--- deliantra/server/pod/books.pod 2007/01/02 22:47:40 1.6 +++ deliantra/server/pod/books.pod 2007/02/26 16:47:54 1.12 @@ -294,13 +294,13 @@ =head2 Volume VI: Sixth Millenia EK -5524 EK: The Meteomage Grab of Ledh fails an experiment, making the weather mad for a while, an event remembered as “The Weather Madness”. +5524 EK: The Meteomage Grab of Ledh fails an experiment, making the weather mad for a while, an event remembered as "The Weather Madness". Late LVIth Century EK: The Great Schism between the Simplifists led by Mish the Toon and the Stabilists: The Sedition Wars. 5581 EK: Battle of the Glowing Crystal: the Order of the Careful Coders is disbanded. -5598 EK: The Simplifists exile themselves into the Pocket Dimension of Daï-Moh-Nî, “The World With a Future”, in Ancient Daigojij Language. +5598 EK: The Simplifists exile themselves into the Pocket Dimension of Daï-Moh-Nî, "The World With a Future", in Ancient Daigojij Language. =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. @@ -325,6 +325,24 @@ 8009 EK: Euthville is destroyed. +=head1 The Sultanate of Darcap + +Isolated from the rest of the region by an extensive mountain range to the +south, and possessing a massive natural harbour, Darcap is a small, but +easily defensible town, dominated by a pair of powerful guilds. The town +is also noted for its circus, whose reputation draws visitors from all +over the world. + + +=head1 Santo Dominion + +Santo Dominion sits in a small bay to the north of Scorn. It is an +important port of call for ships travelling to and from Scorn and is +also somewhat famous for its Opera and its Litle House of Horrors, two +magnificent cultural buildings you would not expect in so small a town as +Santo Dominion. + + =head1 Euthville History The Ruins of Euthville can be found just off the Imperial Highway north of @@ -337,7 +355,7 @@ =head2 Past and Destruction -Ah, Euthville - “City of the Pearl”, in Old Hemdalite, has indeed a +Ah, Euthville - "City of the Pearl", in Old Hemdalite, has indeed a rather sad story!! If you went there about half a millenia ago, you’d have seen something @@ -382,16 +400,16 @@ of the city, playing with his flute, laughing whenever he saw one of the demonstrations the powerful wizards and engineers failing again and again. -After several days, the Commander noticed the Boy, and said: “who -are you to laugh, you, who has only a flute ?” “I have only a +After several days, the Commander noticed the Boy, and said: "who +are you to laugh, you, who has only a flute ?" "I have only a flute for sure - but there’s more in my simple pipe than in those -legions of wizards.” “Really ?” said the Commander, half-laughing, -half-curious, “so you think you can solve my challenge ?” +legions of wizards." "Really ?" said the Commander, half-laughing, +half-curious, "so you think you can solve my challenge ?" -The Boy smiled. “Not only I can, but I shall - and my price will be -quite acceptable to give you the energy you need.” “And that would -be...?” - “A new pipe.” came the reply “That one is becoming -old.” “Agree, you have your chance.” +The Boy smiled. "Not only I can, but I shall - and my price will be +quite acceptable to give you the energy you need." "And that would +be...?" - "A new pipe." came the reply "That one is becoming +old." "Agree, you have your chance." The Boy then started to play an amused melody. It sounded like an invitation to a great feast, the opening of a meeting where everybody was @@ -400,9 +418,9 @@ leaving a great hole from which flames emerged. But the fire seemed to dance at the rythm of the music itself. -The Boy then said to the Commander: “As long as you keep playing for +The Boy then said to the Commander: "As long as you keep playing for the Demons there, at least 23 hours each day, you’ll get them to make -whatever you need.” And he gave them the score, took a brand new silver +whatever you need." And he gave them the score, took a brand new silver flute, and left, and never was seen again at Euthville. At first, things seemed fine, and the Commander couldn’t believe his @@ -464,8 +482,8 @@ Euthville, Farkennis, as a gift for the 18th Birthday of his daughter, Sannista. That’s the boat that was stolen by Fax when he fled from Euthville, and that he used to get to Khelens. Giusitta the Verbous then -sailed it back to the Continent, and hid it “somewhere in the mountains -of Euth”. +sailed it back to the Continent, and hid it "somewhere in the mountains +of Euth". So I *guess* she would have put it there, although I’m not *sure*. Many people thought the story was speaking about the mountains just east of the @@ -479,24 +497,24 @@ the various names of this, our World. In this tome I wrote down all my knowledge. Be careful with it, else it might overwhelm you, as it did me! -In Khelens and most of its territories, it was named “The Earth”, -while the major western landmass was called “The Continent” while the +In Khelens and most of its territories, it was named "The Earth", +while the major western landmass was called "The Continent" while the eastern landmass was called "the Wilderness". -Fendrakis used “Raxida”, which is also the name they gave to the Fox +Fendrakis used "Raxida", which is also the name they gave to the Fox Lady, Mother of All Things, deity. -Elves traditionally use “Eänella”, which translates as “The Land of -Green” +Elves traditionally use "Eänella", which translates as "The Land of +Green" -Dwarves of Khorolizov use “Herdankaupf”, “Country of the Horses”, +Dwarves of Khorolizov use "Herdankaupf", "Country of the Horses", which is a reference to their mythology (see the legend of the Twelve Days for that) -The Orcish name is “Knâgsh-Ishzeh”, “Rotten Branch” +The Orcish name is "Knâgsh-Ishzeh", "Rotten Branch" -The people of the Old Wall, used the name “Harinappa”, “Bottom of -the Pit”, to designate the world. +The people of the Old Wall, used the name "Harinappa", "Bottom of +the Pit", to designate the world. Most people nowadays use the old Khelenti name ("The Earth") or its direct translation in local languages/idioms. @@ -543,7 +561,7 @@ =head1 History of Lake Country -Lake Country originaly was where the elves who where exiled from the north +Lake Country originally was where the elves who where exiled from the north by the kings of Scorn, during the Vth millenia EK. They named the area Vkovzerov. The major elven city of Vkovzerov was Tashkeren-tah. It was destroyed by a Water arch-elemental in 4453EK. @@ -727,11 +745,11 @@ On the Third world, of course, none of the resident Gods wanted to cooperate with the other. Both created their own races: the God who fought for darkness created many kinds of fierce, brutal monsters he named -“Demons”, while the God who fought for light created many kinds of -skillful, swift warriors he named “Angels”. Befittingly, these Gods +"Demons", while the God who fought for light created many kinds of +skillful, swift warriors he named "Angels". Befittingly, these Gods were named by their enemies, and not their followers: the demons gave the -light god the name of “Valriel“, and the angels gave their enemy god -the name “Gorokh“. +light god the name of "Valriel", and the angels gave their enemy god +the name "Gorokh". And on the Fourth world, the patron Gods kept true to their philosophy and created not one, but innumerable races, in the hope that one of these @@ -856,8 +874,8 @@ His new companions and servants. And as soon as Valriel had millions of new companions and servants, Gorokh -said, “so now you won’t need me anymore, I can leave and find my own -companions and servants”. And this made Valriel unhappy because He was +said, "so now you won’t need me anymore, I can leave and find my own +companions and servants". And this made Valriel unhappy because He was the only and true Lord, but Gorokh wouldn’t recognize that, and so it was Gorokh who eventually taught men to rule over other men instead of paying respect to the one true ruler of all. @@ -978,8 +996,8 @@ new companions and servants. And as soon as Valriel had millions of new companions and servants, Gorokh -said, “so now you won’t need me anymore, I can leave and find my own -companions and servants”. And this made Valriel unhappy because he +said, "so now you won’t need me anymore, I can leave and find my own +companions and servants". And this made Valriel unhappy because he believed he should be only and true Lord, but Gorokh couldn’t agree to that, and so it was Gorokh who eventually taught men to rule over themselves instead of paying respect to one self-appointed ruler of all. @@ -1040,7 +1058,7 @@ upon the task of killing all the most valuables of Gorokh they could find. Gorokh was consumed with sorrow, and devised a way to spare these faithful servants, by allowing them to raise again from the grave even -after their deaths. But the servants of Valriel found these “un-dead” +after their deaths. But the servants of Valriel found these "un-dead" an even greater abomination, and set forth to hunt them, and Valriel delighted in the war and carnage that ensued. @@ -1082,7 +1100,7 @@ of Ore and Forge and himself. Till he decided it was time to start forging. And then, first of all, he forged time, so that he could separate after from before, and so that he could exist absolutely - as opposed to, -at the same “time”, existing and not being created yet, which was the +at the same "time", existing and not being created yet, which was the case if time didn’t exist. Then, with things in order, he began forging things. The first thing he @@ -1192,7 +1210,7 @@ popularity of the city, Skud didn’t found it: it was in fact created by Tabb the Dark, a Builder that left very little information about him behind. According to the Codex Skudensis that was discovered in the depths -of the Old City, “Scorn” would have been the real name of Tabb the +of the Old City, "Scorn" would have been the real name of Tabb the Dark. @@ -1284,7 +1302,7 @@ barbarians that lived there. The elvish people fled, and many of them settled in a place they called -Vkovzerov, “The Country of the Three Waters”, as it was a rather +Vkovzerov, "The Country of the Three Waters", as it was a rather unique meeting point between a river, a lake, and the sea. There they enjoyed a great prosperity, working with the local sprites to build Tashkeren-tah, The City of the Wooden Towers. @@ -1310,20 +1328,20 @@ carefulness. Using their most powerful summoning spell, they convocated one of the Greater Aquomons before them. -“Who are you, you creatures with pointy ears, to dare awaken me from my -dreams, me, Vërno, the Fourth Drop ?” +"Who are you, you creatures with pointy ears, to dare awaken me from my +dreams, me, Vërno, the Fourth Drop ?" Elven Princes exposed what they wanted to Vërno, and the creature seemed very interested at the idea of grabbing all the richesses of Scorn, and bringing them back into his dark kingdom of the depth of the sea. -“Very well, said Vërno, but you know, I suppose, that we are all bound +"Very well, said Vërno, but you know, I suppose, that we are all bound by the Law of Equilibrium, established by the gods themselves when the world was new and the seas infinite. And for my services, you’ll have to -pay the price.” +pay the price." - And what do you want for a price ? - Well, my needs are rather -modest. I’ll only claim a tenth of your own lands as a reward.” +modest. I’ll only claim a tenth of your own lands as a reward." The Elven Princes quickly discussed the matter, and came to the conclusion that it was a rather fair price to pay - after all, their territories @@ -1332,7 +1350,7 @@ peasants, but who cared about them more than of the vengeance against Scorn ? -And so they answered: “The Fate of Scorn is Sealed, then. We accept.” +And so they answered: "The Fate of Scorn is Sealed, then. We accept." What happened then is too long to tell in details here, as it belongs to another story. In short, Jovidjevska the elven girl, who had heard @@ -1342,8 +1360,8 @@ only emptiness. Vërno, furious, came back to the Elves with a big smile, and told -them: “I did what you wanted, and flooded the territory on which Scorn -was established. Now I take my due price.” +them: "I did what you wanted, and flooded the territory on which Scorn +was established. Now I take my due price." And that said, he selected the area on which the Elven City itself was built, and covered it with water, its inhabitants trapped and killed there @@ -1368,7 +1386,7 @@ For years, he studied the Arcanes, hunting for traces of the city, as he was convinced that the lost wisdom of the elves of Vkovzerov would give him a great power. And, finally, after 20 long years of searching, he -concluded that the secret was in the area now called “Lake Country“. +concluded that the secret was in the area now called "Lake Country". And there, he came, and there was a small house made of wood, and there was a tree, and there was a young elvish woman, dreaming at the stars, @@ -1376,9 +1394,9 @@ love, and they both watched the stars. But soon, Butakis felt the need of getting back into action, and finding the lost city and getting its power. -The lady told him: “The true wisdom is in those stars, and in that +The lady told him: "The true wisdom is in those stars, and in that tree, and in that house you see. You’ll only find unrest by aiming for -more.” +more." But Butakis had already made up his mind, and he brought back engineers, and sappers, and miners, and they all worked to build a huge machine to @@ -1410,9 +1428,9 @@ That, Butakis had waited for long, but he didn’t expect what she told him then. -“Ten years you were away, and ten years I watched the stars with +"Ten years you were away, and ten years I watched the stars with Twak. And now for him, and for he choose me and my heart, I’ll -disappear, and so does your dream.” +disappear, and so does your dream." Butakis understood that he had been fooled, that she only kept her attention away enough for Twak and three of his faithful men to sabotage @@ -1440,26 +1458,12 @@ story. -=head1 Wolfen the White, The White Hunter, The One Who Listens - -Wolfen is one of the three moons orbiting around The World. It is said to -be the spirit of the legendary hunter Wolfen, who tracked Kalkaruntes, God -of the Dragons, to is cavern and vainquished it. - -In astrology, Wolfen is the symbol of practical mind, swiftness and -flexibility, but also cowardice and stealing. It is associated with the -Earth element in Alchemancy. Wolfen is seen as a protector by hunters and -rangers. Priests of Lythander think it is the reincarnation of the wolf -that hunts with Lythander in the divine forests of Nerënna. Fenxes see it -as Fixas, the one that saved them from the Humans so long ago. - - =head1 The Wizard School of Blue -“Although the School disappeared with the Empire itself from The World, +"Although the School disappeared with the Empire itself from The World, several wizards claimed to be the heirs of their ancient, secret wisdom, -and nicknamed “the Blue Ones”, a reference to the color of the School -Banner.” – Gros, the Irrelevant One +and nicknamed "the Blue Ones", a reference to the color of the School +Banner." – Gros, the Irrelevant One =head1 The Great Heliograph @@ -1490,7 +1494,7 @@ Black Art. Both of them tried to improve the life of the people living all around their house, and introduced the use of cats as spirit-watchers in Scorn. Unfortunately for them, they were burned by an angry Brestian -fanatical mob for “illegal use of Arcane Powers”. +fanatical mob for "illegal use of Arcane Powers". =head1 Ilrya, The Mountain Huntress @@ -1509,8 +1513,8 @@ =head1 Khorolizov -One of the three great dwarven kingdoms. “Khorolizov” means “Green -Gold”, which is a reference to the Green Sand, an alchemical component +One of the three great dwarven kingdoms. "Khorolizov" means "Green +Gold", which is a reference to the Green Sand, an alchemical component the dwarves of Khorolizov are the only ones to produce. It is probably the oldest of the three kingdoms, founded long before the Old Empire of Khelens reached the shores of the Continent. @@ -1528,8 +1532,8 @@ =head1 Cromli, The Rocky One Crolmi is the Dwarven Spirit of Rocs and Mountains. It has no temples, as -it is said that buildings made of stone anger him (it is like “building -with his own flesh”). +it is said that buildings made of stone anger him (it is like "building +with his own flesh"). =head1 Glamdri, The Darkness Breaker, The Last Standing One @@ -1547,12 +1551,12 @@ Rhyz was an Archmage of the Blue School during the Old Days of the Empire. -“(...)Unlike Dhelyy Olyy, his contemporary rival for the Seat, Rhyz +"(...)Unlike Dhelyy Olyy, his contemporary rival for the Seat, Rhyz focused mostly on closing the gap that existed between the art of fighting and the Arcane. While Dhelyy Olyy believed in the dual association of the Warrior and the Wizard, each with its own strength increased by a long specialization in their respective fields, Rhyz believed in the idea of -a “super warriard”, a combination of a powerful wizard and a strong +a "super warriard", a combination of a powerful wizard and a strong warrior. As such, he devised many items that increased the strength and combat capabilities of their wearers, hoping that wizard apprentices would so be more inclined to learn the battle skills of warriors. @@ -1560,7 +1564,7 @@ Unfortunately for Rhyz, most of his followers relied more and more on magical strength more than physical training, leaving them to a severe defeat at the Battle of Moriach, when Dhelyy used an anti-magic field over -them.” +them." (Quote from the Codex Simochusianus, Volume XVII) @@ -1577,7 +1581,7 @@ created by daemons for people who were seeking short-term power, but would thus head directly for long-term soul slavery. -Xebinon is sometimes called “The faceless one”, as it is said that the +Xebinon is sometimes called "The faceless one", as it is said that the daemon trapped him by stealing his visage. This may explain why magical artifacts wearing his name are often helmets. @@ -1592,7 +1596,7 @@ Argoth was a dwarven city built on one of the highest mountains known, rooted in the depths of the sea, and climbing so high in the skies that -uneducated travelers said that it was a “stairway to the gods”. On the +uneducated travelers said that it was a "stairway to the gods". On the top of the mountain, the Imperial Governors built the Two Towers, who were visible from Scorn, about 200km far from them. @@ -1621,6 +1625,20 @@ angels, a group of adventurers defeated him in 2374EK. +=head1 Wolfen the White, The White Hunter, The One Who Listens + +Wolfen is one of the three moons orbiting around The World. It is said to +be the spirit of the legendary hunter Wolfen, who tracked Kalkaruntes, God +of the Dragons, to is cavern and vainquished it. + +In astrology, Wolfen is the symbol of practical mind, swiftness and +flexibility, but also cowardice and stealing. It is associated with the +Earth element in Alchemancy. Wolfen is seen as a protector by hunters and +rangers. Priests of Lythander think it is the reincarnation of the wolf +that hunts with Lythander in the divine forests of Nerënna. Fenxes see it +as Fixas, the one that saved them from the Humans so long ago. + + =head1 Ranisha the Red, The Red Death, The One Who Commands Ranisha is one of the three moons orbiting around the world of @@ -1634,4 +1652,265 @@ god. +=head1 Asferenn the Blue, The Blue Sister, The One Who Suggests + +Asferenn is one of the three moons orbiting around the world of +Crossfire. It is said to be the spirit of the legendary wizard Asferenn, +who was said to have been able to force the gate of the divine dimension. + +In astrology, Asferenn is the symbol of wisdom, endurance in effort, +diplomacy, but also treachery and dark secrets. It is associated with the +water element in Alchemancy. It is said that the cycle of water creatures +are strongly influenced by Asferenn. + + +=head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume I + +I’ll tell you about Lorkas of Amudrias, and how he found the White Bird +of Hope, and how he capitained it, opening the Gates of the Sun, and some +stuff like that. + +Some say that Lorkas was an angel of Valriel, that fell long ago from the +Skies, stealing a couple of highly holy artifacts, and hiding them in his +new underground domains. + +Some also say that Lorkas is a dark spirit, a lost soul, an unclean, +unfaithful, untrusty creature of Doom and Chaos. + +But, for what matters, some also said that Fido was a fiction, or that +the Empire never was more than a dream of a past that never existed. Some +definitely are foolishly uninformed for sure, and speak more than they +think. + +Because, if they were less quick on jumping to conclusions, they’d +quickly notice how difficult it is for an angel to fall from the sky and +never be able to climb back, as if wild gooses were never able to take off +again once they land after their long journey to the South. + +Anyway, as every wise man knows, Lorkas was no angelic creature of divine +essence, or even a magical creation of a godly force. + +Some say that Khelens is the Beginning, first of the Cities of Men. That, +too, is untrue: before the Age of Khelens was the Time of the Kingdoms +at War. And before them, the Era of Songor the Great. And going back +through the thick book of history, you’ll cross Arnistar of the Desert +Dwellers, the Republic of the Two Rivers, and the Ancient Haemdel, and the +Kingdom of the Long Wall. And before it, the forgotten towers of light +that Horadrists built. + + +=head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume II + +Lorkas was born in Kuratas, a small agrarian state that existed on the +Coronian Valley, when Songer and Khelens were still in infancy. He was a +boy that wanted to see everything, to understand the world and its stars, +and discover its limits, for it was extending much further than the mists +of his home valley. + +But life was rude in Kuratas, and trying to think about anything else than +your next harvest wasn’t well perceived by most; and, more than often, +Lorkas dreamed with tears and despair about the Mountains with the white +tops, and Seas that ended only when they touched the sky, far away. + +Tired of his senseless life, he left his parents, his village, his +friends, when he was only 12, and for weeks walked to the West, until he +reached the Coast of the Stonewalls. + +And there, he saw Ottarakans, the Infinite Ocean that extends west of the +Old World, and so fell in love for the sea. He then joined the Port of +Kridatta, which was famous for its ships, as its inhabitants had mastered +a powerful arcane, so that their boats roamed not only the seas, but the +very clouds themselves. + +Because he was smart and quick-brained, Lorkas soon got enrolled in the +team of Capt’n Bortaras; and after several adventures I shall maybe tell +about another day, he took the succession of the old mariner. + +Horizon was the name of his ship, and famous was his crew, exploring huge +territories and fighting the Princes of Sinas, who back then tried to put +the whole area under their iron, greedy grasps. + + +=head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume III + +But Lorkas heard about a wonder that him and his crew soon wanted to +find: The White Bird of Hope. + +Buried in the Very East, it was said to be. And so he sailed east; he +crossed the Great Desert, passed the Mountains of Daigojij, reached the +forests oft he western normanika. But still was the Bird further away. + +Reaching the Eastern Ocean, they decided to try to cross it, despite that +it was said to be the end of the world. And for 30 days and nights, across +tempests and monsters, they firmly kept heading east, east, east. + +When despair was growing on them, mists magically opened, revealing a +golden city built on what seemed to be a rich, fertile coastal plain. + +People there spoke a strange language; they were small and not unlike +joyful foxes, and they welcomed Lorkas and his men (and women) +warmly. Soon, they learned to understand each other enough. + +They called themselves "The People of the Mother", and they had +never seen the "Flat-Eared Giants" before, although they already met +"Flat-Eared Beards" and "Flat-Eared Greens" before. + +But there was a lady called Sonja. And, although she wasn’t human, she +seemed brighter, smarter, more beautiful than any other woman Lorkas had +ever seen before. + +Those months were the most wonderful for him - and her - and time seemed +to have stopped for them in their endless love. But of course it hadn’t. + +And after a while, some of his men wanted to go back to their own homes, +and some wanted for their families to come to the Golden City. And, also, +there was the Bird. + +They had no problem to find the White Bird of Hope - a statue entirely +made of the purest of the white marble, with gemstones of red ruby as +eyes. But so much the inhabitants liked it, so they thought that a +valuable friend was much better than a valuable statue. + +And so they said: "Take the bird as a gift of us to your masters, to +show them we want to make friendship with them. Welcome are the friends of +the children of the White Bird." + +And so Lorkas left, promising Sonja that he’d soon return. + +The people of the Golden City also told him that "The Bird is imbued +with powerful magic: the one owning it will always keep hope." + + +=head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume IV + +When Lorkas came back, he and his men were welcomed as heroes. So where +does the story turns sour, as Lorkas is said to have fallen from the skies? + +Well, when he and his crew came back home, Kridatta was at war with Sinas, +and for several years, he and his crew fought, using the power of the Bird +to help them. And during those years, Lorkas kept in his heart the hope of +seeing again Sonja. + +Then came the Fever Plague, that killed a third of the people in the +Ancient World. And again was the Bird used, and again did Lorkas help all +those he could help, still having hope of seeing the Golden City again +soon. + +And then, he sent messengers and explorers, as he had become influent, +rich, and powerful, across the seas, to rebind the ties with the Golden +City, as he promised. But they all came without finding their way to +those faraway shores; yet all that time, and for each new mission sent to +explore the seas and the skies, they seemed closed and closer from the +goal. + +Sixty years passed. The world changed; new kingdoms ruled old cities; +Lorkas was now an old man that lived in a small house looking at the +Ocean. + +And still, each day, he spent hours waiting, watching the line where the +sea met the sky, hoping that one day, one would sail back and tell him: +"we found the Golden City !". And always he hoped, but never received. + +Nearly all of his companions were now dead, and the Horizon had been +retired long ago, now slowly rotting in the bay, fading souvenir of a long +forgotten past. + + +=head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume V + +Lorkas walked to his boat, and where there was only tarnished wood and +corroded metal, he still saw the fierce ship on which he saw Sonja for the +first time, so long ago. Who knows what he did, then? One thing is sure: +the vigile of the Sea Tower of Kridatta, that watched boats coming and +leaving from dozens of miles away, reported that an ancient ship left the +bay, with Lorkas sitting at the front of it, holding the Bird, as if he +was sleeping. + +Nobody knows exactly where he went. Was he even dead? Nobody knows. But +everybody kept hope that, one day, he’d reach the Golden City +again. Lots of people tried to find the Bird after that event. They all +accused Lorkas of having "stolen" it. The story became legend. The +legend became fairy tale. And the fairy tale got forgotten by most. + +Yet, Centuries ago, deep in the oldest parts of the Old City of Scorn, +people claimed to have found an ancient mausoleum, a relic of the +past. All made of the purest, finest gold. On the walls were engraved a +man at the wheel of a strange ship, and a woman with pointy ears, watching +the skies. And many nowadays keep the Hope that the White Bird now sleeps +down below the streets, having found its way back to home with Lorkas. + +But who could tell if it is the truth, or only a silly story? Who +knows? As for myself, I don’t care: I just hold hope it is. And so ends +the Story of Lorkas, and so keeps Hope running. + + +=head1 The Prison of Madness + +It is said that deep in the underworld there is a vast maze that will make +everybody who dares to enter die of madness. + +It starts in a room, with a row of mirrors to the south. pass through +those, and carry on slightly further, and you are in the maze proper. + +Little is known about the maze, but Worus the Wanderer claimed to have been +in it, seen many of its wonders and returned. + +He also wrote a book that details all the ways and passages, alas, nobody +could decipher it yet: + +gb2trg2gb2gur2rkvg: +2jnaqre2nebhaq2hagvy2lbh2ybpngr2n2znc2aN, +2vg2vf2ba2gur2obggbz2ragenapr2bs2n2znc. +2bapr2gung2vf2ybpngrq2tb2evtug, +2hc, +2evtug, +2evtug, +2evtug, +2evtug, +2evtug, +2lbh2jvyy2or2ng2gur2rkvg. +2gb2trg2gb2gur2inhyg: +2jnaqre2ebhaq2hagvy2lbh2trg2gb2znc2aN1, +vg2vf2gb2gur2evtug2bs2n2abezny2znc. +2tb2hc, +2yrsg, +2hc, +2yrsg, +2qbja, +2qbja, +2evtug, +2qbja, +2qbja, +2qbja.2Lbh2jvyy2or2va2gur2unyy, +2tb2guebhtu2naq2gb2gur2yrsg2gb2ernpu2gur2inhyg. + + +=head1 Order of the Gravestone + +An ancient order of druids, that venerated the supposed gravestone of +the Spirit of Khalbow. The Spirit was supposed to be a symbol of eternal +renewal and redemption, that lived a regular, short-term dead/revival +cycle. The Order of the Gravestone was very popular during the first +Millenia EK, but then went extinct. No druid is known to exist today, and +the exact location of the gravestone has long been forgotten. + + +=head1 Heaven and Hell + +It is said that the church of Valriel in Scorn has direct access to +Heaven. The priests of Valriel claim that you can enter Heaven freely, and +even come back to the world of mortals. The priests of Gorokh claim that +their church has a connection to Hell. The Valriel priests claim they were +first, and, in their usual attitude, the Gorokh priests claim the priests +of Valriel are useless maggots that lie to their followers. + +Although a number of people have travelled to both Heaven and Hell, their +reports are inconclusive as to wether it was real "Hell" (or Heaven) they +visited. + +Some people claim this Heaven and Hell business is just some magic +illusion forged by some magicians of those churches, mostly because you +can still die in Heaven, Hell doesn't look all that impressive (and it +is so easy to come back), and why would only the churches in Scorn have +access to those in the first place?