Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-28358106-20160820182648/@comment-28358106-20160903063042

Kathra puts her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Ibrahim looks on for only a moment. He reaches down and puts his arms aroumd Rhun's shoulders, and gives her a gentle squeeze.

His voice is heavy. "Rhun, I'm...I'm so sorry. He's gone, dear.  We...we need to..."

Lucida begins to stir. He reaches over and cradles her, helping her stand up.

"Unngh...Papa...what...happened?" She looks down to Praetor. Her eyes go wide. "Is he...is he...?"

"We have to keep going," he says, his voice hoarse. "We have to keep moving. Adelaide could return at any moment.  If she catches us now, we -"

"He can't be dead!  He can't be!" Kathra says, her voice rising close to hysteria.

The open, wrecked walls of the Palace are a window to a distant, fiery hell. All is darkness. The shadow of the Crucible hangs over the city, hiding the death that is coming to all below...

--

But, there is one place death never reaches. Its green fields stretch unto the Shining City, silver shores waiting to quench the thirst that never leaves the faithful living. Downy grass, a cradle for the newly ascended, holds a man as he awakens from the nightmare that is war.

There, laying in a soft tussock, a man of faith opens his eyes.

He sits up slowly. His body is whole. The breath of life enters his lungs, and he feels as if he could breathe it only once, and be satisfied for all eternity...

In the distance, a woman sits beneath a tree, its silver leaves blowing in the gentle breeze. She sings a song sweeter than any he has ever heard.

She stops, and turns her head. She smiles at him, and reaches out her hand...