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July 07, 2004
Changes Upon Us
A quiet night in Norlondar, the winds blow just enough to call for open windows and night air through the city and surrounding areas. Night creepers are out and about, some to patrol for the safety of the Norlondarians and others in search for just the right victim. Alone in the large home on the top of the hill the Kitten Goddess sits on the large wooden porch. The home is devoid of all presence of life save for the feline female and the ever-present hawk. Nikola and Mandolus have left Her alone for a rare change of pace, work is needed in the Tabernacle and only they can see to it. A meeting in the ink of night with a Priest of the Shadows, She will be told of it after it occurs.
She has enjoyed this wonderful night of blessed solitude. A long bubble bath by candlelight, roast pheasant with fresh rolls and corn and a glorious blueberry pie made with love by the Tabernacle Cook. She sits now in the lounge chair on the deck, looking out into the darkness and breathing in the wind. Open in Her lap is a large book bound in something that looks eerily to be tanned flesh. The plumed fountain pen She writes with is suspended in mid stroke as She thinks carefully on Her next words. History is being recorded for the Lore Keepers, the Tabernacle legacy continuing as all that matters in the lands is recorded with accuracy and honesty, never the lessons of the past be forgotten. Once filled, the book will be read by Nikola, Mandolus and the Higher Circle of the Tabernacle and then locked away in a place no Lore Keeper will ever reveal.
Taking a deep puff from her Pipe of Clarity, She reaches over and strokes the Hawk, no words needed as for once the beast is keeping his thoughts and his squawks to himself and is content just to be stroked. Savoring the often-overlooked power and beauty of a perfect night and clarity of thought, She begins once again to write.
On this day and as a representative of the Lore Keepers, I do write the following and swear to its truth. - Kalilyn Roanairre, Daughter of Morakai and Overseer of Norlondar.
What was is no more. Gone are the familiar halls of the clans they have formed. Gone are the assurances of fighting alongside friends, gone are the alliances and tenuous trusts formed over ale and bloodshed. How confusing it must be for them to wander into the Lands and discover all has changed. How confusing to wake up one morning, leave the home and discover your meeting place has a new banner flying from the roof.
How uneasy we all felt as we met with the delegates from the new organisations. We knew we would be changing their lives and their friends and making them re-think all they believe in. It wasn't an easy choice to approve the takeovers, it was difficult and draining and by the time it was done even the ever-energetic and adventurous Oaklore looked exhausted.
After the delegates spoke it was up to us and I truly believe we made the right decisions. There are some things even we cannot control, the ball they set in motion with their arrogance, greed and cruelty continues to roll down the hill and we are bound by covenant not to stop it. Yet there are some things we can control and this decision was one of them.
Loyalties became convoluted, the sense of purpose that is supposed to walk hand in hand with belonging to a clan has been replaced by greed and the mob mentality. The individuals have become part of the masses and alliances have been formed on tainted blood. We did the right thing.
We went through so many scrolls, so many proposals, so many offers. Having vowed not to emerge from the room until the decision had been made we sat and talked for what seemed an eternity. Finally it was done, we all stopped talking at the same time as realisation set in, we were done.
The thirteen were chosen and word sent to each delegate. The thirteen new organisations that would replace what was and challenge the loyalties of all. We spent more time pondering which of these groups we wished to sit as Patron of and which were best suited without Patronage.
We questioned the purity of a Chapel of Prevailing Peace. How long before the same greed that permeated the Circle of Peace creeps into the Chapel? We accepted the Chapel of Prevailing Peace based on the sincerity of its delegate and decided to let Loky try and run the Chapel, its fate is in his hands now.
We questioned the attraction of a Covenant of the Golden Dawn. All one has to do is look around to see that the majority prefer the lure of the darker side and fighting against Chaos is a constant challenge few are fit for. We accepted the Covenant of the Golden Dawn based on the integrity of its delegate and the intensity of its cause. Good must be protected. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the necessity of a Keepers of the Prism. How easy it is to be lured away from battle for a quick orgy or communal nude bath? How easy it is to be swayed by lust and Bacchanalian joy and to lay the sword down. We accepted the Keepers of the Prism based on the strong individuality of its delegate and the Goddess Savitri's interest in Patroning this group. Although should the Goddess Savitri not be able to Patron them as they are for various reasons, an alternate delegate spoke up for allowing the group to kill alongside the Covenant in the defense of the light. This intrigued us. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the honesty of a Tradewind. It was greed and the love of the material that acted as catalyst for the impending doom that hangs over all of our heads. Merchants with nothing to sell because their time was spent drinking ale or frequenting Nayra's wenches. We accepted the Tradewind based on the convincing speech of its delegate and the simple fact that commerce between the three major cities and all in between is a necessity for survival and growth. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the acceptability of an Adventurer's Banner. To fight with one group alone and to be truly neutral and not swayed by greed or religious zeal is a strong calling few can answer. The true Adventurer's spirit is a dying breed as people choose to cling to their security blankets and safety zones. We accepted the Adventurer's Banner based on the spirit of its delegate and the God Oaklore's apparent yet unspoken Patronage. The Adventurer's spirit is something we celebrate. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the compatibility of a Tabernacle of Forgotten Lore. Would a fairly secretive and devoutly religious group of self proclaimed "benevolent intellocrats" fit in in the lands. They're neither particularly inviting or friendly and are concerned only with recording lore. We accepted the Tabernacle of Forgotten Lore based on the bond between the delegate and Kali, Nikola has served as the Tabernacle High Priest forever and as Kali herself came out of this group, she gladly Patrons this group. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the strength of a Stygian Temple. Many groups claim to be strong in their secret magicks, only two of the other groups, Tabernacle and Dominion, have knowledge of the Stygians and they honour the commitment not to share secrets. We accepted the Stygian Temple based on the wisdom of its delegate and the way they have of combining white, grey and black magicks; theirs is a goal of overall magickal power rather than for good or evil. This intrigued us and the God Dulthail was interested enough to offer to Patron this group. We have yet to find a suitable leader.
We questioned the chaos of a Den of Iniquity. Granting them entrance was akin to opening all women to attack, all children to kidnapping, all adults to be slaughtered. It is an open invitation to Chaos to enter into the Lands and have free run. Those so completely lacking in basic compassion and conscience can be a dangerous group to be around. We accepted the Den of Iniquity based on the reputation of its delegate, he had personally done some work for Kali in the past and she spoke for him. Careful thought was given and we chose Squiggy to lead this group.
We questioned the morals of a Dominion. Does it really do the citizenry well to know that the smiling person next to them in the cafe would quickly and effortlessly slip a blade into their side if the price was paid? This breed of stealth assassin is a deadly one and allowing them to set up shop in the Lands can only guarantee contracts will be signed and carried out within the Lands as grass grows, borne of blood. We accepted the Dominion based on the professionalism of its delegate and the knowledge that sometimes we all need a guaranteed assassin. It didn't take us long to place Skippy in the leader spot for this group.
We questioned the secrecy of a Church of Shadows. Their love of making pig-feed out of betrayers was something made clear to us right away, along with very little else. We were shown the torn and bloodied journal of Taja Deskrov and I believe we were all immediately sucked into the words and wondering at the rituals. Even Kali knows little of this group although what she knows was shared. We accepted the Church of Shadows based on the mystery appeal of its delegate and the fact that perhaps if the Church is within the Lands, some information about them might finally be gained. We have yet to find a suitable leader for this group.
We questioned the egos of an Infernal Order of D'Sar. The name alone connotes fanatical devotion and loyalty bordering on idolatry. The Lands don't need a band of murderous sycophants running around killing the living in the name of Darkstar and the undead. We accepted the Infernal Order of D'Sar based on the charisma of its delegate and the close ties Darkstar has formed with those already willing to follow him. We have yet to find a suitable leader for this group.
We questioned the deity of a Ninth Circle. While we have all heard talk of this "Satan" they proclaim to worship, none of us can ever recall actually seeing proof of such a deity. Evil as we know it does not come from anyone called "Satan" and their maniacal devotion to a deity we cannot even be sure exists is a bit odd. We accepted the Ninth Circle based on the holiness of its delegate and the obvious fact that whether or not this "Satan" is real, his followers are willing to kill and die for him and as with the Church of Shadows, if there is something to be learned it is best learned within the Lands. We have yet to find a suitable leader for this group.
We questioned the coldness of an Order of the Tainted Shade. True apathy is a plus to any assassin and to combine it with the powers of the dark makes for an order of murderous knights. Complete lack of morals makes the kill even easier and killing for the sake of killing alone is a sobering thought. We accepted the Order of the Tainted Shade based on the chivalry of its delegate and the strong feeling of loyalty so many have to Ahriman, Patron of this group. It only seemed natural to appoint Demerol and Farg as leaders of this group.
And so it shall be, and so it is. Things are still very new as I write this, they are settling into their new groups and some seem engergised by the changes. There is a vitality flowing trough the air as they are finding niches they never knew existed for them.
I shall write more frequently now as the evolution continues, let the lessons learned in today's world serve tomorrow's well. For now, there is an uneasy sense of excitement and newness to the Lands and it seems to be getting to everyone.
I leave this book for now, Morakai bless.
Posted by Strega at July 7, 2004 03:15 AM