==Canto I==

In those shining days long past

there lived a king of kings

The greatest of the merian race

His name was Ladantine

 

The seventh in a line so long

that ruled the Holy land

That shone from on the island in

the Sea that was so grand

 

From island shore to desert sun

From moors to mountain peak

The emperor stretch'd his grip far

and ruled ov'r all the meek

 

But his reach was not far enough

to satisfy his need

For though it stretched across the planes

he was consumed by greed

 

He set out, his goal in mind

to reach beyond the stars

Past the cosmic Celestian plane -

the boundary so far

 

There he thought there would be found

limitless power to behold

enough to surpass the mighty divine

for the brave and the bold

To the Basin he told his plan -

the Project Cosmic Hope!

To the supraplane they'd go

and experience its scope

A furor erupted round th' land

At his most holy decree

In the cities, news 'twas received

with nothing short of glee

 

Magnagora raised arms to chant

aloud, “praise be to Light!

We give support to king of kings

for we know he is right.”

 

Hallifax was more restrain'd

as they assessed the plan

“Give us time to study,” they said,

“before we Supra scan.”

“Not decades,” said the Emperor,

“but by a year-long end

To the Supraplane we'll ready

A mighty group to send.”

 

In darken'd forest Gloriana

under Mother Night

Rowena Darkshade found ill omen

and so she set to fight

 

Not with swords but words of silver

to the cities was her task

To glitt'ring spires of Hallifax

For compliance to ask

But Hallifax would not hear her

with no regard to her say

They voted to politely ignore her

until she went away

 

Princess Marilynth had better

luck with the Beacon's Board

convincing th'Institute to help

and study in accord

“Let's get this party started up!”

 said Scuchi the High Flame

 Then Gaudiguchian revelers

took up the shout again

 

They drank wine and smoked cactus weed

To Hallifax's ire

To a rude word they happen'd to light

Professor Lars on fire

 

Rowena tried appeal again

To the Bodhi Xiim

A riddle with he answered her

and from her got a grin

 

==Canto II==

In Magnagora they sought the Fates

To hear a prophecy

Would Cosmic Hope be like Soulforce,

a plan from which to flee?

Clotho, the youngest, stepped forth first,

Her prophecy to preach

Said, “You shall find that which you seek.”

'Twas pleasure at Her speech

 

Lachesis, the middle of the Fates

Turned gaze to Ladantine

“Twil be remember'd through out time.”

A truly humbling thing

 

Then came forth wizen'd Atropos

the cutter of the thread

To pronounce Her prophecy 'pon

Ladantine's royal head

 

With words of age she said to him,

“You will die, yet will live.

Another birth before you see

The fruits your labours give.”

Though words of crone confused them all

the Prophet House inferred

The Emperor's plan would succeed -

the quest now should be spurred!

 

And so the Emperor announced

'Cross his land, near and far

Cosmic Hope would not begin from

within the Pool of Stars

 

From where would they launch Cosmic Hope?

Which nexus would it be?

The Stone of Truth, or th' Eternal Flame?

Only with time could see

 

In Gaudiguch they placed their bets

while Magnagorans prayed

And Hallifax vot'd to support

with hope things would be swayed

 

Then came announce from the Empire

The news all want'd to hear

From where would Cosmic Hope begin

At the end of the year

'Twould be from the Stone of Truth

the star-crossed quest would leave

In blessed Magnagora such

A favour they achieved

 

==Canto III==

 

And so the fated day arrived

when past the planes they'd reach

Op'ning gates from cosmic realms and

to Supraplane they'd breach

 

All gathered 'round the Stone of Truth

That glistening white spire

While Basin listen'd to aetherwave

where Globglob did inspire

 

He told of furrikin off plane

a team to correspond

with Lolly Pringle in the group

headed so far beyond

 

The Emperor Ladantine

was there to lead the day

High Prophet Ghani n'Rotri

for Magnagora's say

From Matrix Institute there came

Professor Tomasol Lars

And Grand Cipher Tlochaka Chum

step'd 'way from Gaudi bars

 

Last of all to round out the group

Shellma Natharian

The Holy Mother from Celest

a beautiful merian

 

A dozen ur'Guard came as well

 to protect the group

Burly men who worshipped death

a formidable troop

 

On Shallamar the people heard

As Gorgalial raised hand

A blessing on the excursion

beyond to heal the land

 

With Emanation's august praise

The expedition formed

Ready to begin the day

when history be born

 

Up through the aethers they did go

Piercing elemental fold

To Shallamar they traveled on

then to darkness and to cold

 

On supraplane they found themselves

'top lifeless barren rock

Oppressive air and piercing winds

gave trav'lers quite a shock

 

With trembling terror Pringle opened

a link across the planes

to broadcast what they found out there

through Magnagora's lanes

 

The Emperor was bolder still

and he announced decree

the new found plane would have a name

and Astral it would be

 

But great hurrahs could not be had

there was no time for cheer

for a massive stainless steel goat

attacked, striking them with fear

 

The ur'Guard took up sword and slashed

at their metallic foe

Many wounds were dealt by both

ere down the beast did go

 

A crystal column they did find

The Emperor approach'd

Chan'ling energy with his mind

its power he did broach

 

The Stone of Truth shone like the sun

filled with Astral power

Gleaming rainbows and shim'ring light

came from that awesome tower

 

But out of nowhere they did come

A dozen metal foes

Attacking ur'Guard left and right

And bringing on new woes

 

==Canto IV==

 

The light engulfing Ladantine

turned violent and dark

Waves of shadow rushed to the Stone

extinguishing its spark

 

As his form did bubble and melt

The Stone of Truth did crack

Darkening with toxic power

Under shadow's attack

 

The group rushed forth to aid their king

and save him from his plight

But nether forces attacked them too

Inflicting them with blight

 

On Shallamar, the Stone turned black

And Emanations neared

Conf'ring about the awesome power

that everyone now feared

 

Luciphage took mortal watchers

and brought them to safe place

While Gorgalial touched the Stone

its energies to brace

 

But He could not drive back the tide

of evil poison'd dark

And now His body, once sublime

was giv'n a hellish mark

 

As His form was ripped and torn,

His wife tore at Her face

Lord Ashtorath, He screamed and screamed

Fell power warped the place

 

On Shallamar, on Earthen Plane

In Magnagora's dome

A foul black smoke from Stone of Truth

Came to corrupt their home

 

What was this noxious toxic gas

That came with no restraint

Corrupting everything it touched?

My friends, it was the Taint

 

“How did this horror come to pass?”

Rowena did beseech

As druids of the Raven wood

Into the earth did reach

 

Calling forth a mighty meld

their forested demesne

to keep the Taint from reaching them

so nature could remain

 

But centaurs of the Glorian'

still left their forest home

Nintoba told Rowena

To the Seren they would roam

 

Rowena's heart grew dark with fear

as Tainted cloud approach'd

She called on Night to shield her land

Ere darkness did encroach

 

In skybourne city in the clouds

A meeting of the Board

To assess the effect of Taint and

its spread across the world

 

Determined they that barriers

Like mountain's rocky peaks

Could cease the flow of Tainted Cloud

And make the smoke be weak

 

So their vote was cast and counted

To raise an airy wall

And buffet back the stinking cloud

And make its power fall

 

But through their wind slowed the advance

Of that terr'ble cloud

The Taint'd winds fell on Glorian'

Like a darken'd shroud

 

No mortal power could defend

Against the Tainted storm

That ripped and tore at Glorian'

And made the woods reborn

 

As Rowena held her coven

Changed was Mother Night

Into a power fiercely dark

Consuming all the light

 

Wise Rav'n himself could nary flee

From Almighty advance

Rebirth'd he was as Brother Crow

And the world was like ants

 

Now twisted by th' infect'ous dark

Rowena attacked the fae

Ignoring their piteous cries

“F'ai Glomdoring!” she did say

 

And so the blessed Glorian'

Most beautiful forest

Became the dying Glomdoring

And there it stayed at rest

 

==Canto V==

On Astral plane the Emperor

Was wracked and torn with blight

Rose he with malice in his heart

Which quit its beat in spite

 

The Undead Emperor arose

Spoke to corrupted friends

“we have survived Kethuru's wrath,

And nary met our ends.”

 

“The mighty'st of the Soulless Gods,”

 said Lars, monstrous, shiny, red.

 “The Nine did seal Him back again,

 else the world would be dead.”

 

Then Chum beneath his blacken'd robes

said “He is weakend still.

He must break the Nine God's Seal

ere to Prime He does spill.”

 

Shellma's eyes bulged out on stalks

Like anglers of the deep

Said she, “can we appease Him,

and worship at His feet?”

 

Then Ladantine spoke up and said,

“We must renew the Seal.

We shall become as Vernal Gods

and 'fore us all will kneel!

 

“Each shall take their own Nexus

And I the Starry Pool.

We'll share the world between us all

And each of us will rule.”

 

“Now let us off this Astral rock

and back to Prime we go!

We'll deal with this when we have gone

and dealt Kethur' a blow.”

 

And so they wandered 'cross the plane

jumping from sphere to sphere

Encount'ring creatures so bizarre

they filled the heart with fear

 

In midst of smould'ring library

they found a pile of ash

where planar bound'ries blurred and made

through planar walls a gash

 

The Emperor laughed evilly

and wove about a spell

An illusion to seem whole again

t'which Lolly Pringle fell

 

As Ladantine said, “Lolly Prin

I need you most of all”

In Lolly's soul he planted hooks

A puppet at his call

 

As each of them was glamoured up

They transversed through the Flame

Making their way to Gaudiguch

And finding home again

 

A cheer sprang up as Gossip spread

They partied in the streets

The Emperor was back at last

in Gaudiguch's heat

 

==Canto VI==

Not all were pleased by his return

after the Taint was loosed

In Hallifax they called a meet to

discuss the fear induced

 

The Taint, they said, changed all it touched

to undead or a beast

fearsome creatures of evil mind

unholy pow'r unleashed

 

In Tainted cloud an army massed

of these evil things

“That alone be reason enough

to fear the King of Kings.”

 

“Let's go to Fire where we shall see

if Ladantine is dead

If we should fear another Taint

From 'ternal Flame should spread.”

 

In Vortex world, the Cosmic plane,

th'ill-fated group arrived

Quickly swarmed by 'lluminati

So glad that they survived

 

The Emperor he did command

and Tlochaka he did gloat

but hours rolled by as they did wait

upon the fleshy bloat

 

Leaders arrived to shake them down

the Bhodifucious Xiim

High Pyromancer Scuchi Tlwix

and a Cipher unknown to them

 

They bickered and fought before the Flame

about the right to rule

Until Bhodi's sagacious words

made Emperor a fool

 

“If a chair has all its legs removed

would it still be a chair?”

No answer did the Emperor have

to that enlightened quer'

 

“We've called the Princess Marilynth,”

Said new Grand Cipher Dith,

“She will asses the state of things

and set things straight forthwith.

 

“If she decides you're fit to rule,”

thought Lolly in his mind

but nary a word could furrikin say

'less Ladantine assigned

 

Outside the gates of Gaudiguch

An army did amass

Krokani, lobo, taurian

and ur'Guard to the last

 

Each loyal to the Emperor

read' to lay down their lives

ratt'ling swords to challenge Taint

lest more of it arrive

 

The Princess she did come and see

but quickly she did leave

recoiling in horror from father's embrace

and in her heart did grieve

 

She did not listen to his plan

to raise a Vernal God

Th' Pool of Stars was all that stood

'tween her and Tainted squad

 

On plane of Fire the Halli troops

did make their presence known

so Gaudiguch in fear declared

a war 'pon aeri'l zone

 

The Emperor demanded then

he be giv'n Eternal Flame

To rise above and restore the Seal

Ascension his to claim

 

But General Iborchi said

“We need the Empire's aid!

Now Hallifax is at our door

We must now stop their raid!”

 

 

The Emperor, he made a choice

He made it then and there

To join his army and march 'gainst Taint

And leave Gaudi with no prayer

 

==Canto VII==

 

Across the planes did Gaudi set

a network there in place

To speak on aether lines and

against the Halli brace

 

With Scuchi on the plane of Fire

and Dith on Vortex world

An army they did set in place

as fiendish plot unfurled

 

In Fire Blossom gardens did

The Hallifax appear

Champion Ketsaco moved

his wyvern-riders near

 

As flames burst out and Halli's fell

To Pyromantic fires

the Wyverns swooped in for the kill

and gained crystal soldier's ire

 

But th'attack on Fire was just a ruse

To keep them off their guard

As Halli's flooded into Vortex

and hit 'lluminati hard

 

The Operation Crucible

was set to underway

Members of the Institute

set spires around their prey

 

These gleaming tow'rs, these glist'ning rocks

set up around the Flame

would drain its power to Matrix

for Hallifax's gain

 

General Iborchi throught, “it's

time for desperation.

They'll drain out power down to naught

Destroy us as a nation.”

 

“Release the Project Paradox!”

the Gen'ral did command

Scuchidira did agree

to Iborchi's reckless plan

 

Together they silenced Dith's protests

on one term she agreed

That the Hand of Tzaraziko

be from the desert freed

 

A rainbow smoke poured from the Flame

Filling Vortex and Fire

And in the Basin the cities shudder'd

As time was ripped in twain

 

Professor Eepex came with counter

to Paradoxic whims

The Hand of Tzaraziko from desert retrieved

for a situation grim

 

As Lilali Skysoar'r headed out

on her lifelong quest

Time and space did buckle and warp

and cities from were wrest

 

The Emperor himself was in

the wetland Moors of Grey

when the world shook and quaked

and took his breath away

 

They stood on edge of Castle Djarrakh

on border of the Taint

The sund'ring of the two cities

Nearly caused them all to faint

 

“Did Kethuru break the Vernal Seals?”

 whispered Chum in fright

 “No worries,” said the Emperor

 “His mind be gone from blight.

 

“But to test, we'll throw Lolly Prin'

and see what becomes of him

If monster he should turn into

we will not likely win.”

 

So Lolly Pringle found himself

sailing through the air

into the Tainted cloud of dark

under Ladantine's stare

 

==Canto VIII==

 

As Lolly hit the earthen ground

he burst into a run

Charging through the Taint'd cloud

grateful no harm was done

 

Into the Tainted Glomdoring

the furrikin did flee

through the twisted, rotting trees

and decaying plant debris

 

As he went he stumbled upon

A Tainted forest clear'

Where gathering of foul undead

Around a wyrm did jeer

 

The wyrm was furrikin from Ackle

High Druid Gib Gladheart

Brennan fed him Tainted meat

which ripped his body apart

 

So Lolly fled again from scene

this time he headed north

To the forest of Ackleberry

Their soldiers to call forth

 

But Ackleber'd been gripped by fear

when the two cities fell

with nothing but the Taint to south

they felt it was their knell

 

And so they cast a mighty spell

beseeching Bear and Lake

To sund'r them from the primal plane

and away their forest take

 

With nary a whisper on the wind

the Honeysap was gone

and with it the forest of Ackleber'

into the aethers drawn

 

In noble Seren to the north

Farella the Priestess

did watch the cities with disdain

And Lolly she dismissed

 

She knew of Ladantine's great plan

To find dead Urlach's Horn

an undead army to empower

when artefact was borne

 

So she sent for Queen Maeve the fae

to thwart Emperor's plot

releasing kelpies to the sea

to send his ships to rot

 

To Celest now did Lolly go

To warn the Princess there

Of her father's insidious scheme

to overthrow his heir

 

He told her of Ladantine's plan

to raise a Vernal God

And so the council convinced her that

she should claim the laud

 

She stepped into the Pool of Stars

As crowds for her did cheer

She was surround'd by holy flame

and tak'n to new frontiers

 

So Celest raised a Vernal God

Their first, their last, their one

and just in time for Ladantine

arrived as She was done

 

Carried forth on wings of crow

Rowena at his side

His armies breaking down the gates

as Princess Mar'lynth cried

 

The Vernal Goddess cried out loud

“Avechna! Come to me!

Restore the Seals and save our world

and make my father flee!”

 

From the top of 'vechna's Peak

there was a mighty flash

As the Avenger was finally awakened

the pact to honour at last

 

In a moment he stood above

and in a booming voice

he said “WHY HAVE YOU AWAKENED ME?”

and all cowered 'fore the noise

 

Said Mar'lynth, “You must save Celest

from Taint of Kethuru

My father has the Taint on him,

so please do what you do!”

 

Ladantine shouted in response,

“Is not Urlach part of you?

You can't deny the Undead King

I am myself all through!”

 

“ENOUGH” He boomed before them all

“I HAVE COME TO HONOUR PACT.

YOUR WARS DO NOT CONCERN ME

TIME TO PUT KETHURU BACK!”

 

The Emperor took a step ahead

reaching for his daughter

She cried and said “My father, no,

I have to end the slaughter.”

 

He tried to jump into the Pool

As Mar'lynth was subsumed

But Lolly Prin knocked him off his feet

and to a rocky doom

 

There was a flash, and then a boom

and everything was white

And so Celest was reduced to ash

bringing an end to fight

 

Avechna kept his promise and

sealed Kethuru away

The seals restored he went to sleep

On dawn of a new day

 

The war was won, but at what cost?

The toll was great indeed

The Basin lay now in shatt'r'd ruins

because of one man's greed