The Supreme Loneliness

I have united the twelve tribes of Un’Kabaal.

I have liberated Tarana from its tyrannical emperor.

I have cured Stagnum from Draconian toxicity.

I have defeated the united forces of the Alibrii Houses.

I have vanquished the Ogre King who ruled Dektundra.

I have slain the one who believed himself to be the true Supreme Lord.

The Sarcadians, who once revered me as their ruler, now worship me as their God.

The Caelestials, who once thought me a worthless mortal, now respect me as their superior.

I am Sarcadia.

I am Caelum.

I am the All-Father.

I am…

I am alone.

I sit upon a golden throne in the middle of a golden room within my golden palace and I cannot help but wonder: “Is this it?”

When I removed Vratralarion’s head from his body, I felt a joy I had not experienced for many years.

You may think I relished in the death of my enemy, but you are mistaken.

The joy I speak of was the notion of being reunited with those I loved.

My father.

My mother.

My sisters.

And Leesha, my love.

To be reunited with you and our children. You who were all cruelly robbed from me, before we could be a family.

Oh, how I miss her.

Oh, how I miss all of them.

Spending an eternity with my family filled me with a happiness I long desired to feel again.

But the bliss was stolen and replaced by a sorrow I long to rid myself of.

My beloved isn’t here, nor my family, friends, and those who died by my side.

They never were here.

They never will be here.

They are gone.

Forever.

“There is no afterlife for a Sarcadian. Once they die, there is nothing.”

The Caelestials were so cold to me, but to them it simply was reality.

Loneliness – that is my reality.

I have sat here by myself for years thinking about what is next.

I have conquered two realms, yet I am unsatisfied.

I could subjugate more realms, but what joy would that bring?

Winnings wars without a purpose is nothing but a distraction.

Who will celebrate my victories with me?

The Caelestials, who adorn me with praise out of fear?

The Sarcadians, who pay tribute to me with the expectation of ascending to a life of immortality?

If only I could celebrate my conquest of Sarcadia and Caelum with the ones who I long to see again.

My sisters. My mother.

My father. My wife.

My children…

Children… Yes. Of course.

I have been so focused on my ambition to unify Sarcadia I forgot I desired a family.

What is an All-Father without children to call his own?

I recall seeing my old friend Shintaro relishing the presence of his grandchildren.

I remember the proud smile he bore whenever he spoke of his children during our war against the tyrant Uro Ido.

A family.

That is what I need to be whole again.

I have nothing left to conquer.

I accept that I shall never see those who have gone before me again, but I must not allow my sorrow for them to keep me in darkness forever.

They would want me to do what will make me happy.

They would never want me to waste away over what could have been.

They shall always have a place in my heart.

It is time to rid myself from this loneliness that plagues me.

It is time for me to become the father I have longed desired to be.

— “The Atriarch Monologues: The Supreme Loneliness”, Bruce Boward, 214 AO

An Introduction to the Eternal Monologues

The Eternal Monologues are a collection of shorts written by Bruce Boward, a famousHart musician, poet, and writer. The Eternal Monologues focus on Sarcadia’s “Eternal Trinity” who are:

• Atriarch, the All-Father
• Elysia, the Dark Mother
• Octavian, the Fallen Son.

Bruce Boward had travelled throughout Hartland entertaining crowds with his music and poetry. In 214 AO, at only the age of eighteen, Bruce Boward began performing the “Atriarch Monologues” which focused on key events or moments experienced by the All-Father following his ascension to Caelum.

Bruce’s work was well received and heavily praised by the Atri-Supremus Church for his depiction of Atriarch. Bruce decided to print his work, which saw him earn a small fortune. He was invited to read his work in churches and in major cities throughout Sarcadia.

Inspired by the positive feedback and from the enjoyment he was spreading, Bruce began working on his next series of monologues. On 216 AO, the “Elysia Monologues” were performed and published throughout Sarcadia. Bruce saw his pockets lined healthy with coin from the high volume of immediate sales, but the reception was mixed.

The Atri-Supremus Church immediately destroyed the copies they purchased and accused Bruce of portraying Elysia as a sympathetic figure. Many people still enjoyed Bruce’s work and praised him for being bold. Bruce accepted criticism from everyone and explained everyone’s story needed to be heard, just as much as everyone’s opinion needed to be heard.

Bruce continued to travel throughout Sarcadia though he was banned from performing in any of the Atri-Supremus Church buildings. The famous writer would begin work towards the end of 217 AO on his third and final set of monologues. Everyone, including the Atri-Supremus Church, was eager to see who the focus would be.

The “Octavian Monologues” were released in 218 AO to widespread outrage. Many people believed Bruce has romanticised vampires, which were becoming an increasing threat against Sarcadians. Bruce attempted to defend himself again using the same reasoning behind the Elysia Monologues, but his work was officially deemed to be blasphemous by the Atri-Supremus Church.

Despite the negative backlash, Bruce managed to avoid any wrathful punishment from the Atri-Supremus Church. The money he made from the series was enough to last him until the end of his days. The Eternal Monologues are now extremely rare and highly valuable as a result of people destroying their copies by order of the church.

Atriarch Monologues

1. The Supreme Loneliness
2. A Renewed Hope
3. First Born Dead
4. Birth of Happiness
5. Sarcadia Cleansed
6. A Father’s Happiness
7. Another Son Lost

Elysia Monologues

1. The Supreme Conception
2. A Blasphemous Whore
3. Chatting with the Chatterer
4. All Hail the Dark Mother
5. The Supreme Weakness
6. A Curse Conjured
7. Another Stolen Son

Octavian Monologues

1. Just Like Father
2. Battle of Former Lovers
3. A Wounded World
4. Sarcadia Beckons
5. The Wounded Maiden
6. A Bloody Consummation
7. The Fall of the Son