Eleusis's presentation for Convention

Marisella's eyes flit across the crowd, silently measuring the size of her gathered audience before
her gaze shifts to the front individuals closest to her.

A smile blossoms upon Marisella's face as she acknowledges them. Rising from the sides, she shifts
her hands forward and loosely clasps them together.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Welcome to the Asterian Convention. I am
Marisella Yuridja-Keyte and I am here today on behalf of Eleusis to inspire and grant you some
insight into our village culture."

Marisella retrieves a miniature crystalline brazier from amongst her belongings and sets it upon the
ground before her. Kneeling briefly, she produces a fragile cone of incense and places it carefully
in the brazier.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Since the formation of Eleusis deep within the
wealds of the Eastern Ithmia, the charge of her forest folk has always been to nurture a community
where the well-being of Nature comes first."

Marisella puts a cone of black flora incense into a miniature crystalline brazier.

Lazy tendrils of smoke curl upwards from a miniature crystalline brazier as Marisella lights it
again. A heavy aroma of flowers lingers in the air, the burning heart of the brazier pulsating with heat.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Beneath the protective boughs of the Great Oak,
these individuals created a haven where duty, safety and camaraderie interacted with each other in
mutual benefit."

Marisella ruffles her wings and dusts off a frosty dress edged with blade motifs as she stands,
resuming her previous posture.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "However, the age-old charge on the preservation
of Nature has not always been understood by the world at large."

The fresh aroma of sweet flowers continues to permeate the location as Marisella carries on with her
presentation. A hazy veil, formed by the ceaseless smoking of the brazier, renders the outline of
Marisella's body indistinct.

Marisella says clearly in a lilting, moderately high voice, "We are concerned with the natural
kingdoms and fixated on the elimination of taint identified to be urbanisation."

Marisella takes one step back, the simple action obscuring her presence entirely behind the thick
veil of smoke. In the absence of wind, it swirls slowly in the air as though in anticipation.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Therefore, many believe that the forest folk
are primitive in their thinking and attitude because of their inability to accept what is now
perceived as common truth."

A hand of Marisella's abruptly disturbs the formless smoke, slicing through the screen. With
practiced movements, she draws in the outline of a tree and a four-legged animal.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "That the world has no place for a narrow-minded
obsession over plants and wildlife when there are bigger issues of morality to focus upon."

Marisella follows through with the depiction of a spire rising upwards into the sky. It bisects
through the space previously occupied by the smoke-drawn tree and animal.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "On the contrary, I believe it is quite the
opposite. It is my opinion that the forest folk are forward thinkers, even though some may not be
aware of this themselves."

Marisella steps through the aromatic veil of smoke, waving it aside before addressing the audience
again. The smoke swirls and the errant wind blows past the amphitheatre, dissipating the smoke just
as it begins to reform around her.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "The curse of urbanisation builds upon the
primal urges of mortalkind and their hedonistic desires, encouraging the practice of greed and self-
centeredness."

Marisella pauses for a short moment, glancing down at a miniature crystalline brazier before adding
a second cone of incense to its burning heart.

Marisella says seriously in a lilting, moderately high voice, "But it takes a certain amount of
selflessness to forge a different path and devote one's life to the protection of an ecosystem
larger than ourselves, which in this case, is Nature herself."

A plume of smoke erupts from a miniature crystalline brazier by Marisella's feet, and the flora-
scented smoke fills the air more strongly.

Marisella says thoughtfully in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Following this train of logic, is
it not only fair to conclude that vilifications of being 'savage' and 'primitive' are ill-conceived?"

Marisella tilts her head to the right, her blue eyes questioning the crowd. She takes a step to the
side, reaching out with one hand and drawing it through the smoke, as though it were a river full of
water. With assistance from the wind, the smoke parts easily before her hand and starts to trail in its wake.

Marisella smiles and says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Further, from the earliest days to
our present times, Nature has provided us with the tools necessary for survival and evolution."

Marisella says sincerely in a lilting, moderately high voice, "As Eleusians, we respect this
connection we have to the world around us, believing this to be the most important relationship we
should strive to maintain."

The gentle breeze blowing past entangles Marisella's hair around her neck. The burning core of a
miniature crystalline brazier falters for a moment, before stuttering back into dim life.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "Understanding this thus makes self-improvement
and nourishment of the mind, body and soul possible."

With the upraised hand, Marisella makes a loose, circular gesture in the air, indicating the crowd
in the amphitheatre.

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "So, why should we overly care about and depend
upon the social constructs that judges the worthiness of actions based on arbitrary lines of morality?"

Marisella says clearly in a lilting, moderately high voice, "In our perspective, dismissing them
does not make us narrow-minded at all. Instead, it allows us to focus on the purpose that really
matters."

Noticing the dying embers of a miniature crystalline brazier at her feet, Marisella leans down once
more, picking it up in one hand. She is careful not to burn herself as she waves the other over the
crystal bowl, fanning away the remaining wisps of smoke from the incense.

Marisella says firmly in a lilting, moderately high voice, "If there is no place in the urban world
for Nature, then it is our duty to create a place for her."

Marisella says finally in a lilting, moderately high voice, "In the end, it remains our belief that
our actions contribute toward sustaining and securing the future of Creation for those who will
eventually succeed us."

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "I have come to the end of my presentation. For
those who have questions you would like to clarify, I can be found in the Eleusian pavilion along
with my Minister of Cultural Affairs."

Marisella says in a lilting, moderately high voice, "I look forward to seeing some of your faces
there. Thank you very much."

Marisella curtseys to the audience and steps off the stage.