Wrought Iron, Book 1 of Merlin's Message

Chapter 17 - History

Saya closed the book, stood up, and looked straight ahead. Her black hair fluttered in the breeze, and her blue eyes flashed like crystal ice. She started to recite.

"Centuries ago, the different races of men lived throughout the land. They fought for territory, dominance, and survival.

Into the land came Myrddin and Peredur. Myrddin was wise and just. Peredur was fierce yet kind and fair. They felt the plight of the people. But they brought other men with them. These men were arrogant and cruel. They sought not friendship but dominance. The arrogant ones strove to divide the people and bring them into submission. Because of their injustice, they died one-by-one.

Myrddin spoke with every people and brought them to peace. He saw their ignorance and poverty and founded the Order of Enlightenment. This order was tasked with keeping and protecting the heirlooms of the House of the Bear King. These heirlooms were to help bring the people out of darkness and warfare.

Myrddin and Peredur departed, and generations passed. A golden age of peace and reason flourished in the land.

Things changed. The Enlightened reverted to evil. They turned the heirlooms against the people, who became dull of mind and lost their will to resist tyranny.

A remnant of the Enlightened escaped and went into hiding. They learned to defend themselves against the heirlooms' oppression and the new order's wickedness. The Enlightened now called themselves Enforcers. The remnant which escaped were sought and hunted by the Enforcers.

In desperation, the remnant disguised themselves as a Guild devoted to evil. And as such, they appeared to be aligned with the purposes of Enforcers. So, in time, the Enforcers decided not to interfere with the Guild. The Guild was organized into Houses. With heavy hearts, they used their thoughts and skills to steal from the wealthy. The Guild dedicated itself to preserving knowledge and learning, for the Enforcers now outlawed such things.

Also, in time, the Enforcers fortified the land of the Three Towers. Monsters, rather than walls, surrounded the place at the center of the lands. It became a region of terror no one dared approach.

The Enforcers made new and frightening weapons to cow the people. Airships appeared over the cities to carry the Enforcers' officers and collect tribute. Signal towers grew up on the hilltops. And by arcane means, the Enforcers speak to one another over vast distances.

The people marveled at these things and felt false pride in their wonder. The Enforcers gained more support from the people by selling communications and travel by the bird-roads.

Lands drifted apart. Briny ocean came between the peoples. Monsters flourished in the wild places, the skies, and the seas. Most men lived in regulated cities and towns in dull submission. The Little Ones retreated to the wilderness of the Madlands. The Degurs roamed the wilderness. The High Ones fled to the mountains. Monsters flourished.

The Enforcers, led by a nameless leader, ruled by force and terror. All writing and learning were forbidden. Books and scrolls were burned. Thus, did culture and history die. The Enforcers told the people what to believe and how to live, and they complied.

The Guild kept the faith. For Myrddin prophesied that men from his world would return one day to Ynys Afallach.

The Enforcers watched for this return and feared it. They pledged to destroy anyone coming through the Portal between worlds.

The Guild also watched, determined to protect and serve those who would one day come to redeem the people of the land.

As Myrddin so spoke, we have waited for the one with the ring of the Bear King. Myrddin infused the ring with power and protection. He made it the key to the Three Towers and the Lion."