The Chronicles of Bael

The Chronicles of Bael Part 6

Freezeday, Disorder Week, Sea Season, 1600

My knowledge of Chaos lore cannot match my Masters' but it is nevertheless very strong. Until my illumination I had, as would any follower of Lhankor Mhy, perceived an Illuminate of Gbaji and Nysalor to be a servant of Chaos and a practitioner of evil. Followers of the twin God's are reviled throughout Glorantha, with the notable exception of the Lunar Empire, where the Red Goddess' ties to Nysalor ensure wide acceptance for Illuminates and indeed special advancement in the mysteries of the Moon Goddess.

As an initiate of Lhankor Mhy I know that I must hide my illumination or risk expulsion, yet inwardly I know that unless I explicitly reveal myself, the Chaos with which I am now tainted will not be perceived by others. Indeed, the change has brought knowledge that I have never learnt, as if a God had placed it in my mind.

When I was finally able to see my Master this morning, he confirmed what I somehow knew to be true, I had gained the taint of Chaos, but also immunity from detection. My Master claims that not even the followers of the Bull will be able to sense the Chaos in me. In asking how this could be so, my Master stunned me by admitting that his illumination was but a minor Chaos taint in comparison with the Chaos feature with which he was blessed. Blessed?

My Master tested me by asking me what Chaos feature I believed that he possessed, I was intimate with his writings on the subject but I could find no answer for him. With pride and triumph he revealed that he had gained a Chaos feature that had greatly increased his powers of intelligence and comprehension. But how he had received such a feature he would not reveal, and I would not pursuit. I had so many questions for my master that my head spun. It was then that his face grew serious.

"You see the world more clearly now but your thoughts are in disorder, empty your mind for a moment and listen to me".

"In the knowledge that Law and Chaos are but two sides of the one coin, do not fall into the trap of making the same distinction between good and evil. The servant of Law may just as easily walk the path of evil as the servant of Chaos. At the edge of light is always darkness. Do not succumb to the dark side of Gbaji, be not the deceiver, be mindful of the man that was and let him guide the man that will be. Be attentive of your lore and understand what you have learnt of Gbaji and Arkat the Destroyer, truth is not always what it seems".

I must think longer upon these words. But one thought occurs to me as I write these words, what better place to hide one's illumination than in the bosom of the Cult of Lhankor Mhy, where the search for knowledge and understanding differ only in degrees.

It seems only too clear now that the very subject of my Master's studies have consumed him. I never questioned his fearlessness before the face of Chaos, when all others blanched and paled, he stood inquisitive and calm. He rarely raised his hand to fight Chaos, this he left to others for he lacked the fear and desire that impels all men to slay the corruptions of Chaos. He sought only to satisfy his twin need for awareness driven by the illumination of Nysalor, and the thirst for knowledge compelled by Lhankor Mhy. What do I seek to satisfy, other than my Master?