FLASH FORWARD: AGE OF CATACLYSMS (published 10/25/2013)

Year 1152, Age of Cataclysms

Brother Axlethan started from the crash of thunder from a nearby lightning strike.  The storms had supposedly waned since the Great Cataclysm over 1100 years ago, but he had a difficult time comprehending how strong those storms must have been when the one raging outside his monastery walls was so fierce.  No matter, he had much work to do transcribing the ancient works of the Great Prophet.  He dipped his quill in the inkwell and bent back to his work.

Saga of the Chosen

Book of Calipheros, Chapter 3, verse 7

…and so the champions weary from the battle with the wyrm Caltharsus built a fire and rested in the beast’s lair.  They warmed themselves and were compelled to eat the flesh of the dragon.  When they had finished they fell into deep slumber.

Each was approached in their dreams by the three Disir.  The ghostly sisters of fate stood before a well and bade each Champion to look into the pool.

Callista the Bold was the first to approach, her hubris allowing her no other choice.  She looked into the well and saw the shadowy form of a great warrior who said, “I am born of sky and earth.  I am the bringer of storms that nourish the land and shatter the heavens and you are my chosen.”

Aunrae the Mistress of Shadows was next to approach the well.  When she gazed into the pool she saw a woman whose figure was beautiful and perfect but as Aunrae’s gaze lowered she saw that the woman was skeletal and dead from the waist down.  Aunrae’s eyes widened in awe and the woman spoke, “I am life and death made one.  I am the bringer of hosts and the gnawer of corpses.  My brothers are the wolf and the serpent and you are my chosen.”

Finally cautious, but ever curious Cassim the Trickster approached the well and saw a raven perched in a dead ash tree.  The raven had a disembodied eye clutched in its talon.  The rook stopped feeding on the eye and said, “I am the strife-bringer who made life and death one.  I begat the wolf and the serpent that will swallow the sky and poison the earth.  I am the sly one and you are my chosen.”

Then all three champions looked into the well and saw a massive warrior of the North who said, “I am Ullethane Loddfafnirson and I serve he who suckled at the breast of nine mothers, the watcher who sees and the listener who hears.  I am the guardian of the gate and none shall enter the Hall.”

The walls of the ancient monestary that had once been called Candlekeep shook with another clap of thunder.  Brother Axlethan dipped his quill in the inkwell once more and bent to his task.