The Ornicon
Dredsonian Edition
Introduction
The Ornicon is more than the word and will of Great Ornir; to read from the Metallic Paragon is to allow His blessings into your soul. The Dredsonian Edition is designed to make the Word easier to understand for modern generations. The Draconic of the original Ornicon has been almost lost to time. Thus, the Dredsonian Edition uses modern Common words for ease of access. Silver blessings upon you.
Black Sun
Chapter 1
The Fell Bear
1 In the Age of Olde did the Fell Bear, Tharbjorn, crawl from the bowels of the Abyss.
2 Now Tharbjorn was a wicked creature, born of the darkness within every god. In horror and shame at the blemishes upon their beings, the gods cast Tharbjorn down so that mortals may never hear him curse the divine.
3 But Tharbjorn was a stubborn and prideful creature. In the darkness and sweltering abyssal depths, he, with one roar, pierced the gate of mortal and immortal and called forth the demons of the Abyss unto the Prime Material. In his wake did the East-West Gulf emerge, dividing Unis forevermore by tooth, claw, sword, and shield.
4 In East Unis was a town called Chisword, a town of dragons and their kin. It lay under the Sun's gaze from dawn till dusk. Its denizens wore scales of metal, as all dragons and dragonkin did, for all carried the spirit of the Silver One.
5 And within Chisword was Great Ornir, a strong and bold young man who worked as the Sun's oracle. To every hand did He extend His grace and glory. To every mouth did He offer a listening ear. None could deny He was the very spirit of Chisword.
6 Now Chisword had suffered much of the Gulf's unending wrath. Ornir had witnessed the slaughters of thousands in Tharbjorn's wake. He tearlessly wept as the town He loved was steadily choked by its razed fields and barren lands. So He called upon the Sun and demanded that Chisword's fields would flourish and His people could feast with fervor, and the Sun did obey Him and shine ever brighter.
7 With the wind came a bountiful harvest amid a dry autumn. The smoke of the Gulf's fires heeded the watchful Silver eyes of Ornir, and the Chiswordans celebrated under their golden Sun. Tharbjorn was displeased. From the West, he witnessed, and upon sight of the glowing city, he covered his eyes and screamed in pain. With a rage in his heart, he willed himself to meet the Sun's gaze in defiance.
8 Then, Tharbjorn looked upon Chisword and said with a roar, "Ah, the Sun! She and her golden glow cannot help but blind and burn! How fitting her people cannot see their own suffering!"
9 With these words, Tharbjorn's roar reached beyond the gate of mortal and immortal once again. He called for the darkness within the Sun's soul, and it, Ashara, answered. Tharbjorn cast his hand forth and in one visceral instant blotted the Sun. At once did the Sun and she of past and future become corrupt, whispering sins to those she shone over.
10 And Tharbjorn looked upon the land he had destroyed. And he heard the rage in the hearts of the mortals stewing in tireless conflict. He saw that Chisword stood strong under the glow of the Black Sun. And Tharbjorn could feel naught but rage. The surfeit of cruelty exhausted him so that he left the Black Sun to shine alone. With Tharbjorn’s slumber came the end of a century-long war.
11 Though the Black Sun was unguided, Tharbjorn's will was carried on her rays. Under the sinful glow, the dragons and dragonkin were tainted by wickedness. Their gleaming scales lost their brilliance, becoming dull, dirty imitations of divinity. From past to present to future did the Black Sun spread her poison. And Ornir, having become so accustomed to her glow, did not notice Ashara's temptations.
12 But for all her wickedness, Ashara could not touch the scales that protected Ornir's heart. And Ashara could not tempt those most devoted to the Silver One, for within them were spirits of Silver, and they were blessed and incorruptible. So Ashara called to the hate within the dull-scaled dragons and dragonkin and waged a war against the gleam and glow. But the dull-scales could not harm Ornir's people.
13 To the dull-scales did Ornir extend His grace once more. But Ashara called to the hate within the dull-scales again, and she demanded their refusal. At once did Ashara call for Tharbjorn, and the Fell Bear awakened once more. He told her, "Give me the hate and desires and sorrows of the dull-scales, and I will remove the promise of defeat from your fate."
14 And Ashara gave Tharbjorn the hate and desires and sorrows, becoming feeble and dim. The Fell Bear began to slumber once more. In a rage, Ashara shouted, "How dare you beguile me, you fiend! Shall you really leave me to fail in your name? With the Silver One's children, how can you blot Chisword?"
15 The Fell Bear's next roar took the form of a yawn. Upon hearing it, Ashara shattered within the Sun, scattering her corrupt essence among the glow. From the pieces did Sarenrae arise. And as the Fell Bear fell into slumber, he spoke one last time, "Black Sun, I grant you your second and final chance. Let the gift of free will humble you before me. Raise not your hand nor your voice, or I shall devour you and take your place."
16 And Sarenrae could not help but bend to him. Silently, she watched the Fell Bear sink into slumber once more. She watched as the dull-scales were severed of flesh and bone and driven from Chisword by Great Ornir. They carried on their backs scraps of their homes and belongings. Sarenrae watched the defeat she inherited with shame. And Sarenrae would shine alone for ages to come, spreading the sins of the world within her glow and blotting the world irreversibly.
Chapter 2
Lissa of Trivdolir
1 Now a century later came Lissa seeking the blessings of Ornir. Ornir met her at the gates of Chisword and bowed his head in gratitude. Scaleless were rare among Chisword, and so the Silver One welcomed them into His walls. Lissa was untouched by the grace of Ornir and knew no better. She giggled and bowed her head and said, “Silver scales that shine gold with the sun’s glow, and a gleaming city whose glow carries for miles! I can hardly believe anyone can behold such a sight as you.”
2 Now Ornir was divine in soul but mortal by flesh, and Lissa had touched His heart with flattery. He took her by the hand and led her within Chisword and gave her a home beside His church. He did not see the lust in her eyes or the temptations that dripped from her tongue.
3 To the Chiswordans, the pious and scaleless Lissa was exotic, and she was taken by how the sun and its glow painted the scaled golden. She gave herself as a prostitute to every Chiswordan and dressed in their depravities. Indeed, from Trivdolir had she defiled herself with the lusts of the scaleless, yet her sins were little more than a beacon for the pious and untouched scaled.
4 For months did Lissa sleep with the men and women of Chisword. She stripped naked before them at noon each day, for only at noon did the sun’s glow paint the Chiswordan scaled a brilliant golden.
5 But in defiance of her exotic and impossible beauty, Ornir would not sleep with her, for to caress the bosom of a working girl was a taboo most unforgivable. But Lissa was not satisfied with the graces of Ornir. She knew the Chiswordans as they knew her, and yet Ornir remained out of reach. She prized His gleam above all others and sought to sleep with Him.
6 At one noon did the Black Sun whisper to Lissa, “I shall fetch you the finest kegs of wine from Trivdolir. Now listen closely, you must speak to His heart at midnight, for that is when Ornir is by His lonesome and the moon's glow purifies my light. He will worship you."
7 At midday did travelers from Trivdolir come bearing kegs of their finest wine, and Lissa welcomed them within her walls and thanked them upon her bed of love.
8 At midnight did Lissa beckon Ornir within her walls. She said to Him, “Long have I felt lost and weary. The Chiswordans have treated me with hospitality unlike any other. And though I have followed your teachers and sought your guidance, I am still lost.”
9 And Ornir said unto Lissa, “To journey to the City of Silver, your heart must be strong and true. Though you believe you are lost, I know you are closer to enlightenment. Sit beside me, and I will tell you of a hidden truth.”
10 And deep into the night did Lissa and Ornir drink. But as the moon shone upon Lissa’s abode with the filtered, sinful light of the Black Sun, Ornir became deliriously intoxicated. And Lissa slept with Ornir, having called to the lust locked within him, and He poured out His lust unto her.
11 So Lissa became pregnant by Ornir, and Ornir was never aware. Lissa had a son, and she named him Daigo. And unto Daigo did Lissa tell Ornir’s hidden truth.
Chapter 3
The Children of Chisword
1 In time, Daigo had grown into a pious and respected man in his own right. He had been raised upon the teachings of Ornir since his birth. He believed wholeheartedly that the closer he sat to the heavens, the clearer he could hear the Silver One’s voice.
2 Daigo fetched his best men and together with them built a tower onto the Church of Ornir, one that could scrape the sky. For months did Daigo rest at its peak in search of true enlightenment.
3 One day, Daigo was approached by a man named Renyr. Now Renyr was a man as pious as Daigo. He had scales of the purest silver that reflected the world like mirrors. Renyr could not simply be beheld by Daigo’s own eyes.
4 And Daigo said to Renyr, “Who are you?” And Renyr said to Daigo, “Who are you?” There was a hidden truth that Daigo had known since his childhood. It was a truth carried from Ornir Himself to Lissa to Daigo: in a time where the Sun’s shine begins to burn would Ornir take the form of another.
5 With this truth known, Daigo told Renyr, “I am Daigo, son of Lissa. I rest near the Sun so that I may hear His Word and reach for Platinum's Keep.”
6 And upon speaking these words did the truth of Renyr’s name ring in Daigo’s ears. Before him stood not simply a silver dragonborn but the very essence of Ornir given form. And though Daigo was far older than Renyr, he could not help but be humbled by His presence. Daigo offered Renyr a seat at his side and told the man of his spiritual journey.
7 Daigo said to Renyr, “Do you know of Tharbjorn the Fell Bear? They say he thrust the whole of Unis into warfare long ago. Now, we hold the scraps of civilization in our hands and wonder how and why.”
8 And Renyr said to Daigo, “Every half needs another to make it whole. Tharbjorn would tear apart Unis to find that missing half, whether to eat it or make it part of him.”
9 And Daigo said to Renyr, “But must evil exist for good to be appreciated? If good should truly be expected and valued and fair, then why must cruelty accompany it? Can man not do good for no reason at all?”
10 And Renyr said to Daigo, “You are a wise man, and I see no sin in your words. Like day and night, the world stands opposed to itself, never satisfied with one way or form. The two mix and mingle. Even in the midst of night does the sun's glow shine upon the moon, and we named this dark glow moonlight."
11 But Daigo was not satisfied with Renyr's words. He knew the world must be balanced, but did that mean good and order could not dominate? His people preferred lives of peace and love. They endured Tharbjorn's wrath and lived in fear for years! Surely they deserved respite!
12 So Renyr said to Daigo, "When the terrors of Tharbjorn fell upon the land, all men stood proudly and shielded their brethren. It was through the courage and strength of all that Tharbjorn's rage did not topple civilization. And the peace that followed was celebrated unlike any other. Good cannot be appreciated without beauty, as a diamond without facets is merely a smooth stone."
13 Now Daigo mused on these words. If all good required evil, then was Renyr truly the opposing force to Tharbjorn? Could the Fell Bear ever consider one man his equal? Daigo was not given an answer that night, nor would he ever receive it in his lifetime.
Chapter 4
Three Curses
1 As autumn turned to winter, the Fell Bear awakened and looked upon the world in resignation.
2 He said to himself, "At midday, the King hides from me? Why have I not felt his presence?"
3 And the Black Sun, who shined her brightest, said, "The Platinum King feels shame! Daigo is the spawn of a deed most foul, and He hides from him. He lingers among His people as not a god but a man!"
4 Tharbjorn's howling laughter carried across the land. But despite his amusement, Tharbjorn was not satisfied with the Platinum King's cowardice. So Tharbjorn cursed the land with three curses.
5 First, he cursed the dull-scales who gave into sin and made their firstborns small. They, the kobolds, would speak in mocking barks and follow his whims.
6 Then, he cursed the metals of the world, stripping all but gold of their divine gleam. This would make all gold worth more than silver—dragon, dragonborn, or coin.
7 Finally, Tharbjorn cursed the non-dragons and non-dragonborn, and he spread the sins of the world among them so they would carry his will.
8 To the dwarves he gave gluttony and selfishness. They would fill their stomachs with beers and wines and feast upon the fields of their brethren.
9 To the elves he gave unending pride. They would raise their noses at the sight of others and look down upon all.
10 To the smallfolk he gave envy and naivete. They would bumble through their lives witnessing the accomplishments of others unlike them.
11 To the orcs he gave wrath, and he stole away reasoning. They would hunt the civilized like rabbits and hook them like pigs.
12 To the goblin savages he gave lust and stripped them of restraint. They would lust after all others and multiply within the wombs of the civilized.
13 To the half-ones he gave sloth and submission. In the face of all others were they to remain meek and vacuous. They would slumber while their children worked in their stead and their children's children worked for their own fathers.
14 To the humans he gave unending greed. They would hollow the planet for riches and poison every land for coin. They would war and slaughter and pillage for gold.
15 Finally, Tharbjorn made Ornir's hiding into a game. He would take the form of a mortal to match Ornir. And with a roar, he cursed the womb of a dwarf.
16 And at the end of winter did the dwarven woman give birth to a child of rage. She named the child Stalbjorn, meaning "steel bear."
Chapter 5
Stalbjorn of Nordrilark
1 From Port Poqerd came a man named Xeithar, and with him came Vanali and a kenku without a name. They were aimless folk who kept many secrets, most that would surely damn them.
2 Only within the care of each other could they find safety and solitude, for beneath their notice did Tharbjorn’s grasp strangle their world. They wandered the East, delighting in its spiritual pleasures and carrying with them the teachings of their brethren.
3 Among savages, they were the civilized. And among themselves, Xeithar was the balance.
4 Now Xeithar was Poqerd-born, and he was raised among their sinners. Yet he had grown into a fine man whose heart refused to waver in the face of evil. The kenku had come from Darkwater Crik seeking blessings for his daughter. He, too, was a pious man and he readily lent his medicines to the needy. Nay, it was Vanali, enshrouded in mystery, that evaded Ornir’s light.
5 Guided by the will of Ornir did the trio journey to the border of East and West. There, they found a dwarf that had lost his way. His hair was a silver bright enough to be mistaken for platinum. He was dressed in commoner’s clothes and was built like a wall.
6 Curious, Xeithar said to the dwarf, “Who are you to have hairs of such color?”
7 And the dwarf said, “I am Stalbjorn, Son of Nordrilark. My silver hair is a mark of nobility. All of my kin have silver hairs.”
8 And Xeithar said to Stalbjorn, “Surely you must be the bridge between mortal and Ornir! To wear silver is to praise His name! But to be born with such a color—you must be blessed.”
9 And Stalbjorn said to Xeithar, “Surely a man of Ornir is not blinded by his god’s light! A snake could don silver scales, and His men would be none the wiser!” And then Stalbjorn raised a hand to the sky as if appraising the Sun and with his other hand gestured to Xeithar’s dull scales.
10 Then Stalbjorn said, “But you do not have silver scales. No, yours are duller and a solid white. I do not think you are blind, but I cannot understand your trust. You would be wise to distrust me.”
11 And then Xeithar said to Stalbjorn, “Forgive my eagerness, but I do not know of a dwarf with silver hairs. I seek the grace of the Lord Ornir, that He may return the gleam to my scales and unmake me of sin.”
12 And then Stalbjorn said to Xeithar, “Surely such a deity cannot ignore a devout soul such as yours. Very well, I shall help you on your quest to enlightenment. Take care to not stray from His plan.”
13 Now the kenku and Vanali did not know much of Stalbjorn, but the kenku sensed a darkness most dark from the dwarf, as if a rage bubbled beneath its skin. But the kenku was a strange man of a strange curiosity, and he fixated on Stalbjorn obsessively.
14 As the four rested at noon, the kenku said to Vanali, "What of the dwarf and his shining silver? Could he be a blessed of Ornir?"
15 Now Vanali had heard and kept many secrets in his youth. There were few he did not know. Stalbjorn was a stranger to him, but Vanali knew Stalbjorn's silver hairs held many secrets. And Vanali said to the kenku, "Mind the dwarf's words. He is not to be trusted."
16 And the kenku said to Vanali, "I have heard of Stalbjorn. He is a prince of Nordrilark. His people have beaten order into the chaos of the West. Do we not trust him?"
17 And Vanali said to the kenku, "Such a prince catches the eye of every man, and thus, the freedoms he is given are few. His only privacy is his mind, in which he keeps his every secret under lock and key. He speaks words of warning. His mind is a labyrinth of thoughts most dark. He is not to be trusted."
18 And as noon passed, Stalbjorn would lead Xeithar, Vanali, and the kenku to Trivdolir. With a wave of his hand, Stalbjorn commanded the guards to open their gates, and they obeyed. But sin corrupted the walls of Trivdolir, for those that entered were to never leave.
Chapter 6
The Depths of Trivdolir
1 At midnight at the end of winter did Renyr journey to Trivdolir. The Black Sun urged Him to wander, and He did so with the spirit of Chisword at His back.
2 But halfway to Trivdolir was Renyr stopped by the men of Trivdolir. They pointed their spears at him in fear and said, “Who are you to cross into our borders so boldly, scaled one?”
3 And Renyr said to them, “I go where the Sun's light shines. She tells me of demons and devils within your walls."
4 And the men said to Renyr, “Your Sun lies to you. We do not harbor evil within our walls, and you would do well to stay out of our lands.”
5 Yet Renyr was the bold sort, and the Sun had never lied to Him before. He pressed forward, crossing the threshold, upon which the men had Him bound. Renyr did not struggle; the men would escort Him to Trivdolir safely, and He planned on going there anyway.
6 So Renyr said to the men, “Have you heard of a woman named Lissa? She came to Chisword seeking the graces of Ornir."
7 And the men knew well of Lissa, for the sins she committed in Chisword were the same as those of Trivdolir. The men wrinkled their noses in disgust, but the mere mention of her name made the men lust after her.
8 And with only a single glance did Renyr know of the darkness within Trivdolir. Behind their gates, behind their closed doors was darkness most dark. But under the light of the Black Sun, He was still blind to the light of the Lord within Him.
9 Renyr was soon imprisoned in the depths of Trivdolir. He found the cells bulging with criminal savages. They scraped at the walls and rattled at the prison bars. When Renyr was brought to His cell, the savages cackled and mocked Him. He was thrown into a cell to be humiliated alone.
10 At midday when prisoners were fed did Renyr feast, and the food was nothing short of dry. Soon, the doors to the prison opened, and the harrowing howls of the prison halls quieted. The air was cold like a freezing winter breeze. In walked four men, who were Xeithar, the kenku of Darkwater Crik, Vanali, and Stalbjorn.
11 Though each of the four men carried a presence as strong as Chisword’s gates, it was Stalbjorn who choked out the presence of all others. And as Stalbjorn passed the cells and was escorted to Renyr’s, the savages within bowed their heads in submission.
12 From across the hallway was the cell of the kenku and Xeithar. A guard happened across their path and questioned him. This was Vanali in disguise. From the cell did he take the kenku, who was brought to the prison’s interrogation room. There, the kenku stood in front of Sureshank, the leader of Trivdolir.
13 The kenku said to Sureshank, “I have no quarrel with you. We were set upon by your men without just cause, and one of us lingers among you with the face of one of your own. They seek to uproot your town by the very soil and cannibalize the remains left behind.”
14 Now Sureshank was wise and untouched by the sins of her town. Xeithar’s words had touched her during his travel here. And the kenku said to Sureshank, “Bring that man to me, and you may take the rest of your people and leave in peace.”
15 With honest words did the kenku free his own, but all was not well, for Vanali was damned to death. He was to be hanged at the center of Trivdolir, an omen to all who would rise against Trivdolir’s darkness.
Chapter 7
The Sands of Trivdolir
1 Renyr’s time with Stalbjorn intrigued Him, for it was not a battle of light and dark but a musing of good and evil. It was the near completion of two halves, for good could never exist without evil.
2 Renyr said to Stalbjorn, “I feel a kinship with you, like a mosquito on the skin of man.”
3 And Stalbjorn said to Renyr, “I feel inseparable from you, like the wealthy who cannot escape beggars.”
4 And Renyr said to Stalbjorn, “Why would a man of wealth be trapped among savages? What of your silver hairs, dwarf. Do you mean to mock one such as I? He who bears the light of the Sun and shields the scaled from sin?”
5 And Stalbjorn said to Renyr, “Why would a man of wealth walk among savages if not to boast of his fortune? A king among kings is just another wealthy man. But among the downtrodden and weak, he appears mighty and indomitable! He is untouchable! Lay a hand upon me and you will be treated worse than I, surely!”
6 Then Stalbjorn said, “That kenku across from us is wise. He knows when to cut dead flesh from the body so the body may heal. That guard who is being questioned will surely die, and we will go free. You will remain here among sinners you cannot purify. But you interest me, and I wish to know more, so I will allow you to go free with me.”
7 And Renyr said to Stalbjorn, “You would help one such as I? I know your true name, Stalbjorn. How can you let me go free in good conscience? This poor attempt at trickery is unlike you.”
8 And Stalbjorn said to Renyr, “I have no need of trickery, for this game I play with you has long since been won. But I must know how I win, and so I must allow you to go free.”
9 Now when Stalbjorn and his people were freed, he asked for Renyr to be released with him. The guards were furious, yet Stalbjorn’s wrath was to be feared, and so they let Renyr go free.
10 But their troubles were not over, for the men of Trivdolir asked them to stay and witness the hanging of Vanali. Indeed, at midday was Vanali bound at the center of Trivdolir atop a gallows. Stalbjorn, Renyr, Xeithar, and the kenku stood among the onlookers.
11 And Xeithar said to Stalbjorn, “What shall we do? The kenku has saved us but doomed our friend. We are not wholly innocent, and Vanali is not wholly guilty. Surely we cannot stand by and do nothing!”
12 And Stalbjorn said to Xeithar, “Hold your tongue. There is no cause for alarm.” Indeed, Stalbjorn had an audience of his own. What had Renyr done to gain the faith of his people? What was the worth of the Black Sun before him? Stalbjorn would demonstrate.
13 With Stalbjorn’s roar, the ground beneath Trivdolir began to wrinkle. A mountain of sand sprung from the center of town, uprooting the gallows and drowning the people. Yet, Stalbjorn, Xeithar, Renyr, and the kenku remained unharmed, carried safely atop the sand, which hardened into a pyramid.
14 In one instant did Stalbjorn carve a path out of the city for his brethren. He could present himself before Renyr with nothing but smug satisfaction and the display of his sheer might. Xeithar had searched the sands for Vanali, but the man had long since disappeared, leaving not even a note of his whereabouts.
Chapter 8
Fortune Arcana
1 To the men of the world, it would be impossible for opposites such as Stalbjorn and Renyr to join arms. But beneath the soil of Unis slumbered a new evil.
2 Now at the border of the East and West was a chasm as long as Unis from north to south. This was the Scar of the Earth. And from the Scar came Segoma, born on a summer noon.
3 And Tharbjorn knew well of her, for their divinities were equal opposites. Segoma would not bend to Tharbjorn, and Tharbjorn hated her.
4 Come midnight did Stalbjorn gather four others.
5 The first was Renyr, Son of Ornir, He of Platinum.
6 The second was Xeithar, Son of Zrarinn, the Widowed Devil.
7 The third was Smokey, the Gearmaster.
8 The fourth was Max, the Mad.
9 Stalbjorn and the four heroes became Fortune Arcana. They were a party whose alignment constantly swayed in the hands of luck. By midday did evil pour into them, and by midnight did good cleanse them.
10 But Fortune Arcana knew not who would lead them, and the five heroes chose among the strongest.
11 Smokey the Gearmaster raised a line of golems from the earth that was a mile long and commanded them to march. Their stomps rose mountains and formed the mouths of caves.
12 Max the Mad commanded them to dance with his song until they returned to the dust from whence they came. His chaotic energy infested the world below, where Segoma had emerged. Her people would become eternally corrupted by madness.
14 Xeithar called down the light of the moon and caused the barren land south of Pikechester to flourish wildly. He called the new land the Great Fairy Plains.
15 Renyr raised His hands to the sky, and at once did His scales reflect the light of the moon back at it. The Lord Ornir's divine magic poured from the sky, enriching the land and granting mortals divinities.
16 But Stalbjorn laughed and raised his flaming sword to the moon's face. A coil of flame pierced the atmosphere and broke the moon into two pieces. There was one smaller and one larger. He called the larger piece Mardynn and the smaller piece Vryyn.
17 But Stalbjorn's feat was greater than he realized, for with the moon's shattering did he sever the Black Sun's connection to the moon, his sword burning Her with a heat hotter than Herself. With midnight free of darkness, it became a time of pure goodness.
18 And after all of Fortune Arcana had finished performing, none knew who would be the leader. All were capable of defying life's laws. And so, Fortune Arcana agreed to lend leadership to whomever appeared most correct.
19 And at once did every soul, every nation around the world know of Fortune Arcana. In time, they would become the tenth band of prophesied heroes.
20 And Segoma, she who inhabited the world below for so very long, looked upon the many followers that had grown mad. And she, who fed off of their sins, became twisted by their madness. By midday of the next morning, what was left of Segoma was unrecognizable to the few followers who remained sane.
Chapter 9
The False Gate
1 Fortune Arcana journeyed to Chisword in the midst of spring, where they rested for two weeks.
2 Now Chisword had become stricken with something truly foul and wicked. The streets were absent of men, and there was not a word from the press.
3 So Renyr welcomed Fortune Arcana within the Black Sun's Church of Ornir, and they shared rounds of food and drink.
4 Then Renyr showed them Chisword's many establishments and commodities. Their magic was potent and their innovation was nigh unparalleled. By chance did Fortune Arcana happen upon a potion of untold magic, created by a sage who wished to test the extent of their prowess.
5 Now this potion is one that was long since forbidden. This potion would render any who drank a single drop immortal. Gods had long since considered this usage an affront to the cycle of life and death. But the sage, in arrogance and avarice, presented it to Fortune Arcana and tempted them to grasp it.
6 Before Renyr laid eyes upon it, Stalbjorn had already procured it from the sage. He intended to divide it among his own blood and make his mortal lineage eternal. The streets had filled with the citizens of Chisword, all who eyed the potion with curiosity.
7 And as Stalbjorn realized the eyes of Chisword were upon him, he fell to his knees and cursed the very streets of Chisword. He said aloud, “Who are you, He of Platinum, to deny my father a little more of the few precious years he has left? How could one so great and wise be so cruel!”
8 And Stalbjorn handed the potion to Renyr and fled, leaving Him with nothing but the judgmental gazes of His people upon Him.
9 A day passed, and at noon did the Black Sun speak to Renyr. She said, “How dare you! That man had not much time left with his father. Were it your own mother who was doomed to die, would you be so complacent?”
10 And Renyr said to the Black Sun, “Such a potion does not belong in the hands of mortals. Reaching for divinity when the opportunity was not granted breaks the law of mortality and immortality.”
11 But the Black Sun was not satisfied, and she believed that Renyr should be punished for His actions. As a beam pierced her church, Renyr began to age rapidly. His scales lost their luster, His limbs began to lock, and He became profoundly aware of the aching in His heart.
12 It was then that He discovered a truly horrible truth of His reality: the light of the sun that shone upon His scales had always been that of sin. And all who were born under the light of the Black Sun had been born into sin. Only through the purification of the moon’s glow could man truly wash their spirits of evil.
13 So Renyr cursed the Black Sun. He said aloud, “Never again will I shine your light! I will lead my men out of this city and toward divinity! I will grasp that light you shine and reshape it before my people! Await me in that haven of yours, Black Sun!”
14 And so Renyr never again reflected the light of the Black Sun, freeing Him from her shackles. And in His heart did Renyr know an even darker truth: the Divine Gate, the gate of mortal and immortal, was never truly real. Under every mortal soul was a pit of darkness, and all that held them above it were the flimsy whims of the gods.
Chapter 10
The Kenku of Fortune Arcana
1 In Darkwater Crik was a kenku who devoted himself to the worship of Talona, a god twice reshaped by the wills of humanity.
2 But to the kenku, Talona was a savior and his reason for existence. As he kept the Yawning Fen orderly and stable, Talona would watch over him and keep him from the darkness within Darkwater Crik.
3 At noon was the kenku approached by a young girl who had lost her way. She pleaded with him for help, for she knew not her name nor her home. Wanting to spread the generosity he’d been given by his god, the kenku led the young girl back to Darkwater Crik.
4 The young girl was given a spare room within the kenku's home, away from the calls of the dark forest beyond its walls. There, alone in her room, did the girl hatch her plan. Unbeknownst to the kenku, the girl was the disguised avatar of Segoma.
5 And with her divinity to divide any two things, she divided the kenku's mind and body from his soul. But before she could grasp the kenku’s essence and take it for her own, Talona shielded the kenku's soul from her and it within her own realm.
6 At midnight did Talona come before Fortune Arcana. And in her hands were the spirit and the body of the kenku. Fortuna Arcana took the spirit among them to keep it safe in their numbers.
7 But it was Renyr, who had forged a bond with the kenku, who kept the body by his side. When Fortune Arcana had slain Segoma, and her divine spark was at its most vulnerable, he would reform the kenku with its strength.
8 But what awaited Renyr's next few months was a test of His patience. The Black Sun cursed him once more. For every day that passed, he would grow weaker. And though His body would yearn for sleep, He would stay just at the edge of consciousness.
9 And Stalbjorn, who had known little of Talona, saw the sleepless Renyr and reflected upon himself. And he smiled.
10 And as Fortune Arcana crossed from the East to the West, a darkness had taken hold in Renyr's heart. If the Black Sun, the supposed goddess of redemption and absolution, could torture a man as pious as Him, then surely the other gods must be capable of such evil.
11 If Tharbjorn was truly the enmity, the desires, the blemishes, and imperfections of all gods, then all gods would naturally share that same cruelty.
12 So Renyr said to Stalbjorn, "Why would you join arms with me against Segoma? Are you not the darkness within her as well?"
13 And Stalbjorn said to Renyr, "My existence is one of infinite rage. With each day that passes, my heart beats faster, and the loathing in my soul grows stronger. I am compelled to curse the foundations of my very being. Only through the death of my creators can I free myself."
14 And with this truth came a new motivation for Renyr. With the death of Segoma, He could at once resurrect His companion and provide a momentary peace for His greatest enemy.
Chapter 11
The Fall of Ursund
1 In a crater in West Unis was a town called Ursund. And within Ursund were dwarves whose hairs were as silver as those of Ornir’s scales.
2 And at the center of Ursund was a tree named Ephraesus, who held up the city of Ursund with his roots. And because he was so kind and generous, the dwarves called him the Grandfather Tree.
3 And beneath the city were mines of rhupite, shards of arcane and life energy. They fueled the tree, granting it its longevity and wisdom. But the dwarves of Ursund were greedy folk.
4 With every year that passed, the rhupite within the crater grew smaller and smaller. And as the rhupite shrank in number, the Grandfather Tree grew weaker. But, pious as he was, he placed the needs of his people before his own, and he said not a word.
5 But one day, he was approached by Stalbjorn. And with an aura of wickedness so strong, Ephraesus could not help but notice him.
6 And Ephraesus said to Stalbjorn, “What brings you to me today, Stalbjorn? Have you another confession?”
7 But Stalbjorn said to Ephraesus, “No, I’ve come to say farewell to you, Grandfather Tree. For tonight, I will never see you again.”
8 And Ephraesus thought this strange, for he had seen the birth of Ursund, which was ages ago. And he looked upon Stalbjorn with a sadness that the dwarf could not understand. Stalbjorn turned his gaze towards the sky, where he saw the Lady of War herself grasp a javelin of darkness.
9 And as she cast the javelin down, all light in the sky vanished. In a single instant, Ephraesus was obliterated, as the spear split his body in two and rotted away the remains. And as the roots crumbled and gave away, the city, too, began to collapse.
10 With a roar that echoed through time itself, Stalbjorn slowed the destruction of his city and the inhabitants within it. He walked away from the rotting tree, away from his home, and away from his family. He walked beyond the gates of the city and watched it from a hill. The sky remained dark, and Stalbjorn could see no stars.
11 It was then that Stalbjorn sought out Fortune Arcana, who had been spared from its destruction by his roar. Segoma had finally revealed herself, and she dared Fortune Arcana to stand in her path as she dragged Unis into chaos.
12 But to Stalbjorn, who shared the wickedness within Segoma, such a proposal was both enticing and confusing. Though he knew there was good to be had in going against his nature, to uproot the foundations of his existence seemed preposterous to him.
13 And Stalbjorn said to himself, “Without gods like Segoma, surely my heart would cease to beat! Surely I will cease to be if I allow the destruction of the heavens to occur. Though I hate them most of all, perhaps there is something to be had in allowing them to live.”
14 So Stalbjorn decided: only Segoma would die. He would allow the others to live, if only for the sake of his own, tortured existence.
Chapter 12
The Moonbreaker and the Scourge of Evil
1 In time, Renyr had amassed an army half the size of Eastern Unis. At His back were the devout of every race. They were people that had been cursed to suffer alone by the gods. And as they met Segoma on the battlefield, behind Fortune Arcana, the fires in their hearts grew fiercer.
2 The battle of Fortune Arcana and Segoma was one beyond the wars of Unis. In the face of the heroes and the avatar of the Lady of War, such wars were little more than games of chess. Their rage cracked the earth and severed the sky. They formed chasms and caves and rivers as they tossed and turned.
3 Segoma had crashed into the earth deep enough to raise it elsewhere, beneath Skystead, which would stand eternally upon a plateau at the base of the mountains.
4 But as Stalbjorn had said before, the game between he and Renyr was already won, for the battle against Segoma was merely a commodity. Within minutes of it beginning, it had ended. Renyr had crushed her skull against the ground and tore apart her essence all at once.
5 All that was left was her divine spark, which wriggled where it sat. Merely being in the presence of it was sickening. It could be reformed, but only by one who wished for it. And Renyr, who was the closest to the divine spark, reached out to grasp it.
6 But in that same motion, Xeithar had attacked Him, compelled by the madness of Tharbjorn. And Renyr screamed, “Have you no mind of your own?”
7 But such a battle was futile, as Renyr had Xeithar soundly beat. But seeing as the dragonborn refused to surrender, caked in his own blood, Renyr saw that He must end Xeithar’s life.
8 But as He raised His weapon to the sky, Stalbjorn’s flaming sword had pierced him through the back. At once was Renyr split from the chest down. The world darkened before Him, and He passed into an endless void of nothingness.
9 With the divine spark before him, Stalbjorn raised a new god from the divine spark, though it was nameless and shapeless. But even as he succeeded, Stalbjorn awaited the day that Renyr would return.
10 With the death of the Silver One came a storm, one worse than Eastern Unis had ever witnessed. It rained so much that Port Poqerd became swallowed by the water and would never surface again.
11 And as midnight came upon the day that Renyr died, Stalbjorn could hear the Silver One’s voice from the afterlife. He could not recognize a word, for beholding the spirit of the Silver One was impossible for someone such as Stalbjorn. But to the worthy and the pious, the Lord promised His return.
12 On the day of the Platinum Reckoning would the Silver One rise anew from the ashes of the world. On the day of his return would the gods of the world bow their heads and crumble before him. His first step upon the earth would reshape and renew it. And the first words he spoke would purge the evil from Unis and answer the prayers of those who suffered. And after the first day of his return passed, Aohiri would know true peace.
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