Untitled
Some say that in the beginning there was nothing… a vast whirling vortex of emptiness or perhaps chaos. Still others say that our world was born from swirling gases and cosmic heat. They are the two sides of a theory long debated among the greatest philosophers of our society, and one of the most fundamental questions our people has. Where did we begin? What caused our beginning? What is the source of the Ether we all exploit?
I know the truth. I know the dirty little secret our kings and queens keep from us… or, perhaps, they themselves do not know. You see, dear reader, that our society is one that distrusts the dark and the mysterious. We live in the ‘light’ and are therefore enlightened because of it – a bunch of hogwash if you ask me, but there you have it. Our creation myths, our origin theories, they’re all based around only what we’re willing to see. I have said as much before…. Tried to gain the attention and the minds of my colleagues, but I have simply been dismissed as flippant, incorrigible, and downright mistaken. Therefore, I have opted to put pen to paper and write down our history – or at least the beginning – so that perhaps a genuinely enlightened descendant might happen upon the truth and seek it out for themselves.
My hands are already ink-stained and I am running out of time so please forgive my brevity, dear reader. I will give to you the overview… a brief synopsis as it were, and the key to finding what I unintentionally stumbled upon:
I know the truth. I know the dirty little secret our kings and queens keep from us… or, perhaps, they themselves do not know. You see, dear reader, that our society is one that distrusts the dark and the mysterious. We live in the ‘light’ and are therefore enlightened because of it – a bunch of hogwash if you ask me, but there you have it. Our creation myths, our origin theories, they’re all based around only what we’re willing to see. I have said as much before…. Tried to gain the attention and the minds of my colleagues, but I have simply been dismissed as flippant, incorrigible, and downright mistaken. Therefore, I have opted to put pen to paper and write down our history – or at least the beginning – so that perhaps a genuinely enlightened descendant might happen upon the truth and seek it out for themselves.
My hands are already ink-stained and I am running out of time so please forgive my brevity, dear reader. I will give to you the overview… a brief synopsis as it were, and the key to finding what I unintentionally stumbled upon:
The story begins beyond the scope of imagining, in a universe not unlike our own – parallel, perhaps.
It was looked after by the very same gods and goddesses that protect our worlds. Each plane, you see, has a
place, a shining gem of life and vitality that the gods fawn and fight over… however, they had become so
engrossed in their own affairs, they neglected the parallel world and only noticed after the thunderous
noise of a hundred million souls fell instantly, suddenly silent. Their world was dead… a ball of dust, nothing
but a husk, and yet even then it possessed such a wellspring of potential that the creatures who
fancied themselves omnipotent choose to summon that world into our own space.
That was the start of it all.
Remorseful for their lack of attention, the gods watched and hoped that life would begin anew on the
planet… hoped that the poison and destruction of their previous playthings had not forever more tainted
their beloved sandbox. Alas, eons of waiting brooked no change and the gods grew impatient. What
had caused the sudden collapse of their prized societies?
A great meeting was called and all the guardians of the universe gathered to discuss the failings of
themselves and of the mortals that had dwelled on the planet. [It is in this part of the story that I must
mention that I do not believe the ‘gods’ to be omnipotent immortals but a race of beings far more… potent
and talented than any existing on our world. They were simply knowledgeable enough to appear
as all powerful.] All knew that this plane did not support a gem as the other planes of existence did and
it was soon decided that the planet would stay, to enrich this existence and so our world came to stay – a
displaced world sourced from another dimension.
Their next item of business was the assigning of guardians to a schedule of sorts. Each was given a
time where they would watch over the world… a small time in comparison to span of their lives, after
which they were free to do as they willed. This process took many thousands of years, with arguments
and groups forming, jockeying over better guardianship slots. [The whole thing is far too long to
recount here, my friend, but it is fascinating – the politics surrounding this discussion are so very
intricate.] Eventually, a schedule was agreed upon and a punishment for failure to do so also agreed upon.
Attention turned next to the peoples that would inhabit the new world. So much debate was sparked by
this that their leader, a powerful creature by all accounts though nameless, gave to each interested party,
permission to create a race of their own… a race they were responsible for. One god, however, saw that
this was not the problem of the previous world… that the mortal’s moral compass had strayed
too far into the darkness that lurks in every heart. In trying to convince the others of the folly of an unguided
heart, he was laughed at and driven from the discussion; obviously, each thought themselves capable of
creating a perfect mortal race.
And so, the thirteen races of Mai’shkal first set foot, hoof, or paw upon our home and the cycle of guardianship
was set into motion. Each guardian took its place in the sky, a constellation that burned brightly
where every creature might see should they wish to look up, and each people found their homes and
followed their creator’s wishes. One race, however, was always treated differently… seen as something
not to conquer or adore, but to pity. The Alaani, my people, were the children of the god had warned
of corrupt morality, the creations of a god who became a laughable name among the gods. He knew, though,
the same mistakes would be made and fashioned a key to be guarded by the Alaani. A key that, when the
gods left once more and the world fell into darkness yet again, could be used to remind the mortals of what
had been lost in hopes is restoring the balance.
However, it was a thing of mystery and soon because buried in the treasuries of our leaders…
gifted out, lost in wars and bartered away still more. Thus the world turned and the key was lost
and the gods fell into their affairs once more.
It was looked after by the very same gods and goddesses that protect our worlds. Each plane, you see, has a
place, a shining gem of life and vitality that the gods fawn and fight over… however, they had become so
engrossed in their own affairs, they neglected the parallel world and only noticed after the thunderous
noise of a hundred million souls fell instantly, suddenly silent. Their world was dead… a ball of dust, nothing
but a husk, and yet even then it possessed such a wellspring of potential that the creatures who
fancied themselves omnipotent choose to summon that world into our own space.
That was the start of it all.
Remorseful for their lack of attention, the gods watched and hoped that life would begin anew on the
planet… hoped that the poison and destruction of their previous playthings had not forever more tainted
their beloved sandbox. Alas, eons of waiting brooked no change and the gods grew impatient. What
had caused the sudden collapse of their prized societies?
A great meeting was called and all the guardians of the universe gathered to discuss the failings of
themselves and of the mortals that had dwelled on the planet. [It is in this part of the story that I must
mention that I do not believe the ‘gods’ to be omnipotent immortals but a race of beings far more… potent
and talented than any existing on our world. They were simply knowledgeable enough to appear
as all powerful.] All knew that this plane did not support a gem as the other planes of existence did and
it was soon decided that the planet would stay, to enrich this existence and so our world came to stay – a
displaced world sourced from another dimension.
Their next item of business was the assigning of guardians to a schedule of sorts. Each was given a
time where they would watch over the world… a small time in comparison to span of their lives, after
which they were free to do as they willed. This process took many thousands of years, with arguments
and groups forming, jockeying over better guardianship slots. [The whole thing is far too long to
recount here, my friend, but it is fascinating – the politics surrounding this discussion are so very
intricate.] Eventually, a schedule was agreed upon and a punishment for failure to do so also agreed upon.
Attention turned next to the peoples that would inhabit the new world. So much debate was sparked by
this that their leader, a powerful creature by all accounts though nameless, gave to each interested party,
permission to create a race of their own… a race they were responsible for. One god, however, saw that
this was not the problem of the previous world… that the mortal’s moral compass had strayed
too far into the darkness that lurks in every heart. In trying to convince the others of the folly of an unguided
heart, he was laughed at and driven from the discussion; obviously, each thought themselves capable of
creating a perfect mortal race.
And so, the thirteen races of Mai’shkal first set foot, hoof, or paw upon our home and the cycle of guardianship
was set into motion. Each guardian took its place in the sky, a constellation that burned brightly
where every creature might see should they wish to look up, and each people found their homes and
followed their creator’s wishes. One race, however, was always treated differently… seen as something
not to conquer or adore, but to pity. The Alaani, my people, were the children of the god had warned
of corrupt morality, the creations of a god who became a laughable name among the gods. He knew, though,
the same mistakes would be made and fashioned a key to be guarded by the Alaani. A key that, when the
gods left once more and the world fell into darkness yet again, could be used to remind the mortals of what
had been lost in hopes is restoring the balance.
However, it was a thing of mystery and soon because buried in the treasuries of our leaders…
gifted out, lost in wars and bartered away still more. Thus the world turned and the key was lost
and the gods fell into their affairs once more.
Ironic, isn’t it? That he was right in so many ways and one he likely wasn’t expecting. My people shun the darkness, yes, but so much so that we are blind to the information that might be hidden there. All around, the world is descending into chaos once again, the key is needed and no one listens when it’s presented.
But I digress.
Regardless of the outcome I would like to pass on this account to whomever inherits the world in the hopes someone might know the truth. I leave one last comment, perhaps the most important of them all:
Do not be afraid to follow the Moonstone’s Light into Shadow.
But I digress.
Regardless of the outcome I would like to pass on this account to whomever inherits the world in the hopes someone might know the truth. I leave one last comment, perhaps the most important of them all:
Do not be afraid to follow the Moonstone’s Light into Shadow.
As the simulated voice faded and the last words echoed about the marble hall, the museum guide turned to smile at the group of children before her. “Follow the Moonstone’s Light into Shadow. It’s a phrase you should all be familiar with, right?” Behind her, the document hung in a grand frame, sealed and protected from thieves and exposure, the edges tattered and worn, a tear hear and there. A display pillar had been set before it and atop that pillar, encased in glass, was an ornate… object, not a key, not a gem or a comb but a rune of some sort that glowed softly in the sterile light of the museum.
“Yeah!” A young voice called out, all bright eyes and smiles, “It means don’t be afraid to look into the unknown right?”
“Correct~ Enjoy, children, for the legend surrounding this man and his tales is among the most favourite of our people. Who thinks it’s true?” A dozen or so hands shot up, eager to voice their opinions on their favourite fairytale.
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