Cast:
White Hart, Guardian of the Serenwilde Commune
Brother Raven, Sentinel of the Gloriana Commune
Ladantine VI, Emperor of the New Celestine Empire

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SCENE: A sun-dappled clearing in the woods. Many beautiful trees encircle the
locale, their branches swaying gently, as if dancing. Silvery leaves fall
perpetually from the cloudless sky, though their source is not discernible. The
air shimmers and warps faintly, although in a way that is soothing rather than
menacing. WHITE HART, guardian spirit of the Serenwilde, is here, taking on the
form of a great and majestic stag, his glossy flanks aglow with moonlight and
his blue eyes full of compassion.

(Enter RAVEN, guardian spirit of the Gloriana.)

Raven (joyously): My brother and love, it is good to see You once more!

(White Hart arises, ventures forward, and gently touches his antlers to Ravens
forehead.)

Hart (smiling): I have missed You, My brother, heart of my heart.

Raven (chuckling): Hart of your Hart. Indeed, it is long since last we spoke,
though I recall the day well. You were sad that day - so long ago it now seems!
- and angry, too. It was the city-dwellers who made You so, those silly little
mortal shards with their high-borne ideas and accursed pride! Is such not ever
the way, My beautiful brother?

Hart (sadly, averting his gaze): It is as You say, brother. Arrogance.
Arrogance and blindness. They never practise patience, it is as if it is beneath
them. They forge ahead to the future at the extent of the past, little realising
how much better off they were with it.

(Raven caws his agreement in a proud strong voice, and flutters upwards,
alighting with infinite grace on one of the larger branches of the overhanging
trees. He spreads his wings in a somewhat flashy pose, preening himself.)

Raven (nodding sagely): As ever Your words are wise, O My brother. The cityfolk
give Me cause for pause and pause My cause!

(He gives a good-natured laugh at his own rhyme, continuing to preen himself.
Hart smiles yet continues to avoid his gaze: his large opalescent eyes are fixed
at some interminable point in the distance.)

Hart: And do You recall the source of My distress, Brother Raven? The latest
transgression of those silly little mortals -- or the latest then, at any rate?
(He continues to smile, but there is no longer any joy in it.)

Raven (nodding enthusiastically): I do, Brother! For't gave Me pause also -
pause and alarm. Oh, they intended to push forth further than ever they had
before, breach the boundaries of the Planes in a way that was both experimental
and dangerous. To the Supra Plane they travelled, in their quest for ever
greater power. And then things... what? Things went wrong. (Raven frowns.) But
how did they go wrong?

(Raven falls silent, brooding. He flutters down from the branch, landing upon
the ground. Hart approaches him from beyond and nudges him tenderly with his
antlers.)

Hart: Do You not recall what next transpired, My beautiful brother? The...
events of Project Cosmic Hope?

(Great tears begin to drip from Ravens large blue eyes. As each falls to the
forest floor a sigh of unsurpassable melancholy is heard, as if the earth itself
is in mourning. The sky overhead changes from pristine cloudless blue to the
churning grey of approaching stormclouds.)

Raven (sobbing gently): Blood, blood and blood and horror. They are... we are
killing them. They are weeping but it does not make any difference, it is
spurring us on because we are the Forest Without Mercy, f'ai Glomdoring, and
Rowena is... what is she? What am I, Brother, what am I become?

(Hart sighs heavily and averts his gaze once more. He no longer even attempts
to comfort the sobbing Raven, instead staring with steadfast determination at
the silvery leaves littering the ground. Sadness emanates from him, but his
bearing remains stern, and he does not falter.)

Hart (with steely determination): Crow, My brother, You are become Crow. The
pestilential devourer, curse of the Glomdoring, Forest Without Mercy. Raven --
You -- are no more. You have been consumed as were so many by that ill-fated
experiment, damned by accursed Ladantine and accursed Celest and the
thrice-accursed Taint, which twists and warps and leaves behind only hollow
shells. But... rejoice in this, My lost and beautiful brother. This anomaly in
the Tapestry of Fate, this event which should not be and yet is and for't I am
glad.

(Hart finally gives in to his desire and moves to nuzzle his lost brother.
Raven continues to sob gently, enshrouding himself in his wings for some vague
comfort. The shroud seems to extend outwards, leaving the stage in darkness.)

EXEUNT Hart and Raven.

(From the darkness emerges a HANDSOME MERIAN, his features chiseled, masculine
and fine. He is clad in aquamarine robes as dark as his skin, trimmed with gold
which glitter with the same luminescence as his eyes, which are wise and
knowing. He faces the audience, charisma and warmth emanating out from him.)

Merian: Fair warning to thee; this tale as told
Is true as any thou are wont to hear
The noble Hart comforting Tainted Crow
Cautionary? At first glance, t'would appear...

(The merian raises a long-fingered hand, dispelling the illusion which
enshrouds him. Life and vibrancy desert him, leaving a hollow husk behind: a
twisted, undead monstrosity with hollow eyes and tattered robes. Nevertheless,
he retains his presence, a warped, dominating force of will exuding from him
like the stench of rot.)

Ladantine: Yet mark my words, you fools and dotards
Two edges every sword doth have
The bond of brothers warped and corrupted
Now each bound to chase the other to the grave.

(Lightning crackles in the sky above the stage, revealing two figures in
silhouette: the noble, muscular form of White Hart can be seen butting heads
with the emaciated form of Crow, his single eye blazing with a fell crimson
light.)

EXEUNT Ladantine.
END