// the three are standing near the crystal

Ecclesius:	It's a good thing I know so many people around these parts...

Gospel: 	The Order has eyes even here? All the more terrifying.

Ecclesius: 	Our followers were never allowed to practice our craft in the Capitol, but this place was close enough. With the Chocobos we're given at dawn, we'll be able to breach the castle postern by dusk.

Gospel:		We need a plan. Taking the city by direct siege is begging for our executions.

// ecclesius places the stone on the table.

Lysay:		After all this, and you still carry that thrice-be-damned stone on you!? It ought be destroyed!


Ecclesius: 	The stone is a blade. Though it can draw blood, it does so only on its master's command. It is a tool as any other, bound to my will. It is a font for my power, as shall it continue to be.

Lysay:		You saw it possess that woman- that Maria!

Ecclesius:	I assume, then, that you have proof of this?

Lysay:		Just crush the damned thing already!

//Lysay pushes Ecclesius, rams the stone with her axe, then gets properly trashed by the stone itself.

Lysay:		No... not even my axe can crush it...

// The stone pulsates, and it talks.

Stone: 		Such anger. Such hatred...

//Everyone backs off

Stone:		I am through with this facade. Seeing your confusion gives me no pleasure.

Gospel:		What? Who are...!?

Stone: 		I had thought you lot to be the Chosen. I pray you do not continue to fail to entertain.

//Ecclesius gets up and approches the stone

Ecclesius:	Make your purpose plain!

Stone:		Gospel, the Martyr. Lysay, the Wrathful. Ecclesius, the Manipulator. Your destinies are entwined with one another's, as they've been since the moment of your creation.

Lysay:		Enough of this! Tell us your game!

Stone: 		It is impossible for mere vessels as yourselves to understand my "game". Would you truly abandon your path now, even were you to know?

Gospel:		Crystal! Monster! Whatever manner of fiend you may be, you owe us explanations!

Stone:		Very well. Though I make it no habit to unveil my purpose to man, it may make this farce all the more enjoyable to me.

//Silence

Stone:		In ages long past, I was named 'Rylai'. The stones wielded by those in power in secrecy in the last century have been wrought by my own mind. So precious few know my true name- Ecclesius here being among the fortunate lot. Ever the fool, that man. No sooner did he find a relic of such immense power than he scream it for all of the realm to hear. The Capitol you intend to breach is the very Capitol that threw that man into exile. Oh the irony! Nobility that had profited from the Crystal's power... condemning a fellow Crystalbearer and marking him as insane!

Ecclesius: 	You lie!

Rylai:		I speak the truth and you know it. Countless are the manfolk that I had convinced were the savior of Ashranor. In the end of it all, they all proved to be the same: boring, vexing, foulhearted humans who planned to use the Crystal's power- my power- to reign over the very world they wished to "save". It was only Ecclesius here who realized that such power has its limits. Though to think that thousands were slain for his lust for power! A veritable holocaust, all for history's eternal favor!

//Lysay stands up and approaches.

Rylai: 		So there you have your answer. Your hearts waver and your soul turmoils in doubt and confusion. Continue to entertain me, lest your memories of this entire tragedy be stripped from you, as all else has.

Ecclesius:	Entertain you!?

Gospel:		Why are you telling us all of this? There's no advantage to be had by it. Is this all truly for your own amusement?

Rylai:		Come to the throne. How long I have slumbered... wearied by humanity's constant struggles for strife. Come to me, and awaken me from this dreadful droll! In all great tales, the heroes face despair. Gospel, is your rebellion with merit? Do the people truly deserve to be free from all forms of control, knowing that they are wild and chaotic? Lysay, will you die a hero's death? Will your life have any meaning? Ecclesius, there are so many things in this world you cannot control. Is there a thing that you -can- bend to your will? My trials for you each have only just begun!

Lysay:		What are you even blathering about? Just shut up already!

Rylai:		I await you at the Capitol's keep. Do not disappoint.

//Room goes back to normal. People are un-tensed.

Ecclesius: 	Rylai... Rylai? What is this madness?

Gospel:		The lot of us... we're all but pawns in some unseen game of chess.

Lysay:		Does it really matter? If we flee, we'll be killed. If we press forward, maybe we can get to the bottom of this whole damned thing!

Ecclesius:	Though I dislike agreeing with that barbarian... she has a point. The Capitol may have the answers we seek.

Gospel:		Then it's decided; we press forward. We'll forge our own paths- Crystal of Rylai be damned.