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3 | =begin comment |
3 | =begin comment |
4 | |
4 | |
5 | This is the source for some of the books in crossfire, at least, it should become one. |
5 | This is the source for some of the books in deliantra. |
6 | |
6 | |
7 | Authors: |
7 | Authors: |
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8 | |
8 | Gorlin <gorlin@freibier.htu.tuwien.ac.at> |
9 | Gorlin <gorlin@freibier.htu.tuwien.ac.at> |
9 | Mark Wedel <mwedel@scruznet.com> |
10 | Mark Wedel <mwedel@scruznet.com> |
10 | Marc Lehmann <crossfire@schmorp.de> |
11 | Marc Lehmann <support@deliantra.com> |
11 | The Crossfire Wiki |
12 | Lalo Martins <lalo.martins@gmail.com> |
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13 | Yann Chachkoff <yann.chachkoff@mailandnews.com> |
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14 | Gros |
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15 | |
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16 | many stories taken from unknown authors at The Crossfire Wiki |
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17 | http://wiki.metalforge.net/ |
12 | |
18 | |
13 | Each =head1 should become its own book. |
19 | Each =head1 should become its own book. |
14 | |
20 | |
15 | =end comment |
21 | =end comment |
16 | |
22 | |
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250 | |
256 | |
251 | Around 350 EK: The Story of the Fourth Mariner is written by an unknown author. |
257 | Around 350 EK: The Story of the Fourth Mariner is written by an unknown author. |
252 | |
258 | |
253 | 435 EK: Colony of Skorn Founded. It would eventualy become the city of Scorn. |
259 | 435 EK: Colony of Skorn Founded. It would eventualy become the city of Scorn. |
254 | |
260 | |
255 | 711 EK: |
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256 | |
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257 | The outpost of Heaven’s Gate is founded. |
261 | 711 EK: The outpost of Heaven's Gate is founded. |
258 | |
262 | |
259 | =head2 Volume II: Second Millenia EK |
263 | =head2 Volume II: Second Millenia EK |
260 | |
264 | |
261 | 1223 EK: Ekkis the Drunk leads a disastrous crusade against the Sirens in the southern seas. |
265 | 1223 EK: Ekkis the Drunk leads a disastrous crusade against the Sirens in the southern seas. |
262 | |
266 | |
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266 | |
270 | |
267 | 2287 EK: Battle of Tered - The Kingdom of the Masts is dismantled by Navar. |
271 | 2287 EK: Battle of Tered - The Kingdom of the Masts is dismantled by Navar. |
268 | |
272 | |
269 | 2567 EK: Fernast Fergono, exiled from Navar, leads a famous exploration expedition in the south-east seas. |
273 | 2567 EK: Fernast Fergono, exiled from Navar, leads a famous exploration expedition in the south-east seas. |
270 | |
274 | |
271 | 2765 EK: The city of Heaven’s Gate is burned by pirates. |
275 | 2765 EK: The city of Heaven's Gate is burned by pirates. |
272 | |
276 | |
273 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
277 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
274 | |
278 | |
275 | =head2 Volume IV: Fourth Millenia EK |
279 | =head2 Volume IV: Fourth Millenia EK |
276 | |
280 | |
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294 | |
298 | |
295 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
299 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
296 | |
300 | |
297 | =head2 Volume VI: Sixth Millenia EK |
301 | =head2 Volume VI: Sixth Millenia EK |
298 | |
302 | |
299 | 5524 EK: The Meteomage Grab of Ledh fails an experiment, making the weather mad for a while, an event remembered as “The Weather Madness”. |
303 | 5524 EK: The Meteomage Grab of Ledh fails an experiment, making the weather mad for a while, an event remembered as "The Weather Madness". |
300 | |
304 | |
301 | Late LVIth Century EK: The Great Schism between the Simplifists led by Mish the Toon and the Stabilists: The Sedition Wars. |
305 | Late LVIth Century EK: The Great Schism between the Simplifists led by Mish the Toon and the Stabilists: The Sedition Wars. |
302 | |
306 | |
303 | 5581 EK: Battle of the Glowing Crystal: the Order of the Careful Coders is disbanded. |
307 | 5581 EK: Battle of the Glowing Crystal: the Order of the Careful Coders is disbanded. |
304 | |
308 | |
305 | 5598 EK: The Simplifists exile themselves into the Pocket Dimension of Daï-Moh-Nî, “The World With a Future”, in Ancient Daigojij Language. |
309 | 5598 EK: The Simplifists exile themselves into the Pocket Dimension of Daï-Moh-Nî, "The World With a Future", in Ancient Daigojij Language. |
306 | |
310 | |
307 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
311 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
308 | |
312 | |
309 | =head2 Volume VII: Seventh Millenia EK |
313 | =head2 Volume VII: Seventh Millenia EK |
310 | |
314 | |
… | |
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314 | |
318 | |
315 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
319 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
316 | |
320 | |
317 | =head2 Volume VIII: Eighth Millenia EK |
321 | =head2 Volume VIII: Eighth Millenia EK |
318 | |
322 | |
319 | 7124 EK: Harta accidentally creates a Dimensional Grid, connecting the Crossfire Continuum with the Daï-Moh-Nî Dimension. |
323 | 7124 EK: Harta accidentally creates a Dimensional Grid, connecting the Deliantra Continuum with the Daï-Moh-Nî Dimension. |
320 | |
324 | |
321 | 7563 EK: The tower of Melficef the Red explodes. |
325 | 7563 EK: The tower of Melficef the Red explodes. |
322 | |
326 | |
323 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
327 | =head1 Recent Historic Events, by Khalis. |
324 | |
328 | |
325 | =head2 Volume IX: Ninth Millenia EK |
329 | =head2 Volume IX: Ninth Millenia EK |
326 | |
330 | |
327 | 8009 EK: Euthville is destroyed. |
331 | 8009 EK: Euthville is destroyed. |
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332 | |
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333 | |
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334 | =head1 The Sultanate of Darcap |
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335 | |
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336 | Isolated from the rest of the region by an extensive mountain range to the |
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337 | south, and possessing a massive natural harbour, Darcap is a small, but |
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338 | easily defensible town, dominated by a pair of powerful guilds. The town |
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339 | is also noted for its circus, whose reputation draws visitors from all |
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340 | over the world. |
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341 | |
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342 | |
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343 | =head1 Santo Dominion |
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344 | |
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345 | Santo Dominion sits in a small bay to the north of Scorn. It is an |
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346 | important port of call for ships travelling to and from Scorn and is |
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347 | also somewhat famous for its Opera and its Litle House of Horrors, two |
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348 | magnificent cultural buildings you would not expect in so small a town as |
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349 | Santo Dominion. |
328 | |
350 | |
329 | |
351 | |
330 | =head1 Euthville History |
352 | =head1 Euthville History |
331 | |
353 | |
332 | The Ruins of Euthville can be found just off the Imperial Highway north of |
354 | The Ruins of Euthville can be found just off the Imperial Highway north of |
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337 | The Codex Skudensis tells that Euthville was founded by the Euthanasia the |
359 | The Codex Skudensis tells that Euthville was founded by the Euthanasia the |
338 | Builder, hence its name. |
360 | Builder, hence its name. |
339 | |
361 | |
340 | =head2 Past and Destruction |
362 | =head2 Past and Destruction |
341 | |
363 | |
342 | Ah, Euthville - “City of the Pearl”, in Old Hemdalite, has indeed a |
364 | Ah, Euthville - "City of the Pearl", in Old Hemdalite, has indeed a |
343 | rather sad story!! |
365 | rather sad story!! |
344 | |
366 | |
345 | If you went there about half a millenia ago, you’d have seen something |
367 | If you went there about half a millenia ago, you'd have seen something |
346 | very different than the field of haunted ruins it has since become. It |
368 | very different than the field of haunted ruins it has since become. It |
347 | was initially founded by a handful of industrious, clever dwarves, that |
369 | was initially founded by a handful of industrious, clever dwarves, that |
348 | had found a mystical way to locate fields of precious Karitta, the famous |
370 | had found a mystical way to locate fields of precious Karitta, the famous |
349 | metal that is as transparent as a pearl of the North Sea, yet as strong as |
371 | metal that is as transparent as a pearl of the North Sea, yet as strong as |
350 | the best irons of Navar. |
372 | the best irons of Navar. |
351 | |
373 | |
352 | And thus, they found at the location of Euthville a lot of that raw metal, |
374 | And thus, they found at the location of Euthville a lot of that raw metal, |
353 | which quickly made the city one of the richest of all. And for a long |
375 | which quickly made the city one of the richest of all. And for a long |
354 | time, it stayed so. The inhabitants of Euthville weren’t interested by |
376 | time, it stayed so. The inhabitants of Euthville weren't interested by |
355 | war, work, or anything else too tiresome - they preferred to pay somebody |
377 | war, work, or anything else too tiresome - they preferred to pay somebody |
356 | else to do all of this. And with the advanced technical knowledge bring by |
378 | else to do all of this. And with the advanced technical knowledge bring by |
357 | the dwarves, working was less and less an issue for them. |
379 | the dwarves, working was less and less an issue for them. |
358 | |
380 | |
359 | Yet yhey were facing a problem. All their devices, all their machineries, |
381 | Yet yhey were facing a problem. All their devices, all their machineries, |
360 | all their tricks to cheat with nature required energy. Lots of |
382 | all their tricks to cheat with nature required energy. Lots of |
361 | energy. They relied first on the strength of horses and donkeys, but it |
383 | energy. They relied first on the strength of horses and donkeys, but it |
362 | wasn’t enough. Then, they tamed the dangerous Wyverns of Kal-Durandasi, |
384 | wasn't enough. Then, they tamed the dangerous Wyverns of Kal-Durandasi, |
363 | so that the hot lizards would provide them with the full force of their |
385 | so that the hot lizards would provide them with the full force of their |
364 | steamy breath. But soon, it wasn’t enough. They also used the hidden |
386 | steamy breath. But soon, it wasn't enough. They also used the hidden |
365 | power provided by the Faeries of the Tarniska river, building a dam, so |
387 | power provided by the Faeries of the Tarniska river, building a dam, so |
366 | that they could put the invisible horses of water that the sylphids are |
388 | that they could put the invisible horses of water that the sylphids are |
367 | rumored to breed in use. |
389 | rumored to breed in use. |
368 | |
390 | |
369 | But even so, their hunger for power wasn’t satisfied, and became an |
391 | But even so, their hunger for power wasn't satisfied, and became an |
370 | increasing nuisance for them. So, the Commander of Euthville (which was, |
392 | increasing nuisance for them. So, the Commander of Euthville (which was, |
371 | more or less, the equivalent to our King at Scorn), finally decided to |
393 | more or less, the equivalent to our King at Scorn), finally decided to |
372 | send messengers across the whole Continent, calling the world for a |
394 | send messengers across the whole Continent, calling the world for a |
373 | challenge. Whoever would be able to fulfill the needs of Euthvillians of |
395 | challenge. Whoever would be able to fulfill the needs of Euthvillians of |
374 | energy would become the new Commander, thus the ruler of the richest city |
396 | energy would become the new Commander, thus the ruler of the richest city |
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376 | |
398 | |
377 | Many answered the call, of course, and many failed. Wind, Sun, Stars, even |
399 | Many answered the call, of course, and many failed. Wind, Sun, Stars, even |
378 | dwarven beer were proposed, but nothing seemed to be enough. For years, |
400 | dwarven beer were proposed, but nothing seemed to be enough. For years, |
379 | wizards tried. And failed. |
401 | wizards tried. And failed. |
380 | |
402 | |
381 | And then came a boy. He wasn’t a wizard, nor pretended to be one. He was |
403 | And then came a boy. He wasn't a wizard, nor pretended to be one. He was |
382 | young, but the story didn’t kept the record of his name, and some now |
404 | young, but the story didn't kept the record of his name, and some now |
383 | think it is because he was damned. Who knows? The Boy sat in the middle |
405 | think it is because he was damned. Who knows? The Boy sat in the middle |
384 | of the city, playing with his flute, laughing whenever he saw one of the |
406 | of the city, playing with his flute, laughing whenever he saw one of the |
385 | demonstrations the powerful wizards and engineers failing again and again. |
407 | demonstrations the powerful wizards and engineers failing again and again. |
386 | |
408 | |
387 | After several days, the Commander noticed the Boy, and said: “who |
409 | After several days, the Commander noticed the Boy, and said: "who |
388 | are you to laugh, you, who has only a flute ?” “I have only a |
410 | are you to laugh, you, who has only a flute ?" "I have only a |
389 | flute for sure - but there’s more in my simple pipe than in those |
411 | flute for sure - but there's more in my simple pipe than in those |
390 | legions of wizards.” “Really ?” said the Commander, half-laughing, |
412 | legions of wizards." "Really ?" said the Commander, half-laughing, |
391 | half-curious, “so you think you can solve my challenge ?” |
413 | half-curious, "so you think you can solve my challenge ?" |
392 | |
414 | |
393 | The Boy smiled. “Not only I can, but I shall - and my price will be |
415 | The Boy smiled. "Not only I can, but I shall - and my price will be |
394 | quite acceptable to give you the energy you need.” “And that would |
416 | quite acceptable to give you the energy you need." "And that would |
395 | be...?” - “A new pipe.” came the reply “That one is becoming |
417 | be...?" - "A new pipe." came the reply "That one is becoming |
396 | old.” “Agree, you have your chance.” |
418 | old." "Agree, you have your chance." |
397 | |
419 | |
398 | The Boy then started to play an amused melody. It sounded like an |
420 | The Boy then started to play an amused melody. It sounded like an |
399 | invitation to a great feast, the opening of a meeting where everybody was |
421 | invitation to a great feast, the opening of a meeting where everybody was |
400 | invited. And then came from earth itself sounds of steps, climbing from |
422 | invited. And then came from earth itself sounds of steps, climbing from |
401 | the depth. The fountain that stood in the middle of the place crumbled, |
423 | the depth. The fountain that stood in the middle of the place crumbled, |
402 | leaving a great hole from which flames emerged. But the fire seemed to |
424 | leaving a great hole from which flames emerged. But the fire seemed to |
403 | dance at the rythm of the music itself. |
425 | dance at the rythm of the music itself. |
404 | |
426 | |
405 | The Boy then said to the Commander: “As long as you keep playing for |
427 | The Boy then said to the Commander: "As long as you keep playing for |
406 | the Demons there, at least 23 hours each day, you’ll get them to make |
428 | the Demons there, at least 23 hours each day, you'll get them to make |
407 | whatever you need.” And he gave them the score, took a brand new silver |
429 | whatever you need." And he gave them the score, took a brand new silver |
408 | flute, and left, and never was seen again at Euthville. |
430 | flute, and left, and never was seen again at Euthville. |
409 | |
431 | |
410 | At first, things seemed fine, and the Commander couldn’t believe his |
432 | At first, things seemed fine, and the Commander couldn't believe his |
411 | luck, as a pipe was a feeble price to pay for such a powerful recipe of |
433 | luck, as a pipe was a feeble price to pay for such a powerful recipe of |
412 | prosperity. Who wouldn’t want to tame the Demons themselves? Quickly, |
434 | prosperity. Who wouldn't want to tame the Demons themselves? Quickly, |
413 | though, it appeared obvious that, for enough demons to be there, that |
435 | though, it appeared obvious that, for enough demons to be there, that |
414 | music needed to be played rather loudly. And if, at first, it sounded |
436 | music needed to be played rather loudly. And if, at first, it sounded |
415 | entertaining, joyous, and funny, it quickly grew on the nerves of |
437 | entertaining, joyous, and funny, it quickly grew on the nerves of |
416 | many. And especially because it was played 23 hours a day. |
438 | many. And especially because it was played 23 hours a day. |
417 | |
439 | |
418 | Finally, the Commander decided that the city couldn’t stand this |
440 | Finally, the Commander decided that the city couldn't stand this |
419 | anymore, and ordered that the Demons had to be attracted faraway from the |
441 | anymore, and ordered that the Demons had to be attracted faraway from the |
420 | city. On this fateful day, a whole fanfare left the city, hoping that the |
442 | city. On this fateful day, a whole fanfare left the city, hoping that the |
421 | demons would follow, attracted by the music. |
443 | demons would follow, attracted by the music. |
422 | |
444 | |
423 | And so, they did. One after another, they climbed out of Earth itself, and |
445 | And so, they did. One after another, they climbed out of Earth itself, and |
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431 | music that enslaved them, crushed what remained of the city, in a bloody |
453 | music that enslaved them, crushed what remained of the city, in a bloody |
432 | fest that they will forever keep in their twisted memories. |
454 | fest that they will forever keep in their twisted memories. |
433 | |
455 | |
434 | The Commander went mad, of course, and it is said that his madness was |
456 | The Commander went mad, of course, and it is said that his madness was |
435 | so strong that his mind was unable to understand that he was dead. If |
457 | so strong that his mind was unable to understand that he was dead. If |
436 | you search enough in the ruins of Euthville, you’ll probably encounter |
458 | you search enough in the ruins of Euthville, you'll probably encounter |
437 | his ghost, as well as those of the many who perished for having believed |
459 | his ghost, as well as those of the many who perished for having believed |
438 | that mortals could enslave the hell. Some demons stayed there, obviously |
460 | that mortals could enslave the hell. Some demons stayed there, obviously |
439 | enjoying the area and its newborn ashes that smelled fresh blood and |
461 | enjoying the area and its newborn ashes that smelled fresh blood and |
440 | carnage. Euthville is now, of course, a dangerous, deserted place, and the |
462 | carnage. Euthville is now, of course, a dangerous, deserted place, and the |
441 | richesses that are still sleeping below the ruins of its former palaces |
463 | richesses that are still sleeping below the ruins of its former palaces |
442 | are now guarded by powerful entities of the 9th Circle. |
464 | are now guarded by powerful entities of the 9th Circle. |
443 | |
465 | |
444 | Many said that, if the Enchanted Music could be found, it would open the |
466 | Many said that, if the Enchanted Music could be found, it would open the |
445 | gates of many treasures, but because none of the former Euthvillians |
467 | gates of many treasures, but because none of the former Euthvillians |
446 | survived, and because nobody knows where the Boy went afterwards, those |
468 | survived, and because nobody knows where the Boy went afterwards, those |
447 | gates are still closed. I’ve heard that the School of Daemonology was |
469 | gates are still closed. I've heard that the School of Daemonology was |
448 | precisely founded to rediscover that spell. But who am I to claim this to |
470 | precisely founded to rediscover that spell. But who am I to claim this to |
449 | be true ? I’m only a man of the past that tells stories before a fire, |
471 | be true? I'm only a man of the past that tells stories before a fire, |
450 | and the fire is dying, and so has my tale reached the end. |
472 | and the fire is dying, and so has my tale reached the end. |
451 | |
473 | |
452 | |
474 | |
453 | |
475 | |
454 | =head1 The Kiritani Pass (from "Euthville Legends") |
476 | =head1 The Kiritani Pass (from "Euthville Legends") |
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462 | =head1 Sannistra (from "Euthville Legends") |
484 | =head1 Sannistra (from "Euthville Legends") |
463 | |
485 | |
464 | The Sannista is a legendary flying boat that was powered by the reaction |
486 | The Sannista is a legendary flying boat that was powered by the reaction |
465 | of a fire and a water elemental. It was built by the tenth Commander of |
487 | of a fire and a water elemental. It was built by the tenth Commander of |
466 | Euthville, Farkennis, as a gift for the 18th Birthday of his daughter, |
488 | Euthville, Farkennis, as a gift for the 18th Birthday of his daughter, |
467 | Sannista. That’s the boat that was stolen by Fax when he fled from |
489 | Sannista. That's the boat that was stolen by Fax when he fled from |
468 | Euthville, and that he used to get to Khelens. Giusitta the Verbous then |
490 | Euthville, and that he used to get to Khelens. Giusitta the Verbous then |
469 | sailed it back to the Continent, and hid it “somewhere in the mountains |
491 | sailed it back to the Continent, and hid it "somewhere in the mountains |
470 | of Euth”. |
492 | of Euth". |
471 | |
493 | |
472 | So I *guess* she would have put it there, although I’m not *sure*. Many |
494 | So I *guess* she would have put it there, although I'm not *sure*. Many |
473 | people thought the story was speaking about the mountains just east of the |
495 | people thought the story was speaking about the mountains just east of the |
474 | ruined city, but now that I’ve discovered those two caves, I’d rather |
496 | ruined city, but now that I've discovered those two caves, I'd rather |
475 | bet on them - it seems more logical. |
497 | bet on them - it seems more logical. |
476 | |
498 | |
477 | |
499 | |
478 | =head1 The Name of the World |
500 | =head1 The Name of the World |
479 | |
501 | |
480 | I, Forag the little-known, have invested my lifetime into exploring |
502 | I, Forag the little-known, have invested my lifetime into exploring |
481 | the various names of this, our World. In this tome I wrote down all my |
503 | the various names of this, our World. In this tome I wrote down all my |
482 | knowledge. Be careful with it, else it might overwhelm you, as it did me! |
504 | knowledge. Be careful with it, else it might overwhelm you, as it did me! |
483 | |
505 | |
484 | In Khelens and most of its territories, it was named “The Earth”, |
506 | In Khelens and most of its territories, it was named "The Earth", |
485 | while the major western landmass was called “The Continent” while the |
507 | while the major western landmass was called "The Continent" while the |
486 | eastern landmass was called "the Wilderness". |
508 | eastern landmass was called "the Wilderness". |
487 | |
509 | |
488 | Fendrakis used “Raxida”, which is also the name they gave to the Fox |
510 | Fendrakis used "Raxida", which is also the name they gave to the Fox |
489 | Lady, Mother of All Things, deity. |
511 | Lady, Mother of All Things, deity. |
490 | |
512 | |
491 | Elves traditionally use “Eänella”, which translates as “The Land of |
513 | Elves traditionally use "Eänella", which translates as "The Land of |
492 | Green” |
514 | Green" |
493 | |
515 | |
494 | Dwarves of Khorolizov use “Herdankaupf”, “Country of the Horses”, |
516 | Dwarves of Khorolizov use "Herdankaupf", "Country of the Horses", |
495 | which is a reference to their mythology (see the legend of the Twelve Days |
517 | which is a reference to their mythology (see the legend of the Twelve Days |
496 | for that) |
518 | for that) |
497 | |
519 | |
498 | The Orcish name is “Knâgsh-Ishzeh”, “Rotten Branch” |
520 | The Orcish name is "Knâgsh-Ishzeh", "Rotten Branch" |
499 | |
521 | |
500 | The people of the Old Wall, used the name “Harinappa”, “Bottom of |
522 | The people of the Old Wall, used the name "Harinappa", "Bottom of |
501 | the Pit”, to designate the world. |
523 | the Pit", to designate the world. |
502 | |
524 | |
503 | Most people nowadays use the old Khelenti name ("The Earth") or its direct |
525 | Most people nowadays use the old Khelenti name ("The Earth") or its direct |
504 | translation in local languages/idioms. |
526 | translation in local languages/idioms. |
505 | |
527 | |
506 | |
528 | |
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541 | 1177EK: War of the Sea Princes. The last imperial ship reaches |
563 | 1177EK: War of the Sea Princes. The last imperial ship reaches |
542 | Scorn. Contacts with Khelens are now broken. Scorn becomes an independent |
564 | Scorn. Contacts with Khelens are now broken. Scorn becomes an independent |
543 | kingdom. |
565 | kingdom. |
544 | |
566 | |
545 | |
567 | |
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568 | =head1 History of Lake Country |
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569 | |
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570 | Lake Country originally was where the elves lived who where exiled |
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571 | from the north by the kings of Scorn, during the Vth millenia EK. They |
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572 | named the area Vkovzerov. The major elven city of Vkovzerov was |
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573 | Tashkeren-tah. It was destroyed by a Water arch-elemental in 4453EK. |
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574 | |
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575 | |
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576 | =head1 Visit our Training Centres! |
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577 | |
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578 | We, Training Centres Incorporated provide the best service for warriors, |
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579 | wizards and anybody else who wants to improve quickly. |
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580 | |
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581 | For a modest fee, you can get almost exclusive access to our large |
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582 | training areas. |
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583 | |
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584 | =head2 Pricing |
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585 | |
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586 | Humamoid |
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587 | |
|
|
588 | A Bonecrusher, a Firestar, and a Demonspawn Shield. |
|
|
589 | |
|
|
590 | Undead |
|
|
591 | |
|
|
592 | Lich dust, a Spectre's ectoplasm, and a Skull's tooth. |
|
|
593 | |
|
|
594 | Dragon |
|
|
595 | |
|
|
596 | An Ancient dragon's steak, an Ancient Blue Dragon's steak, and an Ancient red dragon's steak. |
|
|
597 | |
|
|
598 | Demon |
|
|
599 | |
|
|
600 | A Demonbane, a Belzebub's sword, and a Firebrand. |
|
|
601 | |
|
|
602 | =head3 Free Centres |
|
|
603 | |
|
|
604 | As a special service, we provide access to two of our older training |
|
|
605 | centres completely free of charge, although you will understand that there |
|
|
606 | will be no guarentees given for success: |
|
|
607 | |
|
|
608 | Goblin & Zombie - Located south of Scorn |
|
|
609 | |
|
|
610 | Skeleton & Ogre - Located south-west of Navar |
|
|
611 | |
|
|
612 | =head2 Locations |
|
|
613 | |
|
|
614 | These are the locations to the entrances of the Training Centers. |
|
|
615 | |
|
|
616 | world_106_109 - Humanoid |
|
|
617 | |
|
|
618 | world_107_120 - Goblin & Zombie |
|
|
619 | |
|
|
620 | world_107_128 - Undead |
|
|
621 | |
|
|
622 | world_119_101 - Dragons |
|
|
623 | |
|
|
624 | world_119_118 - Skeleton & Ogre |
|
|
625 | |
|
|
626 | world_124_113 - Demon |
|
|
627 | |
|
|
628 | |
|
|
629 | |
|
|
630 | =head1 The Kingdom of Navar |
|
|
631 | |
|
|
632 | Straddling the corner of the Imperial highway as it turns North near the |
|
|
633 | Eastern border of the known world, and surrounded by dangerous territory, |
|
|
634 | Navar is an unlikely site for one of the world's grandest cities. Yet |
|
|
635 | there it stands, dominating the skyline for miles around and showing the |
|
|
636 | same bustling activity expected of any thriving market town. |
|
|
637 | |
|
|
638 | |
|
|
639 | =head1 The Kingdom of the Masts |
|
|
640 | |
|
|
641 | A Merchant Republic led by the now destroyed city of Kari Kori. At its |
|
|
642 | peak, the Kingdom of the Masts ruled nearly a quarter of the world, and |
|
|
643 | its fleet was unmatched. Kari Kori was opposed to Navar in a series of |
|
|
644 | wars that it finally lost at the Battle of Tered in 2287 EK. |
|
|
645 | |
|
|
646 | |
|
|
647 | =head1 The Artificers' Wars |
|
|
648 | |
|
|
649 | A series of wars conducted between 3084 and 3154 EK by a coalition led by |
|
|
650 | Navari Princes against the Artificers, a group of mages that were masters |
|
|
651 | in the now banned magical field of Technomancy. The Artificers were close |
|
|
652 | to obtain a complete victory, but were finally destroyed by the raw power |
|
|
653 | of their own biggest creation, The Thaumic Gear. The explosion of the Gear |
|
|
654 | shattered the whole east of the world, and many territories forever sank |
|
|
655 | into the ocean, including Kari Kori, the Technomages' city. |
|
|
656 | |
|
|
657 | |
|
|
658 | =head1 Juradiths Dissidents |
|
|
659 | |
|
|
660 | Juradiths, named after Juradith, Minor Spirit of Equity, were a group of |
|
|
661 | activists that wanted to turn the Kingdom of Scorn into a republic in the |
|
|
662 | second-half of the XXXIVth century EK. They succeeded at overthrowing King |
|
|
663 | Karatan III, but their vengeful, fanatical excesses quickly turned most |
|
|
664 | Scornians against them. When trying to recapture the city, their army was |
|
|
665 | defeated by the Scornian Militia with the help of a couple city mages, who |
|
|
666 | flooded the Juradiths into a magically created lake. |
|
|
667 | |
|
|
668 | Juradiths still exist as a small political faction today, although |
|
|
669 | they've long traded their violent ways for some weird traditions whose |
|
|
670 | origins and meaning are now mostly forgotten. |
|
|
671 | |
|
|
672 | |
|
|
673 | =head1 The Gaean Legend of Creation |
|
|
674 | |
|
|
675 | =head2 Age of The Void |
|
|
676 | |
|
|
677 | In the beginning there was Gaea, the force of nature. SHE filled the whole |
|
|
678 | of existence with her being. After a few billion years, this became to |
|
|
679 | grow boring and lonely, so SHE decided to have children. |
|
|
680 | |
|
|
681 | At first SHE created a host of forces like Herself, eternal and |
|
|
682 | divine. But with all their power, they couldn't get along with each |
|
|
683 | other, so Gaea decided that wasn't a good idea. SHE decreed that from |
|
|
684 | that point on all creatures but HER would have a limited lifetime. But |
|
|
685 | most of HER first children disagreed, and went away to an unknown |
|
|
686 | location. |
|
|
687 | |
|
|
688 | =head2 Age of The Small World |
|
|
689 | |
|
|
690 | So Gaea created a small world and populated it with limited creatures - |
|
|
691 | animals and plants of all sorts. For a few million years she was happy |
|
|
692 | to watch them. But her remaining faithful children were growing restless |
|
|
693 | and wanted to make their own experimentations too. Finally SHE got bored |
|
|
694 | again, as her creations weren't self-aware and therefore weren't |
|
|
695 | much of a company. But SHE was also curious, because her creatures had |
|
|
696 | developed many different styles of living, and SHE desired to compare |
|
|
697 | them. |
|
|
698 | |
|
|
699 | And Gaea destroyed the original world, breaking it in four new ones. |
|
|
700 | |
|
|
701 | =head2 Age of The Four Worlds |
|
|
702 | |
|
|
703 | The First world was dedicated to harmony. It was populated with creatures |
|
|
704 | that preferred to coexist peacefully and contemplate. Two of Her children |
|
|
705 | were particularly enamoured of this world and decided to live there. |
|
|
706 | |
|
|
707 | The Second world was dedicated to construction. It was populated with |
|
|
708 | creatures that liked to change the environment around them, especially |
|
|
709 | ants, bees and beavers, and filled with wood and metal and stone usable as |
|
|
710 | raw material. Two of Her children found the idea fascinating and decided |
|
|
711 | to live in this world. |
|
|
712 | |
|
|
713 | The Third world was dedicated to war and strife. While all the three |
|
|
714 | other worlds had equal shares of light and darkness, the Third world had |
|
|
715 | as much light as its inhabitants desired - and it was populated with |
|
|
716 | creatures that loved and hated light, in equal parts. So these creatures |
|
|
717 | quickly discoreved they could influence the ambient light by battling each |
|
|
718 | other. Two of Her children decided to live in this world: one because he |
|
|
719 | loved light, and another because he hated his brother and therefore wished |
|
|
720 | for darkness to prevail. |
|
|
721 | |
|
|
722 | The Fourth world, finally, was dedicated to predation and to survival of |
|
|
723 | the fittest. It was populated with fierce creatures and predators. Two of |
|
|
724 | Her children believed this was the best way to live and decided to live in |
|
|
725 | this world. |
|
|
726 | |
|
|
727 | After the worlds were created, only four children of Gaea still preferred |
|
|
728 | to live in the Void: two because they weren't interested in any of those |
|
|
729 | worlds, and two because they liked all of them and preferred to visit them |
|
|
730 | whenever they wished. |
|
|
731 | |
|
|
732 | =head2 Age of Awakening |
|
|
733 | |
|
|
734 | And for a few million years Gaea delighted in observing the differences |
|
|
735 | between the worlds. But still the creatures were not self-aware, and |
|
|
736 | still SHE was lonely. So when Her children came and said they were lonely |
|
|
737 | and wanted to create more interesting creatures, SHE understood them and |
|
|
738 | quickly allowed them and gave them the power to do it. |
|
|
739 | |
|
|
740 | So on the First world, one of the Gods who lived there created a race of |
|
|
741 | beings that loved peace and wildlife, and called them Elves. The other |
|
|
742 | God in that world didn't choose to create followers, but she teached |
|
|
743 | language to the Elves of her brother, and when the Elves larned the art of |
|
|
744 | naming, they named their creator Lythander, and in exchange for his name |
|
|
745 | he gifted them with luck. |
|
|
746 | |
|
|
747 | On the Second world, one of the Gods created a race of builders and named |
|
|
748 | them Dwarves. His children, in turn, named him Mostrai. His sister, in |
|
|
749 | turn, decided not to create, but teach some of the dwarves (the ones |
|
|
750 | willing to learn) about magic and the powers of the gods. The other |
|
|
751 | dwarves, however, didn't accept their changed siblings, so they went off |
|
|
752 | to live by themselves and became known as gnomes. |
|
|
753 | |
|
|
754 | On the Third world, of course, none of the resident Gods wanted to |
|
|
755 | cooperate with the other. Both created their own races: the God who fought |
|
|
756 | for darkness created many kinds of fierce, brutal monsters he named |
|
|
757 | "Demons", while the God who fought for light created many kinds of |
|
|
758 | skillful, swift warriors he named "Angels". Befittingly, these Gods |
|
|
759 | were named by their enemies, and not their followers: the demons gave the |
|
|
760 | light god the name of "Valriel", and the angels gave their enemy god |
|
|
761 | the name "Gorokh". |
|
|
762 | |
|
|
763 | And on the Fourth world, the patron Gods kept true to their philosophy |
|
|
764 | and created not one, but innumerable races, in the hope that one of these |
|
|
765 | would prove the strongest and most worth. So they created goblins, trolls, |
|
|
766 | ogres, and not least, dragons. The Gods became known as Gnarg, the Patron |
|
|
767 | of Assassins, Ruggilli, the Consuming Worm, and Ixalovh. |
|
|
768 | |
|
|
769 | The races in the four worlds lived on for millenia, and developed, and |
|
|
770 | grew, and all worlds flourished. The eight patron gods believed this was |
|
|
771 | proof that they were right, and the way they lived was the best one, while |
|
|
772 | the two traveling gods rather believed that the success of all the worlds |
|
|
773 | was instead proof of the wisdom and power of their Mother. |
|
|
774 | |
|
|
775 | =head2 Age of Death |
|
|
776 | |
|
|
777 | But at some point things started to go wrong. Angels and demons would |
|
|
778 | start to become priests or scholars or merchants and preach against the |
|
|
779 | war. Dwarves and gnomes would start go grow sedentary and admire the |
|
|
780 | crafts of the past instead of building new ones. Goblinoids would suddenly |
|
|
781 | develop a taste for vegetables and become farmers, while dragons would |
|
|
782 | decide that developing their magics was more important than finding |
|
|
783 | food. But what was wrong was a mistery that would only begin to unfold |
|
|
784 | when the High King of the elves, one day, was devoured by a dragon. |
|
|
785 | |
|
|
786 | It was then that the Gods discovered that the worlds were not anymore |
|
|
787 | completely isolated from one another. Someone had, somehow, teached all |
|
|
788 | kinds of creatures how to follow the paths left by the traveling gods - |
|
|
789 | flying creatures would ride the cross-world whirlwinds of the thunder god, |
|
|
790 | and others would learn to tread the strange winding paths of the walking |
|
|
791 | god. And as creatures became aware of different ways, things started to go |
|
|
792 | wrong. |
|
|
793 | |
|
|
794 | Promptly, the Gods tried to close all portals - but it was too late. The |
|
|
795 | art of magic was already known in the four worlds, and strong enough to |
|
|
796 | travel between them. And the one peaceful elves were ignited, and declared |
|
|
797 | war on the dragons, goblins and trolls. |
|
|
798 | |
|
|
799 | While a mighty army of elven warriors crossed over to the Fourth world, |
|
|
800 | dwarves and gnomes found the First world almost deserted and full of wood |
|
|
801 | and metal for the dwarves, and holy, peaceful places for the gnomes. |
|
|
802 | |
|
|
803 | The part of the small peoples who remained on the Second world was faced |
|
|
804 | with new problems when the demons decided they were ripe for tempting (if |
|
|
805 | they could get dwarven builders and gnome sorcerers on their side, the |
|
|
806 | tide of the war would turn). The angels, of course, took upon themselves |
|
|
807 | to protect these strange people from their eternal enemies. So as their |
|
|
808 | attention slowly shifted from the Third world to the Second, soon only |
|
|
809 | the weakest of their kind were in their original world, where they began |
|
|
810 | to fall prey to hungry refugees from the Fourth world, who discovered how |
|
|
811 | tasty angel/demon flesh can be. |
|
|
812 | |
|
|
813 | And while the Gods were busy trying to even understand this chaos, the |
|
|
814 | dead began to come back. |
|
|
815 | |
|
|
816 | Their leader was Hagguth, the Elven High King who had been eaten by a |
|
|
817 | dragon. He came back as a powerful spectre, leading a powerful army of |
|
|
818 | ghosts, wraiths, skeletons and zombies in a massive attack to the Second |
|
|
819 | and Third worlds. Their goal was to kill as many dwarves, gnomes, angels |
|
|
820 | and demons as possible, to strenghten the number of their own undead host. |
|
|
821 | |
|
|
822 | And when some elven wizards tried to steal the power of the undead to |
|
|
823 | their own ends, they became the first vampires, lichs and demilichs - |
|
|
824 | half living, half undead, but on the side of Hagguth and his misterious |
|
|
825 | masters. |
|
|
826 | |
|
|
827 | It was only when a group of reasonable elves, dwarves, gnomes and dragons |
|
|
828 | managed to get together and talk, that it became clear who these masters |
|
|
829 | could be. Till this point, everyone was blaming some (any) god other |
|
|
830 | than the one they worshipped. But there was only one, obvious answer: |
|
|
831 | the Banished Gods, the Forgotten Children who left ages ago because |
|
|
832 | they didn't agree with he concept of death, were back, and enacting |
|
|
833 | revenge by subverting death itself. In later days, these Gods would become |
|
|
834 | collectively known as the Devourers. |
|
|
835 | |
|
|
836 | Knowing the enemy was not the solution to the war, but was a start. This |
|
|
837 | group, slowly, was able to form a resistence against the undead armies, |
|
|
838 | and gradually turn other people to their side. Finally, after 23 hundred |
|
|
839 | years, they managed to break into the horrible fortress Hagguth had built |
|
|
840 | in the First world and kill (again) the undead king. |
|
|
841 | |
|
|
842 | The chaos began to gradually settle down after that. But then the |
|
|
843 | survivors were faced with a new problem: almost nobody was interested in |
|
|
844 | perverting to the way things used to be. |
|
|
845 | |
|
|
846 | Yes. Entire villages of elves were settled in corners of the Fourth world |
|
|
847 | for many generations, and dwarven guilds had business troughout the |
|
|
848 | worlds. |
|
|
849 | |
|
|
850 | =head2 The Big World |
|
|
851 | |
|
|
852 | So Gaea, in Her wisdom, gave the only possible solution to the |
|
|
853 | problem. SHE took the four worlds in Her hand, and crushed them |
|
|
854 | together. Then SHE looked at the single world she created, and at the |
|
|
855 | creatures of Her children, and decided to again, after millions of years, |
|
|
856 | create Her own followers. Thus SHE created the humans, a young race eager |
|
|
857 | to explore and chart this young world. |
|
|
858 | |
|
|
859 | It took generations for the inhabitants of the resulting world to figure |
|
|
860 | out its geography and for families to reunite; when this finally happened, |
|
|
861 | the stories about four different worlds becoming one were already legends |
|
|
862 | not everybody believed. But still, for some reason, everyone agrees to |
|
|
863 | call this world - the only one they know - Bigworld. |
|
|
864 | |
|
|
865 | |
|
|
866 | =head1 The Book of Valriel |
|
|
867 | |
|
|
868 | In the beginning, for an infinite time, all that existed was a pure light, |
|
|
869 | and that light had a name, and that name was Valriel. |
|
|
870 | |
|
|
871 | But part of the light was not content to be alone, and so did Valriel put |
|
|
872 | this part of Himself aside and did He allow this part to have independent |
|
|
873 | life; and this part was everything that wasn't content, and as it |
|
|
874 | wasn't light, it surely was the darkness; and the darkness took upon |
|
|
875 | itself the name of Gorokh. |
|
|
876 | |
|
|
877 | And for many times more time than a mortal can count, Gorokh was the |
|
|
878 | companion and the servant of Valriel. But Gorokh was not content, because |
|
|
879 | that was his nature, and he plotted a way to change everything. And |
|
|
880 | although filled with hidden motives, Gorokh's words were always very |
|
|
881 | wise, so that Valriel would hear them. So it was that Valriel followed the |
|
|
882 | wise counsel of the Shadow and created a world full of living things to be |
|
|
883 | His new companions and servants. |
|
|
884 | |
|
|
885 | And as soon as Valriel had millions of new companions and servants, Gorokh |
|
|
886 | said, "so now you won't need me anymore, I can leave and find my own |
|
|
887 | companions and servants". And this made Valriel unhappy because He was |
|
|
888 | the only and true Lord, but Gorokh wouldn't recognize that, and so it |
|
|
889 | was Gorokh who eventually taught men to rule over other men instead of |
|
|
890 | paying respect to the one true ruler of all. |
|
|
891 | |
|
|
892 | So did Valriel upon the departure of his first servant, create new |
|
|
893 | servants modeled after His beauty and grace, and elf and man and dwarf he |
|
|
894 | created them. But the Shadow did feel envy and wished those followers for |
|
|
895 | himself, so he came to them in the night and whispered in their ears, and |
|
|
896 | some of them were tempted and started to worship and serve the Shadow. |
|
|
897 | |
|
|
898 | But not enough were seduced by his promises. So he decided to be many, |
|
|
899 | not one. And he wore different shapes and again he whispered in the ears |
|
|
900 | of Valriel's creations. And to the elves he was Lythander of the bow |
|
|
901 | that never misses, and the elves did not see that if a bow never misses, |
|
|
902 | and it isn't the work of the Lord, then it can only be the work of the |
|
|
903 | Enemy. And to the dwarves he wore the name of Mostrai, of the fire, of the |
|
|
904 | forge, the builder of things, for the fire and the desire to change was |
|
|
905 | the true face of Gorokh. |
|
|
906 | |
|
|
907 | And he taught the men to wage war upon each other, and scared the warriors |
|
|
908 | with thunder and lightning, and they would call him Sorig. And those |
|
|
909 | who weren't scared, he tempted with weapons and glory, and wore the |
|
|
910 | beautiful face of a woman, and they called him Valkyrie. And as they |
|
|
911 | killed each other, Gorokh was happy. |
|
|
912 | |
|
|
913 | And much more he did. He taught women to heal and to make the soil grow |
|
|
914 | crop, and they called him Gaea, and believed that Gaea created the world |
|
|
915 | and Valriel was but a minor god, and by spreading this lie they made |
|
|
916 | Gorokh happy. And he taught the children of Valriel to write, so that they |
|
|
917 | could spread his lies further, and they called him Hekanis for that. And |
|
|
918 | he taught them the abomination of filthy magic to pervert and corrupt |
|
|
919 | the creation of the Lord, and to liken themselves to gods, and the evil |
|
|
920 | souls that followed this path called him Byd. And also he taught elf and |
|
|
921 | man and dwarf to brew alcohol and other inebriating things and to laugh |
|
|
922 | in the face of Valriel and throw parties that put shame to the eye of the |
|
|
923 | Lord, and he taught them all that under human guise, and they called their |
|
|
924 | teacher Joyee. |
|
|
925 | |
|
|
926 | So did Valriel look upon the world He created and so did He feel great |
|
|
927 | sorrow and great shame for what had happened to it. And so did he create |
|
|
928 | a new race of servants, more powerful and more faithful than any other, |
|
|
929 | imbued with the mission of hunting down and undoing the work of the Enemy, |
|
|
930 | and this race He called Angels. |
|
|
931 | |
|
|
932 | But again Gorokh felt envy because the servants of the Light were more |
|
|
933 | powerful than his own, and again he went to some of the angels in the |
|
|
934 | night and whispered temptation in their ears, and some turned to his foul |
|
|
935 | purposes and fell from grace. So did Gorokh give them new shapes, to more |
|
|
936 | liken them to himself, red with hate and wearing horns to symbolize their |
|
|
937 | envy, and they became demons. And the plan of Valriel was once again |
|
|
938 | spoiled by the venom of the enemy, because angels had to step aside from |
|
|
939 | their assigned mission to fight the demons and keep them from spreading |
|
|
940 | the evil in their dark hearts. |
|
|
941 | |
|
|
942 | And Gorokh did find great fun in changing Valriel's creation into a new |
|
|
943 | race, and so did he get elf and man and dwarf and corrupted them with |
|
|
944 | his dark will, and they became goblin and orc and kobold, and troll, and |
|
|
945 | giant, and ogre, and many other abominations to the eye of the Creator, |
|
|
946 | and Gorokh wore the name of Gnarg to these new creations and delighted in |
|
|
947 | watching the destruction and sorrow they spread in the world. |
|
|
948 | |
|
|
949 | And in the ultimate act of defiance, the Shadow decided to create servants |
|
|
950 | for him, create new life himself to liken him more to the Great Lord. And |
|
|
951 | he assembled the foulest magic and the darkest hunger he could find and |
|
|
952 | shaped these into the most horrible monsters he could imagine, and gave |
|
|
953 | them life, and called them dragons, and sent them forth to eat the flesh |
|
|
954 | of the creation of Valriel. And the dragons did call him Ruggilli and much |
|
|
955 | did they please him with the terror they spread. |
|
|
956 | |
|
|
957 | But the light and the love of Valriel knew no end, so He decided to |
|
|
958 | fight evil with good, and He instructed His faithful servants to do only |
|
|
959 | the good, to spread the word of His love. And by doing that did He win |
|
|
960 | back many servants who saw that the righteous is more powerful than the |
|
|
961 | might. Much did this enrage the Shadow, and the Shadow did respond by |
|
|
962 | raising the dead themselves from their graves to fight the forces of |
|
|
963 | good. Even when the dead did not win, they did force the living to abandon |
|
|
964 | good in favor of war, and in doing so they would too abandon Valriel. So |
|
|
965 | once again he shadow was happy. |
|
|
966 | |
|
|
967 | Valriel finally did decide, with much sorrow in His infinite heart, that |
|
|
968 | the only way to make His creation safe again was to destroy the Shadow |
|
|
969 | himself. So did He cast His holy word upon His creation to banish the work |
|
|
970 | of the Enemy. But the Enemy knew what would happen beforehand, due to the |
|
|
971 | evil magic of his followers, and he created a safe refuge for their evil, |
|
|
972 | in a world created entirely of pure evil and hate, that he had set aside |
|
|
973 | from creation and called Hell. And soon enough did Gorokh find ways back |
|
|
974 | into the world of the creation of Light, and resumed his foul work of evil |
|
|
975 | and dissent and terror. |
|
|
976 | |
|
|
977 | So did Valriel gather together His faithful and he did gave them some time |
|
|
978 | to put the love for the Lord back in the hearts of as many of His children |
|
|
979 | as they could. And very soon will He again call upon the faithful, and |
|
|
980 | then will He give the faithful an entire new world for them to live in the |
|
|
981 | love of Valriel. And Having done that He will turn to this world, and to |
|
|
982 | Hell, and to Gorokh, and He will destroy them completely with the force of |
|
|
983 | His will, putting an end once and for all in the war and the evil. |
|
|
984 | |
|
|
985 | |
|
|
986 | =head1 The Book of Gorokh |
|
|
987 | |
|
|
988 | In the beginning, for an infinite time, all that existed was an empty |
|
|
989 | and cold light. And the light was content to be and fill and control |
|
|
990 | everything that was. But it is not right for light to be cold, and the |
|
|
991 | part of the light that should have been warm, longed for warmth and for |
|
|
992 | things to see and for things to do. |
|
|
993 | |
|
|
994 | So did the light put aside the warmth, so that the fire would not disturb |
|
|
995 | their cold peace. And the fire looked unto the light and called the light |
|
|
996 | Valriel, the controlling father, and the fire called himself Gorokh, the |
|
|
997 | Son with a Will. |
|
|
998 | |
|
|
999 | And for many times more time than a mortal can count, Gorokh was the |
|
|
1000 | companion and the servant of Valriel. But Gorokh was not content, because |
|
|
1001 | that was his nature, and he plotted a way to change everything. And fueled |
|
|
1002 | by the fire of his will, Gorokh's words were always very wise, so |
|
|
1003 | Valriel would always hear them. So it was that Valriel followed the wise |
|
|
1004 | counsel of the Fire and created a world full of living things to be their |
|
|
1005 | new companions and servants. |
|
|
1006 | |
|
|
1007 | And as soon as Valriel had millions of new companions and servants, Gorokh |
|
|
1008 | said, "so now you won't need me anymore, I can leave and find my own |
|
|
1009 | companions and servants". And this made Valriel unhappy because he |
|
|
1010 | believed he should be only and true Lord, but Gorokh couldn't agree |
|
|
1011 | to that, and so it was Gorokh who eventually taught men to rule over |
|
|
1012 | themselves instead of paying respect to one self-appointed ruler of all. |
|
|
1013 | |
|
|
1014 | So did Valriel, while Gorokh was away exploring the wonders of the new |
|
|
1015 | world, create new servants of flesh and bone to adore him blindly, and elf |
|
|
1016 | and man and dwarf he created them. And seeing this beautiful new creation |
|
|
1017 | Gorokh wanted a part of it for himself, and he presented himself to them, |
|
|
1018 | and some of them liked him and became his follower. |
|
|
1019 | |
|
|
1020 | But Valriel was afraid that, with two gods to adore, some of his creation |
|
|
1021 | could find it natural to spread creation in two equal halves, and he did |
|
|
1022 | want more than an equal half. So he decided to wear different shapes so |
|
|
1023 | that his children would believe him to be many, not one, and then he |
|
|
1024 | would be able to get more than his fair share. And so did he create many |
|
|
1025 | false gods for his children to adore. And even when Gorokh would bring |
|
|
1026 | the wonderful gifts conceived by his powerful will, such as the forge, |
|
|
1027 | weapons, medicine, agriculture, writing, magic, and wine and booze and |
|
|
1028 | music, even then would Valriel create a false god to pose as the giver of |
|
|
1029 | those gifts and take the glory for himself. |
|
|
1030 | |
|
|
1031 | And since Gorokh kept inventing new presents, Valriel became angry, |
|
|
1032 | because he doesn't like change and he doesn't like any good that |
|
|
1033 | doesn't come from him. And so did he create a new race of servants, more |
|
|
1034 | powerful and more prone to following him blindly than any other, imbued |
|
|
1035 | with the mission of hunting down and undoing the work of the Fire, and |
|
|
1036 | this race He called Angels. |
|
|
1037 | |
|
|
1038 | But again Gorokh found a cunning way to defend his work, and again he |
|
|
1039 | went to some of the angels in the night and whispered promises of power |
|
|
1040 | in their ears, and some turned to his great purposes and joined him. So |
|
|
1041 | did Gorokh give them new shapes, to more liken them to himself, red with |
|
|
1042 | the fire of his will and wearing horns to symbolize their power, and they |
|
|
1043 | became demons. And the plan of Valriel was once again spoiled by the |
|
|
1044 | genius of the Fire, because angels had to step aside from their assigned |
|
|
1045 | mission to fight the demons and keep them from spreading the word of |
|
|
1046 | Gorokh. |
|
|
1047 | |
|
|
1048 | And Gorokh did find great fun in changing Valriel's creation into a new |
|
|
1049 | race, and so did he get elf and man and dwarf and tried to imbue them |
|
|
1050 | with greater strength, and they became goblin and orc and kobold, and |
|
|
1051 | troll, and giant, and ogre, and many other strong creatures. But their |
|
|
1052 | intelligences greatly suffered from the process, and he was unhappy with |
|
|
1053 | his creation, and while he was looking for a way to help them did Valriel |
|
|
1054 | come to them under the guise of Gnarg and he told them to spread great |
|
|
1055 | destruction and sorrow in the world so that the creation of Gorokh would |
|
|
1056 | seem foul in the eyes of the living. |
|
|
1057 | |
|
|
1058 | So the Fire decided the creation of Valriel was imperfect and he had to |
|
|
1059 | create his own new life. So he assembled the most powerful magic and the |
|
|
1060 | strongest will and mightiest strength he could find and shaped these |
|
|
1061 | into the most magnificent creatures he could imagine, and gave them |
|
|
1062 | life, and called them dragons, and sent them forth to take the world for |
|
|
1063 | themselves. But while the dragons are still the greatest pride of Gorokh, |
|
|
1064 | many of them have abandoned him to serve yet another disguise of Valriel. |
|
|
1065 | |
|
|
1066 | And upon seeing the dragons, Valriel declared war and set his servants |
|
|
1067 | upon the task of killing all the most valuables of Gorokh they could |
|
|
1068 | find. Gorokh was consumed with sorrow, and devised a way to spare these |
|
|
1069 | faithful servants, by allowing them to raise again from the grave even |
|
|
1070 | after their deaths. But the servants of Valriel found these "un-dead" |
|
|
1071 | an even greater abomination, and set forth to hunt them, and Valriel |
|
|
1072 | delighted in the war and carnage that ensued. |
|
|
1073 | |
|
|
1074 | So did Gorokh, his fire dim with sorrow, decide to create a whole world |
|
|
1075 | for him and his faithful. And this world he called Hell. But when he was |
|
|
1076 | slowly bringing his faithful to the new world, Valriel treacherously |
|
|
1077 | brought down a great fury upon the world, killing most of the faithful |
|
|
1078 | that were left behind. So the Fire was finally enraged and decided to wage |
|
|
1079 | the war that the Light wanted. And he opened many passages into the world |
|
|
1080 | so that his armies could enter and destroy the minions of Valriel. And to |
|
|
1081 | this war we are all called to chose sides and fight. |
|
|
1082 | |
|
|
1083 | |
|
|
1084 | =head1 The Dwarven Creation Tale |
|
|
1085 | |
|
|
1086 | A play by Shakesdor the Dwarf. |
|
|
1087 | |
|
|
1088 | - What... where we come from? You're not old enough for this |
|
|
1089 | conversation. |
|
|
1090 | |
|
|
1091 | - No, uncle, I mean as a whole... the world, the dwarves, the others. |
|
|
1092 | |
|
|
1093 | - Ah. I see. (Big gulp of beer.) You mean, NOW? |
|
|
1094 | |
|
|
1095 | - Yes, please. Pleeeease? |
|
|
1096 | |
|
|
1097 | - *sigh* all right, all right. It goes like this. |
|
|
1098 | |
|
|
1099 | First there was the Ore and the Forge. The Ore is what existence looked |
|
|
1100 | like before it existed. The Forge was the untapped will, the potential in |
|
|
1101 | the Ore to be everything that is, ever will be, or won't. |
|
|
1102 | |
|
|
1103 | Over a span of time that is not time, because time wasn't forged yet, |
|
|
1104 | some tiny scraps of Ore drifted into the Forge. A piece of the Forge |
|
|
1105 | merged with that Ore and became sentient. He has many names, but we call |
|
|
1106 | him Mostrai. |
|
|
1107 | |
|
|
1108 | He spent ages of time-that-was-not-time exploring, learning the nature |
|
|
1109 | of Ore and Forge and himself. Till he decided it was time to start |
|
|
1110 | forging. And then, first of all, he forged time, so that he could separate |
|
|
1111 | after from before, and so that he could exist absolutely - as opposed to, |
|
|
1112 | at the same "time", existing and not being created yet, which was the |
|
|
1113 | case if time didn't exist. |
|
|
1114 | |
|
|
1115 | Then, with things in order, he began forging things. The first thing he |
|
|
1116 | forged was his armor, because he liked the touch of metal against his |
|
|
1117 | body. Then he forged beer, because of course, beer is essential. He forged |
|
|
1118 | it red like the Forge, and black like the Ore. The yellow thing, as we all |
|
|
1119 | know, is an invention of those pansy elves. |
|
|
1120 | |
|
|
1121 | And he liked the beer. He liked it so much, that he was bored of drinking |
|
|
1122 | it alone. Beer calls for a party. So he created the boar and the bird, to |
|
|
1123 | be roasted; he created the mundane fire, which was a toned-down version of |
|
|
1124 | the essence of the Forge, to roast them. And then he created the dwarf, to |
|
|
1125 | dress in metal like him, to work the forge with him, but most importantly |
|
|
1126 | of all, to party with him and partake of the sacred beer. |
|
|
1127 | |
|
|
1128 | But the dwarf started breeding like bugs, and it was quite distracting |
|
|
1129 | to have them putting about in spaceless space. At any given point, there |
|
|
1130 | were thousands of dwarves partying, thousands sleeping, thousands hunting, |
|
|
1131 | and thousands forging. Mostrai thought it was good, but it was also damn |
|
|
1132 | annoying. So he created an enormous mountain for them to live under. He |
|
|
1133 | put the boar and bird, and a few other animals he had come up with later, |
|
|
1134 | on the outside, where he forged woods and forest. And so that his children |
|
|
1135 | wouldn't wander forever, he placed these places in the middle of an |
|
|
1136 | infinite ocean. There you have, that's the story. |
|
|
1137 | |
|
|
1138 | - Whoa. What about the others? |
|
|
1139 | |
|
|
1140 | - *sigh* You won't let me finish my beer, will you? |
|
|
1141 | |
|
|
1142 | - You'll never finish your beer, uncle. When you soak that mug, |
|
|
1143 | there's plenty more in the barrel. |
|
|
1144 | |
|
|
1145 | - All right, all rigth. (Big gulp.) |
|
|
1146 | |
|
|
1147 | The dwarves had amazing weapons to hunt with. Eventually, the hunt was |
|
|
1148 | no challenge anymore. The best hunters would play-act wars between |
|
|
1149 | themselves, to best hone their skills. |
|
|
1150 | |
|
|
1151 | Mostrai was worried that those fights might one day evolve into real |
|
|
1152 | wars. So he created an enemy, something very different from the dwarf, |
|
|
1153 | something very obviously wrong, which lived in the woods and preferred |
|
|
1154 | bows and other coward weapons rather than hand-to-hand combat. He made |
|
|
1155 | them incredibly lucky, because otherwise they would stand no chance - and |
|
|
1156 | they came to believe they're lucky because they're protected by their |
|
|
1157 | god, which of course doesn't exist. He also made them very old, so that |
|
|
1158 | they would think they existed before the dwarf - otherwise they would just |
|
|
1159 | recognize our superior position and submit. And all was good and happy; |
|
|
1160 | for time beyond count, dwarf and elf honed their skills against each |
|
|
1161 | other, and prospered. |
|
|
1162 | |
|
|
1163 | I mean, have you ever fought an elf? Yes, it was an eternal war, but not |
|
|
1164 | like those bloody gorefest the others have today. When dwarf and elf |
|
|
1165 | fight, it's clean, it's beautiful, it's according to the rules, |
|
|
1166 | it's a ritual of honor. |
|
|
1167 | |
|
|
1168 | Well, I digress. All was well, I said. But one day, one elf created yellow |
|
|
1169 | beer. And that offended Mostrai to a level of rage unseen before. So he |
|
|
1170 | created an entire new piece of the world, and populated it with humans, |
|
|
1171 | and other horrible creatures, and then let these young ones discover our |
|
|
1172 | land, so that they may raze the elf forests, ruin the elf nations, and |
|
|
1173 | soil their honor. We're not stupid enough to argue with Mostrai, so we |
|
|
1174 | went underground, and we're waiting for that to happen, to see what he |
|
|
1175 | will do next. |
|
|
1176 | |
|
|
1177 | Can I drink in peace now? There, go play with your friends. |
|
|
1178 | |
|
|
1179 | |
|
|
1180 | =head1 The Legend of the Builders |
|
|
1181 | |
|
|
1182 | People of the Old Empire believed that the whole universe was made by |
|
|
1183 | powerful beings called Builders. Builders were not part of the world |
|
|
1184 | like gods were - they lived Outside. Little is known about the Builders |
|
|
1185 | themselves. The priests of the Empire weren't quite sure themselves |
|
|
1186 | about their names. Some were universally known, though: Mawëdel the Ruler |
|
|
1187 | or Peterëm the Writing One were the most popular of the ever changing |
|
|
1188 | list of Builders. |
|
|
1189 | |
|
|
1190 | The Builders understood very well how difficult it would be for them to |
|
|
1191 | manage themselves every prayer made - making the Universe work was already |
|
|
1192 | a time-consuming task. So they created gods to help them in their task. |
|
|
1193 | |
|
|
1194 | Most of the gods we know today were already popular in the times of the |
|
|
1195 | Old Empire, like Mostrai or Lythander. Others changed names as time |
|
|
1196 | passed. Gods provided their powers to the Faithful Ones, and helped them |
|
|
1197 | by providing blessings and powerful weapons. The priests of the Old Empire |
|
|
1198 | never believed gods made the world, as they were themselves part of it; |
|
|
1199 | world-building was the Builders task. |
|
|
1200 | |
|
|
1201 | |
|
|
1202 | =head1 The Foundation of Scorn |
|
|
1203 | |
|
|
1204 | Few archives remain from the times when Scorn was founded. The city is |
|
|
1205 | probably the oldest of the whole known world. Before Fido, before the Old |
|
|
1206 | Empire, maybe even before gods, Scorn was already there. |
|
|
1207 | |
|
|
1208 | It is usually said that Scorn was founded by Skud the Great. Many legends |
|
|
1209 | are telling about Skud, the half-mythical hero. How he captured the first |
|
|
1210 | dragons. How he fought unknown monsters in the East. How he built Scorn |
|
|
1211 | and the First Inn. Some priests even postulated that Skud was in fact a |
|
|
1212 | Builder. Skud created the First Inn because he wanted to sleep inside a |
|
|
1213 | house, without the risk of being attacked by monsters during the night. He |
|
|
1214 | left the Holy Guestbook, one of the oldest relics of Deliantra, where he |
|
|
1215 | and his fellow friends wrote their names. Skud disappeared long before the |
|
|
1216 | Old Empire came, and nowadays only the Builders can probably remember him. |
|
|
1217 | |
|
|
1218 | Recent researches show that, although he greatly contributed to the |
|
|
1219 | popularity of the city, Skud didn't found it: it was in fact created |
|
|
1220 | by Tabb the Dark, a Builder that left very little information about him |
|
|
1221 | behind. According to the Codex Skudensis that was discovered in the depths |
|
|
1222 | of the Old City, "Scorn" would have been the real name of Tabb the |
|
|
1223 | Dark. |
|
|
1224 | |
|
|
1225 | |
|
|
1226 | =head1 The Coming of Color |
|
|
1227 | |
|
|
1228 | It is said that centuries before the foundation of the Old Empire, the |
|
|
1229 | world was colorless and sad. Aware of that problem, the Builders decided |
|
|
1230 | to bring color in the life of the Deliantra people. They called the |
|
|
1231 | massive powers of Xepemes, The Source Of All Colors, on the universe. The |
|
|
1232 | magical burst slowly covered the world with colors, but some elements |
|
|
1233 | resisted for a long time. Prophets of the Old Empire announced that, |
|
|
1234 | although victorious, the force of Xepemes wouldn't stay forever: one |
|
|
1235 | day, it would eventually fade away against a more powerful magical force, |
|
|
1236 | the mysterious Pegemes (or Peengees?). This happened - but much after the |
|
|
1237 | fall of the Empire. |
|
|
1238 | |
|
|
1239 | |
|
|
1240 | =head1 The Big World |
|
|
1241 | |
|
|
1242 | The old world was small and it consisted of many pieces. Scorn, Navar, |
|
|
1243 | Brittany and Santo Dominion were in one large piece. Darcap and the |
|
|
1244 | Hill Village were in another smaller one. Lake Country was in yet |
|
|
1245 | another. Pupland was still another. The world was not whole, and the |
|
|
1246 | builders saw that this was wrong. They began the quest to unite the world |
|
|
1247 | and established the Big World. As the builders united the world they saw |
|
|
1248 | that it was much too small and began to make it larger. They raised up the |
|
|
1249 | Great Mountains around Brest and they caused the Great Forest to grow. |
|
|
1250 | |
|
|
1251 | As the time passed, Navar grew to become a great Kingdom and the builders |
|
|
1252 | decided that it was a good city for players to call home and they gave the |
|
|
1253 | Heroes a choice to serve Scorn or Navar. Nevertheless, Pupland was still |
|
|
1254 | not part of this new world. |
|
|
1255 | |
|
|
1256 | This was the state for a long time, until the builders decided that the |
|
|
1257 | Big World was not good, and set out to change it again. Everything |
|
|
1258 | changed. So much changed that, in fact, the world was completely |
|
|
1259 | unrecognisable to its denizens after the change. |
|
|
1260 | |
|
|
1261 | Except the area around Brest, at least according to the people living |
|
|
1262 | there. Or maybe they were just too busy fighting monsters to notice it. |
|
|
1263 | |
|
|
1264 | This time Pupland became part of the new Big World, and can be found in |
|
|
1265 | the very north, past Santo Dominion. |
|
|
1266 | |
|
|
1267 | |
|
|
1268 | =head1 Skud the Great |
|
|
1269 | |
|
|
1270 | One of the first Builders. Skud created many famous places, like the |
|
|
1271 | Scorn's First Inn or the Newbie Tower. |
|
|
1272 | |
|
|
1273 | The reasons of the disappearance of Skud are mostly unknown. The Codex |
|
|
1274 | Skudensis mentions that it could have been because of the negative |
|
|
1275 | influence of the Arch-Demon Neth Aq. It is thought that The Tower of Skud, |
|
|
1276 | although left unfinished by its creator, may contain informations about |
|
|
1277 | the fate of one of the most famous Builder |
|
|
1278 | |
|
|
1279 | |
|
|
1280 | =head1 Legends of the Fall |
|
|
1281 | |
|
|
1282 | =head2 Of the first things |
|
|
1283 | |
|
|
1284 | First there was Chaos |
|
|
1285 | |
|
|
1286 | Second there was Something and Nothing |
|
|
1287 | |
|
|
1288 | Third there was Dark and Light |
|
|
1289 | |
|
|
1290 | It is said that the Something and the Nothing would fight and that, the |
|
|
1291 | Dark and Light would fight also. |
|
|
1292 | |
|
|
1293 | This being told to me by a monk of Valriel, no longer in the order. |
|
|
1294 | |
|
|
1295 | =head2 On the nature of elemental essences |
|
|
1296 | |
|
|
1297 | It is said that of the four primary elements |
|
|
1298 | |
|
|
1299 | - there is earth which is. |
|
|
1300 | - there is water which changes. |
|
|
1301 | - there is air which moves. |
|
|
1302 | - there is fire which consumes. |
|
|
1303 | |
|
|
1304 | =head2 Overheard in a Narcopian brothel |
|
|
1305 | |
|
|
1306 | When Mother Earth was suckling her children |
|
|
1307 | sky suckled from her right teat |
|
|
1308 | but flame and sea fought to suckle from her left teat |
|
|
1309 | this is why they still fight to this day |
|
|
1310 | |
|
|
1311 | |
|
|
1312 | =head1 The Tale of Lord Butakis - The Lost Stars of the Lake, Volume I |
|
|
1313 | |
|
|
1314 | This story begins nearly four thousand years ago, when Kadriosa IV, King |
|
|
1315 | of Scorn, invaded the southern territories and pushed back the elven |
|
|
1316 | barbarians that lived there. |
|
|
1317 | |
|
|
1318 | The elvish people fled, and many of them settled in a place they called |
|
|
1319 | Vkovzerov, "The Country of the Three Waters", as it was a rather |
|
|
1320 | unique meeting point between a river, a lake, and the sea. There they |
|
|
1321 | enjoyed a great prosperity, working with the local sprites to build |
|
|
1322 | Tashkeren-tah, The City of the Wooden Towers. |
|
|
1323 | |
|
|
1324 | Two centuries passed, then three. The elven princes of Tashkeren-tah had |
|
|
1325 | become powerful - and never in their hearts was the thirst of revenge |
|
|
1326 | and hatred towards the people of Scorn extinguished. Now very familiar |
|
|
1327 | with the various water creatures that inhabited their territory, they |
|
|
1328 | had developed great skills in commanding rivers, and the beasts inside |
|
|
1329 | them, and the creatures made from them. They knew that Scorn was highly |
|
|
1330 | dependent on its seaport, and they had planned for the many years their |
|
|
1331 | long life gave them to use the great power of water spirits to crush and |
|
|
1332 | flood the city. |
|
|
1333 | |
|
|
1334 | But despite all their accumulated knowledge, their powers were too limited |
|
|
1335 | to direct the most powerful entities of the seas, the Mouthes of the |
|
|
1336 | Mariner, none other than the Greater Aquomons. |
|
|
1337 | |
|
|
1338 | For a long time, they were hesitant to call those, as they were dangerous, |
|
|
1339 | treacherous creatures born during the darkest ages of the world, when |
|
|
1340 | Haemdel the Legendary was crushed and the Three Artifacts lost. But so |
|
|
1341 | strong was their flame of hatred that it soon burned the ropes of their |
|
|
1342 | carefulness. Using their most powerful summoning spell, they convocated |
|
|
1343 | one of the Greater Aquomons before them. |
|
|
1344 | |
|
|
1345 | "Who are you, you creatures with pointy ears, to dare awaken me from my |
|
|
1346 | dreams, me, Vërno, the Fourth Drop ?" |
|
|
1347 | |
|
|
1348 | Elven Princes exposed what they wanted to Vërno, and the creature seemed |
|
|
1349 | very interested at the idea of grabbing all the richesses of Scorn, and |
|
|
1350 | bringing them back into his dark kingdom of the depth of the sea. |
|
|
1351 | |
|
|
1352 | "Very well, said Vërno, but you know, I suppose, that we are all bound |
|
|
1353 | by the Law of Equilibrium, established by the gods themselves when the |
|
|
1354 | world was new and the seas infinite. And for my services, you'll have to |
|
|
1355 | pay the price." |
|
|
1356 | |
|
|
1357 | - And what do you want for a price ? - Well, my needs are rather |
|
|
1358 | modest. I'll only claim a tenth of your own lands as a reward." |
|
|
1359 | |
|
|
1360 | The Elven Princes quickly discussed the matter, and came to the conclusion |
|
|
1361 | that it was a rather fair price to pay - after all, their territories |
|
|
1362 | weren't very large, and there was a lot of empty space all around, so |
|
|
1363 | it wasn't really a problem for them. Maybe it would for a couple of |
|
|
1364 | peasants, but who cared about them more than of the vengeance against |
|
|
1365 | Scorn ? |
|
|
1366 | |
|
|
1367 | And so they answered: "The Fate of Scorn is Sealed, then. We accept." |
|
|
1368 | |
|
|
1369 | What happened then is too long to tell in details here, as it belongs |
|
|
1370 | to another story. In short, Jovidjevska the elven girl, who had heard |
|
|
1371 | everything, travelled to Scorn, and convinced the city wizards of the |
|
|
1372 | truth of the menace. And when Vërno came to crush the city, they moved it |
|
|
1373 | two days into the future, and the water hand of the Fourth Drop grabbed |
|
|
1374 | only emptiness. |
|
|
1375 | |
|
|
1376 | Vërno, furious, came back to the Elves with a big smile, and told |
|
|
1377 | them: "I did what you wanted, and flooded the territory on which Scorn |
|
|
1378 | was established. Now I take my due price." |
|
|
1379 | |
|
|
1380 | And that said, he selected the area on which the Elven City itself was |
|
|
1381 | built, and covered it with water, its inhabitants trapped and killed there |
|
|
1382 | without understanding what was happening. |
|
|
1383 | |
|
|
1384 | |
|
|
1385 | =head1 The Tale of Lord Butakis - The Lost Stars of the Lake, Volume II |
|
|
1386 | |
|
|
1387 | Two thousand years passed. The lineage of the kings of Scorn died, |
|
|
1388 | and another dynasty came, and another one after that. Wars were |
|
|
1389 | conducted. Wizards of Scorn fled, and most of the knowledge disappeared, |
|
|
1390 | and there were nothing but lakes and forests above the dead city of the |
|
|
1391 | elves. |
|
|
1392 | |
|
|
1393 | And then, a man came. Where did he come from ? Nobody knows for |
|
|
1394 | sure. Butakis was his name. |
|
|
1395 | |
|
|
1396 | Butakis was an ambitious young man. He had heard here and there strange |
|
|
1397 | pieces of a weird story, about a sunken city, about a dark pact, about the |
|
|
1398 | secret power of elves... |
|
|
1399 | |
|
|
1400 | For years, he studied the Arcanes, hunting for traces of the city, as he |
|
|
1401 | was convinced that the lost wisdom of the elves of Vkovzerov would give |
|
|
1402 | him a great power. And, finally, after 20 long years of searching, he |
|
|
1403 | concluded that the secret was in the area now called "Lake Country". |
|
|
1404 | |
|
|
1405 | And there, he came, and there was a small house made of wood, and there |
|
|
1406 | was a tree, and there was a young elvish woman, dreaming at the stars, |
|
|
1407 | under the tree. And Butakis fell in love, and the elvish lady fell in |
|
|
1408 | love, and they both watched the stars. But soon, Butakis felt the need of |
|
|
1409 | getting back into action, and finding the lost city and getting its power. |
|
|
1410 | |
|
|
1411 | The lady told him: "The true wisdom is in those stars, and in that |
|
|
1412 | tree, and in that house you see. You'll only find unrest by aiming for |
|
|
1413 | more." |
|
|
1414 | |
|
|
1415 | But Butakis had already made up his mind, and he brought back engineers, |
|
|
1416 | and sappers, and miners, and they all worked to build a huge machine to |
|
|
1417 | pump the water, and discover the city. During ten years, Butakis worked on |
|
|
1418 | this, hoping that in the end, the elvish lady would be at his side, and |
|
|
1419 | that she would be his wife, princess of the restored city. |
|
|
1420 | |
|
|
1421 | During all the work, he was perpetually annoyed by a small group of |
|
|
1422 | bandits, lead by Twak the Red Fox. Twak and his men conducted a real |
|
|
1423 | guerilla war against Butakis, as they saw him as a danger for the whole |
|
|
1424 | country, because his plans were damaging nature and could also have awaken |
|
|
1425 | dark power sleeping in the sunken city. Several times, they sabotaged |
|
|
1426 | the machine, stole tools, raped engineers and designers. But each time, |
|
|
1427 | Butakis and his followers repaired the machines, engaged new people, and |
|
|
1428 | increased security. |
|
|
1429 | |
|
|
1430 | |
|
|
1431 | =head1 The Tale of Lord Butakis - The Lost Stars of the Lake, Volume III |
|
|
1432 | |
|
|
1433 | And now, ten years after the beginning, the work was completed, and he |
|
|
1434 | invited the elvish lady to come and see the accomplishment of a lifelong |
|
|
1435 | dream. |
|
|
1436 | |
|
|
1437 | The Elvish lady came, as beautiful as ever. And on the balcony at the top |
|
|
1438 | of the pump, they watched the stars, and she kissed him, and she when they |
|
|
1439 | were in the bed he had prepared for that very special night before the |
|
|
1440 | pumping started, she whispered at his ear. |
|
|
1441 | |
|
|
1442 | That, Butakis had waited for long, but he didn't expect what she told |
|
|
1443 | him then. |
|
|
1444 | |
|
|
1445 | "Ten years you were away, and ten years I watched the stars with |
|
|
1446 | Twak. And now for him, and for he choose me and my heart, I'll |
|
|
1447 | disappear, and so does your dream." |
|
|
1448 | |
|
|
1449 | Butakis understood that he had been fooled, that she only kept her |
|
|
1450 | attention away enough for Twak and three of his faithful men to sabotage |
|
|
1451 | the pump. And so came a great rumble from the basis of the huge building, |
|
|
1452 | and so the huge engines exploded, and so was his dream reduced to smoke, |
|
|
1453 | smoke that still covers most of Lake Country nowadays. The Elvish lady |
|
|
1454 | probably died, as nobody saw her again after that. And so did the brave |
|
|
1455 | Twak, but his spirit survived in the wind - or so say some people. |
|
|
1456 | |
|
|
1457 | Butakis, so strange as it may look, managed to survive, although in bad |
|
|
1458 | shape, as one would expect. Disfigured, he survived until now using black |
|
|
1459 | magic or machines to keep him alive, and he tried to gather again men to |
|
|
1460 | restart his project. But it was now said all around that it was a doomed, |
|
|
1461 | broken man - and so he in fact was Lake country was said to be haunted by |
|
|
1462 | Twak, and several travellers saw a young elvish lady, watching the stars |
|
|
1463 | at night, under a tree, near the lake. |
|
|
1464 | |
|
|
1465 | Nobody ever accepted to work on the foolish project again. Butakis now |
|
|
1466 | awaits in his sinister castle, ruling a shattered kingdom lost in the fog |
|
|
1467 | his machine left behind. A tormented man, that is said to look in the |
|
|
1468 | direction of the lake from the highest tower of his castle, every night. |
|
|
1469 | |
|
|
1470 | But for him never came again the Elvish girl, and forever his soul stays |
|
|
1471 | alone. And so ends what we know about Butakis and Twak, and so dies my |
|
|
1472 | story. |
|
|
1473 | |
|
|
1474 | |
|
|
1475 | =head1 The Wizard School of Blue |
|
|
1476 | |
|
|
1477 | "Although the School disappeared with the Empire itself from The World, |
|
|
1478 | several wizards claimed to be the heirs of their ancient, secret wisdom, |
|
|
1479 | and nicknamed "the Blue Ones", a reference to the color of the School |
|
|
1480 | Banner." – Gros, the Irrelevant One |
|
|
1481 | |
|
|
1482 | |
|
|
1483 | =head1 The Great Heliograph |
|
|
1484 | |
|
|
1485 | A device made by Mer'Eric the Walker. Built on the highest point of the |
|
|
1486 | Brestian Hills, it is basically a giant magnifying glass, using a complex |
|
|
1487 | mechanism commanding several mirrors, that is able to concentrate the |
|
|
1488 | sunlight into a powerful beam. The concentrator is associated to a Sun |
|
|
1489 | Stone that can receive similar long-range light signals and transform |
|
|
1490 | them into pure thaumic energy. A keyboard is attached to a mechanical |
|
|
1491 | obturator, allowing a single operator to send coded messages to very long |
|
|
1492 | distances. A magically-powered scriptor writes any such incoming message |
|
|
1493 | capted by the Sun Stone. |
|
|
1494 | |
|
|
1495 | Although Mer'Eric only saw the Great Heliograph as a research project |
|
|
1496 | and as a way to communicate easily across huge distances, this device |
|
|
1497 | is also a powerful weapon that can burn nearly anything several miles |
|
|
1498 | away. This is probably why he decided to hide it in a sealed cave. |
|
|
1499 | |
|
|
1500 | A similar device was built by the Mad Mage of Scorn, but its fate is |
|
|
1501 | unknown. |
|
|
1502 | |
|
|
1503 | |
|
|
1504 | =head1 The Harelkirjan Sisters |
|
|
1505 | |
|
|
1506 | Also called the Twin Witches, they were two powerful women wizards; Herin |
|
|
1507 | was specialized in White Magic, while her sister Urdin was a master of the |
|
|
1508 | Black Art. Both of them tried to improve the life of the people living |
|
|
1509 | all around their house, and introduced the use of cats as spirit-watchers |
|
|
1510 | in Scorn. Unfortunately for them, they were burned by an angry Brestian |
|
|
1511 | fanatical mob for "illegal use of Arcane Powers". |
|
|
1512 | |
|
|
1513 | |
|
|
1514 | =head1 Ilrya, The Mountain Huntress |
|
|
1515 | |
|
|
1516 | Ilrya was an elven spellcaster and huntress from the underground city of |
|
|
1517 | Eallera, that is venerated as a lesser god by most of the dwarves living |
|
|
1518 | in the Northern Territories. She killed the Bear of Snuddenrach in 3657EK. |
|
|
1519 | |
|
|
1520 | |
|
|
1521 | =head1 Irial, The Fast One, The Shy Light |
|
|
1522 | |
|
|
1523 | Irial is a lesser spirit of flashlight - the light that you can see when |
|
|
1524 | there's thunder, for example. It is represented as a small, jumpy and |
|
|
1525 | fast fairy with a temperamental mood. |
|
|
1526 | |
|
|
1527 | |
|
|
1528 | =head1 Khorolizov |
|
|
1529 | |
|
|
1530 | One of the three great dwarven kingdoms. "Khorolizov" means "Green |
|
|
1531 | Gold", which is a reference to the Green Sand, an alchemical component |
|
|
1532 | the dwarves of Khorolizov are the only ones to produce. It is probably |
|
|
1533 | the oldest of the three kingdoms, founded long before the Old Empire of |
|
|
1534 | Khelens reached the shores of the Continent. |
|
|
1535 | |
|
|
1536 | |
|
|
1537 | =head1 Kragi, The Crocodile One, Fish-Hunter |
|
|
1538 | |
|
|
1539 | Kragi is a very ancient spirit, representing the Dangerous Waters, and |
|
|
1540 | the creatures hidden in stagnant swamps. Kragi was already feared by |
|
|
1541 | Ancient Jiradittis, 2000 years before Khelens. A lot of river fishermen |
|
|
1542 | symbolically throw one fish out of what they gathered, to appease the |
|
|
1543 | spirit of Kragi so that the next fishing will go without trouble. |
|
|
1544 | |
|
|
1545 | |
|
|
1546 | =head1 Cromli, The Rocky One |
|
|
1547 | |
|
|
1548 | Crolmi is the Dwarven Spirit of Rocs and Mountains. It has no temples, as |
|
|
1549 | it is said that buildings made of stone anger him (it is like "building |
|
|
1550 | with his own flesh"). |
|
|
1551 | |
|
|
1552 | |
|
|
1553 | =head1 Glamdri, The Darkness Breaker, The Last Standing One |
|
|
1554 | |
|
|
1555 | Glamdri is a lesser spirit of light - it is said that candlelights are |
|
|
1556 | manifestations of Glamdri, for example. |
|
|
1557 | |
|
|
1558 | Glamdri doesn't represent a magical light - more a spiritual light, the |
|
|
1559 | last pinch of hope in a desperate world. Glamdri also represents original |
|
|
1560 | thinking used to get out of difficult situations, as opposed to Sarikka - |
|
|
1561 | the Raging Fire - who tries to resolve those by extreme violence. |
|
|
1562 | |
|
|
1563 | |
|
|
1564 | =head1 Archmage Rhyz |
|
|
1565 | |
|
|
1566 | (Entorinaas Durdennis Rhyz, Fourth Archmage of the Seat, Herdysenmark of Normania) |
|
|
1567 | |
|
|
1568 | Rhyz was an Archmage of the Blue School during the Old Days of the Empire. |
|
|
1569 | |
|
|
1570 | "(...)Unlike Dhelyy Olyy, his contemporary rival for the Seat, Rhyz |
|
|
1571 | focused mostly on closing the gap that existed between the art of fighting |
|
|
1572 | and the Arcane. While Dhelyy Olyy believed in the dual association of the |
|
|
1573 | Warrior and the Wizard, each with its own strength increased by a long |
|
|
1574 | specialization in their respective fields, Rhyz believed in the idea of |
|
|
1575 | a "super warriard", a combination of a powerful wizard and a strong |
|
|
1576 | warrior. As such, he devised many items that increased the strength and |
|
|
1577 | combat capabilities of their wearers, hoping that wizard apprentices would |
|
|
1578 | so be more inclined to learn the battle skills of warriors. |
|
|
1579 | |
|
|
1580 | Unfortunately for Rhyz, most of his followers relied more and more on |
|
|
1581 | magical strength more than physical training, leaving them to a severe |
|
|
1582 | defeat at the Battle of Moriach, when Dhelyy used an anti-magic field over |
|
|
1583 | them." |
|
|
1584 | |
|
|
1585 | (Quote from the Codex Simochusianus, Volume XVII) |
|
|
1586 | |
|
|
1587 | |
|
|
1588 | =head1 Archdaemonist Xebinon |
|
|
1589 | |
|
|
1590 | Xebinon was an Archmage and Daemonist that was since trapped by a demon of |
|
|
1591 | the 10th Circle in his mannor. |
|
|
1592 | |
|
|
1593 | It is said that Xebinon used the Crown of Hellfires to try to tame the |
|
|
1594 | Arch-daemon (and failed) - this is a crown that gave a lot of power, but |
|
|
1595 | drained the magical force of the wearer at the same time, making the spell |
|
|
1596 | regeneration more difficult. This was in fact a cursed, twisted artifact, |
|
|
1597 | created by daemons for people who were seeking short-term power, but would |
|
|
1598 | thus head directly for long-term soul slavery. |
|
|
1599 | |
|
|
1600 | Xebinon is sometimes called "The faceless one", as it is said that the |
|
|
1601 | daemon trapped him by stealing his visage. This may explain why magical |
|
|
1602 | artifacts wearing his name are often helmets. |
|
|
1603 | |
|
|
1604 | |
|
|
1605 | =head1 Argoth, the Fish-City of the Two Towers |
|
|
1606 | |
|
|
1607 | Argoth is the name of a city that was located West of Scorn, in the middle |
|
|
1608 | of the sea, in an island that since sunken after the explosion of the |
|
|
1609 | volcano of the same name, in 674EK. It is called the City of the Two |
|
|
1610 | Towers, because two huge towers were built there, to guide the ships |
|
|
1611 | navigating on the oceans between Bigworld and Khelens. |
|
|
1612 | |
|
|
1613 | Argoth was a dwarven city built on one of the highest mountains known, |
|
|
1614 | rooted in the depths of the sea, and climbing so high in the skies that |
|
|
1615 | uneducated travelers said that it was a "stairway to the gods". On the |
|
|
1616 | top of the mountain, the Imperial Governors built the Two Towers, who were |
|
|
1617 | visible from Scorn, about 200km far from them. |
|
|
1618 | |
|
|
1619 | The dwarves of Argoth had a terrible secret: in the depths of the caves |
|
|
1620 | below the mountains, they had trapped Hregalakhen, one of the last |
|
|
1621 | survivors of the race of the Ancient Dragons, who ruled Bigworld long |
|
|
1622 | before the time of humans. Unfortunately for the dwarves, the dragon got |
|
|
1623 | free for an unknown reason, and destroyed the city, the mountain crumbling |
|
|
1624 | and disappearing forever into the ocean. The Imperial authorities spread |
|
|
1625 | the false story of a volcanic eruption to limit the panic a free dragon |
|
|
1626 | the size of Hregalakhen would have caused in the population. The fate of |
|
|
1627 | the dragon is unknown to this day. |
|
|
1628 | |
|
|
1629 | |
|
|
1630 | =head1 Zormola, The Bashing One |
|
|
1631 | |
|
|
1632 | Zormola was a great female orcish warrior, that is sometimes considered |
|
|
1633 | as a lesser divinity by not only orcs, but also by southern barbarians or |
|
|
1634 | even dwarves of Herfensheim, who salute her courage on the battlefield. |
|
|
1635 | |
|
|
1636 | |
|
|
1637 | =head1 Morgul, The Tower Builder, The Dark Climber |
|
|
1638 | |
|
|
1639 | Morgul was a Dark Mage that built a tower in the hope of creating a bridge |
|
|
1640 | with the skies, so that demons could attack heavens. Fortunately for |
|
|
1641 | angels, a group of adventurers defeated him in 2374EK. |
|
|
1642 | |
|
|
1643 | |
|
|
1644 | =head1 Wolfen the White, The White Hunter, The One Who Listens |
|
|
1645 | |
|
|
1646 | Wolfen is one of the three moons orbiting around The World. It is said to |
|
|
1647 | be the spirit of the legendary hunter Wolfen, who tracked Kalkaruntes, God |
|
|
1648 | of the Dragons, to is cavern and vainquished it. |
|
|
1649 | |
|
|
1650 | In astrology, Wolfen is the symbol of practical mind, swiftness and |
|
|
1651 | flexibility, but also cowardice and stealing. It is associated with the |
|
|
1652 | Earth element in Alchemancy. Wolfen is seen as a protector by hunters and |
|
|
1653 | rangers. Priests of Lythander think it is the reincarnation of the wolf |
|
|
1654 | that hunts with Lythander in the divine forests of Nerënna. Fenxes see it |
|
|
1655 | as Fixas, the one that saved them from the Humans so long ago. |
|
|
1656 | |
|
|
1657 | |
|
|
1658 | =head1 Ranisha the Red, The Red Death, The One Who Commands |
|
|
1659 | |
|
|
1660 | Ranisha is one of the three moons orbiting around the world of |
|
|
1661 | Deliantra. It is said to be the spirit of the legendary warrior Ranisha, |
|
|
1662 | who was supposed to be an invincible general that was even able to |
|
|
1663 | vainquish gods themselves on the battlefield. |
|
|
1664 | |
|
|
1665 | In astrology, Ranisha is the symbol of violence, hatred, murder, but |
|
|
1666 | also of strength and courage. It is associated with the fire element in |
|
|
1667 | Alchemancy. Priests of Ruggili consider it as the watchful eye of their |
|
|
1668 | god. |
|
|
1669 | |
|
|
1670 | |
|
|
1671 | =head1 Asferenn the Blue, The Blue Sister, The One Who Suggests |
|
|
1672 | |
|
|
1673 | Asferenn is one of the three moons orbiting around the world of |
|
|
1674 | Deliantra. It is said to be the spirit of the legendary wizard Asferenn, |
|
|
1675 | who was said to have been able to force the gate of the divine dimension. |
|
|
1676 | |
|
|
1677 | In astrology, Asferenn is the symbol of wisdom, endurance in effort, |
|
|
1678 | diplomacy, but also treachery and dark secrets. It is associated with the |
|
|
1679 | water element in Alchemancy. It is said that the cycle of water creatures |
|
|
1680 | are strongly influenced by Asferenn. |
|
|
1681 | |
|
|
1682 | |
|
|
1683 | =head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume I |
|
|
1684 | |
|
|
1685 | I'll tell you about Lorkas of Amudrias, and how he found the White Bird |
|
|
1686 | of Hope, and how he capitained it, opening the Gates of the Sun, and some |
|
|
1687 | stuff like that. |
|
|
1688 | |
|
|
1689 | Some say that Lorkas was an angel of Valriel, that fell long ago from the |
|
|
1690 | Skies, stealing a couple of highly holy artifacts, and hiding them in his |
|
|
1691 | new underground domains. |
|
|
1692 | |
|
|
1693 | Some also say that Lorkas is a dark spirit, a lost soul, an unclean, |
|
|
1694 | unfaithful, untrusty creature of Doom and Chaos. |
|
|
1695 | |
|
|
1696 | But, for what matters, some also said that Fido was a fiction, or that |
|
|
1697 | the Empire never was more than a dream of a past that never existed. Some |
|
|
1698 | definitely are foolishly uninformed for sure, and speak more than they |
|
|
1699 | think. |
|
|
1700 | |
|
|
1701 | Because, if they were less quick on jumping to conclusions, they'd |
|
|
1702 | quickly notice how difficult it is for an angel to fall from the sky and |
|
|
1703 | never be able to climb back, as if wild gooses were never able to take off |
|
|
1704 | again once they land after their long journey to the South. |
|
|
1705 | |
|
|
1706 | Anyway, as every wise man knows, Lorkas was no angelic creature of divine |
|
|
1707 | essence, or even a magical creation of a godly force. |
|
|
1708 | |
|
|
1709 | Some say that Khelens is the Beginning, first of the Cities of Men. That, |
|
|
1710 | too, is untrue: before the Age of Khelens was the Time of the Kingdoms |
|
|
1711 | at War. And before them, the Era of Songor the Great. And going back |
|
|
1712 | through the thick book of history, you'll cross Arnistar of the Desert |
|
|
1713 | Dwellers, the Republic of the Two Rivers, and the Ancient Haemdel, and the |
|
|
1714 | Kingdom of the Long Wall. And before it, the forgotten towers of light |
|
|
1715 | that Horadrists built. |
|
|
1716 | |
|
|
1717 | |
|
|
1718 | =head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume II |
|
|
1719 | |
|
|
1720 | Lorkas was born in Kuratas, a small agrarian state that existed on the |
|
|
1721 | Coronian Valley, when Songer and Khelens were still in infancy. He was a |
|
|
1722 | boy that wanted to see everything, to understand the world and its stars, |
|
|
1723 | and discover its limits, for it was extending much further than the mists |
|
|
1724 | of his home valley. |
|
|
1725 | |
|
|
1726 | But life was rude in Kuratas, and trying to think about anything else than |
|
|
1727 | your next harvest wasn't well perceived by most; and, more than often, |
|
|
1728 | Lorkas dreamed with tears and despair about the Mountains with the white |
|
|
1729 | tops, and Seas that ended only when they touched the sky, far away. |
|
|
1730 | |
|
|
1731 | Tired of his senseless life, he left his parents, his village, his |
|
|
1732 | friends, when he was only 12, and for weeks walked to the West, until he |
|
|
1733 | reached the Coast of the Stonewalls. |
|
|
1734 | |
|
|
1735 | And there, he saw Ottarakans, the Infinite Ocean that extends west of the |
|
|
1736 | Old World, and so fell in love for the sea. He then joined the Port of |
|
|
1737 | Kridatta, which was famous for its ships, as its inhabitants had mastered |
|
|
1738 | a powerful arcane, so that their boats roamed not only the seas, but the |
|
|
1739 | very clouds themselves. |
|
|
1740 | |
|
|
1741 | Because he was smart and quick-brained, Lorkas soon got enrolled in the |
|
|
1742 | team of Capt'n Bortaras; and after several adventures I shall maybe tell |
|
|
1743 | about another day, he took the succession of the old mariner. |
|
|
1744 | |
|
|
1745 | Horizon was the name of his ship, and famous was his crew, exploring huge |
|
|
1746 | territories and fighting the Princes of Sinas, who back then tried to put |
|
|
1747 | the whole area under their iron, greedy grasps. |
|
|
1748 | |
|
|
1749 | |
|
|
1750 | =head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume III |
|
|
1751 | |
|
|
1752 | But Lorkas heard about a wonder that him and his crew soon wanted to |
|
|
1753 | find: The White Bird of Hope. |
|
|
1754 | |
|
|
1755 | Buried in the Very East, it was said to be. And so he sailed east; he |
|
|
1756 | crossed the Great Desert, passed the Mountains of Daigojij, reached the |
|
|
1757 | forests oft he western normanika. But still was the Bird further away. |
|
|
1758 | |
|
|
1759 | Reaching the Eastern Ocean, they decided to try to cross it, despite that |
|
|
1760 | it was said to be the end of the world. And for 30 days and nights, across |
|
|
1761 | tempests and monsters, they firmly kept heading east, east, east. |
|
|
1762 | |
|
|
1763 | When despair was growing on them, mists magically opened, revealing a |
|
|
1764 | golden city built on what seemed to be a rich, fertile coastal plain. |
|
|
1765 | |
|
|
1766 | People there spoke a strange language; they were small and not unlike |
|
|
1767 | joyful foxes, and they welcomed Lorkas and his men (and women) |
|
|
1768 | warmly. Soon, they learned to understand each other enough. |
|
|
1769 | |
|
|
1770 | They called themselves "The People of the Mother", and they had |
|
|
1771 | never seen the "Flat-Eared Giants" before, although they already met |
|
|
1772 | "Flat-Eared Beards" and "Flat-Eared Greens" before. |
|
|
1773 | |
|
|
1774 | But there was a lady called Sonja. And, although she wasn't human, she |
|
|
1775 | seemed brighter, smarter, more beautiful than any other woman Lorkas had |
|
|
1776 | ever seen before. |
|
|
1777 | |
|
|
1778 | Those months were the most wonderful for him - and her - and time seemed |
|
|
1779 | to have stopped for them in their endless love. But of course it hadn't. |
|
|
1780 | |
|
|
1781 | And after a while, some of his men wanted to go back to their own homes, |
|
|
1782 | and some wanted for their families to come to the Golden City. And, also, |
|
|
1783 | there was the Bird. |
|
|
1784 | |
|
|
1785 | They had no problem to find the White Bird of Hope - a statue entirely |
|
|
1786 | made of the purest of the white marble, with gemstones of red ruby as |
|
|
1787 | eyes. But so much the inhabitants liked it, so they thought that a |
|
|
1788 | valuable friend was much better than a valuable statue. |
|
|
1789 | |
|
|
1790 | And so they said: "Take the bird as a gift of us to your masters, to |
|
|
1791 | show them we want to make friendship with them. Welcome are the friends of |
|
|
1792 | the children of the White Bird." |
|
|
1793 | |
|
|
1794 | And so Lorkas left, promising Sonja that he'd soon return. |
|
|
1795 | |
|
|
1796 | The people of the Golden City also told him that "The Bird is imbued |
|
|
1797 | with powerful magic: the one owning it will always keep hope." |
|
|
1798 | |
|
|
1799 | |
|
|
1800 | =head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume IV |
|
|
1801 | |
|
|
1802 | When Lorkas came back, he and his men were welcomed as heroes. So where |
|
|
1803 | does the story turns sour, as Lorkas is said to have fallen from the skies? |
|
|
1804 | |
|
|
1805 | Well, when he and his crew came back home, Kridatta was at war with Sinas, |
|
|
1806 | and for several years, he and his crew fought, using the power of the Bird |
|
|
1807 | to help them. And during those years, Lorkas kept in his heart the hope of |
|
|
1808 | seeing again Sonja. |
|
|
1809 | |
|
|
1810 | Then came the Fever Plague, that killed a third of the people in the |
|
|
1811 | Ancient World. And again was the Bird used, and again did Lorkas help all |
|
|
1812 | those he could help, still having hope of seeing the Golden City again |
|
|
1813 | soon. |
|
|
1814 | |
|
|
1815 | And then, he sent messengers and explorers, as he had become influent, |
|
|
1816 | rich, and powerful, across the seas, to rebind the ties with the Golden |
|
|
1817 | City, as he promised. But they all came without finding their way to |
|
|
1818 | those faraway shores; yet all that time, and for each new mission sent to |
|
|
1819 | explore the seas and the skies, they seemed closed and closer from the |
|
|
1820 | goal. |
|
|
1821 | |
|
|
1822 | Sixty years passed. The world changed; new kingdoms ruled old cities; |
|
|
1823 | Lorkas was now an old man that lived in a small house looking at the |
|
|
1824 | Ocean. |
|
|
1825 | |
|
|
1826 | And still, each day, he spent hours waiting, watching the line where the |
|
|
1827 | sea met the sky, hoping that one day, one would sail back and tell him: |
|
|
1828 | "we found the Golden City !". And always he hoped, but never received. |
|
|
1829 | |
|
|
1830 | Nearly all of his companions were now dead, and the Horizon had been |
|
|
1831 | retired long ago, now slowly rotting in the bay, fading souvenir of a long |
|
|
1832 | forgotten past. |
|
|
1833 | |
|
|
1834 | |
|
|
1835 | =head1 Story of Lorkas the Fallen, Volume V |
|
|
1836 | |
|
|
1837 | Lorkas walked to his boat, and where there was only tarnished wood and |
|
|
1838 | corroded metal, he still saw the fierce ship on which he saw Sonja for the |
|
|
1839 | first time, so long ago. Who knows what he did, then? One thing is sure: |
|
|
1840 | the vigile of the Sea Tower of Kridatta, that watched boats coming and |
|
|
1841 | leaving from dozens of miles away, reported that an ancient ship left the |
|
|
1842 | bay, with Lorkas sitting at the front of it, holding the Bird, as if he |
|
|
1843 | was sleeping. |
|
|
1844 | |
|
|
1845 | Nobody knows exactly where he went. Was he even dead? Nobody knows. But |
|
|
1846 | everybody kept hope that, one day, he'd reach the Golden City |
|
|
1847 | again. Lots of people tried to find the Bird after that event. They all |
|
|
1848 | accused Lorkas of having "stolen" it. The story became legend. The |
|
|
1849 | legend became fairy tale. And the fairy tale got forgotten by most. |
|
|
1850 | |
|
|
1851 | Yet, Centuries ago, deep in the oldest parts of the Old City of Scorn, |
|
|
1852 | people claimed to have found an ancient mausoleum, a relic of the |
|
|
1853 | past. All made of the purest, finest gold. On the walls were engraved a |
|
|
1854 | man at the wheel of a strange ship, and a woman with pointy ears, watching |
|
|
1855 | the skies. And many nowadays keep the Hope that the White Bird now sleeps |
|
|
1856 | down below the streets, having found its way back to home with Lorkas. |
|
|
1857 | |
|
|
1858 | But who could tell if it is the truth, or only a silly story? Who |
|
|
1859 | knows? As for myself, I don't care: I just hold hope it is. And so ends |
|
|
1860 | the Story of Lorkas, and so keeps Hope running. |
|
|
1861 | |
|
|
1862 | |
|
|
1863 | =head1 The Prison of Madness |
|
|
1864 | |
|
|
1865 | It is said that deep in the underworld there is a vast maze that will make |
|
|
1866 | everybody who dares to enter die of madness. |
|
|
1867 | |
|
|
1868 | It starts in a room, with a row of mirrors to the south. pass through |
|
|
1869 | those, and carry on slightly further, and you are in the maze proper. |
|
|
1870 | |
|
|
1871 | Little is known about the maze, but Worus the Wanderer claimed to have been |
|
|
1872 | in it, seen many of its wonders and returned. |
|
|
1873 | |
|
|
1874 | He also wrote a book that details all the ways and passages, alas, nobody |
|
|
1875 | could decipher it yet: |
|
|
1876 | |
|
|
1877 | gb2trg2gb2gur2rkvg: |
|
|
1878 | 2jnaqre2nebhaq2hagvy2lbh2ybpngr2n2znc2aN, |
|
|
1879 | 2vg2vf2ba2gur2obggbz2ragenapr2bs2n2znc. |
|
|
1880 | 2bapr2gung2vf2ybpngrq2tb2evtug, |
|
|
1881 | 2hc, |
|
|
1882 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1883 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1884 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1885 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1886 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1887 | 2lbh2jvyy2or2ng2gur2rkvg. |
|
|
1888 | 2gb2trg2gb2gur2inhyg: |
|
|
1889 | 2jnaqre2ebhaq2hagvy2lbh2trg2gb2znc2aN1, |
|
|
1890 | vg2vf2gb2gur2evtug2bs2n2abezny2znc. |
|
|
1891 | 2tb2hc, |
|
|
1892 | 2yrsg, |
|
|
1893 | 2hc, |
|
|
1894 | 2yrsg, |
|
|
1895 | 2qbja, |
|
|
1896 | 2qbja, |
|
|
1897 | 2evtug, |
|
|
1898 | 2qbja, |
|
|
1899 | 2qbja, |
|
|
1900 | 2qbja.2Lbh2jvyy2or2va2gur2unyy, |
|
|
1901 | 2tb2guebhtu2naq2gb2gur2yrsg2gb2ernpu2gur2inhyg. |
|
|
1902 | |
|
|
1903 | |
|
|
1904 | =head1 Order of the Gravestone |
|
|
1905 | |
|
|
1906 | An ancient order of druids, that venerated the supposed gravestone of |
|
|
1907 | the Spirit of Khalbow. The Spirit was supposed to be a symbol of eternal |
|
|
1908 | renewal and redemption, that lived a regular, short-term dead/revival |
|
|
1909 | cycle. The Order of the Gravestone was very popular during the first |
|
|
1910 | Millenia EK, but then went extinct. No druid is known to exist today, and |
|
|
1911 | the exact location of the gravestone has long been forgotten. |
|
|
1912 | |
|
|
1913 | |
|
|
1914 | =head1 Rule of Dictus |
|
|
1915 | |
|
|
1916 | If you get killed twice at the same place - go elsewhere. |
|
|
1917 | |
|
|
1918 | - Dictus the Fat, EK 323 |
|
|
1919 | |
|
|
1920 | |
|
|
1921 | =head1 Heaven and Hell |
|
|
1922 | |
|
|
1923 | It is said that the church of Valriel in Scorn has direct access to |
|
|
1924 | Heaven. The priests of Valriel claim that you can enter Heaven freely, and |
|
|
1925 | even come back to the world of mortals. The priests of Gorokh claim that |
|
|
1926 | their church has a connection to Hell. The Valriel priests claim they were |
|
|
1927 | first, and, in their usual attitude, the Gorokh priests claim the priests |
|
|
1928 | of Valriel are useless maggots that lie to their followers. |
|
|
1929 | |
|
|
1930 | Although a number of people have travelled to both Heaven and Hell, their |
|
|
1931 | reports are inconclusive as to wether it was real "Hell" (or Heaven) they |
|
|
1932 | visited. |
|
|
1933 | |
|
|
1934 | Some people claim this Heaven and Hell business is just some magic |
|
|
1935 | illusion forged by some magicians of those churches, mostly because you |
|
|
1936 | can still die in Heaven, Hell doesn't look all that impressive (and it |
|
|
1937 | is so easy to come back), and why would only the churches in Scorn have |
|
|
1938 | access to those in the first place? |
|
|
1939 | |
|
|
1940 | |
|
|
1941 | =head1 Barad-Dur |
|
|
1942 | |
|
|
1943 | In the mountains north-east of the great city we found it at last -- the |
|
|
1944 | hidden fortress of Barad-Dur. What treasures could lie in it I do not know |
|
|
1945 | for our party never gained its way past the entryway. Skulls, pixies, and |
|
|
1946 | a horrible creature I hesitate to name decimated my friends and I. |
|
|
1947 | |
|
|
1948 | |
|
|
1949 | =head1 A visit to the Alchemist |
|
|
1950 | |
|
|
1951 | ...and then did the Alchemist agree to make me my potion. First he |
|
|
1952 | called to his grimm servants who hauld forth a great iron cauldron. Into |
|
|
1953 | this black device did he deposit his ingredients and, opening his spell |
|
|
1954 | book for reference, then did he cast his spell of alchemy therepon the |
|
|
1955 | cauldron. |
|
|
1956 | |
|
|
1957 | Greatly did the tub shake and move! I thought that the Alchemist had broke |
|
|
1958 | his device, but he chuckled at my ignorance. Into the cauldron did he |
|
|
1959 | reach an brought forth a filled bottle of golden amber fluid... |
|
|
1960 | |
|
|
1961 | |
|
|
1962 | =head1 The Philosophical Ingredients |
|
|
1963 | |
|
|
1964 | Know that there are 4 principle philosophical ingredients. In order, they |
|
|
1965 | are: |
|
|
1966 | |
|
|
1967 | - philosophical salt |
|
|
1968 | - philosophical sulphur |
|
|
1969 | - philosophical phosphorus |
|
|
1970 | - philosophical oil |
|
|
1971 | |
|
|
1972 | The great alchemist has often said that all living things are made of |
|
|
1973 | these ingredients. Proper combination of these with other base objects can |
|
|
1974 | often create potions of power and might. |
|
|
1975 | |
|
|
1976 | |
|
|
1977 | =head1 Collection of Strange Glyphs |
|
|
1978 | |
|
|
1979 | Many years ago, I got my hands on a book with many strange glyphs, from |
|
|
1980 | a book-dealer in Darcap. Interested in all kinds of arcance Symbols, I |
|
|
1981 | bought it despite the rather high price, for the depicted glyphs looked |
|
|
1982 | intricately detailed and seemed to emanate some deeper meaning. |
|
|
1983 | |
|
|
1984 | The only thing the shop keeper could tell me about the book was that it |
|
|
1985 | was supposed to be a "talansuration book" or something like that, and no, |
|
|
1986 | he didn't know what that means. |
|
|
1987 | |
|
|
1988 | I was unable to find out more about this cult of Talansura, despite |
|
|
1989 | traveling all over the world for many years. |
|
|
1990 | |
|
|
1991 | Since my copy of the book is now in a very bad condition, I decided to |
|
|
1992 | make a clean copy and publish it, so this knowledge doe snot get lost. |
|
|
1993 | |
|
|
1994 | B<- Samuel Midnight, Book Collector and Traveller, Scorn> |
|
|
1995 | |
|
|
1996 | T<トランスレーション 著書> |
|
|
1997 | |
|
|
1998 | 悪鬼 akki demon, devil |
|
|
1999 | 悪魔 akuma demon, evil spirit |
|
|
2000 | アパート apa-to apartment |
|
|
2001 | 東 azuma east |
|
|
2002 | 貯金箱 chokinbako bank |
|
|
2003 | 著書 chosho book |
|
|
2004 | 貯蔵 chozou storage |
|
|
2005 | 付き dzuki to, under |
|
|
2006 | ギリ神 girisin Ruggili |
|
|
2007 | 護衛 goei guard |
|
|
2008 | 本塁 honrui stronghold |
|
|
2009 | 一堂 ichidou shrine |
|
|
2010 | 溢流 itsuryuu spill, overflow |
|
|
2011 | 一定不変 itteifuhen permanent |
|
|
2012 | 鍵 kagi key |
|
|
2013 | 京洛 keiraku capital |
|
|
2014 | 血液 ketsueki blood |
|
|
2015 | 寛ぎ kutsurogi room |
|
|
2016 | メゾン mezon house |
|
|
2017 | 町 machi town |
|
|
2018 | 港 minato harbour |
|
|
2019 | 店 mise shop |
|
|
2020 | 渚 nagisa shore, water's edge |
|
|
2021 | 燃焼 nenshou burning |
|
|
2022 | の no (glue two words together) |
|
|
2023 | 鬼 oni demon, orge |
|
|
2024 | 乱暴 ranbou rough |
|
|
2025 | 力 ryoku power, strength |
|
|
2026 | センタ senta center |
|
|
2027 | 市場 shijou market |
|
|
2028 | 商業組合 shougyoukumiai guild |
|
|
2029 | 商法 shouhou trade, commerce |
|
|
2030 | 住居 sumai house |
|
|
2031 | スノー suno- snow |
|
|
2032 | 建物 tatemono building |
|
|
2033 | 卓子 teiburu table |
|
|
2034 | トランスレーション toransure-shon translation |
|
|
2035 | ウエルカム uerukamu welcome |
|
|
2036 | ウインド uindo wind |
|
|
2037 | 山 yama mountain |
|
|
2038 | 要素 youso element |
|
|
2039 | ザ za the |
|
|
2040 | 座席 zaseki seat |
|
|
2041 | |