Scars of the Empire
Ilian Church The Curia
Doomcrier: We believed the Goddess would bring us peace and prayed to her relentlessly, yet look before us now! The world is filled with terrifying changes!
Doomcrier: There was never any "protection of the Goddess" to begin with! Cursed be the name of the Church for deceiving the public over these past thousand years!
Alex: A demonstration incited by the doomcriers, is it? Sadly, recent events are causing them to lash out at the wrong people.
Pope: As shameful as it is for the pope to admit, I have no power to stop them.
Pope: They now use the Church as a scapegoat for all their fears, and I cannot swear they will lend ears even to you, Auspex.
Gala Zethia: When I think about setting foot out there, it terrifies me to the core—but we've not the time or luxury for silence now.
Gala Zethia: It is my duty to ease them of their worries.
Elisanne: Alex and I will serve as your guard. Let us move out.
Church Follower 1: Someone's coming out of the Curia!
Church Follower 2: Is that the Auspex?!
Gala Zethia: (Our congregation is anxious because they lack understanding of all the strange current happenings in the world.)
Gala Zethia: (As time goes by and no solution presents itself, their anxieties swell without end.)
Gala Zethia: (Which means the first step to quelling the unrest is to inform everyone about the looming threat to the world.)
Gala Zethia: Good people of Ilia, lend me your ears! I have much I would say to you...
Zethia proceeded to tell the followers everything. She explained how there was a powerful being who sought the world's destruction, and connected the strange events happening around the continent to his recent resurrection.
But she also spoke words of reassurance, swearing that she, her brother, and all their companions were working tirelessly to save the world from devastation. But despite how fervently she attempted to drive that point home...
Gala Zethia: We will protect this world no matter what, so do not lose sight of yourselves!
Church Follower 2: The Auspex and the Alberian royal family are trying to save us all!
Church Follower 1: So...we have a future?
Doomcrier: And what basis does she have for these wild claims, eh?! How can any of you fools believe a single word the Auspex says?!
Gala Zethia: Would you name me a liar, then?
Doomcrier: Many claim your tyrannical actions while empress came about because you were possessed by the Other...
Doomcrier: But how can we know that for certain?! How many of your actions were driven by that demon, and how many were the true workings of your secret soul?!
Elisanne: Do not be absurd!
Church Follower 1: But we really don't know, do we?! I mean, they TELL us she was possessed, but none of us know for sure!
Church Follower 2: They can say they'll save the world until they're blue in the face, but who knows if that's even POSSIBLE?
Doomcrier: Show us proof, Auspex! Show us that you are the pure guiding light you claim to be! Show us proof that you can actually save the world from its impending doom!
Gala Zethia: I...don't know how to prove it.
Doomcrier: Do you see?! She cannot even attempt to back up her claims! The end of the world is nigh, I tell you! NIGH!
Doomcrier: The Church just trotted out the Auspex in an attempt to placate us! How much more proof of their treachery do we need?!
Doomcrier: Curse the Ilian Church! Let them feel our rage for having deceived us all this time!
Alex: That doomcrier is riling the people up...
Elisanne: It is too dangerous out here, Auspex. We must retreat back inside the Curia.
Gala Zethia: But I must clear up this misun—AAAH!
Elisanne: You pack of craven curs! How dare you hurl rocks at your Auspex!
Alex: Your words cannot reach them now, Elisanne! Let us secure Zethia and move!
Gala Zethia: (Nothing I said worked...)
Gala Zethia: (Does that mean it is impossible for me to be a pillar of strength in my community as my siblings are...?)
Gala Prince: How's Zethia doing?
Alex: She is currently resting in her room. Thankfully, her injuries are minor.
Elisanne: I offer my deepest apologies, Highness. Had I not suggested that Princess Zethia speak with the people, none of this...
Gala Prince: It's not your fault, Elly; the decision to go out there was ultimately Zethia's alone.
Notte: But those jerks said such AWFUL things! I bet she's really hurting right now.
Gala Prince: Yeah, I think I'll go talk to her once she's had time to settle down.
Leonidas: And what do you intend to say?
Gala Prince: Oh! You're all here too...
Chelle: You hope to sympathize with her, yes? Tell her she did nothing wrong and encourage her to try again?
Phares: You two have always been together, so such words of encouragement from you may indeed lift her spirits.
Chelle: That may have been good enough before. But now...
Valyx: Zethia made her decision. She hoped to stand as a pillar for the Church's followers, and in doing so soothe their unease.
Leonidas: Your comforting words may hurt as much as they heal. If she feels she can always run to her brother for succor, she'll never learn to overcome hardships.
Notte: Okay, so we SHOULDN'T go comfort her?
Emile: If you ask me, I've always thought you were FAR too overprotective of her. Let the girl do her thing already. Sheesh!
Phares: Emile's being a bit extreme, but if you're thinking about her personal growth, letting her work through this on her own without your comfort is its own form of kindness.
Gala Prince: Well, I guess I can see that...
Valyx: Someone must force Zethia to accept reality so she might conquer it.
Chelle: You can leave that to the rest of us; we have far more experience in this sort of tough love than you do.
Leonidas: Once Zethia has accepted reality and steeled herself to overcome it, THEN you can step in, Euden.
Leonidas: Not with your words, but with your deeds. You shall act as a sturdy pillar to support her heart, no matter what hardships she may face.
Gala Prince: Thank you, everyone.
Gala Zethia: Yes? What was it you all wished to speak with me about?
Chelle: We heard about the whole rock-throwing incident when you tried to calm the people at the Curia.
Gala Zethia: They couldn't believe anything I said because of my time as the empress...
Emile: Well, of course they couldn't! Your average Joe Croptender and Jane Scullerymaid has no possible way to know if you were actually possessed by the Other or not!
Emile: And considering all the violent rampages you undertook, it's no wonder your pithy sentiments about "please just believe me!" fell on the deafest of ears.
Phares: A harsh assessment, but a fair one. Your public image right now is...lacking.
Phares: But one cannot blame the people for this impression, for your time as empress was their overwhelming experience with you.
Gala Zethia: Yes, I am aware.
Valyx: Knowing this, you have two options.
Valyx: First, you can give up on trying to convince the followers. If they revolt, we will simply move in and suppress them.
Valyx: If all you want is to absolve yourself of sins you committed while the empress, focus yourself wholeheartedly on the upcoming fight with the Progenitor.
Chelle: Your other choice is to slowly regain the trust of the people and continue trying to relieve their anxieties.
Chelle: Down this path lies both criticism and risk. It will assuredly take a good deal of time, and may not ever bear true fruit.
Gala Zethia: (I might not have the capability of becoming a pillar like my siblings...)
Gala Zethia: (But nevertheless...)
Gala Zethia: If I give up now, it will only confirm with the people that I am the worst of liars.
Gala Zethia: Yet I KNOW my brother and his friends are doing all they can to save the world.
Gala Zethia: Despair has no place here; I must let everyone know it is all right to believe in a brighter future.
Leonidas: No matter how much the people may loathe and lambaste you, you must still do whatever is required for their sakes. Such is our duty as royalty.
Leonidas: None of us started out with exalted positions in the people's hearts. Instead, we held true to our royal pride and overcame what adversity came our way.
Leonidas: You have the ability to see this through; we share the same blood, after all.
Gala Zethia: Thank you, Leonidas.
Notte: You finally done getting lectured by everybody or whatever, Zethia?
Gala Zethia: Oh, hello. Were you two waiting for me?
Gala Prince: I heard everyone was in there trying to give you a pep talk.
Gala Zethia: Yes, and you must have been worried. Well, rest easy, for all is well.
Gala Zethia: I feel more ready than ever to face the future after speaking with them.
Gala Prince: Found your resolve, eh? In that case, I have something to show you.
Gala Zethia: What is this...?
Edward: We have drawn up plans for priests to travel the lands more efficiently. Now please, step this way.
Aoi: We'll protect you from the shadows! You got this!
Notte: We all got together and formed a Zethia Support Group!
Gala Zethia: A...what?
Ranzal: We gotta do anything it takes to make folks trust ya again, so we gathered everybody and are figurin' out stuff we can do.
Luca: We'll go around talking to people one by one and clear up misunderstandings. We'll help people out and improve your image... There's all sorts of things we can do!
Elisanne: We're also planning on having our friends within the Church work on convincing the congregation of your good intentions.
Gala Zethia: There are so many people...
Gala Prince: We all believe in you, Zethia, and we know you can be a source of strength for us all.
Gala Prince: It'll be a difficult road, but you don't have to walk it alone. We're here for you.
Gala Zethia: In truth, after our siblings spoke with me, I wasn't sure I had the ability to relieve the people of their anxieties...
Gala Zethia: But if my friends believe in me this much, I will not let doubt rule my heart.
Gala Zethia: Please lend me your aid, everyone!
Gala Zethia: We will help quell the anxieties of the Church's followers and bring peace to the hearts of all on this continent!
Everyone: YEAH!
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