========================
THE CLASHING OF THE COGS
========================
Penned by Earthen Scholar Qojin of the Geomancer's Guild of Magnagora,
on the 9th of Tzarin, 320 years after the Coming of Estarra.

~*CHARACTERS*~
--------------

Ladantine: Hunched over nefariously, this undead merian is accompanied with a rolling mist that seems to ebb off of his sickly cobalt skin. His eyes are a bright sanguine, indicative of the vitality within his reanimated corpse. He is wearing an silk robe of the deepest black hue, absorbing all light. A red gem is set into the stitching right above the chest, glowing wickedly.

Raezon: This gangly masculine figure is imbued with erudition, his bright ruby eyes are encircled with bags and lines that indicate his frequent vigils of knowledge. His presence is almost incomprehensible and his form wavers between this plane and some other higher one. As a result, frequent flashes of color and sound flow arounds his figure in oddly perceivable ways.

Morgfyre: This god takes the form of a man wreathed with overbearing pseudopods. His skin is radiant, crowned with rich, blazing hair. His form rumbles with haunting voices and noises, and when he speaks it can be heard through a thousand voices. As you look at him, you have trouble following his figure, but you feel strongly overwhelmed with the understanding that you are perceiving a very small and specific facet of the Devourer.

Fain: Sophistication incarnate, this male figure is the epitome of class. His regal figure stands tall and poised like an emperor, and blazing crimson gowns cloak his figure. Thin black hair has ben cropped short on his scalp, and all that can seen of his face is a delicate, thin mask that is set into his countenance as a permanent feature, cloaking the features behind. All that can be seen behind the mask are his eyes, unflinching with their ruthlessness. The piping of his cloak is lined with scenes of merians and elfens being subjugated by a precession of humans. Puppeteering strings hang from his cuffs, tapering into inexistence near the floor.

Viscanti Cholera: Feral in her composure, this female viscanti appears strong and capable. Her face is draconian with its high cheekbones and thin lips, and her body is supple. Green-flecked eyes imbue her visage with a human characteristic. She is wearing a flowing set of grey robes with argent hems and several sets of gold bangles.

Kephera Cholera: This female kephera is composed of jagged, insectoid forms. Her carapace hinges into flared joints and provides natural defense to her form with its soft blue hues. Black, beady eyes are set into her face, and wicked antennae spring from her forehead, drooping to the sides of her gaunt face. Her jaws chitters incessantly when she isn't speaking, and a constant croaking broods in her chest. She is wearing a flowing set of grey robes with argent hems, and they hang over her bolstering feminine abdomen unevenly.

Verian: Solidly built and brimming with strength, this male viscanti possesses an aura of authority. While austere, there is something otherworldly and praise-worthy in this viscanti, and his whip-like tail sinuously snaps at every motion of his body as if demanding respect. Blue eyes are set into his lantern-shaped head, glowing with virtue, and his black hair is peppered with sagely grey. He is wearing a formal set of black robes and a belt made of basilisk skin. Around his neck hangs a steel key composed of interlocking gears that seem to turn on their own accord.

Dukalbo: Hunched over, this male merian has scaley, wine-blue skin and is stained in many areas with lush green hues. His eyes are two yellow orbs, darting to and fro from their deep-set sockets. Gills lay in flaps along his neck, hissing as he breathes, and webs arch between each of his fingers. He is wearing a thin set of aquamarine robes and is wielding a staff of ice, clutching it with a gloved hand.

~*SCENE 1*~
-----------

Room: Rolling mists come from all sides, creating an effect of being high in the air or perhaps on another plane. The location seems distant from any corporal existence.

WorkingEngine: This is a floating mass of machinery, arching with impressive gears and cogs as it fills the space. The black smog of the Taint floats around it, ebbing against the obsidian machine to create an insidious and brooding effect. The machine emits a healthy array of clanging and clashings as its exterior morphs and shifts with mechanical motions that are hauntingly organic.

--

Effect S1-1: The Engine in the middle of the mist continues to hum harmoniously as you feel it has always done, its cogs singing in perfect unison as the casing of the machinery expands and the Taint wafting around it swells with tenacity.

Effect S1-2: Clang. Click click click. Clang. Click click click.

Effect S1-2: Clang. Click click click. Clang. Click click click.

Effect S1-2: Clang. Click click click. Clang. Click click click.

Effect S1-3: Suddenly, the Engine crashes chaotically, metallic sinews crunching and grinding against the cogs as if stuck. One side dents itself and several cogs eject their shining forms from the machine. The entire mist is filled with screams of terrifying metal-on-metal as it crushes and collapses into a pathetic heap. The Taint around it is quickly dissipated into the mist.

~*SCENE 2*~
-----------

Room: Rolling mists come from all sides, creating an effect of being high in the air or perhaps on another plane. The location seems distant from any corporal existence.

BrokenEngine: This is a floating mass of machinery, that is limp with defeat. Only a few cogs spin with any effect on the entire Engine, and many pieces wheel around in wobbly circles and accomplish nothing. Hanging wires and oil drips from the crushed casing, and its grinding pieces emit wails of helplessness.

--

Effect S2-1: A peal of thunder cracks, deafening against the now-quiet machine.

Entrance: Ladantine hobbles into view from the depths, seeming to rise from nothing. He approaches the machine with an expression of extreme consternation.

Ladantine: Behold! What defeat do we see here? What has trampled the once-great Engine of Transformation? This machine which was to change the world, which was to bring about subjugation of the weak, has subjugated itself!

*Ladantine hisses in sadness, shaking his head. He approaches the machine closely, then turns around dramatically.

Effect S2-2: Cosmic flashes of color fill the stage, and the mists whirl into patterns.

Ladantine: Alas, my investigation shall be postponed, or handed to another entirely, for here come the Divine Patrons to examine their crushed treasure and collect the remnants! I must flee!

Exit: Ladantine darts off stage much quicker than he came, and the entire room grows dark.

Effect S2-3: The mist seems to glow with prismatic colors as a figure comes into view.

Entrance: Raezon flashes into existence, landing in the mist with wise grace. What can be perceived of his elderly countenance is stricken with confusion.

Raezon: My beautiful Engine! What has happened! What foul, Blighted Light has cursed you? To where have you fallen and under whose orders? The portents did not say it was your time; Atropos did not yet cut your wires with her abhorred shears, yet you fell? You fell!

Effect S2-4: The machine whirs with excitement from Raezon's energy, but quickly sputters and stops again.

Raezon: Fain! Come down and examine your dismantled pride. Was it your strings that jammed the Cogs and pitted their small arms against each other in discord? Enter and answer!

Effect S2-5: The mists coagulate into sanguine shades and broil against each other in violent swirls.

Entrance: Fain emerges from the clouds and dismisses their violent forms, striding near Raezon with regal composition.

Fain: For what do you blame, Raezon? Your shouting is unsubtle and unprized by my ears. Our Engine has fallen, and you blame a brother?

Raezon: It is not blame, but questioning. You work the machinations of the machines and assess the inner cogs, Fain. I secure the entire form with esoteric practice, and the Legion is its protector. We are the Unholy Trinity, and superior in all ways, yet look. Have we failed?

*Fain exhales a gentle yet wistful sigh, examining the broken machine.

Fain: I do not use that word, but we have not succeeded, at least not yet. This must be reassembled and rebuilt. The Cogs... Something changed, and threw it into chaos.

Effect S2-6: An undulating form worms its way near the two gods, rising into an oily, onyx-skinned form.

Entrance: Morgfyre crystallizes with phantasmal colors, standing between Raezon and Fain with an intimidating stance.

*Morgfyre's tentacles at the base of his body writhe in the mist.

Morgfyre: What trifles are we debating here?

Raezon: Legion, the Engine has fallen. It has collapsed on itself by its own devices.

Morgfyre: Divinities, let us not squabble amongst ourselves. I have Devoured such petty words from weaker Gods and they do not please me. Instead, let us investigate.

Effect S2-7: The Patrons lift their hands, causing the machine the rise up on the stage.

*Fain swings his hands to the left, separating a component.

*Raezon arches his wizened digits to the right, severing a loose compartment from the Engine.

*Morgfyre brings his hands above his head, unveiling the final cover of the machine to reveal the tight-fitting cogs nestled within.

Morgfyre: Here are our Cogs, our prized citizens. They have crumbled on each other, destroyed by their own machinations. Let us reveal the true cause.

*Fain whips a puppet string out at the cogs, letting it wind deep inside. After a moment, it produces a grey, malformed cog from the center of the gears.

Effect S2-8: Suddenly, the machine begins to spin spuriously, making a delicate noise as it regains its composure.

Raezon: Now Fain, bring it here, let me examine it.

Effect S2-9: The three Gods hover around the cog, examining it as it spins in the aether. It's coating is splotched and sallow, mismatched from the brilliant bronze and silver that covers its cousin cogs. Together, they work their skill to reveal the true cause of the Engine's self-defeat.

Raezon: This cog... It is disguised. See this? It is missing teeth it once had. Why, this cog is nothing less than a Champion of the Engine, a once-glorious piece now smeared with a false disguise.

*Fain waves a hand over it, restoring it to its original gold form. Its new teeth sparkle sharply in the light.

Raezon: But why... Why would such an important cog eschew the beauty of its natural form?

Morgfyre: We shall find out, Raezon, so you can mark it in a tome and track it for all time.

*Morgfyre touches a shiny cog on the exterior of the machine, and chants under his breath. Soon, the cog spins with fervent zeal, whirring to life with its its neighbors and its neighbors' neighbors.

Effect S2-10: The stage grows dark and the mist dissipates.

~*SCENE 3*~
-----------

Room: It is difficult to detect any features of the room, due to the powerful field of energy that is put out by the Megalith of Doom, absorbing all but the darkest of colours and dominating everything else in the room. The architecture of the room is designed to accommodate the Megalith of Doom with a high dome that forms the entire ceiling. A circular series of steps descends three tiers down to the indentation in the centre of the room where the Megalith stands. Four archways lead out of the room to the other areas of the Necropolis, where candles and other illumination can barely be detected through the powerful force of the Megalith. A magnificent chandelier featuring the Magnagoran Pantheon hangs high overhead here, bathing the area in sable and sanguine light.

Megalith: The Megalith of Doom is a massive rock that fairly vibrates with pent up power. Like festering wounds, cracks cut deep into the rock itself, bleeding a thick viscous oil that coats its roughly hewn surface. The oily substance swirls with dark, miasmic colours that cause putrid fumes to rise up into the air, turning the atmosphere dingy and foul. Bright colours bleed and cannot survive around the Megalith, for it is the nexus of pure taint and its magnetic power sucks in all life and clarity around it.

--

Effect S3-1: The stage flares with light, revealing the Necropolis in the center of vibrant Magnagora.

Entrance: Verian approaches the Megalith with quick steps, the gleam of insight glowing in his sanguine Viscanti eyes. He stops at the top of the steps surrounding the Megalith.

Effect S3-2: People who were once walking by with vigor slow to a pause and approach Verian, their forms covered in masquerading silks. A hush draws over the crowd as it gathers.

*Verian looks at the throng of people here, frowning in consternation before beginning to speak with his commanded attention.

Verian: Citizens of Magnagora, Faithful Cogs, we have been thrown into dismay. You gather here in fear, but I stand here to share Divine insight. The Lord Legion has imbued my mind with a glimpse of his understanding, and soon you, too, will understand. Our government is crushed and stagnant and we suffer from this. We have stopped working, in fact!

Effect S3-3: A cacophony of murmurs snake over the crowd before slowing to another hush.

*Verian sweats visibly.

Verian: And the rumors are true. One of our Champions has disowned our values. She has chosen to destroy her Viscanti heritage and masquerade as a Kephera!

Effect S3-4: The crowd surges in a roar of anger and confusion. The red-cloaked disciples of Fain appear particularly angry as they cry out in disgust.

Effect S3-5: A figure jostles its way through the crowd, making its way to the front with violent shoves.

Verian: Cholera! Rise, and show your shameful, insectoid face! First you destroyed your heritage, and then you disowned all of us in battle!

Entrance: Kephera Cholera pushes aside a final obstacle in the crowd and mounts the step near Verian, casting her many eyes across the crowd with a hissed chitter.

Kephera Cholera: You gather here to blame me? Where were you, or you, or you, on the battlefield? You would have fallen quickly to any foe, you rely on me to defend you, yet you curse and hex me? How dare you!

Effect S3-6: The crowd rushes forward to clutch at Cholera, but she raises a hand and blasts the front row back with ease, toppling much of the crowd gathered here.

Verian: Stop at once, Lost Cog! First you allow our gravest enemies to enter the city and destroy our prestige, but now you turn that idle hand against your own people?

Kephera Cholera: No, how dare -you-!? I killed all of our enemies! What does it matter if I slay as a Viscanti or a Kephera?!

Verian: By hiding the part of you that makes you superior, you become inferior and suspicious -- to all of us!

Effect S3-7: A massive roar is had by the crowd.

Effect S4-8: Suddenly, a billowing plume of crimson smog shoots down from the heavens, landing on Cholera and engulfing her in its fumes. She screams in agony. The crowd is thrown into confusion and Verian steps back. Soon, the smoke dissipates, exposing that Cholera has been turned back into her Viscanti form.

Exit: Kephera Cholera, Silent.

Entrance: Viscanti Cholera, Silent.

Viscanti Cholera: N-n-no! My form! My exoskeleton!

Effect S5-9: The shell and carapace of Cholera's Kephera form is melted around her feet, as if she molted.

Viscanti Cholera: What trickery is this, Verian? What have you done? You can't touch me like that! You cannot act as if you are a god!

*Verian smiles knowingly, turning to the crowd.

Verian: Fain has not only spoken, but acted! Cholera will no longer be able to masquerade as such an inferior being! Rejoice, for your Divine Patron has performed a miracle!

Effect S5-10: The crowd explodes into commaraderie and rejoicing.

Verian: Cholera, you may keep your position as Champion if you agree to properly re-adopt the values you were sworn to protect.

Viscanti Cholera: Never will I bow to you like a diseased mutt! Verian, you are but only a priest. What power do you hold?

Verian: Why, the powers of the Gods, Cholera. The same powers that have baptized you just now.

Viscanti Cholera: This stops here! No longer will you try and control me, you idle-brained pus-spewer!

*Viscanti Cholera disappears in a violent blast as she is ripped, instantly, into another plane by her own volition.

Effect S5-11: People in the crowd shout in confusion, and soon the stage grows dark.

~*SCENE 4*~
-----------

Room: A fresh breeze is blowing through the area. A filthy crust has formed on the
banks of the rivers to the north and southeast that is foul smelling and more
hazardous than the thick mud beneath. A stinted and gnarled tree stands here,
providing shade for those daring enough to sit beneath its tainted boughs.

--

Effect S4-1: The stage once more beams with light, revealing a tranquil, Tainted riverside.

Entrance: Dukalbo suddenly flops from the river and approaches the tree, touching its dark bark in disdain.

Dukalbo: Oh great trees of the Shallach Banks... Why must you, too, be scourged with the disease?

*Dukalbo begins to weave a spell, the tree glowing momentarily then fading, unchanged. He grunts.

Dukalbo: Alas, one day I will be able to cu---

Entrance: Viscanti Cholera drops from a floating portal that binds together instantly near the tree. She rolls gracefully, stopping at Dukalbo's feet.

*Dukalbo flits back in worry, nearly jumping into the river.

Viscanti Cholera: Wait! You, there. Who are you?

Dukalbo: I am... I am Dukalbo, a great aquamancer. And you are?

Viscanti Cholera: Cholera, Champion of Magnagora.

Viscanti Cholera: Ex-Champion...

*Dukalbo is striken with confusion.

Dukalbo: What... Do you mean? And why are you here?

Viscanti Cholera: This is where I come to think, when I am upset. More importantly, why are -you- here?

Dukalbo: I have been sent here to see if I can cure the trees.

Viscanti Cholera: The trees?

*Viscanti Cholera arches her head back to examine the towering Tainted tree.

Viscanti Cholera: You're right... I never realized it. This Taint! It scourges and confuses! Haaargh!

*Viscanti Cholera suddenly kicks the tree, a tremor of energy flying from her powerful body up the trunk.

Effect S4-2: The tree's boughs blossom with rich cherry blossoms and the Tainted bark rains down from it like flecks of ash.

Viscanti Cholera: So sick of it all. I just want to live how I want to live.

*Dukalbo stands behind Viscanti Cholera in awe.

Dukalbo: Cholera, we have the same motives here... You should join us, and help us destroy the Taint.

Viscanti Cholera: Dukalbo, you young merian. Your people would not accept me. Besides, this is not my true form.

Dukalbo: Then what is, Cholera?

Effect S4-3: A grey gas floats up from the ground, warping around her with vivacious swirls. Soon, they drift away, leaving a kephera.

Exit: Viscanti Cholera, Silent.

Entrance: Kephera Cholera, Silent.

*Kephera Cholera rises from the smoke, her many eyes focusing on Dukalbo.

Kephera Cholera: This is what I consider my true form. Female Kephera are so superior to any other form. They are natural, forboding, complex, and calculated. I am more at home in this bug-skin than in my cursed lavender one.

*Dukalbo nods uneasily.

Dukalbo: Hail be it, then. Cholera, you should return with me to Celest. Let us weigh our options with our superiors. You may keep your shell in whatever way you like, for as long a you want, wherever you desire.

*Kephera Cholera cackles hellishly in glee.

Effect S4-4: The two unlikely companions head off into the stream, and the stage darkens once more.

~*SCENE 5*~
-----------

Room: It is difficult to detect any features of the room, due to the powerful field of energy that is put out by the Megalith of Doom, absorbing all but the darkest of colours and dominating everything else in the room. The architecture of the room is designed to accommodate the Megalith of Doom with a high dome that forms the entire ceiling. A circular series of steps descends three tiers down to the indentation in the centre of the room where the Megalith stands. Four archways lead out of the room to the other areas of the Necropolis, where candles and other illumination can barely be detected through the powerful force of the Megalith. A magnificent chandelier featuring the Magnagoran Pantheon hangs high overhead here, bathing the area in sable and sanguine light.

Megalith: The Megalith of Doom is a massive rock that fairly vibrates with pent up power. Like festering wounds, cracks cut deep into the rock itself, bleeding a thick viscous oil that coats its roughly hewn surface. The oily substance swirls with dark, miasmic colours that cause putrid fumes to rise up into the air, turning the atmosphere dingy and foul. Bright colours bleed and cannot survive around the Megalith, for it is the nexus of pure taint and its magnetic power sucks in all life and clarity around it.

--

Effect S5-1: The stage flares with light, revealing once more the Necropolis in the center of Magnagora.

Entrance: Verian approaches the Megalith with a missive in-hand, rubbing his chin in thought.

Verian: Cogs of Magnagora! Listen once more!

Effect S5-2: The roaming groups of people coalesce and merge to once again form a great crowd around the Megalith.

Verian: I have just received news from one of our trusted and talented dreamweavers. Cholera has been sighted in New Celest and they are planning war against our city!

Effect S5-3: The crowd roars in fear and anger. A woman runs from the crowd with a swaddled Viscanti infant, both in tears.

Verian: Gather your weapons, sharpen your mind, prepare your tomes. For tomorrow, we go to war! All able-bodied individuals affiliated with Magnagora's Great Guilds must report to me outside of the city walls immediately.

Effect S5-4: The stage glows red as runes light up across the cityscape. The lights soon dim, accompanied with war drums.

~*SCENE 6*~
-----------

Room: This field sits stagnant with very little air moving across it. The Great Southern Highway sits nearby this battlefield. Gentle grey-green grass grows in spots, but most of the field is matted with ebony clay. In several areas, groups of the ur'Guard patrols and mark out combat lines. Geomancers are busy Tainting the ground and turning the clay into caustic acids. A group of Nihilists sit in the back of the field, chanting. Troubadours of the Cacophony play their instruments and fill the air with portents. Ninjakari use their chains to flay the raging grasslands, widening the field.

--

Effect S6-1: A warband arrives on an array of Tainted beasts, crossing to the center of the field.

Entrance: Verian emerges from among the warriors, looking around with eyes belonging to a stressed insomniac.

Verian: Places, everyone. We shall ambush them soon.

Effect S6-2: The field quickly empties as everyone settles in a massive burrow created by the Geomancers. Time is shown to go by on stage as Father Sun trots across the field, chased by Mother Night. She soon slows, however, and leaps into the air, covering the stage in twilight.

Effect S6-3: The sound of hoofbeats can be heard as a band of soldiers travels down the highway.

Effect S6-4: Ker-clunk clunk clunk clunk, neeeeeigh!

Effect S6-5: Gur-lop, gur-lop, gur-lop.

Effect S6-6: The group of merians are seen approaching more rapidly, a dust trail thrown up behind them.

Verian: Geomancers, ready yourselves... One...

Verian: Two...

Verian: Three! Now!

Effect S6-7: The Geomancers slam their staves into the ground, causing the highway to shift and contort, throwing the entire regime of calavry and all of the footsoldiers out onto the field in a violent shove.

Entrance: Kephera Cholera, Silent.

Effect S6-8: Amidst the confusion, the burrow bursts, exposing all of Magnagora's finest who then rush to war.

Verian: For the Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaint!!!

Effect S6-9: The sounds of clanging metal and phantasmal magic fill the field, causing the entire scene to glow veridian and cobalt.

Verian: Cholera! Show yourself!

*Kephera Cholera leaps from a pile of fallen men, swinging down her gythka ferociously. Verian spins and meets the ambush with a deft swing of his shield.

Effect 6-10: A nearby explosion rocks the two fighters as Celestines summon a beacon of light.

*Verian swings his spiked mace with an angry warcry, meeting Cholera's weapon as she parries.

*Kephera Cholera swings her feet to try and disable Verian, but he hops with a single motion and points a finger at her, covering her exoskeleton in ice.

*Kephera Cholera rages and shouts with an haunting chittering of her jaws. The ice shatters from her and water warps around her as she swings once more.

Verian: You are a traitor in every sense!

Kephera Cholera: Fall, you False Being! The world shall be a cleaner place without you!

Effect 6-11: A massive chain whips between Cholera and Verian, both nimbly doding the nested combat as a i'Xiia-marked Ninjakari squares off against a Tahtetso. Verian knocks aside the Tahtetso's staff and soon he is squared off with Cholera once again.

*Kepehera Cholera swings backward, smacking Verian with her enlarged abdomen. He tumbles onto the ground.

*Kephera Cholera cackles with glee, raising her gythka.

*Verian's eyes widen and instead of rolling aside, he lifts both of his hands and discharges a plume of energy from his palms, sending Cholera flying back.

Entrance: Dukalbo, silent.

*Dukalbo chants and the field is consumed in a raging maelstrom. All are thrown into confusion.

Effect 6-12: Not to be outdone, the Geomancers donning d'Murani robes throw the entire field into a festering storm of Taint. The two elements duel in their summoned forms and all beings present stop fighting and focus on bracing themselves against the interplanar battle before them.

Effect 6-13: Water levels rise as the field begins to flood.

Effect 6-14: A gaping chasm splits the field, many merians rolling into it as the flood sucks people down into the hole with white-crested rapids. The sky overhead begins to roil with thunder and lightning.

*Kephera Cholera re-emerges from the chaos and charges at Verian. He swings his shield, knocking her aside.

Effect 6-15: A small female Viscanti runs forward into the center of the battlefield, wearing n'Kylbar garbs and a spider-carved wedding band. She is accompanied by a male Viscanti wearing similar garbs and an identical ring. They dart with synchronous energy into the fray and, with a simple nod, put their backs against each other and begin to chant.

Effect 6-16: The ground reaches up through the swollen tides and lifts Cholera on a platform high above the battlefield. She spins, mercilessly confused.

Effect 6-17: Suddenly, everything goes black.

Effect 6-18: From the void, a seething, amorphous mass surges outward with corruption, filth and tainted putrescence. Its mouths are fed by appendages that grow from the slime and pus, often appearing as tentacles or giant tongues, but some are fully formed humanoids connected to the being by a cord, like half-aborted miscarriages. From the void arrives Gorgulu the Devourer of Souls.

Effect 6-19: An unholy grey light bursts behind the Demon Lord, and all stop what they are doing. Hard to perceive, Cholera's silhouette can be seen against the Tainted Lord as it extends its mouths out to her.

Kephera Cholera: No! GORGULU! NO!!!

*Kephera Cholera screams in madness as she is lifted helplessly and consumed by the Dark Lord.

Exit: Kephera Cholera, Silent.

Effect 6-20: Waters lift from the ground and hover in tainted bubbles. The water is absorbed into Gorgulu due to his commanding mass and the new center of gravity of the field.

Effect 6-21: A few Merians are hopelessly sucked up into his gaping maw. As the ground continues to crack and shatter in the unnatural presence of the Demon Lord, the male Viscanti in the field lifts a hand, causing the ground to grapple all of the Magnagorans and keep them grounded.

*Dukalbo isn't aided by this earth magic, and soon finds himself spinning into the air towards Gorgulu where he hovers in maddening silence.

Dukalbo: CURSE YOU, FOUL TAINT! THIS IS NOT THE END!!!

Effect 6-22: Gorgulu snaps out at Dukalbo, ripping him into shreds in a gory display.

Exit: Dukalbo, Silent.

Effect 6-23: The whole area seems to shake as Gorgulu sinks back down from the sky, the field growing pitch-black as the void returns to whisk him away. When it finally subsides, Father Sun can be seen dancing over the hills and the battlefield has been reduced to a muddied, tainted scar.

Effect 6-24: The merians are pitifully defeated, and the handful of survivors quickly disappear into a portal. The Cogs rejoice in their large and powerful numbers.

Effect 6-25: In the distance, the Great City of Magnagora flares with life, a black beacon shooting into the amber sky as its buildings glow ruby red and runes hum around its structures.

Verian: Cogs of Magnagora, we have defeated our enemies and expelled our greatest internal threat! The Engine has been restored to its former glory!

Effect 6-26: The loud warband grows even more excited as they leap and shout and scream prolific warcries. Soon, it dies down as the stage darkens and for the first time since the entire scene, things are silent and idyllic.

~*SCENE 7*~
-----------

Room: Rolling mists come from all sides, creating an effect of being high in the air or perhaps on another plane. The location seems distant from any corporal existence.

BrokenEngine: This is a floating mass of machinery, that is limp with defeat. Only a few cogs spin with any effect on the entire Engine, and many pieces wheel around in wobbly circles and accomplish nothing. Hanging wires and oil drips from the crushed casing, and its grinding pieces emit wails of helplessness.

--

Entrance: Raezon, Silent.

Entrance: Morgfyre, Silent.

Entrance: Fain, Silent.

Effect S7-1: The stage glows back to life, returning to the gods as they hover around the Engine.

Effect S7-2: The removed central cog that they had been contemplating suddenly shatters violently into thousands of pieces and disappears forever into the mist.

Fain: New life shall fill the city in this great time of change.

Raezon: I shall mark this story down so it can be recalled forevermore.

Morgfyre: Excellent. In fact, grant divine insight to the Great Houses d'Murani, n'Kylbar, and i'Xiia for their excellent deeds. Let their bright young minds record this for posterity and for all to know.

Raezon: A fitting prize.

Effect S7-3: Slowly, the Engine glows with macabre runes until it begins cranking and spinning at full speed once more. The gods reattach its various components, and soon the machine pulls together its wires and outer shell by its own vitality and volition.

~*SCENE 8*~
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Room: Rolling mists come from all sides, creating an effect of being high in the air or perhaps on another plane. The location seems distant from any corporal existence.

WorkingEngine: This is a floating mass of machinery, arching with impressive gears and cogs as it fills the space. The black smog of the Taint floats around it, ebbing against the obsidian machine to create an insidious and brooding effect. The machine emits a healthy array of clanging and clashings as its exterior morphs and shifts with mechanical motions that are hauntingly organic.

--

Entrance: Raezon, Silent.

Entrance: Morgfyre, Silent.

Entrance: Fain, Silent.

Fain: Let us return to our realms for now. The Engine has much to contemplate and we must be ready to provide insight and guidance as they once again rise as the superior city of the Basin.

Effect 8-1: The gods disappear in a flash of light and smoke, leaving the Engine to spin and churn with speed and industry never before seen.

Exit: Raezon, Silent.

Exit: Morgfyre, Silent.

Exit: Fain, Silent.

Entrance: Ladantine wanders once more into view, examining the machine with awe.

Ladantine: This goes to show you that things that seem defeated can once again rise and become anew. Much like the Ouroboros, life is cyclical.

Ladantine: Citizens of Magnagora, make the most of your new strength, and learn from the past so you never repeat it again.

*Ladantine lifts a fist triumphantly.

Ladantine: Rise, Cogs, rise!

Effect 8-2: A slow orchestra quickly builds speed and plays an energizing piece as the lights dim. Horns blare and the stage is filled with energy.

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END.