Deliverance of The Falling Star

A song that tells of the fall of the city of Orinene which had been a seat of light and hope in the Radiarch of Ondelenia as it kept The Gloom power at bay, only to be corrupted by from within. The light would see it wiped from the earth as a Starfall would come to see its wickedness cleansed.

Historical Basis

Most records of the city of Orinene have been lost since the Sundering that split the land of Ondelenia into two removing much of the knowledge that the city once held and the lands surrounding it. Yet all remember the tale of the cataclysmic Dark Times that covered the land with one man being responsible for it, for it was none other the Radiarch Esteban the Tainted that ruled during that time and fell to the Glooms power. In a matter of days, the city fell as its people turned into Gloomspawn and began to spread across the land and consumed all in their path. While few survived the city's fate, one chose to stay behind to confront Esteban for his betrayal, and it would be none other than his twin sister Catalina Starbright.

by Jester%

While none would live to tell of what happened that night, many believed that Catalina was no match for her brother despite being a Radiant as well as the power of darkness surrounding her with no chance of success. But in her hour of desperation, she prayed to the Spark to deliver salvation and defeat this evil that was her brother. It was through her purity that the spark answered as it brought down a Star Fall that would destroy the city and the Gloomspawn hordes with its great light, saving the land from complete annihilation. However, this would also cause the land to break apart in an event that would be forever known as the Sundering with the lands that broke away from the continent no longer seeing themselves as part of Ondelenia and forming their own culture and creating the Radiarch of Renden that stands to this day.
As for those involved in the event, Esteban the Tainted was forever marked stain upon the Radiarch name and used as a reminder to all that even a Radiant is not immune to the powers of the Gloom and can easily become a slave to it if they allow their desires to get the better of them. As for Catalina, despite the destruction she brought, her sacrifice save the land from an evil that could have spread across the continent if Esteban remained in power. Her name would forever remain a beacon of light and would be given the status of Starward, to forever defend the world from the stars and keep the Gloom in check. A festival would also be celebrated in her honor known as the Star Gazing Festival for all to gaze upon the stars in the night sky and be reminded that light can be found even in the darkest of places and the woman that gave so much to ensure that it remained.

Spread

Much of the song is known mainly in the regions of Ondelenia and Renden being at the center of the events that transpired so long ago. It is often sung by many children that learn from just about anyone as both children and adults know it well enough to pass it down to others. Though it has found its way into other Radiarchys, they are less common there as they have no real significance to the people living there.

Cultural Reception

Since the fall of Orinene, many in the Congregation of the Eternal Spark have seen the dangers of allowing a Radiarch like Esteban to rule unchallenged. To avoid another catastrophe from happing again the Coronation of the New Dawn was created to test Radiants and ensure that only those who are pure and strong-willed have the right to rule.

In Art

The tale of the star fall that saved the land would eventually turn into a children's song, though most people never knew who exactly created it. While it may seem dark, it is often used as a reminder that even the brightest of lights can be consumed by darkness if one does not remain vigilant when it is near. For it will always be a reminder of a time when things were much different than they are now so that it may never be forgotten no matter how much time has passed.

Related Species

• Emberan

Related Organizations

• Radiarchy of Ondelenia

In the great city where the light dwelled,
laid hidden darkness that no one knew it held
It festered and spread, as its poison spread
Only for the people to be consumed by its dread
In the heart of darkness, the wicked city thrived,
A place where shadows danced and evil souls connived.
But from a desperate prayer, a falling star appeared,
Its descent brought destruction, the city was gripped with fear. A celestial light, with justice in its wake,

To cleanse the wickedness, no mercy would it take.
The star burned with fury, a celestial fire bright,
To purge the city's darkness, to set things back to right. Oh, falling star, a harbinger of fate,
Your celestial fury, no evil could abate.
You descend upon the city, with righteous might,
Destroying wickedness, within your radiant sight.
The buildings crumbled, as the star drew near,
Unleashing cleansing light, erasing all that's insincere.
Corruption turned to ashes, the tyrant lost their hold,
Their empire of gloom, forever to be foretold.
Oh, falling star, deliverance from above,
A symbol of divinity, with power to transform and shove.
The city's people, both wicked and pressed,
Found solace in your purity, as you put their souls to rest.
Oh, falling star, a harbinger of fate,
Your celestial fury, no evil could abate.
You descend upon the city, with righteous might,
Destroying wickedness, within your radiant sight.
As the dust settled, a new dawn began to rise,
From the ruins emerged hope, shining in their eyes.
The falling star had done its part, justice was served,
A wicked city's demise, a lesson to be preserved.