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Sloth's Chain — Description
She had tried to live her life just like every other normal person, but it seemed that the universe despised her existence. Ever since the beginning, life wasn't fair and fate wasn't kind. She had come from a broken family, a home filled with misery and regret. When she was young, she hated her mother for what she put her through. For all the sorrow and pain that seemed to fill every corner of the house. For the longest time she wished that her mother would just die, so that all the misery could come to an end. When fate listened to her words, however, she found no peace or relief. The one thing she had in this world was now gone, and she was cast into a cruel sea. Though she was now alone, tragedy and betrayal were never far behind. Whatever happiness she sought, she would never find. Whatever home that greeted her, would inevitably cast her out. Even as she grew older, the hand of fate continued to grind her beneath its thumb. No one would welcome her into their doors, and no one would come to bring her comfort. She was an outcast, a victim of the world that people pitied but then quickly forgot. Life was agony to her, and she wished for the slightest bit of relief. Perhaps it was this wish that placed her before that bizarre object. A strange thing found in the discarded, unwanted corners of life. When she placed the odd trinket around her neck, she found a sudden peace. A calmness of the mind that she had never known. For the first time in her life, the pain was gone and the haunting memories were locked away. With this new found serenity, she could at last work to help improve her lot in life. To finally have the strength to take the punches fate dealt and continue forward with uncaring determination. Though this change did not mean she was instantly flooded with money and love, it did mean that she finally had control. Or so she thought. Little did she know that the memories and pain did not simply vanish, but instead were driven so deep down inside her that she would never find them. Cast into a bottomless pit that hid within. The calmness granted to her by the necklace kept her ignorant to this black hole, which she took as a blessing. This gift, however, turned foul when the yawning pit began to consume more than just misery and regret. Other memories began to fall, and her emotions slowly drained away into the endless void. Peace turned to apathy, then to lethargy. She no longer could even find the drive or care to leave her bed, as the weight of this emptiness began to crush her. Even the beloved necklace grew heavy on her neck, weighing her down more and more. In time, she was bound to Sloth's Chain and was fully lost to the uncaring void.

What remains of her now is little more than a living statue. A monolith of flesh and stone, forever standing still. No thoughts or cares exist in her mind, as she doesn't even have that. The only evidence of life she has is the slow, heavy sound of her breath, and the occasional lull of her useless limbs. This mindless construct stands vigil within a city of stone, a land consumed by her draining power. Though she has no claws or fangs, or great weapons to slay and intimidate, she easily devours any who dare walk into her lifeless home. From her body emanates an infectious apathy, which permeates every frozen structure and carcass. Those who walk within the range of her power will begin to feel a slight numbness in their body. It will only be just a little bit, hardly enough for one to worry over. In time, though, the numbness will sink deeper into the flesh and the mind. The traveler will soon forget why they entered this city or what they were doing, though such forgetfulness will not concern them in the slightest. As they continue to soak in her aura, thoughts and cares for the future will fade, and they shall grow quite tired. They will not worry at all about this sudden bout of lethargy, as they shall believe that they just need a little nap. When they wake up, then they will do something about all this. Sadly, if they do succumb to this sleep, they shall never wake. During their slumber, the rest of their mind will be sucked from their body, pulled into her hollow shell. Slipping into a coma, they shall sleep for days and weeks, their flesh and clothes slowly hardening into stone. In time, they shall become like the many statues that litter the streets and homes, frozen figures empty of all life and care. All that dwell within this dead land shall succumb to her power, as even the grass and water have become like stone. Many fear her power, despite the fact she does not move or hunt for souls. Perhaps it is the odd fact that she somehow still claims victims, despite the many warnings and dangers. Some may be warriors who come to slay the beast, but quickly forget their mission and become one with the city. Some may be thrill seekers or travelers, who seek to see the frozen city with their own eyes. Or maybe her power extends past the stony fields of grass, drawing in weak minds with promises of peace and calm. One can never know the how or why, as she had lost those simple concepts long ago...

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Just one more artifact of the sins to go! Sloth had to be the toughest one to develop, as I didn't want to go with the basic fat and sluggish looking creature route. What helped was the fact that sloth doesn't just mean "lazy," but it can also mean "uncaring" and "unfeeling." So I figured something stone-like would do the trick! Speaking of stones, I took this opportunity to use the design of my Stone of Madness for this one!