User:Ljshepherd/SiosaDialogue

Introduction

 * Please, do not be alarmed. I am neither monster nor murderer, though that is the duality of existence that defines Sarn these days.
 * My name is Siosa Foaga, and I have the bleak honour of being the sole scholar to the Imperius Intellection, this grand repository of knowledge you see about you. May Reason preserve us.

Archives

 * It is the Karui Way to observe nature in nature. The fish without the sea is no longer a fish. It is dinner.
 * The Eternals did not see it that way. An Eternal catches the fish, guts the fish, preserves the fish and places it in a box. Only then does the Eternal feel he truly understands the fish.

The Painting

 * It was a Karui motiata that discarded my failing body of flesh in favour of canvas and oil. An ancient song and a momentary lapse in judgement that I've had more than enough time to regret.

Golden Pages readings

 * Page One Translation
 * My word. Vaalish contextualized syntax is a slippery eel indeed. Let me see if I can grab it by the gills...
 * They carried their virtue gems to... "Doryani's bed"... no, that's not quite right. Ah yes, Doryani's cradle. The historian finishes that it was a price they neeeded to pay to ensure a Vaalish future.
 * A cradle of virtue gems? What sort of 'Vaalish future' did Doryani hope to ensure?
 * Commentary: Doryani
 * I suppose every civilisation has its Doryani... its Malachai. Men of divine talent and demented ambition. Without them, history would be a far less 'interesting' place.
 * Page Two Translation
 * Splendid. Let's see what this page has to offer us... It talks of Queen Atziri. Now here's a portentous line:
 * She drenches her altars with the blood of those deranged enough to question her vision.
 * The next piece is a real eye-crosser, but I believe it refers to a 'communion', something to do with the harvest moon? Again, Doryani seems at the heart of it.
 * Good, this line I can read without issue:
 * This will be our final night of fear, our final night of suffering.
 * Sacrifice, communion, the harvest moon... an unsettling combination.
 * Commentary: Queen Atziri
 * Malachai would never have risen so far without the patronage of an emperor like Chitus. It would appear that Doryani and Queen Atziri shared a similar relationship.
 * It was said of the beautiful Atziri that she wished to see her likeness reflected in the still waters of history. Chitus was no less self-impressed.
 * Of all the Sins, Vanity is the most hideous.
 * Page Three Translation
 * Oh my, this first line is frighteningly clear:
 * Our Queen is dead. Doryani is dead. So many have fallen. So many have changed.
 * The latter text is almost indecipherable. It practically hums with agitation. Let me see... I can make out the words sleep, night mare and... "the Beast, whatever that may be. Our historian finishes with:
 * We have succeeded where our forbears did not. We have failed ourselves.
 * I need not imagine the fall of the Vaal. I saw the nightmare with my own eyes.
 * Commentary: Cataclysm
 * Sarn fell in the course of an hour, no more. A tempest raged down from the mountains and engulfed the city, throwing it into midday darkness.
 * I saw madness in my colleagues' eyes. Watched as the most rational men in the Empire jabbered and slavered and slaughtered each other.
 * I witnessed Trinian, our gemling Intellectus Prime, engulfed bye the radiance of his flaming cranial gem and wither, like a grape in the sun, into a thing of desiccation and famishment.
 * I've seen mountains spew fire in Ngamakanui. I've seen waves as tall as trees and winds that leveled warriors and walls alike. Nature is what nature is.
 * There was nothing natural about the cataclysm.
 * Page Four Translation
 * Strange. I was put in charge of dating the most antiquated of texts. This parchment, it's a remarkable copy, but it's no original. Much younger.
 * Oh my... listen to this!
 * ''My dearest Icius,
 * ''I have been enlightened beyond expectation. Your work in translating these artefacts is worthy of the highest recompense, and thus I am delighted to offer you a position in my personal laboratory. Please do not give your escorts any consternation. I would be most pained to see such a precious asset damaged in any way.
 * ''I very much look forward to working with you, Icius Perandus.
 * ''Your friend and admirer,
 * Malachai
 * Poor, poor Icius. Wherever you went, my pity goes with you.
 * Commentary: Malachai
 * How Malachai survived the Purity Rebellion, I don't know. He was at Emperor Voll's side before Chitus' corpse was even cold.
 * I suppose Voll found him as difficult to refuse as Icius did.