Fantastic Beasts: Fate of the Magic

PArt one of the end

In the center of the South Brazilian Jungle, there is an ancient mayan temple, too deep to gain any serious tourist traffic. Largely speaking, the temple itself looks similar to the stereotypical image of a mayan temple: worn down by age, but still strong, four sides, and 5 stone levels, each smaller than the last. Each of the four sides has a staircase leading to the next level. But the locals insist that no one goes near the site, as it is 'cursed.' While this information would entice most adventurers towards the temple, there is something inside them that's stronger. A collective memory of the Ring of Magic that resides there, that the true power there is too strong for any human comprehension. This lovecraftian image of a Circle of Power is extremely resonant for this reason; from Wagner's the ring cycle, to Lord of the Rings, to the use of the circle in Alchemy, to depicitons of the ouroboros. Following this collecive memory, most don't venture there.

The very few who ignore their inner instinct and venture to the site will be greeted by an ancient mayan temple, on whose top rests a collossal statue so big, it's difficult to keep it in focus. This statue, known as the by the mayans as the "Pitza i hueliotl"- literally the ring of power- depicts a large snake eating it's own tail. This ancient image is the origin of both the ouroboros and the Quetzalcoatl. It is true name is unknown, but magic and non-magic folk alike call it a 'Quetzalboros,' simply because they have no other word for it. 

However, it is only a statue, nothing to be afraid of. Although the stone is odd- it's different than the stones of the mayan temple. This statue would be big news, but nobody can seem to take a picture of the carving. All pictures just show a blurred distortion where the statue is, as if light doesn't reflect off of it correctly. But still, it's just a statue.

It's not always a statue. 

The collective memory has to come from somewhere. When the moving sun rises or sets in such a way that it aligns perfectly with the inside curvature of the statue...the stones start to breathe. This only happens once every few hundred years, and most times, there is no one nearby the statue, so the great snake falls back asleep.

But when it is awake, anyone who speaks the Quetzalboros has control over magic itself- can make a wish. 

One such wish is the origin of human magic.

Ancient mayans so desired the awakening of this ancient beast, that they built a temple for the statue to rest on. More blood sacrifices have been performed upon this temple than any other. But the blood was spilt in vain. No amount of blood could be enough.

The way wizards use magic is not magic in it's truest form. It is merely a manifestation of that power within humans- a strain of 'magic' DNA in the human genome. Any more than that, a humans would burn from the inside. Wizards don't have power. They have the shadow of a reflection of the real thing.

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Newt approached the ancient mayan temple, deep in the jungle of Brazil. He craned his neck upwards, in awe of what stood before him.

The mayan temple rested below a great circle of scales and magic. It was like a creature, but it was also like the sun because it was blinding to look at. It was like a snake, because it's body was long and smooth, and it appeared to have a head and a tail. But unlike a snake, the tail didn't appear to have an end, it just went into the mouth of the head and out through the other side again, neverending. Either that, or the beginning and the end of the great serpent was the same. 

The head was comprable to snake- it had eyes and teeth and great jaw the stretched to swallow itself. It's eyes weren't like anything Newt had seen before. They were black, with pupils the color of whatever was behind the serpent. Green, blue, brown, grey....

The snake appeared to spinning in mid air- constantly chasing it's own tail. If you looked at it's head, it wouldn't appear to be moving, though. But then you blinked, and the head would have change position, forever chasing itself. 

The mountains of Brazil could be seen through center of the ring that the snake created. But they had changed. When viewed through the center of the ring, they appeared distorted and swirled. The top of the temple which lay below the snake also appeared distorted, as though it was a painting being smeared.

All the members of the party had different reactions. Newt was in awe. Jacob was entranced. Thesus felt threatened. Dumbledore....was terrified. Whatever he had been running from all his life, it was up there, waiting for him. All of their lives felt like they had been building to this moment. 

The mayan temple had four sides. On the West side, the smugglers there were the smugglers. On the South side, there was Newt and Jacob and Thesus. On East side, there was Dumbledore, who was shaking. And North side, there was Grindlewald, who looked up at the Quetzalboros unfeelingly. 

Slowly, they all walked towards their respective stairs at the base of the temple, approaching the moment that would be the measure of their souls.