The Book of Two Gods

A relic of the past

Discovered two hundred years ago in a hidden vault in the Wall, The Book of Two Gods has spawned a new religion on the island of Daren. Purported to be a relic from before the Renewal, the book is of mysterious construction and written in a language no one understands.  

Description

  The Book of Two Gods is a small book made from bound paper . The paper it is made from seems to be some kind of wood pulp, which the people of Daren have not been able to replicate. The book has a soft cover made from slightly sturdier paper with a faint sheen to it.   The cover depicts two shirtless men on a background of strange tall buildings and many lights. The likenesses of the men are so realistic it appears that the men have been trapped on the cover of the book. These men are said to be the two gods charged with the protection of Daren.   Inside, the book's three hundred pages are lined with words that no one can read. The language appears not to have been written by pen or quill; it is as though the words have bloomed by themselves on the page.  

Discovery

  The island of Daren is surrounded by a high stone wall. It is a rare example of a structure that dates from before the Renewal, when sapient life awoke with no memory of the previous ages. Though the majority of the Wall is solid, there are some chambers hidden along its length and beneath it. Over five thousand years later, some of these chambers are only just beginning to be explored, as people figure out how to bypass the intricate arcane and mechanical locks that guard the structure's secrets.   In 5172 EA, two adolescent boys were exploring the base of the Wall when one of them fell through a hole in the ground that had been hidden by some thick foliage. Whilst the other boy ran for help, the boy who had fallen began to explore the large chamber he was trapped in. Sunlight flooded in through the break he had made in the foliage, so there was enough light to see by.   The chamber he found himself in was largely empty and covered with centuries of dust. In the corner of the room, however, he found the book, dusty but strangely well-preserved. When rescuers arrived and lowered a rope down into the hole, he brought the book with him back out into the light.

A Dubious Translation

  A translation for The Book of Two Gods is currently underway, the project of two particularly fervent priests. Unfortunately, there is no way for them to know if their translation is accurate.   They are doing their best, however, writing in what they believe would be the tenets of their gods and several myths that explain various aspects of the cover.


Cover image: by Lalaine Macababbad

Comments

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Dec 9, 2020 23:08 by Eallixy

Nice article, I like the detail you put into the description of the book itself.

Dec 9, 2020 23:10 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Thank you very much! <3

Dec 10, 2020 05:09

Wonderful mystery item. I wonder if there is a Rosetta Stone equivalent.

Dec 10, 2020 13:21 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Would be really cool if there was! :D Thanks.

Dec 10, 2020 07:39 by Wendy Vlemings (Rynn19)

I love how a new religion formed from this book, yet no one can read it! There is also that delightful mystery surrounding the materials and writings of the book. I wonder how far those priests translation will be from what is really written in the book.

Author of Ealdwyll, a fantasy world full of mystery.
Dec 10, 2020 13:22 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Probably the furthest from the truth as they can get, haha. Poor priests. Thank you! :D x

Dec 10, 2020 08:17 by Simo

Now I am sniggering at the fervent translators... How disrespectful of me.

Dec 10, 2020 13:22 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Hehehe. Poor guys. Thanks for the comment! <3

Dec 10, 2020 10:21 by TC

Ooooh, I really like this article! Really makes me more curious as to the Renewal, and what civilisations might come before. The fact that this probably used to be a regular book but was reinterpreted as a divine object is really fascinating!

Creator of Arda Almayed
Dec 10, 2020 13:23 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

I hope to explore the before-times one day, when current time Etrea is much more fleshed out. If you clicked on the spoiler, you can see exactly what kind of book this was. :D Thanks for the comment!

Dec 10, 2020 13:25 by TC

KSDJFHGKS I completely missed the spoiler, this took me completely by surprise (even though this is exactly what I was picturing when I first read the description). Amazing

Creator of Arda Almayed
Dec 10, 2020 15:24 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Hahahahaaha <3

Dec 10, 2020 17:56 by Luca Poddighe

I can already imagine the sacred emblem of the two gods D&G :P. Jokes aside, I love this misterious cult coming out from a mag with men in deshabille! I don't want to imagine the traslation...

Dec 10, 2020 19:08 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Hahahaha. Thanks :D

Dec 10, 2020 18:15 by Gege Escriva

Pretty cool article! Is interesting imagining what's really written on it and how far could it be from the transition the priests are making. I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually just a book about medicine or tales but and ended having a divine interpretation. The fact that its language remains mysterious reminds me of Voynich Manuscript from our world. I like that you described its physical appearance with many details,it helps a lot for imagining it better! Good job!

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Dec 10, 2020 19:09 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Thank you so much! :) I don't think the translation will be accurate, but they are trying their best. :D

Dec 10, 2020 22:20 by Caitlin Phillips

Oh wow! This article packs a punch. The idea of the wall dating from before the Renewal gave me chills - there is such a wonderful opportunities for so many stories in there! The two figures on the book sound particularly intriguing.

Cait x
Dec 11, 2020 00:58 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Thanks so much! <3

Dec 11, 2020 05:27

LMAO. Please tell me I am correct in assuming the religion is based on a smut novel :)   This was really fun to read and I like the way you describe the book.

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Dec 11, 2020 13:07 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

You are indeed correct! :D Luckily there's probably no way -they'll- find that out, haha.   Thanks so much! :)

Dec 14, 2020 13:10

Hcraven beat me to the conclusion. I am loving this, the spoiler is priceless. I wish the priests start finding an accurate translation and going "huh... so do we tell the guys?"

Dec 14, 2020 13:43 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Haha, if the truth was ever discovered, it would be buried very quickly by the church, I'm sure. XD Thank you!

Dec 14, 2020 14:52 by Tobias Linder

For someone not familiar with your entire setting, I believe a link or at least a tooltip to "The Renewal" would be suitable here. It feels like it's a relevant event, considering you mention it twice. Understanding what that is, and what implications it had, would help in absorbing the article.   Also, big yikes, this book and its translation is like the epitome of "Oppressive organized religion in the making" here. O_O

Dec 14, 2020 14:54 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

The Renewal is definitely one of the articles at the top of my list to write. I should make more use of tooltips though!   Definitely a not-so-good religion in the making, for sure. Thank you!

Dec 15, 2020 23:14

Love the mystery of this article as well as of the ever growing world you are creating. This book could lead to such different outcomes depending on how it is interpreted / used. Etrea always makes me think and that's one of the things I love about it :)

Dec 15, 2020 23:51 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Thank you! :D I'm interested to explore the religion more, especially as it's such a young one.

Dec 30, 2020 16:29 by Eliora Yona

Hmm... a book hidden away from society for a long time - found... by two boys. Hmm.... this book is not understood by anyone due to the language used....   Interestingly hooking!

Dec 30, 2020 16:44 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Thank you! :D

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