Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Do you all have plenty to drink?"

Flair drops 4 glass goblet snifters.

Vaxarn nods his head at Flair.

Corbeaux al-Aqrab says amusedly to Flair, "Thank you, Prophet."

Llyth shakes her head.

You smile and say to Flair in a warm, confident voice, "How generous of you."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Very well then. Let us not consider this a sermon. Let us consider this a talk among friends and peers. What is freedom? What does it mean to an Asthani? What does it mean to a Hashani?"

Flair smiles and a drop of ichor rolls from the corner of his mouth.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "I'm asking, feel free to answer."

You say in a warm, confident voice, "The power to express one's will."

The sky above you opens up some, leaving only partial cloud cover.

Verily cants her head to the side, lips thinning in thought.

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "To choose one's own path, rather than it being chosen for them."

Verily says in a warm, downy voice, "Each believe their own thing, of course. But... to weave one's own path, through the world and that which is around them, as best as they might manage."

Vaxarn nods his head at Verily.

Flair's mouth turns up as his face breaks into a smile.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "All wonderful answers. It is a principle that Hashani and Ashtani share."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "The freedom to believe and act as we wish."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Of course, with every free choice there comes a reaction. Wouldn't you all agree?"

Corbeaux nods his head at Flair.

Vaxarn nods his head at Flair, showing his acceptance.

You say in a warm, confident voice, "Indubitably."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Let's take for example me and my brother Erhon."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "We were raised by the same parents, mostly by Callanthe and Xadzia. We were taught the same philosophies. We were taught that knowledge and Freedom were all that mattered. Then, on the other hand they pushes us to follow Eris and to reject Darkness."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Is that freedom? Or does every thing that youdo, from the time you are born to the time you die, just a reaction to all that has come before you?"

A blinding flash of light splits open the sky, heralding a forking bolt of amethyst lightning that crawls to the earth below before flaring, discharging the foul power that seethes high above.

You ask in a warm, confident voice, "One must make the choice still, yes?"

Verily says in a warm, downy voice, "In making any decision, we reject countless others. That is ever the case."

The firmament grows darker as the clouds begin to smother the light.

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "Considering those that have come before us, there comes a point where everything we do just seems like an echo of the past. However, freedome, true freedome, lies within the hearts and minds of those individuals."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Vaxarn coughs softly.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Though we were brought up the same way, Erhon and I took very different paths. He fell in love with politics and power. I walked out here, to this very spot, one day and was gifted with the first vision of my Lord and Master. Did I have a choice I wonder?"

Flair limps over to his statue.

You say to Flair in a warm, confident voice, "There is no greater calling than to be the tool of the Master."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Once the voice of the one true God, the voice of Oblivion itself spoke to me, did I have a choice?"

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "True, but that isn't the question."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

You smile softly.

Verily says quietly in a warm, downy voice, "I'd say you did, yes. I can only imagine control was not out of your hands."

You say in a warm, confident voice, "The path of fate has lead us all to this point, Prophet."

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "Of course you had a choice. The only question is were you willing to bear the consequences of that choice."

Vaxarn nods his head at you.

Vaxarn nods his head at Verily.

Llyth says to Flair with a callous, Ashtani accent, "Given the context, I'm not sure a choice was available."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "You can't believe in both fate and free will can you? Once I heard the voice of my Master, I spent two hundred years in search of him. I lost everything I would ever be or could have ever been otherwise."

Silver sparks dance across the heavens as the riderless chariot of Lady Sol rushes past Achaea's three rings, the second brilliantly coruscating at its passing.

You ask Flair in a warm, confident voice, "Cause and effect though, does it only give an illusion of choice, yes?"

Llyth wrinkles her nose and sniffs.

Llyth says to Flair with a callous, Ashtani accent, "One can't not choose."

You smirk at Llyth.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "While Erhon went on to a life of luxery, I wandered the desert. Though whose life had more freedom? Erhon was a slave to power. I am a slave to the Void. So are we free or are we pawns of the Gods?"

Verily nods her head at Llyth.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Llyth, "Aye. You are correct. One can't not choose."

Flair's mouth turns up as his face breaks into a smile.

You smile and say in a warm, confident voice, "But would you make any other choice then the ones you have made?"

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "When my God and Erhon's power came into conflict, brothers who had been as close a brothers could be became enemies. Choices we both "made.""

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "And then I had another friend. Let us call that friend Hashan. When Erhon banished me from the city, Hashan took me in. We built our first sanctuary there. The first altar to our lord appeared there. To this day, Hashan holds a special place in my heart and I would do all I could to protect it."

Corbeaux nods his head at Flair.

Payne flashes Flair a joyous smile.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Flair kicks up a tuft of the hard desert sand. It begins to slowly circle those standing here.

Flair smiles as his violet eyes begin to glow a bit brighter and his healed over wounds break and begin to bleed.

Dark, oppressive clouds swirl in the skies above, occluding the lights of the firmament and casting gloom across the earth.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "And then . .."

Flair limps close to Vayne.

Vayne turns to Flair.

Dusk steals silently over the horizon and crimson and ochre engulf the firmament, their seductive tones beckoning the sun to its nightly repose.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "And then I found myself surrounded right here by those who do not believe in freedom. Mhaldor and Shallam, they worship to strict but different poles of Order. Do they have freedom?"

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah mutters, "Do any of us?"

With a sickening splatter, the flesh of a zombie elephant's trunk splits open to spill a pile of squirming maggots to the ground in a viscous heap.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "Well, did they."

You say to Flair in a warm, confident voice, "They certainly do as they see fit."

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "If i may..."

You smile softly at Flair.

Verily says quietly in a warm, downy voice, "That is something I have wondered myself. Part of me wishes to say yes, that it is their personal choice, even as they try to restrict others... at the same time, it makes one wonder of the children raised in such a way, never given reign to reach out for themselves. I'm not quite certain."

Flair wipes away the blood and ichor that has started to flow from the scars upon his forehead.

Vayne smiles charmingly at Flair.

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "I say that things could have turned out different. You could have not chosen to pay head to His voice. Erhon could have not persued power. But Vayne's question still stands, would you have done any different? i would say not, one doesn't want to ever look back on his life with regrets, therefore we conform to our own way of living. We become slaves to our own minds, our own choices. We give up that freedom we once held as soon as a choice is made. only WE can take our freedome from ourselves. no one else."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Seeping into the sky, the bloody moon reluctantly rises, surrounded by tear-like stars as darkness descends over the land.

You smirk.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "Do you have any regrets, friend?"

You say to Vaxarn in a warm, confident voice, "Not quite what I meant."

Vaxarn says in a crisp, clear voice, "That was a belated responce to an earlier question.."

The air grows moist as occasional drops of rain fall from the sky.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "So Halos and Silas and others surrounded me here . .."

Flair coughs softly.

You say to Flair in a warm, confident voice, "Regrets are vain, what will be, will be."

Flair looks over at Boosteya and says, "perfect."

Boosteya blinks.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "I also had a friend and ally here."

Discipulus Boosteya Ze'Dekiah says to Flair, "Hi."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Llyth, "What was it you said? We all have to make a choice?"

Llyth nods her head at Flair.

Llyth says to Flair with a callous, Ashtani accent, "Though we can be...encouraged in our choices."

Kuei grins mischievously at Llyth.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Well my friend did not. No matter. The truth is that their is a great lie we tell ourselves. There is no freedom. We are pawns."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

You smirk.

You say in a warm, confident voice, "Without a doubt."

Stained crimson, Achaea's outermost ring glitters like bloody droplets across the night sky.

Flair levels his gave upon Vayne as the sand circling them spins more violently.

Verily raises an eyebrow questioningly.

The drizzle stops entirely, leaving only heavy cloud cover.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "The key is that you are a pawn of the right God, friend."

Vayne looks about at the swirling sands, a startled expression crossing his face.

You say to Flair in a seemingly calm voice, "I absolutely agree."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Flair raises a formless mask of the Nihilist to wear it, and the third eye upon its forehead flashes ominously as the mask deforms and stretches. Tendrils of the strange material choke off a gasp as it forms to his face.

A blinding flash of light splits open the sky, heralding a forking bolt of amethyst lightning that crawls to the earth below before flaring, discharging the foul power that seethes high above.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "And I have no choice either."

Flair places his right hand upon Vayne's forehead. A bright violet light passes between them. When Flair pulls his hands away, a maggot can be seen borrowing its way into Vayne.

Boosteya blinks.

With a cry of agony Vayne falls to the ground in a heap, his form obscured by his voluminous cloak.

Corbeaux raises an eyebrow questioningly.

Arua blinks.

Vaxarn blinks.

Verily stiffens suddenly, releasing Arua's hand as her own come to clench at her side.

The corners of Payne's mouth turn up as he grins mischievously.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

You scream in a growling, agonised voice, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!!"

Flair relaxes as the swirling sand falls lifeless back onto the desert floor. He looks at Vayne with satisfaction.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "The same thing you did to me, friend."

Llyth examines you cautiously.

Verily hastens to Vayne's side, crouching down with an expression of mixed worry and hesitation.

Corbeaux observes silently, nodding at Flair.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "If you thought I would forget or forgive, then you misunderstood the meaning of freedom."

Flair cackles hellishly.

Vayne hides his face as he writhes in the sand, producing a obsidian mask from his robes, struggling to cover himself.

You are now wearing a mirrored black obsidian mask.

Vaxarn steps in front of Vayne, hands gripped upon his swords.

Verily says worriedly to you in a warm, downy voice, "Grandfather..."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "Hashani, perhaps now your leader will know truth. May he see the Void. May he lead you to enlightenment."

Arua sinks into the Sanya stance.

Vayne remains prostrate amid the wet sands, a tolled breathing visible through the concealing fabric of his cloak.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says, "You may go and take this rotting heap with you."

Flair points at Vayne.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Payne ponders you with a contemplative expression.

Verily lowers herself further, a hand reaching forth to rest gingerly on your shoulder. Slowly, she looks upwards to Flair, a blank look upon her face.

Verily says quietly to Flair in a warm, downy voice, "..What have you done to him?"

Payne says with a Hashani accent, "I knew this day would come."

Discipulus Boosteya Ze'Dekiah says to Flair, "And me, brother?"

Llyth smirks.

Llyth whispers to Verily with a callous, Ashtani accent, "It would seem given him a choice..."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Verily, "A little bit of enligtenment is all. Trust me when I tell you that it is for his own good."

Vaxarn's knuckles grow momentarily white as he strengthens his grip.

Payne says to Vaxarn with a Hashani accent, "Stand down."

Vayne's fingers dig into the wetted sands.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Vaxarn glares angrily at Flair.

Deepest Stygian night steals over the land as the symbolic hourglass empties and turns, ready to begin a new day.
It is now the 4th of Valnuary, 613 years after the fall of the Seleucarian Empire.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Vaxarn, "There is nothing you can do. As we said earlier, what is done is done."

Vayne stumbles to lift himself up on one knee, his masked face looking up at Flair.

Vaxarn says to Flair in a crisp, clear voice, "..there are always consequences.."

Flair grins mischievously at Corbeaux.

Payne says to Vaxarn with a Hashani accent, "If you need to do something take Vayne to Hashan and watch over hin."

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

You whisper to Flair in a quiet, muffled voice, "And there ever will be until Oblivion."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to you, "Indeed."

The sky above you opens up some, leaving only partial cloud cover.

Vaxarn nods his head at Payne.

Vaxarn glares angrily at Flair.

Discipulus Boosteya Ze'Dekiah says to Flair, "Is it my turn?"

Flair shakes his head at Boosteya.

Vayne struggles to stand on shaky legs, holding a hand to his head in attempts to right himself.

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Boosteya, "As before, you are just here to record."

Flair flashes Boosteya a joyous smile.

Vayne leans on Verily.

Verily offers an arm to you in support.

Rain cascades down from the skies, drenching you and your environment.

Discipulus Boosteya Ze'Dekiah says to Flair, "And look where that got me."

Vaxarn wraps an arm around Vayne, steadying him.

You whisper to Verily in a quiet, muffled voice, "Home.."

Prophet of Babel, Flair Ze'Dekiah says to Boosteya, "We all make our sacrifices. Sacrifices we have no choice in."

Discipulus Boosteya Ze'Dekiah says, "Yes."

Verily beckons Arua to her.

Vayne give one last glance at Flair.

A low rumble gives only a moment of warning before the ground shakes violently. Cracks appear in the ground, the vibrations causing them to rapidly open and close. In the larger, yawning cracks, rather than dirt below you can see the horrifying sight of the ether between the Planes.

Verily blinks, giving a small shake of her head.

Verily says softly to you in a warm, downy voice, "Home."

Verily shuffles some cards with the image of the Universe out of her deck.