Gate of Memoirs/Drowning Darkness Lv.1

In the wake of the Voidborn invasion of Aimyhr, the Central Province home to the majority of the humans had been left battered and beaten.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Overcome"	Music: "Overcome"
 	
*In the wake of the Voidborn invasion of Aimyhr, the Central Province—home to the majority of the humans—had been left battered and beaten.
*Baelfyr, appointed leader by popular vote, had received the blessing of Faefire from the great Fae Sage Zeruiah.
*The invaders were driven from their lands, but an anomalous serpentine wanderer,
*so different from the spirit-insect plague, had roused his suspicion.
*Soldier: Sir!
 	
*Baelfyr: Report.
*The soldier dutifully hands over a small notebook.
 	
*Soldier: It's as you suspected, sir. The guilds we investigated turned out two more of the strange serpent-people.
*Soldier: Had to torch them before they would show their tails.
 	
*Baelfyr: (Hmm. So Faefire forces them to drop their disguises.)
*Baelfyr: Good work. Withdraw the rest.
*Baelfyr: Ah. One more matter. Any news of...visitors from the North?
 	
*Soldier: None, sir. Should we be expecting the presence of Fae?
 	
*Baelfyr: (Not making a move yet, huh.)
*Baelfyr: Continue posting lookouts on the Northern borders.
*Baelfyr: As for those...things, leave them in the cells.
 	
*Soldier: Aye, sir!
*The soldier salutes and disappears around the corner, leaving Baelfyr alone in the dark alley.
 	
*Baelfyr: To think they've been hiding undetected among the populace for so long.
*Baelfyr: The same sort I caught slinking around during the Voidborn invasion...
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Strange Wanderer: *hissss!*
*Strange Wanderer: The creature—humanoid torso with a long, snakelike body from the waist down—bares its fangs and brandishes its weapons.
 	
*Baelfyr: Tch. What sort of spawn are you, anyway?
*Baelfyr: You're different from the others.
 	
*Strange Wanderer: Stop this, human. You don't want another enemy.
*Strange Wanderer: The High Priest knows...
 	
*Baelfyr: I have no interest in whatever unnameable abomination you worship.
*Baelfyr: You've wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time.
 	
*Baelfyr: Sweet dreams.
 	
*Strange Wanderer: Kkhhh...!
*Strange Wanderer: Mgvulgtlagln...l' ah ymg'...!
*Strange Wanderer: Ahh...Goddess curse you...
 	
*Baelfyr: Ugh. What a vile sound.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Baelfyr flips through the small pocket notebook, frowning at its contents.
*Baelfyr: "The Deep Goddess of the West"... I thought she was but a simple folk legend.
*Baelfyr: This past invasion has turned up all manners of fiends from the bowels of the earth, it seems.
*Baelfyr: I will have to look into this personally...
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Mirage"	Music: "Mirage"
 	
*A weeklong sweep of the coastal villages brought Baelfyr to the edge of an abandoned beach.
*Swiftly accosted by brutish shadows, he was escorted to a hidden location.
*Though the setting sun casts a fiery glow across the landscape, its light does not seem to penetrate this temple.
*Twin serpents of stone coil around their great pillars, their maws frozen in a menacing snarl.
*Flanked by two surly serpent-men, Baelfyr steps into the foreboding hall.
 	
*Baelfyr: Well! This is quite the temple. 
*Baelfyr: Funny I'd never noticed this before. And I've gone up and down the entire length of the beach.
 	
*Naga Guard: Ssssilence, land-walker!
*Naga Guard: Prostrate yourself in the presence of the High Priest!
 	
*Upon the dais, a slender male humanoid decked out in lavish clothing and glittering jewelry leans against an armrest.
 	
*Seeing Baelfyr approach brightens his siren-like face, and his serpentine lower body slowly uncoils in anticipation.
*Saerenthis: My. You are quite a ssssurprise to behold, human.
*Saerenthis: Not quite the grizzled old specimen I expected a leader of your kind to be...
*The High Priest slithers off his perch, and draws uncomfortably close to Baelfyr.
 	
*A shiver runs down his spine—not from fear, but from the sheer proximity of this creature.
*Baelfyr keeps his eyes trained on the undulating movement, hand resting on his dagger.
 	
*Saerenthis: At ease...or are you humans always so quick to your blades?
 	
*Saerenthis: Wasn't that what happened to the three Naga you so thoroughly interrogated?
 	
*Baelfyr: Heh. So you DO know. I suppose you know why I didn't resist being manhandled, then.
 	
*Saerenthis: I should have your pretty face torn from your skull and offered to the Abyss as retribution...
*Saerenthis: ...But I must confess, I am curious to hear what you have to say.
 	
*Baelfyr: With so much subterfuge on your part, it's clear you have no intention of outright slaughter, unlike the Voidborn.
*Baelfyr: I have little interest in whatever designs you have in the Central Province.
*Baelfyr: But it would be a shame if someone were to make these...public knowledge.
 	
*Baelfyr: And I assure you, I have plenty of resources at my disposal...whether I return or not.
 	
*Saerenthis: Hmhmhm...Clever boy.
*Saerenthis leans in and traces a cold, clawed finger along his guest's jaw.
 	
*Saerenthis: Was this how you charmed your way into the Fae sage's good graces?
 	
*Baelfyr: ... ...
 	
*Saerenthis: I smell divinity on you, land-walker. Though it doesn't mask the stench of blood on you.
*Saerenthis: I wonder if she might have enjoyed hearing about your carnage...
 	
*Baelfyr returns the gloating of his human host with a steely stare.
 	
*Saerenthis: Now...as High Priest of the Naga, only I may pardon your transgressions on behalf of our Deep Goddess.
*Saerenthis: I am willing to overlook the deaths of my three informants...
*Saerenthis: In return, I seek but one little piece: what you know about the Vale.
 	
*Baelfyr: And if I refuse?
 	
*Saerenthis: Oh, I do not believe you will, human.
 	
*Saerenthis: You are a smart boy. I trust you would rather a new friend than another enemy.
 	
*The two guards flanking Baelfyr adjust their grips on their weapons.
 	
*A faint hint of a smile creeps onto Baelfyr's face, before it hardens back into an angry mask.
 	
*Baelfyr: Tch.
 	
*Saerenthis: So, land-walker. Shall I claim your skin for our Deep Goddess...or do we have a deal?
Portrait 	Dialogue
 	
*With the proper location and attunement, Saerenthis was able to call forth a portal to the border between the Eastern Plains and the Vale.
*The Vale's barrier, weakened from the Voidborn invasion, was unable to repel the magical incursion.
*Comfortably perched near the surface of the waters, the High Priest observes the fields with a wicked smirk.
 	
*Saerenthis: By the Deep Goddess...we have finally entered this unreachable place.
*Saerenthis: Now, the time has come...
*Saerenthis: With this as our base, it will not be long before we sink this slab of land for the Abyss.
 	
*Naga Guard: Hafh'drn, if I may sssspeak... I do not trust the land-walker.
*Naga Guard: I ssssmell treachery at work.
 	
*Saerenthis: Peace, grah'n. I expected it of him, but it is a risk I am willing to suffer for such valuable information.
*Saerenthis: Whatever trickery he means to pull is of little consequence.
*Saerenthis: The Vale and the Fae are crippled. Opportunity has presented itself to us.
Music: "Dragon's Roar"	Music: "Dragon's Roar"
 	
*Naga Warrior: Kkkhhaaa!
 	
*Saerenthis: ...?!
 	
*An enormous beast with burning wings bursts from the depths of the trees, cutting a blazing swath through several Naga warriors.
*The creature's anguished roar overpowers even shouting and the clashing of weapons.
 	
*Saerenthis: Mm. And not a moment too soon.
 	
*Naga Warrior: Hafh'drn! Should we pull back?
 	
*Saerenthis: No. We shall hold our ground.
*Saerenthis: The three who perished in Her service shall be granted glory in the Abyss...
*Saerenthis: ...And so shall anyone who braves these foreign lands in Her name!
 	
*The Naga vanguard force erupts in a cacophony of frenzied hissing and howling.
*Fiery Beast: GRRROOOAAARR!!