Perhaps it is best to explain the apocalyptic ending of this cosmic board game by first introducing the game's player

Perhaps it is best to explain the apocalyptic ending of this cosmic board game by first introducing the game's player

Perhaps it is best to explain the apocalyptic ending of this cosmic board game by first introducing the game's players - the seven de... 12:13:00 AM

Perhaps it is best to explain the apocalyptic ending of this cosmic board game by first introducing the game's players - the seven demons.

Think of the seven demons as if they are animals - for that is all they are, at heart. They are wild, feral beings of raw emotional power. 

Each of them are unique and unimaginable, yet intimately familiar to mankind. From this point forward, try your best to think of them as the simple, stereotypical beast described in this tale. For a mere mortal to contemplate the true nature of these demons would be an unpleasant, headache-inducing exercise in futility - so don't try.

Seven animals.
Seven demons.
Seven facets of the same multicolored diamond - each one distinct, yet undeniably interconnected.

Each of them wants to gobble up your soul. They've been doing it for ages and they are very skilled at it.

So. Remember when I said that they lost the board game?
If these demons are so powerful and if their actions are so intricately woven into the fabric of our lives, how did these demons end up losing? What happened to Earth? Did humanity survive?
There's only one demon who knows for sure.

There are six other demons, but to begin, we must talk about one in particular - The Spider - for he is critical to how things ended up on the pale blue dot.

The Spider is the demon god of fear. He uses trickery and lies to overcome his foes. He is a masterful storyteller.

He stands accused of "ruining" the last round of this cosmic board game. Yes, the game ended, all right. The timer ran out, the planet and all of its people expired and the game was over; that much was inevitable.
But, The Spider did something right then, in his final round of the game, that robbed all of the demons - himself included - of the grand prize.

It happened like a magic trick. No one really saw it happen.
In a blinding white flash, it was all gone. Earth disappeared and the game was over.
The board, the pawns, the tiniest of little pieces... All of it vanished - and it vanished during The Spider's last turn.

Now... he insists that he hasn't done anything wrong.
The other six insist that The Spider is responsible for bringing about the anticlimactic, winner-less conclusion of the contest.

During the reading of this fable, ask yourself:
Are the other six demons wrong in holding The Spider responsible?
Ask yourself this - and ask often.
You alone will decide, when the story is complete and the facts and events are laid out before you.

And really...
Who better to explain events than The Spider himself? In an effort to understand why they'd all lost out on the prize, they pinned down The Spider and forced the truth out of him. The other demons compelled him to write down an honest account of his deeds during that cataclysmic ending.

This written account - The True and Honest Testimony of The Spider - is what these prologue chapters have been preparing you for.

You have been selected as a sort of juror. You can help decide the ultimate fate of The Spider by simply reading his account.

But, be warned, dear reader...

The Spider is cunning and deceitful. None of his fellow demons trust him - and neither should you. He will eat you. He will lie. Skepticism is a necessary aspect of dealing with The Spider; it is a lesson that has been learned the hard way by each of the other six demons.

--- to be continued ---