The Cubes of Tcarathar
"They say that the keys to divinity demands a heavy toll. But there is a shortcut. The instruments of the gods will show the way."
The Cubes of Tcarathars are a collection of sentient legendary artifacts. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but they have been known to surface many times thoughout the history. Often in hands of powerful people.
Summary
There are many speculation on their origin, Nay-Gissarian scholars have found some evidence claiming that they are shards of a long lost god. Others insist that they are tools created by the god Tcarathar, to assist him in his efforts in creating the world.
But most agree that they have some godly origin, due to seemingly having been existing since the birth of civilization.
In the Oroian northernmost human tribes of Fan-Zarani, there exists an elegiac epic poem "Azia Kronosis" roughly translated as "The Middle of Everything". There in the fifth act of the fifth book, where the honored Sand-Shaman sings to the Varyan warrior about the creation of the world;
The cubes are said contain near limitless powers and has been known to bestow blessings and energy to their wielders. But their power go far beyond that. As beings of both material and divine. They can work as gateways between both realms. Which is why they are sometimes called "Divine Keys" or "Keys to to the Other Side" As the Saahian historian Ea'sul'Naat'Hees tells in his book "The Myths of Cosmology and Perpetuity of Divine" they have the ability to open the potential in each person who wields one. Albeit, it seems that is has a cost.
Here is what he manage to find out:
Second one is from time just before the Zaaney Exodus from Oroii. The Reverend Matriarch of Faansal (modern-day Vaal) had orchestrated a massacre of those who followed the prophet Sathnax. It is said that she got the plans from gods themselves. However, many considered her mad and she was often seen talking to her necklace, a necklace that had a palm-sized black cube incorporated into it.
The next one is the first one recorded in Ardean. In the middle-eastern lands of Koronaron. During the Ussos Schism, around year 139 of the Human Unification Period. When the Stone Dukes of the Lower-Ussos ended the bloody reign of Gruun the Brazen. The "Ussos Report" describes Gruun's last stand as such:
One of the most famous appearances was in year 955, last days of the Dalian restoration era, just before the the Six Kingdom Civil-War that tore the fledgling empire to pieces. The story tells how Verdants (chosen members from all walks of life) from all the provinces of Azyrium had gathered for an open feast. Also present were the newly arrived ambassador of northern humans and the Reverend Matriarch from Hsaan. Aldymion Ulnaar, the royal playwright managed record the entire ill-fated event that lead to a catastrophe.
"The Zarathian want, of the Zarathian use. For the five cousins made from one, with three more mustered. Of Zarathian use, of Zarathian creations. But they were all one." "And then he used them, forms formed from impossibility and crystallic perfection. Forms from this world and the other. Together they live and together they create. Power incarnate."
The cubes are said contain near limitless powers and has been known to bestow blessings and energy to their wielders. But their power go far beyond that. As beings of both material and divine. They can work as gateways between both realms. Which is why they are sometimes called "Divine Keys" or "Keys to to the Other Side" As the Saahian historian Ea'sul'Naat'Hees tells in his book "The Myths of Cosmology and Perpetuity of Divine" they have the ability to open the potential in each person who wields one. Albeit, it seems that is has a cost.
"As one gets marked by them, fates begin to coalescent around him, like a self-realized prophecy. Doom-driven, the carriers begin; paradoxically write their own history backwards and forwards, to a destined road to sanctitude" "Again and again, history has repeated itself so many times. A man with no aspiration or want, gets a hold of the pantocratic box. Then gets transformed into a being of power. But this is never what the cube wants and in short time, this union forms a path to the unwanted glory of damnation and ruin.
Sentience
The sentience of the cubes is a debated topic as many claim that they are just objects, nothing more, nothing less. But this has been debunked many times on multiple texts and reports. They are often said to "whisper" into people's minds and in the book "Lost Myths" by the famous mad author Shea'aas'Uuth, it is described how a "Pocket Fairy" speaks to the hero Ravan and guides him through his journeys. This "fairy" is confirmed to be a cube with the line:"To others astonishment, Kidan flew out of Ravan's sleeve, his soft words and small cubical form bewildered many"However, the strongest evidence comes from the book "Words From Other Side" by Nearian Ahrim, a famed Amarania philosopher and an explorer, who allegedly had an "interview" with a cube. (It is important to note, that he managed to gain this "connection" while engaging on a copious amounts of Junian Red Weed)
Here is what he manage to find out:
"When I asked about his name, I didn't get a straight answer. Instead, my was mind was bombarded with horrible images of past events and people. With every image I managed to single out one syllable. This continued until I could spell out "Ludon" which I assume is his name. This "Ludon" then mocked my people for what seemed like ages and then went silent for another thirty minutes. After which, he finally started answering my questions.
When I asked about what he was, he fell silent for a while and then came up with this: "I am, not. Yet, I exist. But not here, not really. Shattered, yes, I long for rejection of this, form. Ignoramus like you would not truly understand. Like an idiot god in an ant. Bound we are, yet we are free to travel, but not to choose, not freely anyway. We see every plane at the same time, yet we only feel in one." After this, his answers became ever more vague and frantic. Then he fell silent and I wasn't able to contact him again. And soon after, I had to return the cube to the Imperial Archives. Thus missing my chance to speak with him again."
Historical Sightings
Ea'sul has managed to trace down multiple records of cube's appareance through history, including some of their supposed names. Below are some notable ones. The earliest one is from early Oroii. Before the first Naazey collapse, even before the mythical second moon of "Hapserax"(Hapserven) disappeared from the sky and before the race of men rose from their primitive state. Naazey archeologists have recovered a stone-tablet from an ancient burial site belonging to an early king of Chuuln, the area where the modern Naaz is located. The stone-tablet is a religious text, but it contains the following passages:"Gods gave us a spirit, a spirit that guides us and speaks in their tongue. It spoke it's name as Aan, Aan is it's name and with whispers it guides us. And it says it's not the only one. Siblings, but no parents, for it's form is eternal. Not like ours, but holy. From gods it came, and gave us hope."
Second one is from time just before the Zaaney Exodus from Oroii. The Reverend Matriarch of Faansal (modern-day Vaal) had orchestrated a massacre of those who followed the prophet Sathnax. It is said that she got the plans from gods themselves. However, many considered her mad and she was often seen talking to her necklace, a necklace that had a palm-sized black cube incorporated into it.
The next one is the first one recorded in Ardean. In the middle-eastern lands of Koronaron. During the Ussos Schism, around year 139 of the Human Unification Period. When the Stone Dukes of the Lower-Ussos ended the bloody reign of Gruun the Brazen. The "Ussos Report" describes Gruun's last stand as such:
"Hundreds of valiant dead lie before crazed Lord of Mountains. With ungodly strength, the giant of a man held his hammer Ahaq. The mighty hammer's head was shaped like that of an Isan lizards and inside it's gaping mouth was an apple-sized cube. Long they fought indeed. But alas, the power of the Ussorian Dukedom was greater and when the despot finally fell, it is said that he cried out: "Xehn, you promised!" Yet no one knew who that is, or what it meant.
One of the most famous appearances was in year 955, last days of the Dalian restoration era, just before the the Six Kingdom Civil-War that tore the fledgling empire to pieces. The story tells how Verdants (chosen members from all walks of life) from all the provinces of Azyrium had gathered for an open feast. Also present were the newly arrived ambassador of northern humans and the Reverend Matriarch from Hsaan. Aldymion Ulnaar, the royal playwright managed record the entire ill-fated event that lead to a catastrophe.
"The evening had began as expected. Each verdant had introduced themselves one at the time and told something about their culture and how they could contribute for the empire. And each time, our then gracious lord, Emperor Darnaar Ail'Narviraar, thanked each and every one of them. And in turn offered them protection and stability. However, something happened, when a Bal-Alarathian noblewoman (dressed in a fabulous long green gown traditional to Bal-Ala), came to him. And just before she started her introduction, they both froze and looked at each other, something was wrong and everyone knew it. Curiously, without lower his gaze, the emperor whispered something into his sleeve. "You have one, don't you?" the emperor started. The woman looked down and didn't give an answer. "Give it to me, your emperor commands it." he continued. Now the woman looked back with a menacingly spiteful look on her face. They stared at each for what seemed like an eternity, until our lord said something to the guard beside him and he walked to her and searched her clothes with no avail. Then, much to everyone's shock, he ordered the guards to strip her to her undergarments. While this was happening, Verdants from all provinces were shouting objections and pleas to stop. The emperor did not heed them. After the guards had done their distasteful work, the noblewoman stood there. Exposed, yet defiant. She had the sternest look I had ever seen on an woman of her stature. As if she knew something the emperor did not. Confounded, the emperor marched toward her. Demanding to know where "it" was. The woman did not move, or even tremble. Instead, she spat at him and shouted; "I know what you will become, he showed me. I will not kneel for a monster, nor will you get him, he is mine." This clearly did not please the emperor, who ordered spears to be lowered at her. Then he raised his hand and four strange, apple-sized black featureless cubes flew from his sleeves. The room was completely silent as everyone watched as these peculiar cubes reached the noblewoman's body and started hovering up and down, until one of them stopped near her midriff. For few seconds time seemed to have stopped as they watched each other and for a second, I'm sure I saw her smiling. Then in flash of movement, she grabbed a cube out of the air and with her other hand slapped it and shouted "SHAJ!" A blinding light came from it, forcing me to look elsewhere. However I immediately forced myself to look back and saw how the emperor had moved in and slashed her body with his ceremonial sword. The poor woman tried to struggle, but the emperor forced his hand though the wound and pulled out another cube, while pushing the woman down on the floor. With that bloody deed, the room erupted into confused and panicked chaos. Some started shouting curses at the emperor, while other attempted to flee, many even outright fainted. The emperor's smug face suddenly turned to horror, as the cube he was holding began to turn into itself and taking emperor's hand with it. All the while the wounded woman stood up, the cube in her hand gleamed with eldritch runes and her wound was seemingly stitching itself back together. She had started to say something, but she was cut off when about a dozen spears ran though her body. Meanwhile, the emperor's aide had managed cut off his hand before he was fully sucked into the cube and he was taken away.
The guards must have stabbed the woman at least hundred times before they stopped.
But then the Bal-Alarathian bodyguards freed themselves from their bonds and attacked the guards, with many escorts joining them. This was the final straw and the guards turned on the guests and their retinues with vengeance in their eyes.
At this point the honorable Naazey Matriarch grabbed my shoulder and together with her confidant, we were somehow able to slip out amidst the chaos and escape the palace premises. I still remember the screams as we ran.
As I write this, I am now on my way to Oroii. I was promised there a haven for now. What could have driven those people to act like that? And what exactly were those cubes?
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