Welcome Brothers & Sisters, come in, come in, please take a seat, you are just in time. Apologies for the makeshift surroundings, it is not as I'd like, but I’m sure you understand.

 

In today’s reading we will go all the way back to the Rift itself and look back at the very origins of our faith. To the tiny seed that grew this magnificent movement.

 

But first let us bow our heads and give praise to the Rift. May the skies open once again and bestow us unto the Final World. THE RIFT.

 

Before we begin this ‘sermon’ in earnest we must take time to remember something so very, very important. Crucial even. Brothers and Sisters, you need to hold onto the knowledge that we are the lucky ones. We are the chosen few. Us lucky souls whose ancestors were plucked from their lives all those years ago, from their toil, from the humble mundanity of their old existence, into this new, terrifying world. Embrace the fact that The Rift chose your ancestors and it chose my ancestors and so, in turn, the Rift chose you and it chose me. Never forget that Brothers and Sisters. Whenever this world drags heavy on your mind, remember that we were chosen. This world may seem like a place of hardship and death and, yes, even Trolls, but you must never, NEVER, forget that this place is nothing more than a training ground. A state of purgatory. A holding area. For we are all bound for greatness, Brothers and Sisters. And I promise you the Rift will deliver. One day It WILL open again and it WILL gather us up, all of us, delivering us unto the paradise that awaits. Into the Final World.

 

Now, I know these days can be hard to bear. We have all lost loved ones. Dear friends and beloved family. But the sacrifice will be repaid ten-fold upon our deliverance beyond the Rift.

 

Let us now turn our attention to the core of our story, back to the beginning of our journey here and the tale of our treasured founder, Granon Harr. The Sacred Voice of the Rift.

 

During his transition from the old world to the new, Granon Harr was blinded by the light of the Rift and deafened by the word of the Rift. Yet though this seemed at first like a tragic event, the Rift had in fact bestowed upon him a gift beyond value. He had been chosen to be its vessel.

 

It is known that, later in his life, Granon Harr admitted that prior to the Rift he was a man of dubious reputation. A liar and a thief, bereft of honour. And still, despite this, the Rift had chosen him to bestow with the knowledge of its true intention. His soul was opened to the divine. And through this opening this exposure to the Rift, Granon Harr was cleansed, purified.

 

And though his ears failed to hear and his eyes refused to see, he was able to determine the true nature of The Rift. He knew it was not a curse. He knew it was not a punishment. He knew it was a gift. A reward. An opportunity.

 

And so armed with this new divine wisdom, he began his teachings. But the people were confused and they were angry and they would not listen. Like all prophets he faced ridicule and abuse from the many, but thankfully, reverence and attention from a few. But despite the grave odds staked against him, he never gave up. Instead he acknowledged and embraced the heavy burden he now carried, knowing he had to save as many as possible, and carry them onto the Final World. Those who were attracted to the true word, gathered around him as flowers are drawn to the warming rays of the sun in Spring. And as more opened their ears and their hearts to the absolute truth of his teachings, the numbers swelled. His followers were able to offer him protection from the chaos of the new world and he survived off the kindness of his supporters. He slowly became revered.

 

Through his many talks and speeches he taught his congregations of 'The Purpose'. The grand plan to cleanse the Human Race of the stain of the unbelievers. He would use this new world in the same way a prospector uses a sieve to separate the rough earth from the precious metals within, leaving only the Righteous to ascend to the Final World. A paradise world where only the holders of the true faith would live for eternity in peace. All they needed to do was survive this world and be ready for when the Rift opened again. All non-believers would perish in the final transition. But do not worry if you do fall whist under the duty of The Rift, your righteous soul will still ascend to the Final World.

 

As a member of the true faith you are promised an eternal life in the Final World. All we are required to do is Survive, Thrive and Believe. SURVIVE, THRIVE AND BELIEVE.

 

And now Brothers and Sisters we come to the end of my tale and draw near to the time that you must leave this safe space, this Chapel of Truth. As you all know you brave warriors have been tasked with the job of engaging in the most brutal of actions, of preaching not with words and hymns, but with swords and axes and violence. Let it be known that truth comes in many forms. And while I know not your individual fates, I do know that when you step out into that Battle Arena to face your foe, each of you become the embodiment of not only our sacred faction, but of Granon Harr and the Rift itself. Go into this wanton, bloodied Arena and know you go with the blessing of every Brother and Sister to ever wear the white robes of the Disciples. You know your duty. Survive, thrive and Believe.

 

May the Rift protect you.