This festival so far has been a great learning experience about many of the Divine and Their histories. During the latest Divine Showcase, Lady Pandora's event didn't go into much about Her history. She instead focused on this new quest. I'd like to encourage everyone to take some time to research Lady Pandora's history before committing to joining "The Quest for Divinity." Appended to this post is a transcript of the earlier Divine Showcase. It may also be of interest for those of you wishing to join the event.

-Laorir D'lajess

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Lady Pandora shouted, "Mortals of Sapience! For too long you have been powerless and helpless, but today is the chance to RISE above. Visit My tent in the fair to change your fate once and for all. If you waste your time hunting instead of coming to this, you will definitely regret it."

When all had gathered, She spoke, "Very well, that is probably most people who are smart enough to not ruin their lives. Are any of you familiar with the Twin Prophecies?"

A few people gave negative replies before Eoka spoke, "It is the prophecy of Chaos and Order. Sinope and Callisto." and Moroa added "What Eoka said. But it was a -- confusingly just one -- prophecy that Maya would bear twins, who would become more powerful than the Aldar."

Lady Pandora continued, "Yes, and what were these twins? Humans. Humanity would one day rise and rival the Aldar, so the prophecies claimed. And yet you are little more than rats in the cosmic scale so far. The other mortal races are not much better off. Every day you run around and fight your crusades and your wars and kill each other, but have no real power to influence Creation. Does that satisfy you? Of course not! It would satisfy no one. Your lives are sad and pathetic. But what if I told you this could change? It can change right here, right now."

She then went on to state, "I need no golden sovereigns for what I am about to offer you. But it is still the deal of a lifetime, I am sure! What I offer you today is what has been kept from you for milennia! For eons you have been stomped on, trodden upon! You were nothing, but now you will be something! I am offering you what I call... R.I.S.E.: Quest for Divinity. The only price will be YOUR HARD WORK!"

Meloi asked, "Wh- Does R.I.S.E stand for something..."

Lady Pandora replied: "Trade secret. You will find out if you do well. You think many things, as mortals, most are wrong. What is the source of Divinity?"

After numerous answers were given, Lady Pandora continued, "About half of those were correct-ish. But no, it is Essence. And up until now, Essence was forever out of your reach!"

Bunni asked, "Are we making our own shrine.." Lady Pandora replied, "Yes, actually."

Pajak asked, "Will we be offering corpses to ourselves?" Lady Pandora responded "No. You will need others to offer to you. Only logical. However, there are some limitations. Try as I might, you are incredibly frail, so it would be very dangerous for you to amass too many direct worshipers. But maybe that is getting ahead of ourselves. Today, I intend to put the first of you on this path."

Then Lady Pandora addressed Kinilan, "For many years, you have been loyal." Then a beam of light came down and engulfed him. She continued, "All of you, focus your faith upon Kinilan. The first step for any divinity will be to raise a shrine of your very own."

Kinilan erected a small mud shrine at that location.

Lady Pandora then said, "Excellent. This shrine will be Kinilan's. As he grows in power, so will the shrine grow in beauty. However. Kinilan will first need his 'Order'"

At this point Cerenea joined Kinilan's order. And Pandora said to Kinilan, "Your first Order member. It is up to you to pick the second."

She continued to the rest of us, "Now, there are some limitations as I said. As mortals, you will only be able to have two people in your Order. But, here is the kicker! Your Order members can have their own Order! So someone can now pledge to Cerenea, and so on. You may only pledge to one. One of the limitations for mortals is you need a focus. So you will all be tied to Kinilan remotely. Like Beldaran's family tree. However. As you gain your own essence, you will be able to rise in powers, too. Eventually you will gain mighty Divine powers such as the ability to zap mortals. I think zapping people is more worthwhile than valerian. Be sure to pick your followers well. You will need lots of essence to grow in power! You can all be kings if you work hard enough. Just because you are pledged to someone does not mean you cannot form your own Order ethos."

Aodfionn cautioned, "Surely most mortals are smarter than to be conned into working their self-interest at the prospect of a few shiny trinkets and privileges."

To which Lady Pandora replied, "Divinity is a lot more than trinkets. It is what separates the haves and the have-nots. Just because you all descend from Kinilan does not mean you have to care about him. Even just a drop of Divine essence os enough."

Yen noted, "But he is first. Is he not guaranteed to win?"

Lady Pandora answered, "It is not a contest. You can all gain Divine powers. You are ALL winners! So long as you sign up for RISE, that is."






Penned by my hand on the 17th of Lupar, in the year 897 AF.