Refusing defeat, Sirsia Pois arranged the robbery of Celest's schematics
and, with Countess Kalas Cyna's permission, proceeded to build their own
machine for the Engine to harness dark essence to re-taint the Inner
Sea. After additional inspection, she found a flaw in the schematics and
utilising wood and dark essence, fashioned a weapon that could disrupt
the Celestian contraption, rendering it useless for a day. She remitted
the weapon to Countess Kalas Cyna and Understudy Ouphe i'Vipere with
strict instructions on how to use it and to take care not to lose it as
it was unique and an example of her exquisite craftsmanship.

Renewed and rejoiced, the Magnagorans rallied around their new machine
and weapon, they immediately took it for testing. Understudy Ouphe
i'Vipere was the first to successfully break the cleansing machine, much
to the confusion and bewilderment of Lady Norigo, Earless Aeldra Ladyn,
Iatrys Luminare and Duchess Auriella. Though the skirmish was swift, the
true depth of the treachery did not reveal itself until they watched as
Chaplain Marcella n'Lochli subsequently broke it again, allowing
Magnagora plenty of time in the Celestian confusion to retrieve the
required one thousand dark essence to taint the Inner Sea to its glory
again.

Armed with their own machine and a weapon to deter their enemy, the
Engine was ruthless, breaking the opposing machine and scouring the
Planes for every ounce of essence possible in friendly and un-friendly
territories alike. While the forces in Celest, including Luminary
Meliana and city allies, attempt to push back the tide of Magnagorans
breaking their machine and cornering the market on essence in the entire
First World. So did the battle continue, tit for tat, back and forth,
for days between these eternal rivals harvesting essence, blocking
others from the essence and, for Magnagora's side, delaying Celest's
ability to retaliate.

It was not until a failed raid on the Elemental Plane of Water by
Chaplain Marcella n'Lochli did the City of Light receive a much-needed
break in the neverending, essence tug-of-war...

Father Kagato was quick to grab the infamous weapon upon the occasion of
the Chaplain's death on the Elemental Plane of Water, thereby evening
the odds and removing a valuable tool in the Engine's tyranny. He
presented the staff to Prince Kreon Zayah, who, with the wisdom of the
Star Council (Duchess Kaimanahi Ladyn, Duchess Saoirse Kissane-Ladyn and
Duchess Auriella), chose to secret the weapon away, safe and sound to
prevent its use against them. Each walked away from the Council
chambers, relieved at deterring the enemy, but troubled at the staff's
ultimate origins.

Evenly matched, with no benefit to either side, the war continued with
even more desperation for the lack of the staff. Though the Engine was
able to taint the Inner Sea once more, Celest answered in kind by
cleansing it less than a month after. Then, came the gurgling...

The contraption in New Celest was the first to break, spilling its
essence into the Inner Sea to cleanse it one last time while spinning
masses exploded from the remains as witnessed by Father Kagato. After
some investigation, the spinning masses of light were submerged into the
Pool of Stars, returning an amount of the power spent back into the
Nexus.

Minutes later, despite the attentions of Sirsia Pois, she proclaimed the
machine a failed experiment with a flaw in the original schematics. She
was proven right, as the contraption exploded in the same manner as
Celest's own, spilling out masses of dark essence in its wake. Under
Sirsia's direction, while Carrion Eater Rolsand D'Cente placed the
spinning masses into the Megalith of Doom, Chiurgeon Hegemone i'Vipere
assisted in a final task of import to Sirsia Pois' work.

The staff was found once more and at Sirsia's recommendation, Chiurgeon
Hegemone i'Vipere broke it, for good, releasing its power back into the
Megalith.

Despite the failures and instability, Melothi Faran remains in New
Celest, attempting to recover from memory what was stolen from her and
her mentor...

While Sirsia Pois has not given up on extending the glory of the Engine
of Transformation...

So ends the battle for essences, for now, though the war of Light and
Taint continue until only one victor can remain.

Penned by My hand on the 3rd of Avechary, in the year 480 CE.