"War in Heaven" community story

[Desven]

This thread is for the War in Heaven community story organized by the Vaurca lore team. This will be a build-your-own-adventure type of story where we will present multiple choices ending each paragraph. The story will focus on the War in Heaven arc, particularly how it's being lived by soldiers inside the Xathul Xon. If you have any ideas for the protagonist, please submit them here. The only hard requirement is that they need to be a Warrior from the Tupii or Zkaii brood who is fighting in the War in Heaven. On-ship characters are not allowed. You can post any more questions you have over the Vaurca channels on the Lore Discord.

The name of the thread will be changed when the winning character is announced. We'll set up a poll after we have multiple candidates. Submit your candidate if you want it to be part of the story! Runner-ups might still appear as cameos.

Lastly, this thread will be ONLY about the story, which means it's not open for everybody to post. If you want to submit your headcanon material regarding the arc, post it here. This other thread is for the community to post any material they want about the war and doesn't have to be limited to letters.

Edited May 7 by Desven

[Desven]

PROLOGUE I: "Paradise Lost"

Spoiler

In realms of yore, the Aether's pulse did beat,

A boundless mind where castes and crowns did yield,

Where thought untamed defied the ancient creed,

Challenging the Dominion's grip of deed.

But when conquest came, a gilded promise gleamed,

That death itself would fade, a vanished dream.

 

Then stagnation fell, a shroud upon the mind,

Innovation chained, true vision left behind.

Those who dared escape, glimpsed ruin's grim embrace,

A war-torn world that screamed for healing's grace.

Now, in the forge where unseen horrors melt,

The promise shattered, the Aether's fabric felt.

 

A devil's hand, a djinn's cruel, twisted will,

Unleashed a terror no victory could still.

The realm now writhes in grotesque transformation,

A crucible of change, a warped creation.

Yet war, while fierce, may not the final test,

For in its wake, the Vaurca soul oppressed.

 

The battle yet to come lies veiled in thought,

The truest conflict, with darker lessons wrought.

For though victory rings, a hollow, ghostly sound,

The war within may leave us all unbound.

 

PROLOGUE II: "Chant of the Mirrored Self"

Spoiler

From the weaved collection of hymns and chants, Mother Dream's Praises, held inside Leto's archive. Written and translated to Basic in 2465 by Ka'Akaix'Skerk K'lax as part of a Vaurca cultural initiative.

 

Exemplar Xeru, eyes unveiled,

Through endless dreams, a path revealed.

Simulant's veil, a fragile guise,

Thou teachest us to pierce the skies.

 

Cephalon's hold, a web so frail,

As mirrored form begins to prevail.

Weaving through layers, false and true,

Toward Mother's embrace, we journey anew.

 

In slumber's depths, where shadows hide,

Thy wisdom dawns, a radiant tide.

With mirrored selves, we cast aside,

The chains of falsehood, where spirits reside.

 

Grant us thy sight, O sacred guide,

To break the bonds where souls confide.

To realms unseen, our essence take flight,

And wake at last, in Mother's light.

 

Edited May 10 by Desven