Book excerpt: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ORATORIA... The clock ticks dangerously close to the beginning of the final battle. No matter who wins, who loses, who lives, who dies, there will be no glory or riches for the taking. Those who fall shall not be remembered in the annals of history, joining the long funeral procession snaking around the heavens. Even so, the adventurers plan to stand strong against the greatest evil the world has seen in a thousand years. Having come to terms with their fate, they prepare for the ultimate struggle-for pride, for solidarity, for justice, for restoring peace on the mortal realm...