece of nylon thread." "Stretch it out in front of you until it lays in a straight line." "Now comes the fun part. Reach in your pocket, pull out your lighter and set both ends of that thread on fire." "Sit

I’m on the menu You won’t get indigestion I even come with dessert

here was once a man who decided to make himself important. To do this, he would amuse himself by claiming that the end is nigh. If people wanted to avoid their end, they just needed to listen to him.  Citizens on

"When I was younger, my dad shared a tale of an artist that suffered from terrible artist's block." "He was tasked to fill his gallery with fresh and beautiful works before the day of his showcase. Unfortunately for him, that day

There is a certain power in being able to finally speak up. Take, for instance, the biggest crush you've ever had on someone. They make your heart aflutter, and your mouth go dry when you try to utter a single word. This all

In my line of profession, only a few designers become household names. The masses can only give attention to so many things after all. At the end of the day, most clothes are utilitarian and disposable. To make people want your name caressing

"Do you know what death sounds like?" "You might think sounds like pleadin', beggin', cryin'." "All the lil people with tears streamin' down their faces. 'Don't kill my husband!' this and 'Please, leave my family alone!' that." "Screamin' until their voices go hoarse

"I have often asked what the difference between a human and an animal truly is." "With animals, they are run on pure instinct." "Everything they do is run by a drive to survive. They don't think like humans do, they bounce from

Once upon a time, there had lived a man named Jack. Jack was a snake oil salesman, a crafty man who had a way with words. He had a smooth and persuasive voice that could convince anyone to buy his

“Long ago, in a land from tales and stories, there was a river.” “A vast ocean space, in which water was King.” “To cross this river, one would need to employ the services of a Ferryman. It would be his job to

There was once a boy trapped in the shadow of his famous father. A celebrated hero who saved Arcadia time and time again from that which goes bump in the night suddenly vanishes into thin air. Leaving behind a grieving son way

All: The marketing team, including the Vice President of marketing, have all been sacked. Internal job applications will be posted. If no suitable candidates emerge from our talent pool, we'll look outside the company. It is painfully obvious based on their latest

There’s usually two surgeons in the operating room. The resident surgeon is the surgeon who opens and closes the surgery. Though skill set may vary, they are in training and must be overseen by an attending surgeon during critical stages of

Ever since there have been gods, there have been slaves that were created for a singular purpose. The poor girl Pandora, brought to life over a petty grudge and destined to bring about chaos and decay into the world through the

What is the greatest source of pain that one can inflict on a world that has never experienced? Do you know the answer to that? I'm sure you've looked. Everyone with a lack of empathy and care have tried to find

There are many who claim to be the saviours of Arcadia. Some of them want to save the whole god damn place. Some of them want to save their own level. Some just want to save their family. Each of these who

"Stop." "Take a moment to immerse yourselves in the deepest, darkest canals of Arcadia." "Put yourself right in the center of the night. Right in the heart of the streets." "Now close your eyes and take a good listen." "What do you hear?" "Somewhere in

Just like anywhere, food standards agencies exist in Arcadia for one sole reason: To make a motherfucker think twice before sinkin' their teeth into somethin' well past its best, ya get me? Hit up any grocery store and you'll see it across

Ah, to feel heartbreak. A good man was in a relationship once, spending the best years of his life with the woman he loved. He was so wrapped up in the throes of passion that he committed himself to marrying her one

"It started off as an unusually peaceful day in the Slums." "People were performing their daily routines and no thugs were around to cause trouble. Houseworkers did chores, kids played games, and spirits were overall pretty high." "They had hoped that this

"Drex, I want you to think about the stickiest, greenest, crystal covered bud you ever seen." "How great it'd feel on your lips as you puff away at that blunt, fillin' your lungs with smoke and blowin' out clouds the world

"What do you do with a dead body?" "I want you to think of a corpse laying in the street. It's been brutalized beyond belief, you can barely recognize its face but you know by the clothes exactly who you're looking

No one knows what it's like To be the bad man To be the sad man Behind blue eyes There are many Arcadians that hide a sense of hopelessness behind their eyes. Take a trip, mi amigos, through the slums and you will find many

They say that music is a language within itself. But can a blind person play music without seeing the notes on the page? Could a deaf person play without being able to hear what they play? I see a song. A piece of

Once upon a time, there was a tall and sturdy tree that stood in the middle of a vast forest. The tree had been there for many years, and it had weathered many storms. Its roots were deep and strong,

arcissus was a very beautiful young man that everyone adored. However, there was no-one to whom he would return their affection. One day, whilst Narcissus was hunting, he came upon a small crystal clear lake and bent down to take a

In the ageless forest, there existed two peculiar creatures. The Siren, with a lute in hand, spilled forth a melody that could snatch the soul from man's grasp. His audience, spellbound, sipped on his sweet poison, each note a lullaby serenading them