Gate of Memoirs/The One-Day War

After penetrating the barrier of Di'yu, the Naga engage Tevarius' band without preamble.

Episode 8 —Subsidence—

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Overcome"
	A subtle, muted humming comes into Saerenthis's mind as he concentrates on the cool rock walls behind the waterfall. The brief flicker that had jolted him out of his musing was unmistakably deathly in nature. Tracing an eldritch sigil against the smooth stone, a small smirk creeps into the High Priest's face. The vibrations tingling up his hand are not dissimilar to the echoes of the Endless Abyss.
	Saerenthis: Oh-hoh. What do we have here? Saerenthis: Negative energy, an antithesis to life...
	Saerenthis: So this is what lies under that crone's seat in her pagoda. Saerenthis: Had we known sooner, we might have woven together these threads with our own...
	Uln'gha: <Orr'enah...>
	Saerenthis: Indeed, indeed. I can already imagine the look on her face. Saerenthis: We will find out soon enough, I'm sure...
	Before long, a congregation of war priests gather to chant and hiss in unison, channeling the dark energy of the depths. A makeshift portal circle, much like the one they had used to infiltrate the Vale's lakes, pulses and shifts with every sonorous syllable. Saerenthis heads the ritual himself, his green eyes growing ever more vibrant as the magic weaves itself around the Naga. As darkness swirls within the circle, a ghostly reflection of the waterfall shimmers into existence.
	Saerenthis: Good...good! Saerenthis: Prepare the warband and send them in as soon as the portal is stable. Saerenthis: Plant the idol and spread word of our Goddess. Slay whoever gets in your way!
	The war priests bow in turn, and Saerenthis turns to his guard.
	Saerenthis: Grah'n. Signal the warriors to go forward with the diversion. Saerenthis: Under no circumstances should the assault on the pagoda be halted. Saerenthis: Sacrifice the weaklings if you must. Spare no expense in drawing that crone from her hovel!
	Naga Guard: Yes, hafh'drn.
	Saerenthis: We are close now. Closer than ever before!
	Saerenthis: I can already tasssste our victory...

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Source Hall"
	The cavern quickly fills with an alien mist as familiar serpentine shapes slither into view. Unlike the ones encountered on the stone steps, these Naga have runes and tattoos carved into their scaly hide, each blasphemous sigil a testament and blessing from their deep goddess. Naga Abysstouched: Heheheh...Well then! Naga Abysstouched: Looks like our quarry's been hiding away in this miserable little pit. As they spread out in a fan, one of the Naga plants a ghastly stone idol into the rock, and the air immediately grows dark with tension. The spirit lights hanging in the air suddenly blink out, devoured by some invisible force as the idol begins to glow.
	Saskya narrows her eyes, meeting the Naga's malicious yellow gazes with her own. Saskya: First time I've seen such grotesque creatures in my domain.
	Saskya: ...And I've been down here the entire time.
	The warrior monk strides forward with singular purpose, her dark and violent past ever so slightly showing through in that predatory gait. The Naga, their vicious maws cracked with sneers, regard her with mocking indifference as she stands tall before them.
	Sero-Anya: Not satisfied getting vaporized up on the steps? Sero-Anya: You won't do any better here.
	Naga Abysstouched: Your threats are empty, mnahn'. The Abyss is already consuming what's left of the land above. Naga Abysstouched: Submit now and we won't have to resort to giving you grissssly deaths... Naga Abysstouched: After all, being marked by our Goddesssss is quite the honor.
	Tevarius: Ngh—

Portrait	Dialogue
	A familiar darkness seeps into Tevarius's mind as the idol seems to turn its unblinking, carved stare on him. Tevarius find himself surrounded on all sides by the crushing silence of deepest, darkest ocean.
	This time, the voice was clear—almost resonant—as the pale and furious visage of Tsovinar emerges from the shadows.
	Tsovinar: <Again and again you have escaped with your pitiful life...> Tsovinar: <Soon...soon I shall tear you apart...and relish in your agony!> A phantom force assails Tevarius from all sides as Tsovinar crushes her fist closed, eyes gleaming maliciously.
	Tevarius: Agh...hh...
	Tevarius: N...No!

Portrait	Dialogue
Music: "Source Hall"
	Tevarius: Ghh...Damn you! I won't fall to you, curse or not! Shaking his head angrily, the dragon spirit snarls and glares at their fell idol.
	The Naga ready their weapons as the charged energy coalescing around Tevarius coils into a serpentine dragon.
	Sero-Anya: About time you came to your senses. Sero-Anya turns to the Naga, one hand raised in defiance against the spawn of the deep. Sero-Anya: So, worms. Prostrate yourself before me and I might consider...leniency.
	Naga Abysstouched: Big words for a mangy pack of mnahn'— Naga Abysstouched: Kksshhaaa!!
	A ribbon of darkness trails behind the warrior monk as she shakes her fist out from bruising the side of the Naga's jaw. Saskya: I'm done talking.
	Saskya: Get. Out.

Gate of Memoirs: Memoirs of Grand Quest