Gate of Memoirs/A Last Stand

Faefire has purged the corruption from Alraune, but Baelfyr is not satisfied.

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Lone Strength"
	Zeruiah: I have failed you, spirit. I should've been there. Zeruiah: ...... Zeruiah: You say there's more?
	Alraune: ...Hhhh... Alraune: Hhh...my children... Alraune: Where...where have they gone?
	A lone Voidborn scout alights near the ruined spirit, fluttering its insectoid wings.
	Alraune: Are you...lost too? Alraune: Don't worry... You're safe...with me...
	Alraune: Shh...shh.
	Zeruiah: What has that dread being done to you?
	Another presence alerts the sage. Zeruiah whips around and narrows her eyes at the familiar scent.
	Zeruiah: A human, accompanied by the unmistakable glow of fire.
	Zeruiah: ...! This violent, roiling memory! What-
	It burns...it burns!

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Nothingness"
	Baelfyr: There's not much left for you to protect.
	Baelfyr: Don't worry. You'll join the rest of your "children" soon enough.
	Alraune: You...murderer... Alraune: Aaaahhh!!
	Baelfyr: Gh! ...Tch!
	Baelfyr: Unrepentant witch! Look around you! Your forests are tainted with sickly corruption!
	Baelfyr: The pacifist ways of the Fae have led to their downfall at the hands of these invaders. Baelfyr: Only through the cleansing embers of Fire can we purge this poison from the land.
	Baelfyr: Now...and forever.
	Alraune: ...!!!
	Baelfyr's armored plates reflect the burning fires as he walks toward the writhing, tortured earth spirit. The distinct smell of burning wood and flesh chokes the very atmosphere.
	Alraune: Nnh... Alraune: Hhhrrkk!
	Alraune spits out blackened blood, but her eyes widen as successive bouts of the liquid grow lighter, finally returning to her normal green.
	Baelfyr: Hmm? ...What's this?
	Alraune: What...what did you burn me with? Alraune: It is no mortal fire...This means...
	Alraune: Thief of divine Faefire...you disgust me.
	Baelfyr: Come to your senses, have you? So I was right after all. The corruption is unholy in origin. Baelfyr: Oh, and it may interest you to know that your great sage gave this to me herself.
	Alraune: You...you lie! She would never...! Alraune: Starsage...why?
	Baelfyr: Likely because she knew she couldn't burn her own forest down, even if her hand was forced. Baelfyr: Peace cannot be maintained through isolation. This invasion is proof of that. Baelfyr: Unlike the Fae, we humans will never let ourselves be trampled underfoot. We will fight to the bitter end. Baelfyr: Our pride and our indomitable spirit call for it. Baelfyr: For our right to live in a prosperous future...
	Baelfyr: We must stamp out every last trace of evil.
	Alraune: The Starsage will hear of this. My blood will cry for vengeance.
	Baelfyr: If you believe she's coming back.
	Alraune: Ahh...my children. My precious children. I...
	*shhhhhkkk*
	Alraune: *gurgle*
	The earth spirit collapses to the ground, bleeding out from the rift in her throat. Her emerald blood spills and seeps into the earth, amid the caustic Voidborn essence and lingering embers.
	Baelfyr: What a mess. Ah well. I suppose it couldn't be helped...
	Hhh...hhhhh...

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Lone Strength"
	Zeruiah: Spirit, do you still hear my voice?
	I...I do. But not for much longer. Great Starsage...I implore you...
	Zeruiah: ...I understand. Rest now, in the bosom of Earth Mother. Zeruiah: May you find peace in the Great Beyond.
	The sage slowly opens her eyes and comes out of a deep, contemplative meditation. Her peace does not last. Her normally calm and gentle demeanor is replaced by warring emotions of grief and fury. She draws out a small, intricate silver necklace from a pouch, and holds it close to her heart.
	Zeruiah: Eirwen. Remember when you told me you couldn't remember how you got to the Vale? Zeruiah: You expressed so much curiosity about yourself, about your people, despite my stern discouragement... Zeruiah: And eventually, you convinced me to allow some of the druids and scholars access to our home. Zeruiah: You believed in the goodness of mankind...and, in bestowing Faefire, so did I.
	Zeruiah: And this is how the humans repay our kindness. Zeruiah: With endless bickering, threats of conquest...and heartless slaughter. Zeruiah: ...... Zeruiah: I cannot change what has already been set in motion. Zeruiah: This responsibility...is mine alone.
	Zeruiah: And I will be the one to deliver retribution.

Gate of Memoirs: Memoirs of Grand Quest