Gala Presentation - Congregation

I used a lot of Herenicus' work here to help me out while I made this >.> There was noooo way I would have finished this on time or have it be what it is without it. So I would like to mention that here, thanks!

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You have tmoted: Xer steps before the crowd and turns to face everyone.

You say in a silvery voice, "Though I'm certain that most, if not all of you have seen and touched through the exhibits, the Congregation will be demonstrating yet another aspect of Mhaldor's history. Specifically, the very founding of Mhaldor."

You have tmoted: Xer bows deeply before the audience.

You have emoted: Closing his eyes, Xer concentrates as a black fog emits from the tip of the staff. The lights dim, and the music fades out as swirling shapes and figures start to form within its depths. The fog finally solidifies into an image of the Bastion of the North. Plumes of smoke float from the western part of the city, where the broken remnants of the Iron Citadel lie. The scene zooms in closer onto the ruins and the head of Dacian, Martial Master of the Infernals can be seen piked near the ruins. Panning back out, the enraged visage of Sartan comes into view. Clad in mail, he watches quietly as his forces assail the forces of Ashtan on the Sangre plains.

You have emoted: Eyes now open, Xer waves his staff in a largo four-beat pattern for the string quartet. Calmly, the cellist strings together whole note after whole note with light vibrato, while violin starts a melancholy motif.

You have emoted: The scene fades to black at Xer's command and changes to an image of the battlefield, two armies meeting in combat. Pale Noxtra gazes upon the battlefield as torchlight glints in the dim light, mirroring the moonlit sky. One side, clad in sable and gold, squares against an assault by a fell horde, skeletons dressed in cruel, iron mail. At the foreground, a soldier lies toppled backwards, lifting his bastard sword in both hands so as to parrying a strike from his assailant. Grinning triumphantly, a human skull gazes upon his victim from behind the bars of his helm, blade raised high.

You say in a resonant voice, "Livid at destruction of the Infernals Guild, Sartan the Malevolent sent his undead minions, dragons and his signature daemons at Ashtan. But even as he was watched, snarling in vicious tones, infuriated as his armies fall before the swords of the North, a second plot was brewing in his mind."

Dissonances flow through the air as the violin and viola play clashing tones.

The piano and cellist complement the other strings with darker tones, forming an ominous atmosphere.

You have emoted: Twirling his staff, Xer reshapes the darkness. Towering walls of dark granite form the throne room of Lord Sartan, stretching into the infinite darkness overhead. Distant torchlight glints off the surface of a terrible throne, ornately crafted from steel and polished bone. Overhead, a single tapestry hangs in the implacable stillness, a grasping hand of deep sable stretched over an argent field. Apart from these ornaments, the room is bare, reflecting a pitiless severity.

You have emoted: With another twirl of his staff, Xer creates a rapid sequence of images. Valnurana approaching Sartan in his abode, unaware of his treachery, attempting to broker a peace with the Alliance. A look of shock and outrage on her face as she kneels before Sartan on his throne of steel and gleaming bone. Ire clear on his face, Sartan rages at Valnurana, reaching for her eyes. Bruises on her face, she lies battered and broken to the side of the room, whilst Sartan looks upon her with utter contempt, her eyes in his hands.

You have emoted: With a slice of his staff, Xer dispels the illusion and the string quartet lulls, allowing him to speak and be heard clearly.

You say in a resonant voice, "And thus did Sartan brutalise Valnurana and cast her out of his abode at the base of Pillars of Heaven. Though He failed in his original intent to create nightmare creatures that fed off hate and despair, his corruption of Valnurana manifested itself in the dreams of mortals. And amidst Valnurana cries, the goddess of Chaos and member of the Alliance of Gods, Eris, came to investigate and found her sister too late."

You have emoted: Xer's gaze sweeps through the crowd, observing them quietly as he conjures another illusion.

--Cast Illusion: Serene Music playing <--- Didn't get enough time to make these illusions :(

A forest of alabaster columns stretches into the distance, lonesome and barren beneath a drizzling morning rain.

Small pools of rainwater reflect the grim heavens, dotting the wide marble walkway like shattered mirrors.

You have emoted: Small beads of sweat trickle down as Xer continues to add to the illusion. Eris bursts into the forest and kneels besides broken Valnurana, begging her to name the villain who defiled her. 'My dearest Sister! Name the lout! What coward had the audacity to commit such a crime?'

You say in a solemn voice, "And so the goddess replied in a croaking voice to her sister, the name of the one whom rent her apart."

You have emoted: Xer paces slowly, adding details with the tip of his staff. With a cry of rage, Eris springs from her sister's side and challenges Him alone. 'Sartan,' Eris yells, 'Curse you! You would rape a Goddess suing peace?'. In a fury, she unleashed ropes of primal chaos in an attempt to bind Him, but He deftly sidestepped Her attack. With a derisive sneer, Sartan exclaims, 'Is that all, dear Sister? Stand down, for you should know that you cannot win.'

You say in a solemn voice, "With the heavens tears falling around them, they battled and came to blows. But no matter where Eris struck, she could find no weakness in Sartan. And so she fled, astralformed."

You say in a resonant voice, "In triumph Sartan exulted, but his smugness subsided quickly when Eris returned with Aegis, God of War and husband to Chaos."

--Cast Illusion: Cue Triumphant, epic music

You say enigmatically in a resonant voice, "But by then, the Garden was well aware of Sartan's schemes, and the Alliance of Gods stepped up to fight against it. With Eris and Aegis stepping up against Lord Sartan, Agathesis deigns to join the fight and Ourania joins him. Sartan shouts of defiance rattles the hearts of mortals around Sapience, but it is not enough. As the waves obeyed Caspian's will, they dragged Him down to the icy depths of the ocean. With Evil trapped in a watery grave, Lupus and the Smith felt brave enough to lift real estate and seal Lord Sartan to his fate."

You say imperiously in a resonant voice, "And thus ended the Shrine Wars."

You have emoted: Xer lowers his staff and takes a moment to capture his breath.

Milenka nods approvingly at you.

You nod your head emphatically.

--Cast Illusion: Eerie music

A crimson sunset casts a ruddy glow over the windswept island, murky waters lashing at its rocky shoreline.

A rounded hill dotted by small, vicious-looking lycopods, looms in the distance.

In the foreground, a foreboding cavern beckons, stalactites hanging at the entrance like so many hungry fangs.

You say in a sly voice, "But of course, that was not the end of Lord Sartan. Even imprisoned under an ocean of water and a mountain of rock, bound by the magicks of multiple Divine, He is not one to lie and wait."

You have emoted: Raising his staff once more, Xer summons up further illusions. Tearing their hair out in despair, necromancers fall to their deaths and impale themselves on the stalagmite that formed on Sartan's prison. Bodies pile up as the spike is slowly covered in blood and guts. In response to the efforts of his devoted followers, a miasma of red fog emanates from the bowels of his prison and spread with each passing sacrifice. An assortment of daemons, gremlins, razor fiends and Baalzadeens manifest themselves from the fog.

You say in a resonant voice, "With this new threat, the followers of Pentharian reacted quickly. Battling their way to the stalagmite prison, they erected a shrine in hopes to quell the tide, but eventually, it fell before the efforts of Sartan's followers."

--Cast Illusion: Eerie music continues, slightly more intense

You cease wielding an elemental staff in your right hand.

You begin to wield an elemental staff in your left hand.

You have emoted: Xer switches his staff to his other hand and continues to focus on conjuring illusions. Crawling across the island, the miasma of evil slowly spreads its influence and creeps onto the main continent, plant life withering and dying at the mere touch of this red fog. Devastated by the utter annihilation of Nature, Oakstone begins a massive campaign to stop people from sacrificing themselves on the stalagmite. Undeterred by the shouts and threats thrown their way, the fanatics continue to give up their lives, yelling back their own defiances.

Ruth's amethyst eyes gleam with vicious amusement.

You say in a resonant voice, "And amidst all this chaos, Pentharian and Lorielan gifted the Church with a new basilica as a symbol of hope."

You say in a resonant voice, "In desperation, Oakstone members erect shrines to Gaia and liberally worldburned those would-be sacrificiers and those enemied to the forest. But despite their efforts, and any who chose to fight the fog, the sacrifices continued and eventually the fog took on life and grew large enough to spew out a horde of demons. It was then that the Church realised that the relics found in the newly gifted basilica, specifically a blessed crystal decanter within Pentharian's temple, could be used to combat the deadly fog. The fog, if not abated, was stalled."

--Cast Illusion: Chaotic, frantic music

You have emoted: Xer's lips twitch upwards as the next images form. A chaotic scene filled with demons and dying nature forms from the mist. In the distance, frustration is visible on Gaia's visage. Under Gaia's trembling hand, the earth beneath her shakes with her anger as she attempts to sink the island. Horror spreads across her face as she realises the attempt backfires, the red fog growing at an even faster rate.

You say in a resonant voice, "And 'twas more than just the fog that was affected, the bonds holding Lord Sartan back broke. He grew a new body, scarred and mutilated, out of the miasma as if only by his will alone would the flesh stay to bone."

You say in a resonant voice, "Renamed Sartan the Malevolent, he settled onto the island, where his power was now infused within the rock itself. With his blistered hands, he rewarded the Baelgrim Fortress to loyal followers. And to replace the Infernal Guild, Sartan created the Maldaathi Knights, appointing Kaelin as High Lord Maleficence. And thus, the city known as Mhaldor was born in the year 301AF."

You have emoted: Xer lowers his head solemnly, as if in prayer.

You whisper in a quiet voice, "Behold a Pantheon allied, with each Divine terrified. The impotent gods would soon lament, Lord Sartan the Malevolent."

You have emoted: With a final wave of Xer's staff, an image of the radiant Immortal flashes before your eyes. He is horribly scarred beyond belief. The skin across half His face has been burnt, leaving peeling flesh and exposing charred bone. One eye has lost all colour and appears to be nothing more than a pasty, bulbous orb. His blistering, gnarled hands are mostly concealed from sight.

You chant in a solemn voice, "An ancient lesson thus retold."

You chant in a solemn voice, "Blood mayest break the bonds that hold."

You chant in a solemn voice, "Through sacrifice is freedom earned."

You chant in a solemn voice, "All power gained and wisdom learned."

You have emoted: Xer bows his head in respect to every person in the room.

You say in a silvery voice, "Thank you, that is all the Congregation has to offer today."

Kaevan applauds you heartily.

Vrah claps her hands together merrily.

Kresslack claps his gloved hands together lightly, nodding slightly at you.

Tirac nods in appreciation and applauds heartily.

Jurixe blinks for a moment, her reverie broken, and claps her hands together in
applause.

Ruth raises her hands, joining in with the applause.

Lianca Bravi'os, Occult Taskmaster says, "I like the inclusion of the heretics work in the ending there."

The corners of Lianca's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.

Kaevan Lichlord says to you, "Thank you, Messiah of the Damned. A fine recollection of our beginning history. It should appeal to even those who hate poring over dusty tomes."

Amunet gives up a round of applause.

The faintest flicker of a smile crosses Katzchen's lips.

Jurixe says to you in a low, silken voice, "Incredible work, Messiah, you have my compliments."

Lady Katzchen Xanatov, Knight of Mhaldor says to you, "A rousing performance.
Thank you, Messiah."

Hataru says to Kaevan with an icy, old Hashani accent, "Not quite dusty."

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

You have tmoted: Xer smiles softly as he steps down and mingles with the others.

Cleric Milenka says to you, "Agree with the Nagaraia. I hope you will leave a copy of it in the library."

Milenka coughs softly.

You say to Milenka in a silvery voice, "Aye, I'm quite certain a proper recollection of the telling can be noted somewhere and stored safely."

Hataru says to you with an icy, old Hashani accent, "Well done, Messiah - you truly did our historical beginnings justice."