After a very long while, Najaran spoke, her voice was thin. Distant.
"The Goddess Culdra created the world. All the worlds," she said, reciting a story she knew by rote, but as if detached from it.
Because she had to be.
She created everything that was by first creating a book called the Culdcept. The Book Of Creation. Into the Culdcept she wrote everything else that would exist. The creatures, the plants, the buildings, the people. Everything that should ever exist, was written in the Culdcept."
Najaran had been told by Grubel that the end of all worlds was also written in the Culdcept, but Najaran couldn't believe that. Or maybe she just didn't want to. Didn't want to think of the Goddess Culdra having written an ending. Having chosen to destroy, rather than create.
"One of the forms of creation Culdra wrote into the book were other Gods. Many other gods. They were powerful, but none could create, for Creation lay only in two places. Within Culdra and within the Culdcept itself."
A deep breath, but she was still distant. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
"The God Baltheas stole the Culdcept and wrote his own creations into it. Dark creatures. Evil. All the harms and ills of the worlds came from Baltheas' time with the Culdcept. The gods went to war. Most helped Culdra to try and retrieve her book and stop the Dark Elemental Lords that Baltheas had created to prey upon Rakkan first, and then the other worlds."
Her voice became, if anything, more hollow.
"In the war, the Book Of Creation, The Culdcept, was shattered. The pieces of it fell across the various worlds, each in a different form. In Rakkan it is in the form of Cards."
Another heavy breath.
"Baltheas was sealed away, as were his Lords. Sealed away, but not destroyed. The Gods withdrew. The world grew and changed and moved on, on its own." But according to Grubel, even this had been written. Could be read by one who knew how.
After a while it became clear that Najaran was done talking. so Goligan picked up the explanation.
"Cepters, people like Najaran who can use the Cards that were once parts of the Culdcept are rare. And generally feared, because enough of them use their power for personal and destructive reasons that even Cepters who would never cause harm are attacked or worse." One edge of his mustache came up to wipe a tearing eye. "But one thing that had always been true of Cepters is that none of them, the bad ones especially, could work together for long. For most, greed drew them, prayed upon them. The lure of the Cards was too strong, and they wanted not just their Cards, but all Cards. And where Cepters fight, anyone caught nearby could be killed. It is another reason that they are feared." This wasn't fully the truth, but the best exception they knew, they both were aware was a secret.
Najaran gave a small nod, her shoulders rounding downward.
"But recently," Goligan said, continuing, "As in just over the past few years, a group called the Black Cepters have risen. They work together, and towards the same goal. Collecting all the Culdcept Cards to recreate the Culdcept. To gain power over creation itself and remake the world as Baltheas would have wanted it."
"The Black Cepters are evil," Najaran said, her voice gaining strength again at last. "They will do anything to get what they want and don't care who they hurt, what they destroy. I will never be like them," firmly. "Never." Then she shook her head and tears fell. "I don't want the power to Create. I just... want to protect my friends and eat good food and take long naps. I just want everyone to be safe and happy..." she whispered, strength fading again.
Re: No Sanctuary
"The Goddess Culdra created the world. All the worlds," she said, reciting a story she knew by rote, but as if detached from it.
Because she had to be.
She created everything that was by first creating a book called the Culdcept. The Book Of Creation. Into the Culdcept she wrote everything else that would exist. The creatures, the plants, the buildings, the people. Everything that should ever exist, was written in the Culdcept."
Najaran had been told by Grubel that the end of all worlds was also written in the Culdcept, but Najaran couldn't believe that. Or maybe she just didn't want to. Didn't want to think of the Goddess Culdra having written an ending. Having chosen to destroy, rather than create.
"One of the forms of creation Culdra wrote into the book were other Gods. Many other gods. They were powerful, but none could create, for Creation lay only in two places. Within Culdra and within the Culdcept itself."
A deep breath, but she was still distant. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them.
"The God Baltheas stole the Culdcept and wrote his own creations into it. Dark creatures. Evil. All the harms and ills of the worlds came from Baltheas' time with the Culdcept. The gods went to war. Most helped Culdra to try and retrieve her book and stop the Dark Elemental Lords that Baltheas had created to prey upon Rakkan first, and then the other worlds."
Her voice became, if anything, more hollow.
"In the war, the Book Of Creation, The Culdcept, was shattered. The pieces of it fell across the various worlds, each in a different form. In Rakkan it is in the form of Cards."
Another heavy breath.
"Baltheas was sealed away, as were his Lords. Sealed away, but not destroyed. The Gods withdrew. The world grew and changed and moved on, on its own." But according to Grubel, even this had been written. Could be read by one who knew how.
After a while it became clear that Najaran was done talking. so Goligan picked up the explanation.
"Cepters, people like Najaran who can use the Cards that were once parts of the Culdcept are rare. And generally feared, because enough of them use their power for personal and destructive reasons that even Cepters who would never cause harm are attacked or worse." One edge of his mustache came up to wipe a tearing eye. "But one thing that had always been true of Cepters is that none of them, the bad ones especially, could work together for long. For most, greed drew them, prayed upon them. The lure of the Cards was too strong, and they wanted not just their Cards, but all Cards. And where Cepters fight, anyone caught nearby could be killed. It is another reason that they are feared." This wasn't fully the truth, but the best exception they knew, they both were aware was a secret.
Najaran gave a small nod, her shoulders rounding downward.
"But recently," Goligan said, continuing, "As in just over the past few years, a group called the Black Cepters have risen. They work together, and towards the same goal. Collecting all the Culdcept Cards to recreate the Culdcept. To gain power over creation itself and remake the world as Baltheas would have wanted it."
"The Black Cepters are evil," Najaran said, her voice gaining strength again at last. "They will do anything to get what they want and don't care who they hurt, what they destroy. I will never be like them," firmly. "Never." Then she shook her head and tears fell. "I don't want the power to Create. I just... want to protect my friends and eat good food and take long naps. I just want everyone to be safe and happy..." she whispered, strength fading again.