Gate of Memoirs/Domination

Saskya looks for her archenemy, and unexpectedly finds two.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Pulse"	Music: "Pulse"
 	
*Back outside, Saskya leads Tevarius and Sero-Anya down a different set of stone steps.
 	
*The monk, tall and imposing as she had seemed at first glance, exuded an air of amiability.
 	
*Tevarius: Thank you. If it wasn't for your intervention, I fear we might have been thrown out without any sort of an audience at all.
 	
*Saskya: Think nothing of it. My Lady, she...means well. 
*Saskya: If nothing else, the least we can do is keep visitors safe from the Naga.
*Saskya throws a look back over her shoulder, a small smile reaching her eyes.
*Saskya: I take it that we can trust you. Yes?
 	
*Tevarius: You're...pretty straightforward.
 	
*Saskya: In my old tribe, we are taught to follow our intuition and the spirits.
*Saskya: Especially a druk.
 	
*Tevarius: A what?
 	
*Saskya: A dragon spirit. You are one, aren't you?
*Saskya: It shows. Your aura is strong.
 	
*The party continues down the winding steps in silence before Saskya stops abruptly before a landing.
 	
*Saskya: We've arrived.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Snow Poem"	Music: "Snow Poem"
 	
*The stairs fade away, and the lingering sunset from the peaks disappears entirely.
*It's as if the entire plane had shifted—somewhat jarringly—into a whole other realm.
*Glittering, broken tiles fan out in haphazard arrays across the cold soil, which drops away into a nearly endless ravine.
*In the distance, surrounded by swirls of mist and the lazy drifting of phantom lanterns,
*is an immense tiered tower similar to the Pagoda of P'an-ku.
 	
*Sero-Anya: Wh-Whoa...
 	
*Sero-Anya: Wait, this is...the underworld?
 	
*Saskya: Indeed. A reflection of life, you could call it.
*Saskya: The turmoils of the surface world are reflected below in Di'yu, where souls find their respite.
*Saskya: Beyond a certain point, it is dangerous for the living to remain here.
*Saskya: The unsettled dead siphon all life force without mercy.
 	
*Sero-Anya: A-Are we supposed to go in?
 	
*Saskya: Stay by my side and I will make sure no harm comes to you.
 	
*Saskya: As gatekeeper, I walk between the realms of life and death, though I cannot fully exist in one or the other.
 	
*Tevarius: Are you...not mortal?
 	
*Saskya: ...Many years ago, I was...a violent, tyrannous warrior.
*Saskya: My tribe beseeched N'an-Wang-Mu for her aid, and it was determined that my soul was overwhelmingly tainted—imbalanced.
 	
*Saskya: When I came to, I could hardly remember anything. The Queen Mother took me in and named me gatekeeper of this place.
*Saskya: I was later told that...the resulting soul-rift that separated my bloodlust was so powerful, all that was left was my diminished shell.
 	
*Saskya: Heh. In some ways, I suppose it is penance for all the innocents I have slain in cold blood.
 	
*Sero-Anya: That's just like...the lady in purple...inside of me.
*Sero-Anya: I know her name. I...I remember.
 	
*Sero-Anya: ...Ensa-Taya.
*Sero-Anya visibly shivers, having uttered the name of that most painful and buried memory.
 	
*Tevarius squeezes her hand in reassurance, knowing full well how destructive the force lingering in her small frame is.
*If the Leviathan's fate was only a small taste of things to come, an uncontrollable Sero-Anya would be a nightmare.
 	
*Saskya: If I wish to protect this land alongside my Lady, I must face the shadows of my past.
*Saskya: Too many souls have come here, victims of a violent upheaval in the world above. I...will not let this continue.
 	
*Saskya: I cannot do without that which once made my blood burn and sing...
*Saskya: Perhaps in my struggles, you will find a way to reconcile yours, little one.
 	
*Saskya: I hope you will find the strength to make amends...whatever that may be.
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Though the rivers of Di'yu pool here from the many ravines, their trickling is lost among the cavernous walls.
*Saskya motions for Tevarius and Sero-Anya to stay near the perimeter of this chamber while she investigates.
*A suffocating sense of dread permeates this particular area.
 	
*Tevarius: Sero, don't let go of my hand.
 	
*Sero-Anya: O-Okay.
 	
*Giving Tevarius a nod, Saskya steels herself and calls out into the gloom.
 	
*Saskya: It's me. Show yourself.
 	
*Even the minute trickling stops abruptly, leaving behind soft breathing—or merely the sighing of an underworld breeze.
*A glowing pair of eyes, narrowed in wicked amusement, steps out of the darkness.
Portrait 	Dialogue
 	
*The figure circles the monk in a predatory fashion, as if sizing her up.
*She looked almost identical to Saskya—if not for those cruel eyes, ashen skin, and threads of darkness clinging to her body.
*A palpable aspect of darkness, manifested in flesh.
*At Saskya's steely glare, her doppelganger merely grins in response.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Hoooh.
Music: "Nothingness"	Music: "Nothingness"
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Look who came crawling back at last.
 	
*Without warning, the dark aspect steps forward and crushes Saskya's jaw in a bruising grip, before the monk shoves her back.
 	
*Saskya: ... ...
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Finally unsatisfied being a doormat to this dump of a place?
*Shadow of Saskya: I thought as much.
*Shadow of Saskya: Look at you, trembling in your boots. And to think you could do without *us*!
 	
*Saskya dodges the right hook, but barely manages to block the knee to her stomach.
 	
*Saskya: Khh!
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Hey, put up more of a fight. You've really lost your touch.
*Shadow of Saskya: At least there's a couple more people in here I could waste.
*The dark aspect turns her attention to the corner, and Tevarius immediately readies himself.
 	
*Tevarius: Don't you dare—
 	
*Tevarius: Aagh!
 	
*Someone strikes the dragon spirit from behind, sending him buckling to his knees.
*Another doppelganger of Saskya cracks her knuckles and grins unsettlingly, looming over the now panicking Sero-Anya.
 	
*Sero-Anya: Aaahh!! TEV!!
 	
*Sero-Anya: I'll kill you! I'll—
*Sero-Anya: AAHHHH!!!
 	
*Sero-Anya: Uughhh...!
*Sero-Anya: (No...I can't...If I lose control...)
*Sero-Anya: (What should I do?!)
 	
*The dark aspect's voice seemed to echo, as if a second person was speaking in unison.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Tch. Keep quiet and we'll consider letting you live...
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Just so you can suffocate slowly in here.
*Shadow of Saskya: You'll be among the dead soon enough.
 	
*Saskya: Two of you...?! Why?!
 	
*Saskya: Aah...gh...
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Because you let yourself be torn apart by that meddling goddess!
*Shadow of Saskya: You should have killed the elders when you had the chance. Silenced anyone who dared to call for her aid!
*Shadow of Saskya: We were INDOMITABLE!
 	
*Saskya continues to evade the increasingly vicious blows, but her stamina pales against her dark aspect.
*Dodging away from those furious strikes and kicks would only put so much distance between them.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Coward. Run! Run with your tail between your legs!
*Shadow of Saskya: We'll find you. And we'll DESTROY you.
*Shadow of Saskya: This world is ruled by the strong. You were a fool to forget that.
*With a terrible snarl, the dark aspect grabs Saskya by her collar, fist poised for a deadly strike.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: DIE!
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Hmph.
*Shadow of Saskya: So you *do* remember how to fight.
 	
*Saskya: What can I say? It's...in our blood.
*Saskya breaks free and shifts into a stance, eyes fixed on the opponent before her.
 	
*Saskya: I won't shrink away from you anymore. I need closure.
Music: "To Comrades"	Music: "To Comrades"
 	
*Saskya: This time...hate shall not drive me.
 	
*The dark aspect rolls her neck and throws out a taunting hand.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: Come on. Give us a good show.
 	
*Shadow of Saskya: We can't wait to reclaim our place in the Plateaus...as the greatest warrior that ever lived.
 	
*Saskya: I won't allow you that satisfaction. Never again.
 	
*Saskya: UUKHAI!