Rosalie

Voice of the Ages

Overview

Rosalie, a lost elf skilled in the harp, witnessed the transition of two eras and participated in the revival of the Order of Old Deities. After its failure, she embarked on a solitary journey. Her songs are still sung across the land.

Chapter One

(Era of Frost Veil 18104–Era of Eternal Flame 231) Rosalie's arrival on Ciaran was shrouded in mystery, her voice echoing amid battles even before dragons ruled the skies.
Her melodious music filled the city each time soldiers, weary from battling dragons, leaned against the walls.
Her music, like fresh rain, healed soldiers' wounds and stirred memories of fallen comrades, touching everyone deeply.
Her music brought sorrow to the city, yet at dawn, soldiers found courage to fight for the future.
"When sorrow fades, the new light will guide me forward!" said someone fortunate enough to have heard Rosalie's music.
Beyond sad melodies, Rosalie excelled in celebratory, heroic, and love songs, her true favorites.
Her famous mournful music, known as "the one who sings of sorrow", now carries a derogatory tone.

Chapter Two

The millennia-long Sacred Dragon War ended as the Gate of Heaven opened, offering the world rebirth.
Like her fellow bards, Rosalie sang of the Lord Deity's victories, celebrating his conquest of dragons and rise to divinity.
As Rosalie played in the streets, a petulant shout made her fingers stumble.
A blonde cleric, ignoring the crowd's complaints, passionately proclaimed the old gods' virtues, her white robes a stark contrast to the new world.
After the girl was pushed away, Rosalie, intrigued, followed her to the last church of the Ancient Faith in town.
The girl, aware of the bard's presence, loudly asked if she had come to mock her, asserting she would never abandon the last sanctuary.
But when Rosalie expressed genuine interest in the Ancient Faith, the girl raised her head high and her ponytail abruptly fell loose.
"Really? Are you truly interested in His Holiness?"
"Absolutely, as long as you keep your voice down..."
Rosalie stepped into the once-thriving church, an absurd choice amid the turmoil of the present world.
Life in the church was hard, with no donations for the old gods. They had to work, and Dorothy pushed novice cook Rosalie to learn, often with disastrous results.
Times were changing, prompting ambitions to profit from new paradigms, leading to two actions: exalting Lord Deity and denigrating Jancis..
Many ways existed to exalt Lord Deity. Rosalie funded her travels by singing hymns, and she heard the Sissiliths planned to forge a dragon's blood blade to aid Lord Deity.
Acts of denigration were more straightforward, usually involving the destruction of old temples.
Hooligans sought to cause trouble for this temple of the old faith, directly opposing Lord Deity's tenets. Dorothy was weary from driving them away, and during these times, Rosalie played inspiring tunes by the window for the exhausted girl.

Chapter Three

They accomplished something, but the old, dilapidated church could not be sustained. What was created by the old gods would be replaced by the new world.
After leaving the town, Dorothy decided to gather like-minded individuals in other towns, with Rosalie still by her side. Together, they left a faint trace across the vast continent of Mirren.
No one surpassed a bard in travel skills. They journeyed between towns, with Rosalie strumming her strings while Dorothy promoted the Ancient Faith, sharing concepts she barely understood.
Years passed before they gathered a group of Ancient Faith followers—disciples and those who felt out of place in the Age of Awakening—who joined Dorothy on her arduous journey against the tide of time.
The Faithbringers, from South to North, grew in number, advocating the merits of the old gods and illuminating lost concepts. Their pure belief shone like a beacon amidst the chaos, just before the original sins were eradicated.
Everything shifted when Lord Deity completed the reprogramming of the world, eliminating the original sins. With happiness and perfection everywhere, followers' faith dwindled.
Who could oppose the happiness that was finally within reach, especially with the scars of a millennium-long war still fresh?
As disciples dwindled, Dorothy felt powerless to stop them from pursuing happiness. "Everyone has the right to pursue happiness," one of the Ancient Faith's teachings rang true.
Their small team quickly shrank to just Dorothy and Rosalie once more.
The journey of the Faithbringers failed, leading them back to their starting point—the town. It thrived under Lord Deity's blessing, with people sporting happy smiles. Even the thugs who once cursed Dorothy now embraced her, seeking forgiveness.
Everything seemed perfect, but Dorothy felt lost. Returning to the dilapidated church, she found it transformed into a new charity house, stripped of anything related to the old gods.
Rosalie wished to leave, but Dorothy wanted to stay. The bard sensed this was the end.
She played a familiar, mournful tune for the girl who had devoted her life to a cause that had ultimately failed, but only Dorothy shed tears.
As the sun set, Rosalie left alone, hoping her friend would overcome her sorrow and find her dream.
Later, the bard's music echoed across the continent, celebrating Lord Deity, recounting the epics of heroes, and the roars of the Northern dragon…
Occasionally, when inspired, her audience would hear a new song—an ode to the stubborn girl who defied the times.

Historical Notes

Pope:
"Divine Principle" Estaria (18146–18189, Era of Eternal Flame) was a virtuous girl born in the slums. Gifted with remarkable healing abilities, she used her powers selflessly. When the corrupt Church was overthrown, Estaria was chosen as Pope due to her moral standing. She swiftly adapted to the role, implementing measures to protect citizens from dragon invasions and aiding those impoverished by war. After the "Truth of the Dragons" was revealed, public anger turned against the Church, and Estaria was sentenced to be burned at the stake. However, she escaped execution with the aid of her loyal maid, Felgana.

Dorothy:
Dorothy (18183–42, Era of Eternal Flame) was a girl from the slums, briefly adopted before returning to her roots. She idolized Pope Estaria and aspired to be as compassionate as her. After learning of the Church's downfall, Dorothy joined its remnants, attempting to revive the Order of Old Deities. Though the campaign had fleeting successes, it ultimately failed. After parting ways with Rosalie, Dorothy dedicated her life to an orphanage established within a former church, caring for homeless children.

Teachings of the Ancient Faith:
The Church of Jancis, under Pope Estaria, promoted the doctrine of "Everyone has the right to pursue happiness." Estaria revised several rules to make the teachings more relevant to the common people, restoring the Church's reputation. After her death, these texts were burned, leaving only the core principle of "happiness" by the time of Dorothy's birth.

Rebirth of the Northern Dragon:
In the early Era of Eternal Flame, a girl named Ottilia (188–224, Era of Eternal Flame) from the Sissilith family of the old northern aristocracy transformed into a dragon. When she was reborn, the entire northern region reportedly heard the thunderous roar of the ancient dragon, heralding the return of a terrifying power.