|
A darkly clad figure stood before the Covenant. "My people, we have been through much these many years. We have faced trials that could never have been foreseen, even by Carla the Wise. Now, however we are in a position to change our past, and with it...our future." A hush murmured over the room as the Lords of the Covenant stared in wide-eyed anticipation of the dark figures next words. Some gazed with fear, dreading the proclamation that they would destroy them. Others were filled with hope that their ideals and dreams would at last become realities. Most were simply surprised that this Dachound, and one clad in the deep amethyst robes of an apprentice at that, dared to speak to the Covenant as an equal...nay, that he dared to speak as their superior. Those who felt the fear or hope understood (or thought they did) the weaknesses that had been growing since the Captivation. Each was thought they alone knew what the Dachound's words would bring...They would soon be proven wrong. The majority who sneered despite their curiosity at the apprentice Dachound, however, denied the existence of the weaknesses that were so painfully obvious to the rest of the doggs. Instead these ignorant Lords were prepared to disbelieve whatever they would here since a Dachound would be the one speaking. This view of Dachound inferiority was a long standing one in Doggaina. For, unlike the other breeds, the Dachound lived deep below the world in dreary caverns which ran to every corner of the realm. Life underground had given even a well groomed Dachound the appearance of being dirty and unclean. As a result, the above ground breeds had learned to label the Dachound a breed of peons and thus unworthy of those who lived above's attention. The Dachounds, preferring their isolation beneath the land to bright, noisy world above had not attempted to prove any differently, inaction which had helped this label stick. Now, at last, this mere Dachound apprentice would prove to the Lords how horribly wrong they had been in their beliefs. This was a thought that brought a smile to the heart, if not to the face, of the apprentice. "Long has it been the belief of the Doggs that Terriers and their various branches were the only true magic using breed in Doggaina. Other breeds may have inbred magics, but only Terriers were deemed to have true power. After all, with the sole exception of The Second Giver, only Terriers had ever been able to use the Crystal of the Soul. Yet....where is that sacred Crystal now?" Murmuring of slight debate began at this point, but soon ended as the apprentice continued speaking. "It is in the hands of one who is of this realm, and yet is also not of this realm." Isolated shouts of "blasphemy!" and "heresy!" broke out in the Covenant. The young Dachound was not perturbed in the slightest. He raised his arms in a guesture of silence, and when that failed to bring order, he uttered a word in a long forgotten language which caused a blinding flash of pure blue light to come crashing down amidst the Covenant. With order thus restored, the apprentice continued, "Brothers and Sisters! Have you really feared the truth to such an extreme that you have forgotten it after you banished it?" The look of bewilderment on the faces of the Lords was an obvious sign that they had indeed forgotten. Not one face held a look of recognition at the words the young Dachound had spoken. With a look of deep sadness the apprentice looked at his fellow doggs. These doggs were supposed to the be the Doggs of Doggaina. The rulers who knew all and could guide the masses with wisdom and clarity, yet they had banished the truth and hidden it even from themselves. With a sigh he spoke again, "Since you do not remember, I shall have to tell you what you have forgotten." The Dachound produced from within the folds of his robe an ancient tome. The Lord Terrier, an Archmage, recognized the tome and softly spoke in amazement, "The Captivity Histories! But how, that book was destroyed in the fires that engulfed the Library of Keit!" The apprentice, with tears flooding his eyes and barely held in check by his lower eyelid, looked into the eyes of the Archmage, "But dear brother...the Captivity Histories were never in the Library." The Lords of the Covenant collectively inhaled as they realized they had indeed been lying to themselves all these years. The few who had reason to fear the Dachound before were surprised as well. They had thought they had destroyed the Truth within the Captivity Histories with the destruction of the Library. Now they knew their efforts to eradicate the Truth, a Truth they could no longer remember, but feared all the same, had failed. It was in this state the Dachound apprentice began reading from the tome before him, although his eyes never saw the words on the pages for he had no need to read them, so well had he studied them in his studies. ******************************************************************************** So that you may know and believe; I, James Timothy MacDougal, Breed Leader of the Terriers and Archmage of Doggainia now do set in writing the events that have transpired in the days leading up and following the Captivation. I have little time as I am already old and soon will death catch me. I have long since stopped dreading death and shall welcome its release into Peace. My only wish is that It will allow me time enough to complete this telling so that what has occurred will not be lost for future generations. I also beg your forgiveness for my part in your fate, for if you are reading this; then my friend and your god, The Living Giver, has failed in his task, and you, my children, still dwell in Captivity. Not so many years ago by my recognizing (although most likely many, many generations by yours) Doggainia was a free land. Doggs were free to travel to other realms and planes of existence by means of magical gates that were called upon by the Mages, maintained by the Enchanters, and created by the Wizards. But this meant to that other creatures could enter our same realm. Some of these guests were welcome. They were good souls whose only care was to befriend us and be our allies. Others had an intent far more malicious. These few who dared to wish us harm scared our patron The Living Giver, for he knew that in the realms of our foes, his power was reduced from that of a god to that of a mere creature of the magic. So, to keep our land from harm while he tried to defeat our enemies in their own lands, The Living Giver placed a magical shield around the boundaries of our dimensional plane. To open this shield would require the full magic power of three gods. So, since two other gods would be needed to free us from the protective shield, The Living Giver took with him his wife, The Silver Lady and the Chosen of Chaos. Together they would be able to break down the shield when it would be safe again to free our land. They also took with them these sacred magics of our land: the Crystal of the Soul, the Onyx of Strength, the Platinum Sword, and the Obsidian Blade. Later I will tell you why this is of importance to you, but for now let me continue with what happened here after the Captivation. The first that I realized the Captivation had begun was when I looked up into the sky on the morning following the sacred event. From my home in Yapap the sky looks always a deep blue, some might even call it indigo, but not on this day nor any other since. Instead the sky was alive with orange sparklings. For an instant I thought I had awoke early and was seeing the stars dancing in response to some unknown power. Slowly, though, I recalled the conversation with my lord before he took his final leave from our homeland. It was then that I realized that the sparkles were not stars, but focus points of the magic that had been cast like a warm blanket over the land. Silently I wished my lord god speed, while laughing at my own sacrilege at the statement. Yet, I knew that the battle which would be fought far from our land would be taxing even for him, and I hoped it would not prove fatal for our Giver. I then rose from my bed to accept the observances of the many attendants who cared for my well-being, for even then I was no longer a well dogg. Age was fast over taking me, and it is indeed a wonder I have lasted as long as I have. Within the hour I was set in my robes of office and ready to start my day as Archmage and Terrier Breed Leader. I descended the stone steps of the High Tower of Yapap Castle which housed my chambers. I could have used the teleportation stones that were dispersed in nearly every location for the use of all in traveling. However, it was always my tradition to walk before I had broken my nightly fast, and as I am Archmage I am allowed to do as I please despite the discomfort of the elder magi in my attendance who likewise must walk with me. Silly old doggs these...They fail to understand that if they use only their inherent magic, their physical bodies will fail without their knowledge. This failure to understand is why they will never accede to my position. As I reached the final landing, I was escorted, as was my custom, to check upon the status of the Fountain. In our ancients' language it was called "Essanseta", which translates into the "Center of Magic". It is an apt description for what we commonly call the Fountain. The Fountain is located in the center of Castle Yapap, and thus also located in the center of Yapap Lake which is the source of all magic for our realm. Each of the sixteen directions of the Lake house the vital magical properties of the sixteen disciplines of magic. These disciplines, as any first year apprentice knows, are Summoning, Healing, Mastery, Prophecy, Technology, Death, Life, Light, Spiritual, Recall, Illusion, Communication, Nature, Truth, Mental, and Physical. Remember well these disciplines my future brethren, for in them lies the salvation of our land. For dear brothers...when on that day I reached the Fountain, I FOUND IT DRY! In your time this may not seem to be an item of great importance for the Fountain would have been dry for all your days if you are now reading this journal. In fact, if my Terriers have done the work I gave of them well, you would not even think anything of this fact. I have charged my breed with making the lack of water in the Fountain known to all as nothing more than a sign that the Giver is not in our midst and that when the water doth again flow freely it will signal his return. And in that, my brethren, I have lied to you all. I know that this is not right of me, yet without a strong leader to guide us through this terrible time I thought best to not worry our people and send them into panic. For in truth, the loss of water in the Fountain signals something far worse than the mere absence of our god and sovereign. It signals the death of our world. ******************************************************************************** The resulting uproar that these words brought amongst those listening to the Dachound Apprentice was intense. Again shouts of "treason" and "heresy" were shouted amongst the Covenant. This time the young Dachound could not quell the fury and shock of the Lords himself and he would most likely have been lynched but for the Archmage who had spoke earlier. As in the time of James MacDougal, again the Terriers were led by a strong Archmage whom no other dogg or breed would challenge. This Archmage's name was Martin MacKay, and he saw the Truth that was in the journal. For MacKay had discovered the Truth of the Fountain when he had become Archmage. It was a secret that had been passed from Archmage to Archmage since MacDougal's death. And like his distinguished predecessor, MacKay was Truth abiding dogg. He rose from his seat and floated to the ceiling of the cavern where the Covenant had met since its formation. This display wrenched the gaze of the Covenant from the Dachound to the Archmage. Such frivolous usage of magic was unheard of in the current age, yet Archmage MacKay was deadly serious in his expression and in his words, "Why, brothers, do you terrorize this dogg? Can you not here the Truth in his words? Do you doubt the words of Cantos MacDougal? (*Cantos is a Doggish word roughly equating Saint though it does not mean one inspired by above but one inspired by Truth*) Look at me! From the books of Magic I know that long ago such magic as I do now was considered commonplace and simple. Yet for me to maintain this position above you, I have to use much concentration. Surely you too have read about the feats of your respective breeds that have diminished in these times. The youth speaks the Truth! And you will listen every last one of you. We shall meet again in the marrow and let him continue. Now go and reflect on what the young has taught the old." Gesturing to the other Lords MacKay herded them from the cavern and to their sleeping chambers. Then the Archmage landed and collapsed in utter exhaustion from the effort required to have stayed aloft even that short time. The Dachound and the Archmage's own apprentices helped MacKay to his feat and half carried, half pushed him to his chambers. Dogon of Doggainia |
