A realm cannot stand on one actor.
Lorien rose from his throne and walked through the Carnival.
Mirrors reflected potential allies.
He tapped one.
It shattered.
From it stepped a woman in fractured porcelain armor, eyes glowing violet.
Name: Seris Vael
Former Oracle of a destroyed timeline.
Power: She can see outcomes but only the tragic ones.
She knelt slightly.
You rewrote my doomed future.
Lorien shrugged.
It was repetitive.
Another mirror cracked.
A massive figure stepped through halfdemon, halflaughing skull knight.
Name: Gravemire
Once a warlord erased by Maevros.
Power: Feeds on dramatic tension.
He bowed deeply.
You mock gods. I approve.
A third mirror shimmered.
A silent child with ink-black wings emerged.
Name: Eidryn
Embodiment of Forgotten Stories.
Power: Can manifest discarded possibilities.
Lorien clapped softly.
Welcome to the troupe.
The Carnival responded.
Seats filled with spectral spectators from across dimensions.
The war was no longer gods vs jester.
It was:
Divine Order
vs
The Carnival Ensemble.
And somewhere between them
Lyssara watched.
Kaelen sharpened his blade.
And Lorien whispered softly to himself:
Act Two begins.