The Coming
No one knows why The Beast chose our world, but we know that we will suffer from its presence.
The creature’s power is immense, but it’s roars spread across the plains as If its right next to you. Each time it takes a breath, the entire ground shakes, and every heartbeat creates waves higher than a mountain.
Our existence is possible thanks to our ancestors, who resorted to living in the skies. The Beast’s wrath is indiscriminate, yet it rarely targets the floating citadels that house our ancestors’ legacy. It seems to have a particular disdain for the structures that we have built on solid ground. Perhaps it is attracted to the very earth itself.
Many have tried to learn more about this seemingly omniscient being, but so far none have returned to share their secrets. It seems that for now, we must simply hope that it does not one day decide to reach beyond the solid earth and into the realm of the skies themselves.
All that’s left of our knowledge about it are ancient books and scrolls our scribes and illustrators painstakingly copied, even in the most tumultuous times, just for the sake of preserving the little information we know about The Beast.
These ancient texts hold within them a deep-seated wisdom, despite the many decades or even centuries since they were written. Even through several generations of copyists, each of whom added more detail and information, their messages have survived to this day.
All those texts are protected in the library of Scientia, the largest structure in Nepe, our new home. Every person who lived through 160 full moons since their birth is granted permission from the head librarian to visit the shelves and obtain their secrets
However, some texts are not easily decrypted, and those who attempt to do so without proper guidance have sometimes never returned from the library. As such, some regard the ancient building as a sort of rite of passage, with only the most dedicated scholars and intellectuals permitted to access the most sensitive of the collection’s ancient secrets.
Whenever I visit the sacred shelves, I always pick the same codex. What I learned revealed a truth way more terrifying than anticipated.
I have read countless tomes in the library of Scientia, but this codex has always captured my attention. Something about it enticed me from the moment I first saw it sitting on a worn lectern covered in purple velvet. My fingers brushed the fine but stained parchment, and the pages opened almost as if by a will of their own. As I delved deeper into the book, its secrets unveiled themselves. I learned of a threat beyond comprehension, a darkness that even the gods fear.
The creature did not come to our world for no reason. It was scared of something, something greater than what a mere mortal can imagine.
I called a Gloss-Quill to copy me the paragraph on a small scroll so I could study it on my way home and maybe find some help, the wording in the book is pretty archaic.
I swiftly left the library and almost dropped my bag because of my clumsiness. I headed to the Tunnel-Chariots in order to get home, even though I usually just use the Door Room, but the gatekeepers of my town were off duty today and no one was left to guard the doors. Unfortunately, that means my travel will take a lot longer than usual, but I will have time to admire a view I haven’t seen in ages… Oh! And study the paragraph of course.
As I boarded the contraption, I admired the way it flew into a black cloud. I could barely see what was happening, but it looked like the wooden cabin was flying through a stone tunnel.
Now that the ride stopped shaking, I could finally take the scroll out. The quill copied the paragraph in a light brown ink, made from oak galls, which is usually used to add glosses and notes in the margins of books.
The text itself says:
“The Beast, it dreadeth not a monstrous sight,
But power, a compendium of minds and thought,
An instrumentality, it doth invite,
To shape all ’round as self, yet reason sought,
By mortal minds, its motives lie concealed,
For reasons beyond grasp of earthly mind.”
While I zoned out thinking of what it might mean, the chariot exited the tunnel and came to an abrupt halt. I remembered that I was, in fact, heading home. The ride was over before I knew it, and I found myself standing once again in the familiar streets of my hometown. I slipped the scroll back into my bag as I made my way towards my house.
The sky looked oddly darker than before, and the air felt colder. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, as if the very world itself was in danger.
With a sense of urgency, I rushed to my home, eager to learn more about the ominous message the text hides. I opened the scroll once more, hoping for answers.
I then remembered that I needed some potions from my friend, Cormac. The wood which the local merchant sells burns really well and lasts a long time, and can then be reused for lots of other purposes. The issue is, the fact that the flames are really dull. Sure, they produce a good amount of heat, but blank gray flames are really boring, and Cormac sent me a letter about him making some potions which can color flames. Those will make him rich, the whole town has the same problem. As long as he doesn’t price them at 15 gold pieces, he tends to overprice things sometimes.
Fortunately, my town is rather small, unlike other cities which are built on top of several floating platforms. That makes my travel a lot easier
The sharp smell of herbs hit my nose. I almost flinched, but I continued my journey to Cormac’s house.
Cormac’s shop was a cozy and well-organized space, adorned with wooden shelves and shelves laden with potion bottles. The pungent smell of herbs and chemicals filled the air as Cormac carefully worked on his latest potion, a concoction that would turn flames an unusual color. As you approached, Cormac nodded in greeting, his attention focused on his experiment.
“I’m almost there,” Cormac said, rubbing his chin. “The potion is almost perfect, but it requires a final touch to give it that extra flare.”
“Is everything ok?” I said with a concerned look on my face. “You seem rather sad.”
“Yes..” He said, while obviously trying not to cry.”It’s just, I had some crushed leac in a jar, and it spilled directly on my eyes”
“Oh” I said while trying not to laugh, but I then remembered about the scroll in my pocket. “Put some gourd slices on you eyes, I’m sure that will help”
Suddenly, my mood changed.
“So, you got the flame coloring potion you were talking about?” I said with a dreadful tone.
“Yep! They’re right here, and thank you so much for bringing me the herbal!” He said.
“Mhm.. Can you include the booklet on how to use it by the way? I’m bad with memorizing things.Oh, and how much do you want for it?” I said while slowly zoning out..
“Come on, don’t even worry about it, take them for free! You helped me after all”
“Thanks a lot!” That brightened up my mood a little bit, but not too much. “I’ll go now, thanks for your help!” And go I did.
