Message #174734

[Abstract]

Once again, he struggled to control his temper. Eva was young, too young to have seen the horrors of the last Invasion. Scents of blood and fire came to him, nothing but old memories filling his nostrils. Screams in the darkness, eldritch Lords standing tall, backlit by the fires of burning cities, slaughter on a scale not seen for many years now. Lord Jomorosh, heading his infernal hordes against the armies of Shattered Vales, tearing both soldiers and nobles in twine. Dancer's sword, wet with blood. The smell of burning bodies.

What you do matters, Dan, which path will you seek?"

Snapping out of his memories, Dancer considered his words carefully, grin still plastered across his face.

"The path I seek? Grandmistress, how forward of you." His milky eyes locked on hers, smile unable to keep the chill out of his voice. "You are right, prayer has little to do with the power of the Soul. True power is intrinsic to each and every one of us, and it is our duty in life to wield that power responsibly." He paused before continuing, eyes flickering for a second to the forest edge. "Daishi believers think we are to use our power to assist some greater beings in the sky, helping these armored gods achieve their ends. Mordok believers think they are to use other's power to feed an eldritch being, sating it. Your Heralds put their power in your Veiled Goddess,  standing beside her in the fight against the Netherworld. All of you have massive followings, spanning huge swathes of land. Tell me, Grand Herald, why are you more right then Daishi? Mordok? What makes you think you will be the one to stop the Invasions?"

Eva didn't take her eyes off Dancer as he discussed the different faiths of the land and asked about why one one was superior to the other. Erick, the captain of the Royal Guard, was growing impatient. Before a reply could be given, Erick's chiseled face leaned in to whisper in the Grandmistress' ear. "Your Eminence, something is off with this one, we should take him to the Inquisition and then continue our trip to Jidington."

"You are right Erick," Eva smiled from behind her veil as she spoke loud enough for Dancer to hear, "we are running late as is. My apologies...Dan, but we must take leave." The Grandmistress started her walk back to the carriage.

All the guards drew their weapons and moved towards Dancer. Eva stopped after a few steps in order to turn back towards Dan. "The Veiled Goddess proved Her power by empowering the Oracle during her battle with Akkan in Ete City." Eva called out, "What exactly have the other deities done?"

As the guards drew close to Dancer, activity sprouted in the forest. Leaves crunched and sticks snapped as many feet rampaged across the wooded ground. A guard near the carriage quickly ran to Eva in order to grab her and guide her back to safety.