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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Plane Sailing" data-source="post: 1507018" data-attributes="member: 114">While they rest, they ponder the text which they found etched in acid on the ancient steel breastplate which had been hidden behind the stone panel. The armour is soot-covered, but copper from melted coins was dribbled into the acid-scarred words, so it is easier to read than it could be. I am Corvos of Bellemir, scribe to my Lord Hengel the Radiant, Jazumai of the One Kindly God. At his command I tarry here to write this message on the breastplate of his fallen guard, so that those who come after us will hear the word of the fire spirit and heed her wisdom after we are long dead.For my master sought her here, daughter of the Living Flame, and he courted her with vasty gifts, and she prophesized for him truly. When she had finished foretelling his personal matters, she raised a fiery hand and spoke sooth."But do not leave, Hengel son of Hagel son of Hellstrom, for you shall be my voice to those of flesh not born. There will come a time that in the lands above us, a second temple shall rise that sings its hymns to One Who Sleeps. It is corrupt. It festers, for it lacks the purity of true flame. Shall they wake that Sleeper Beyond? Pray that they do not. It would carry away all who are just, as those who are godfearing would learn to fear God. "But the flame may be cleansed. When the songbird tumbles at the crossroads on a day edged with pain, the flowing blood will signal that the time is nigh! Those above may slave to wake the foul, but they forget... They do not know that more than foul dost sleep, and that purity can be awoken as simply as corruption. More simply, in fact! For purity is closer; it too sleeps, but only a breath away. The second sleeper may be woken by those who have known loss and triumph, fear and bravery beyond compare. But are they brave enough to choose? This even I can not see. A choice can let the second sleeper rise as a phoenix, and he will soar forth, yearning to burn away the corruption he senses from the unnatural temple above. "And these who I see... they may make that choice. They may call him, he whom I once loved, and if they do, the sleep of a millennium shall shake from his ancient bones. I foresee the Offer, the Tribute, the Dance, and the Balance Restored. I foresee the fall of the false gods. He shall touch the world and all voices will be raised to him." She smiled then, terribly. "All voices except those of the priests from the Temple Above, for none may speak with lungs of char."How to call, how to call, sleeping, waking, rising tall? Blood in magma, song in stone. Hammered altar, melted bone."So call him, heroes, if you wish. Call him before the sea god rises, or perhaps he will sleep forever. Few like him still exist in the world, for he is older than mountains and wise beyond kings; but desperate times call for desperate measures, and fate favours those bold enough to make a choice."And so she foretold, and so I commit her prophecy for all time to come. I do not envy you who read this and know of the songbird, but I will say this; I have seen the fire maiden, and she holds my heart forever. Any being that she once loved has my jealous respect and my eternal envy. Her words are bound in truth; may you follow them, and your heart, to wisdom and grace.Respectfully scribed this day, by Corvos of Bellimir. May the One Kindly God hold you and keep you safe.Anne-Marie thinks it's a song, Trajan thinks it refers to their task of freeing the stone plug which will enable the volcano to erupt once more.  Zherinda the priestess says that Lord Hengel the sword saint was the one she was sent to contact all those years ago. The debate about the meaning of the prophetic words goes on fruitlessly long into the night.</blockquote>

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