Heralds of Obeah/The Twin Prophecy

Jessica suddenly felt aware. When had she been unaware? The feeling slipped from her rapidly, and she settled into a state of being. She realized that her eyes were closed.

Before her was the world as she knew it, an unbelievable sight. The East Continent, Beluterra, she could even see Gothica on the Colonies from her omnipresent vantage point. Oceans of pristine blue separated the continents, and the lands seemed to somehow glow, radiating the light of life upwards to…what? She couldn’t be sure. She felt herself pulled towards the world and it grew larger. She gazed at the streams of light punching up into the sky and, closer now, she could see the whirlwind of colors within, complimenting each other, yet unique in every instance. They flowed in chaotic unison from each continent.

No. The light came not from the continents, but from those living upon them. Their life force, the beauty, the sorrow, the pride, the glory of all contributed to the spires of humanity which rose up.

She looked to Beluterra and saw a darkness forming. Panic choked her as she watched it slowly manifest and spread, like a vile toxin consuming what lay in its path. As it reached each source of light, she could feel the struggle, and, the ultimate hopelessness within, until the light faded from existence. Slowly it spread, with only one goal; to destroy humanity. The hunger of the darkness could not be sated, as it continued to oppress all the beauty before her.

She continued closer while the rage stormed like a tempest within her, and the darkness continued. Visions assaulted her. Rather than see them, it was more that she simply came to know. She perceived men, who the darkness had tainted, opening otherworldly portals. Dark beasts bred chaos, harkening the coming of the darkness.

She could see now. Yes. The Veil. It separated her from her world. She could see the tiny opening, a breach where the darkness could escape into the worlds of man.

A blue light twinkled into existence. It shimmered with a peaceful beauty as it floated towards the breach in the Veil. It reached the breach and stopped there, its light pushing the dark back.

The darkness was too strong. Or too much. Jessica couldn’t be sure. Then, more twinkling blue lights appeared and joined the first in the breach. They shone with a brilliant light, pushing the dark back. Jessica watched, mesmerized by the heavenly war unfolding before her. Everything swirled together before her, and reassembled itself. The blue lights were gone, and a terrible gash was torn in the Veil. Torrents of the darkness poured through the gap and shot in tendrils down to the world below, consuming it.

Jessica was startled as she heard a voice, "We never paid any heed to the ancient prophecies. Like fools we clung to the old hatreds, and fought like we have done for generations. Until the day the sky rained fire... and the old Enemy returned upon us. We stand now upon the brink of destruction... for the reign of unholy chaos has come... at last"

Jessica recognized Rania’s voice, but it was different. It was powerful, and awesome, and terrible. The Voice sheared into her head and the power of it threatened to rip her in two.

"BEHOLD THE FATE OF THE WEAK!"

The energy of the scream bore into Jessica’s brain, and darkness overcame her.

– Jessica Gildre