NationStates Jolt Archive

In the remote village of Zzerr, several kilometers outside Zeerat and close to the Bay of Sakk, an old lizard sits on a dead tree stump overlooking a cliff. His gnarled hands scratch at his long, leathery tendrils hanging from his chin while his other hand rests on his walking stick made of oak. Long, purple robes flow about him, rippling in the warm salt-air breeze which wends and whorls its way gently through the Tranquility Woodlands. Next to him lays a great book, daunting in its thickness and age.

Today is the First Outing for the new hatchlings, including the Emperor's adopted child. The three billionth citizen hatched, the child named Khoss has a tenuous grasp of language, but still attempts it by pointing at things as it asks "What?" Of course, everything in sight is pointed at, so after a time most of the village elders just nod and wait patiently. Today Elder Llhaar has a reason for bringing the twenty hatchlings here. With the aid of the Village Tenders, it is a place of import among the Sakkrans, and of cultural significance.

Llhaar looks out at the waves lapping against the sandy beaches below, and closes his grey-scaled eyelids for a moment. These days, it seems the grey scales have overtaken his naturally red scalation of his youth, save for a few pockets of hold-outs here and there. Khoss tugs at the Elder's robes, and his eyes snap open and focus on the bright-green hatchlings face, looking at the big yellow eyes full of questions.

Still tugging, the child looks back into Llhaar's red-rimmed eyes. "Ompa, why we he'e?" The other hatchlings had been scurrying about, investigating every mote and blade of grass around. This one, however, had taken to being the leader of the group of feisty youngsters. Llhaar smiles, as much as anyone without lips can smile, and pats Khoss' head softly with hands gnarled like tree-bark.

"Young hatchling, we are here because there is a story attached to this place. You will know this story, and carry it with you for your life." The Elder waves his arm in a beckoning motion, his sleeve flapping with the movement. The sound brings the attention of the other hatchlings, who stop what they are doing and come to listen. Their green bodies forming a semi-circle before the Elder, their eyes looking at the old lizard full of wonder. He lifts the Book, and places it on his lap. Reading glasses are put on, and his ancient fingers leaf through the book, and he begins to read.

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After the coming and leaving of the Far Seeker Najoedo, after the Tribal Wars had been won, after the hope of peace returned to the land, the Pantheon was quite active and interested in the fate of the people of the land.

One Tribe Leader had made a pact with the Lord of the Void, in exchange for his aid in bringing the tribal wars to an end. The Void God had done as promised, and the time came for the tribe's Leader to pay the price. It was at the sight of the last Battle that the tribe Leader, called Rragg, had his eyes poked out by the Void God himself. The Void God had left his sign, though, in the form of a constant smoke that came from the place his fingers had touched. But this was not the only price.

"Now you will go forth, and know of my teachings. Of what you know, you will share with all who would listen. An Order will be formed, and the Order will bear the name of the First. This is your task, and your burden. All the Tribes will become as one, and all the peoples will become as one. And the Order of the First will be the beacon that brings all together." Then the hand of Ssarreazzarr Guaanarr touched Rragg once again, and a mark was made upon the top of his head, right in front of his nose.

"And now you will also bear a mote of my power. This, too, will you teach others about. And as you teach others, a mote of that mote will be given to them, and they will possess the knowing of the Order of the First. But only those who willingly join the Order of true mind and heart will be allowed to share in your knowing. The knowing of the Natural Path." And the Void God rose up, and his body seemed to grow in size to blot out the sun. And as he grew, more and more light shone through him.

"This is your price for the Intervention. You must lead the peoples into a new era of knowledge, for soon will be the coming of Others. Their numbers are many and their intentions are not that of the Path, and you must be prepared. The Trials will be hard, and the suffering of the peoples will be great, but you must lead them through all, and remain unwavering in your stance." The form of the Void God then dissapated into the air, leaving the assembled peoples standing in awe and wonder.
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The Elder closes the book, keeping his finger in the place he had just read from, and his eyes rest in the edge of the cliff, over the heads of the assembled hatchlings. "And so it came to pass. This place was the site of the building of the first Temple of the Order of Rragg, of which the Order still exists today. The Tests were made to filter out those who sought the Powers of the Order for their own means, and those who had small willpower. Now let us have our lunch, and then I will continue."

The Tenders gave small bits of meats to the hatchlings, while the Elder produced his own lunch of softer meats and mashed vegetables. He chewed slowly and thoughtfully, watching the hatchlings talk amongst each other as they ate.
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OOC: So as you can guess, this is a story-telling to educate the children.

Have I mentioned just how happy I am that Sakkra has returned??

Oh, and in case you didn't guess...<<TAG>> for future enjoyment!

The hatchlings sat in the midst of the wrappings of their lunch, munching voraciously and talking amongst each other excitedly. The Elder sat on his stump, still, while chewing his food slowly and watching the Tenders do their job off cleaning up the hatchlings and tending to any minor wounds thta may have happened during their explorations. After the lunch is finished and everyone is cleaned, he levels his reading glasses once again.

Khoss tugs on his robes, and Llhaar lowers one eye to look at him. "Yes, hatchling?"

"Ompa, what happened to Rragg, and 'is tribe?"

"I will get to that, impatient one. Now all of you, come and sit once again, and I will continue." He waits for the hatchlings to settle down, looking over each and every one there. Once they were all seated and paying attention, he opened the great book again, and traced where he left off with his finger going down the page until he reached his place.

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And so it came to pass that a Temple would be built for the Order of the First. Rragg was refered to as the First, as he was the First Scion of the Void God, a messenger and a representative of the Pantheon. The tribes banded together for this effort, and the skills of each were put to their best use.

The Deep Ones hauled the finest stones from the depths of the ocean, where the Burrowers would chip and chisel and carve the stones into buildable shapes. The Skulkers would go forth and hunt and gather to feed the tribes, and also would aid in the building of the temple. The Grass-Walkers carved fine runes and glyphs into the walls and doorways of the Temple, to protect those inside from foes both visible and unseen. They also harnessed the power of the Elemental Spirits to allow good weather and conditions during the building of the Temple, to which the spirits obliged for they also serve the Pantheon, and their will was the will of the Gods. Many years passed, and the Temple grew.

Rragg listened to the Teachings of the Pantheon during this time, and meditated on what he learned. Then he would tell the ones building the Temple of what he was told, the Teachings of the Path. Many listened, and many believed in their hearts this was the Truth. That working with the Path of Nature was good, and to be pursued. Working against the path was not good, and should be shunned.

During a foray out into the Black Swamp, Rragg and some of the Followers were standing near the coast towards Eeorouh town, and heard a great noise. While Rragg could not see with his own eyes, as they were smote out, the powers of the Void God that had been shared with him allowed him to see through the eyes of others, even birds and fish and other animals. He witnessed great crafts of wood and metal belching smoke and fire at each other some leagues away, as seen through the eyes of a sea-bird,

It was apparent nothing made by Sakkran hands could match these constructions, and so Rragg watched with silent eyes. Although they had never been seen before, Humans were crewing the ships, and slaughtering each other mercilessly. Many of the great crafts were sunk, or ablaze in smoke and flame. Wreckage and bodies were everywhere, and Rragg was troubled.

The First and his followers returned to the Temple, where Rragg sat to commune with the Gods about what he had seen. "They are a part of the Path, for they call themselves Humans. They are different from Sakkrans in many ways. Their blood runs red, where ours runs blue. They have hair, where we have scales. Their skin is soft, and they possess little in the way of tooth and claw. But they are adaptable, and will spread across the planet in vast numbers as they live in the warmest and the coldest places, while you can live in very few lands."

Rragg was puzzled, and asked a question that would have great weight. "But if they are soft, and defenseless, how is it they can spread and dominate so?"

The Void God let a moment pass, and said "Because their greatest weapon is their adaptability, and their minds. They create things to defend themselves better than most creatures of the lands. They can kill from a great distance, journey to isolated places, and talk to each other from far away. Soon, they will come here to our lands."

Now Rragg was truly concerned. These Humans could swarm over the lands and destroy everything that was Sakkran. "How are we to defend ourselves? We have our teeth and claws, and our mighty warriors, but we are few in number in comparison!"

The Void God replied "That which will not bend in the wind, will break in it. Send your Acolytes to the place you were, and tell them to bring back all that they find that should not be there. You will learn from these things, and you, too, will adapt as the humans do. Until then, bend with the wind."

The voice of the Void God then receeded, and Rragg was left in his thoughts. He did as the Void God ordered, and sent out the Acolytes to collect what they could find. While they did this, he set to meditate on the Words, and see what the Path would reveal.
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The Elder closed the great book once again, and removed his glasses. The hatchlings sat silently, staring at Llhaar, waiting for more. "Now, now. It is time to begin your studies. We'll return to the village, and next week, on the next Outing, I will read some more. Absorb and learn, and keep it in your minds. It really is a good story." The Elder laughed a little, and grasped his walking stick to set himself upright.

The hatchlings got up and went to their assigned Tenders, to retrieve their packs and set back to the village. As they walked, the Elder and one Tender lagged behind a few steps. Llhaar bore the great book at his side with one hand, and the cane in the other as his robes flapped in the wind behind him.

The Tender with him looked at his hunched-over frame, and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I remember when you first read my hatchmates and I the story. It still serves us well in these modern times."

"And your sires before you. They, too, have heard the story as read from my mouth. Someday the Void will call for me, and someone else will have to read these tales to the hatchlings." One eye levels on the Tender, and remained there for a time.

The week comes and goes, as it often does with great regularity. Soon it is time for another Outing with the village hatchlings, and Llhaar decides on wearing his red tunic and waist-wrap with a black sash. For him, it is a bit of a remove from his regular dark robes, but he's in a good mood since the mate made a hearty breakfast for him, and packed a peppered roast-meat wrapping for his lunch.

The Elder and the hatchlings assemble again at the same spot. Each hatchling immediately gets to sitting again in the spots they occupied before. "My, we certainly are an eager group, aren't we?" Llhaar looks down his glasses at the youngsters as they squirm in anticipation. "Alright then, let us begin where we left off before. Now where was that?" He looked around the group before him.

Khoss raises his little clawed hand high. "The First sent some Acolytes to search the shores while he meditated."

"Ah, yes. Very good. Been paying attention, have we?"

"My sire tol' me to pay attention and 'member stuff that's impo'tant." He beams with pride at this, while more than one hatchling rolls their eyes high into the heads.

"Your sire is very smart. Now then, let's see....Ah, here we are..."
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And so the Acolytes searched for days. They combed many miles of shoreline, and went into the water as well, at the site where the First had stood and observed the sea battle. Several teams of domestic oxen were brought with them pulling carts, and it was a good thing. They returned with fragments of the ships that had been sunk still intact. Cannons, utensils, navigation equipment and hand weapons in the form of steel swords were brought back to the Temple. Not only this, but some of the most important things. Maps, charts and literature of a variety of subjects.

Rragg saw these things through the eyes of an Acolyte, and pondered long. He felt the swords, rubbed his hands along the cannons, and looked over the maps. He knew what needed doing.

"Have these things brought down into the lowest chambers of the Temple. Have our brightest scholars decypher these writings in the Tomes, and make them understandable to all in the Order. Have the weapons and craft fragments sent to our best smiths and alchemists, and wrest the secrets of these things from them." The many Acolytes and Adepts of the Order bowed to the First, and set about their tasks.

The human language was written differently, and probably sounded differently, than the Sakkran language. Where their writings consisted of small scratchings in a sequence, Sakkran writing was heiroglyphic in nature. Symbols in a sequence put the context and conjugation of subjects and descriptives together. There was only one symbol for any subject, while the human language seemed to have many symbols for one subject. It took many years for the scholars to decrypt and translate the words into a language the Sakkrans would understand.

The fragments and weapons that had been sent to the smiths and alchemists were treated much the same. Much experimentation was done to duplicate the effects that the First had witnessed, as told from his writings. Much experimentation was done as well to create the first Sakkran steel. For many years, many peoples toiled throughout the cycles in one great effort. To become as strong in the knowledge of things as the humans, without straying from the path.

It was in this time the Resin Beetle was domesticated, as many Rangers had observed the manner in which these creatures burrowed into the faces of mountains with little hinderance. It was discovered they tended to shun the ores that make up metal alloys, and dug around them, chewing on mineral-rich stones instead and exuding a hard substance called Resin behind them, strengthening the caverns and tunnels they dug. And so many Ordermen and smiths went into these caverns and harnessed the ores with aid from the Resin Beetles, never digging into the stone on their own, for that was not the Path.

As time passed, more and more things turned up on the shores from humans. Books, charts, techology and current periodicals made their water-logged way to Sakkra, and these were translated, studied, broken down, rebuilt and experimented on. Soon enough, the secrets became knowledge possessed by all the Ordermen and the public at large, as they began making weapons and machines of their own construction. In the caverns beneath Eeorouh town, they even started making their own ships.

And then the humans landed on our shores.
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The ldler closed the book, looking down at the hatchlings with a bemused look on his face. In turn, the hatchlings looked up at him slack-jawed. One of the young females piped up. "So what happened next?"

Llhaar raised his hand and waved it back and forth. "Patience, young one. Patience. It is now time for your Tenders to begin their lessons. After that, there will be lunch, and then I will read some more."

"Awwwwwwwww....." The hatchlings stood and turned about, making their way to the ground cleared for the lessons of the day. Tablets and etchers were brought out, as a pair of Tenders opened a book of their own. "Today you will learn about the animals that we use to help us in our everyday lives, and why they are so important ......."

Soo lunch was had, and when that was finished, the hatchlings returned to the Elder's stump where he sat looking over the waves of the ocean. His eyes swiveled and landed on the youngsters already sitting.

"Ready for a bit more already, eh? How the time goes." He opened his book, and traced his finger down the pages.

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Now several more years had passed, and in this time theVoice of the Void God came once again to Rragg, and ordered him to begin building downwards into the depths of the land. In the deepest places, here would all the knowledge of the peoples so far accumulated would be kept, and the making of devices and such would continue. And so it was done.

Each of the Five Provinces had a temple, and each temple began building downwards, very deep. The Resin Beetles helped with the digging, and also gave light to the workers from their bellies. In each Temple was a hive queen of the beetles, who could understand the Acolytes in a rough way. And so through the Acolytes to the Queen, and from the Queen to the Beetles were the Orders of the Void God carried out.

Soon enough the first humans landed on the shores of Sakkra. They went out into the Tranquility Woodlands, into the Black Swamp, through the Whispering Savannahs and so on. Their expeditions were tiny and tenuous at first, many of their numbers falling to the Swamp Newts and the natural traps in the Swamp. But they kept coming steadily. None of the Sakkrans were discovered yet, as the Deep Ones hid deep in the bay, the Burrowers remained in the caverns of the Kkhess Mountains, and the Grass Walkers sought solace deep in the Temples.

The Skulkers, however, remained above, watching silently from their hidden tree-top locations, masking themselves to blend in with the trees and ground. They watched and reported to the Temple Ordermen what the humans were doing. Rragg knew it was only a matter of time before the Temples were discovered, and he made a hard decision.

He ordered a group of the Skulkers to allow themselves to be seen and captured. This was done in order to keep the humans from stumbling onto all Sakkrans. Through the Skulkers could false information be fed to the humans, keeping the people safe and allowing them to continue to build their strength.

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The Elder closed his book, and looked at the hatchlings. "That is all for now. Think about it, and remember for next week I will ask some questions to see who's paying attention."

The sleepy village of Zzerr awakes with the dawn, letting the fingers of sunlight warm the roofs of the domed resin houses and signaling interior alerts as to the time for the occupants. Llhaar wakes from his heat-chamber groggily, and looks over to his mate. they've shared the same heat-chamber for nearly 200 years now, and he does as he does every waking. He nuzzles up to the side of her head, allowing their tympanum to touch, and he vibrates his slowly. Soon, she responds with a slight vibrating of her own, and then rouses from her sleep.

"Good cycle, mate. I presume you want breakfast?" She stands and leaves the chamber, putting on a long flowing silk garment of crimson with small sea-birds stiched into the hem.

"That would be good. Something light today, if it pleases you. My stomach feels out of sorts." He pats his stomach, and rubs it, trying to keep the warmth from the chamber in it. "I should make an appointment with the town physician. This feels worse than normal."

His mate peeks her head back into the archway of the room. "Are you alright? I'll make the appointment with the town physician. Would a week or so from today be fine?"

"That would be lovely." He stands with a wince in his eyes, and dons his favorite robes. Made of a durable wool material, it is dark blue with azure trim. The years are catching up to me. My twilight draws near. As he thinks this, he feels not fear, but an odd calm. I've had a full life. I am ready.

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"Okay, children. Are we ready?" He looks about at the silent crowd of hatchlings about him, and nods his head in return as they nod theirs. "Very good. Now, then. Rragg was once tribal leader of the Skulker tribe, before he became the First Scion. Who led the Sakkran peoples during the time he was First? Your history lessons should cover this."

One of the hatchlings in the rear raises her clawed hand. "It was Chieftan Rriis, but he had to change his name to Sriis."

Llhaar nods, and holds a finger aloft. "And why did he have to change his name?"

A different hatchling raises his hand. "Because it was ordered by the First that only the members of the Order could have the double R standard in their name." He looks quite proud of himself.

"And why was the double R standard restricted to the Order?"

Khos raises his hand. "So that members of the Order would know one another, and the people would know who was a member and treat them as such."

"Very good. It pleases me to see such a bright and attentive bunch. Now then, let's continue." He opens his book, and feels a jolt of pain from his diaphram. Not letting it show, he continues. No need to upset the youngsters.

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Now the Sakkrans that were allowed to be captured were brought to a foreign land called South America. The rulers of the land at that time were called Spaniards, and a cruel lot they were. They would beat the Skulkers mercilessly to labor for them in mines, their biologists would open up the Sakkrans alive to see how their insides worked, or sometimes remove the skin from their bodies to study the musculature. It was a dark and hard time for our people.

The ones who remained hidden in the homeland reported the Spaniards having their slaves rip ores out of the mountains, cut down trees for the wood, and destroy the land to allow their cattle to graze. The homeland would not be able to withstand this treatment for long without some interference. And so Rragg, deep in his temple with a cadre of Grass-Walker Adepts, would order the free Skulkers to re-plant trees in the areas they were cut down, sabotage the mining efforts when they could to slow the progress, and to slaughter cattle from time to time while making it appear as if spectres had done it. The Spaniards brought other humans as slaves with them, and these humans would aid the Sakkrans if the opportunity presented itself.

Rragg deemed these humans trustworthy, and taught them our way of writing so the slave groups could communicate easily. In turn, the human slaves taught the Sakkrans of their languages and writings, and widened their knowledge of the world. The human slaves were allowed to know of the other Tribes that remained hidden, waiting and watching. The Deep Ones hidden in the depths of the bay watching and memorizing the ships that came and went. The Grass-Walkers sending out psychic probes to guage the level of mental strength the slavers had, and to maintain contact with the enslaved Sakkrans through a network that spanned the ocean. The Burrowers working and toiling to refine their machinery. Many years passed of this, with the Spaniards never knowing the fate that would befall them.

A decade passed, and Rragg had felt the time was right to rise up in strength and cast the Spaniards from the land. By this time, Sakkrans were spread all about, here and abroad. The first act came from the Deep Ones. Ships would come into the bay to pick up ores and wood to bring back to their homeland. The Deep Ones, with their terrible claws, ripped out the bottoms of these ships and sunk them before they landed in full sight of the slavers. The humans that landed in the water would be cut into small parts, where the fish would feed on them. Abroad, the enslaved rose up against the aristocratic masters, and slew them, throwing the Spaniard chain of command into disarray.

The free Skulkers would assassinate the Spaniards in ambush, and the enslaved Sakkrans would take up their tools to beat the slavers down, and rend them in many parts with tooth and claw. Grass-Walkers would coordinate the efforts using their minds to keep everyone in contact with one another. In the homeland, the Spaniards were routed and slain with no mercy. But Rragg knew that many more would come, and he wanted to be ready for them. After the homeland was freed of the Spaniard infestation, the slaves both human and sakkran, were armed with the armor and weapons made by the Burrowers.

In Eeorouh town, ships made from the resin of Resin Beetles formed up a war-fleet. It was found that the resin was much stronger than wood, and could take cannon-fire without much damage. Gases from the Black Swamp were contained in spheres made of iron, and would be fired from sling-shot style weapons aboard the Sakkran ships. Cannons were made, and mounted on the sides of the ships. These cannons were different, however, in that they fired grappling hooks. These would allow Sakkran warriors to board ships, and keep those ships close.

So Rragg gave the signal, and the freedom effort was underway.

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Llhaar closed the book, and looked at the Tenders behind the group of hatchlings. "I see it is time for your other studies. Get along now, and then we'll have lunch and i'll continue afterwards. As long as you pay good attention to your instruction."

The hatchlings moaned and groaned, but did stand and grab their packs that held their books, tablets and etchers.

The hatchlings gathered once again around the Village Elder, and roused him from his nap to continue the stories. After gathering his wits about him, he pressed on.

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The Spaniards sent their war-fleets to pound the island with their cannons, but the ships never got close. The Deep Ones would continue to sink the ships from below the ocean's surface. Many humans died, and what could be salvaged from the wreckage was. The Sakkran War-ships went forth into deeper waters to engage the Spanish ships, and set them alight with their slingshot weapons, or captured them and butchered the crews in total. After a time, it was decided that trying to retake the island was costing more than it was worth, and the Spaniards turned their attentions elsewhere. Those Sakkrans that managed to survive the uprisings on foreign soil managed to steal crafts and make their way back to the homeland.

In this time, the freed human slaves went forth into the Whispering Savannah and formed their own community. It was decided they would be allowed to live by their own rules, as long as they did no harm to the island. On ocassion, a representative of the Tribes visited them to see how they fared.

The Spaniards were repulsed, and for a time there was peaceful existence on the island. But rumors began to circulate among the humans of a place with fantastic creatures, untold riches and wealth waiting to be claimed, and land to be had. And there were whisperings of heathen cultures that could use the teachings of the human God. Expeditions would be planned.

And so the voice of the Void God came again to Rragg, who was starting to get older now. "There will be another test of your people's faith and will. More humans will come, and you must be prepared. They will be clever this time, and try to trick you. Be aware."

Rragg cast his unseeing eyes upward. "Will this ever end?"

"It will not, for the influence of the soft ones spreads to every corner of the planet. You will have to deal with them, but do not lose yourselves when you do this. In time, they may deign to leave you to your lifestyles, but their arrogance will compel them to try and make your lives mirror theirs. Stand fast and strong in this."

Rragg bowed his head low, and offered his prayers of gratitude to the Void God and the Pantheon for their watchfulness. He then ordered of the tribes that they prepare for more encounters with the soft ones.
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"And this is where I will leave off for now. There is always next week, yes? Now shoo along to your homes." The Elder made a motion with his hand, and the hatchlings stood and gathered their belongings.

Two by two, they made their way back to the village, talking amongst each other in low but excited tones.

#tag#

The previous week, after his outing with the hatchlings, the news the Village Elder received from his physician was less than good. The physician stood before him with his charts and data-displays, and his eyes were downcast.

"It has spread. Kidney and liver failure is almost total. The treatments have slowed down the progress of these, but they cannot stop them. I'm afraid you don't have much longer."

Llhaar looked up at the physician, and smiled. "It happens to all of us, sooner or later. I am older than any of my hatchmates, and have lived beyond them. My hatchlings are all grown, and their hatchlings as well. I have had a full life and do not fear the coming Twilight." The approximation of a grin spread all about him.

The physician raised his eyes, and all sadness left them. He placed a hand on the Elder's shoulder, and returned the grin. "You are one of the bravest I have ever met. A credit to our village. I hope to be as at peace as you when my time comes." He turned and left the room, alowing Llhaar to don his robes again.

Returning home, he gave his mate the news. "My mate, you have been brave and strong through this. I felt it fitting you should know, and prepare. There are no surprises here, for I am ancient beyond our years." She nodded her head, and gave a low rumble. "Yes, but life will be less interesting without you about." She pressed her tympanum to his, and rumbled low. She then turned and left to begin preparing for the eventuality of his passing. A white scale-mail head-dress was worn, with long white robes and a long white silk dress underneath.

Llhaar wore his own outfit to mark the coming Twilight for the village of Zzherr. His white silk robe, and a white tunic beneath. He carried a walking staff of white birch, with a single diamond set in the head of it. This would mark him as a Village Elder to the Scions, and get him the entry deserving of a being of his rank. A simple silk scarf of white was wrapped about his neck, and draped over his back. The Pantheon would clasp the scarf when he passed over, and unwrap it from his neck when he ascended, marking his entry into the Void where Sakkrans of past generations took their rest.

And so he made his way out to the grounds where the hatchlings would meet him to hear the stories. they arrived soon enough, and when the Tenders saw his clothing, they let out a low, loud rumble in their throats. The hatchlings looked up at them, and then at Llhaar with a puzzled look. When they reached their thirty-fifth year, they would be let know why this was done. But for now, they would be kept unaware.

Llhaar motioned to them with his hand to take their seats, and they did so silently, keeping one eye on him and the other on the Tenders at all times. "Why is they acting so strange, Elder?"

Llhaar moved about on his seat a moment to get more comfortable, and looked at each and every one of them. "Because soon I will take a long trip into a strange place. They carry on as they do to let everyone know this."

"Why you gonna take a trip? You will come back, right?"

"I am taking this trip because there are others who want to hear these stories that I read to you, and I am going to go and read to them, just like I read to you. But I don't think I can come back. The stories in these books take a very long time to read." He chuckles a bit at this. "But now, let us continue...."

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The first of the new groups of humans to come to the shores of the homeland were called missionaries. Unlike the Spaniards who came with weapons and armor, these beings came with books and words. They spoke with great passion of their God and their Messiah to the Skulkers who met them. Once again, the Deep Ones, the Grass-Walkers and the Burrowers were hidden from their view.

Many times was it mentioned by them of a thing called the Catholic Faith. Sakkrans looked upon the rendered representations of their Messiah, and listened silently as they spoke at great length of the Teachings of the human faith. Silently, in the way we Sakkrans can talk to each other, they spoke amongst themselves while the missionary rambled on.

Rragg got wind of these words and stories from the Grass-Walkers, who had a link-of-the-mind with the Skulkers. "Ridiculous. They speak of this human's God and his 'son'. These have no bearing on us. The words conflict with the stories, and even the Commandments." And the Skulkers knew it, too. For it spoke of not worshipping graven images, yet the missionaries brought graven images with them to worship. It spoke of worship only to the one God, and yet these missionaries spoke of the Jesus with reverence and worship, and offered up worship to him. They spoke of the wrath of the Jesus at the marketplace, and yet these missionaries spoke of paying tribute to the Catholic Church and the Pope. It was then that Rragg decided that enough was enough.

"These creatures seek to confuse and befuddle us with their contradictory ways. They attempt to weaken our people through these means, and fatten their coffers at our expense. I will appear to cast them out, for what they have to say means less than nothing in these lands." And it was so. The Grass-Walkers accompanied Rragg to the surface. The Deep Ones were told to come and show themselves on the shores. the intruders would be cast out from the lands. If they did not desire to go, they would be ejected with force.

And so the First made his appearance, and the assembled Tribes bowed their heads to him. The smoke eminated from his hollow eyes, and the Mark of the First shone brightly. He pointed his staff at the missionaries and spoke.

"You are not welcome here. Your God is not of us. Your faith is not of us. And your words have no meaing for us. You come seeking much, and offer nothing but an abstract concept and stories for hatchlings in return. Begone from our lands, and do not deign to return." The missionaries were sore afraid, for the being before them eminated a power they have rarely seen. But they stood their ground, and made their case.

"We offer salvation in the afterlife. Surely you would not wish your eternal soul to burn in the fires of hell?" The missionary who spoke held his cross before him, as if to ward of the First.

Rragg laughed long and loud; a sound like someone hacking on a bone caught in the throat, and it echoed throughout the land. He then leveled his head at the missionaries. "Hell? Wretched players of fear! Your hell is for YOU! Your weak mind games will have no sway here. We know what awaits us after, for the Pantheon speaks to us, and is active in our lives, and holds no secrets from their people. Can you say the same? No. Now go!" And Rragg turned his back to the missionaries, and all the tribes did the same.

"Heathen dogs! Your Pantheon will fall before the One, True God!" And the missionary raised up his book, which they called the Bible, and shook it with great anger.

Rragg stopped, and turned slowly, and the assembled tribes scattered for they felt the First grow full of rage. With a voice like a hiss, he spoke. "You dare to presume you could speak of the Pantheon so?" He raised his arms over his head, and spoke to the Goddess of the Winds, who was hatchling to the Void God, and asked for a mote of her aid to eject these curs. She heard, and through the First allowed a mighty blast of wind to issue forth from his opened mouth. The wind blew the missionaries up high and out into the ocean, scattering their belongings and making their ships rock mightily. And then the first returned to the depths of the Temple, and the Tribes went about their business of living.

But this would not be the last of the missionaries. They are nothing if not tenacious.
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"And this is where i'll leave off for now, until after lunch. Now go and remind the Tenders of their job, will you? It's time for your lessons."

And so the hatchlings commenced with their lessons, and Llhaar decided to take a dip in the warm waters of the bay. He swam gracefully, using his tail as both a rudder and propulsion with his arms and legs tucked in at the sides. After his dip, he basked for a time in the warm Sakkran sun on a large driftwood log, and napped.

He was awoken by Khoss tapping on his shoulder. Llhaar swiveled one bleary eye at the hatchling. "We's done with lunch. Tender Sshree ask't me to come wake you up."

"Mmmrrph." The Elder stood and donned his white robes again, and proceeded up the stairs ascending the hillside to the monument grounds, where the hatchlings sat in a semi-circle by the stump. He takes his place, picks up his book, and thumbs to the correct page.
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The Catholic Missionaries did return several months later. This time they were escorted by armed human warships carrying many soldiers. One who was called a Bishop was among them, and when they landed upon the shores, began giving out orders to the missionaries. This was overheard by Skulkers hidden in the trees, and carried the message via hand-signals and the thrumming of the tympanum, which humans can not hear.

In a short time, a small delegation of Deep Ones, led by an Adept of the Order, went forward to meet with the humans. The humans saw them wait at the edge of the encampment, and the Bishop, flocked by several soldiers armed with rifles and wearing metal armor with the emblem of a cross on it, approached.

"So the servants of the Devil come to meet us. Will you convert from your paganist ways and accept our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?" The Bishop inflated himself with pride, and stood as one would stand over their defeated foe, despite the human's diminutive size.

The Adept took a look at the Bishop, and his men. "Your order has been told to depart, and not return. Your ways are not ours, and we have no interest in your religions. I have been asked by the First to tell you to once again depart, and not return, for we know of your God and your Jesus, and these beings hold no sway here."

The Bishop grew quite sore at this, for his countenance turned red and his voice boomed with rage. "Devils! Then you will be sent back to the hell that spawned you!" And his arms signaled to the soldiers, who leveled and aimed their rifles at the Adept. The Deep Ones took positiion around the Adept, surrounding him.

The sound of the rifles firing was loud and caused many seabirds to take flight. The bullets impacted on the armored flesh of the Deep Ones, and lodged into their armor, but did not penetrate, for their hide is hard and thick. They roared out in rage and annoyance, for the bullets itched them mightily.

For all their efforts, though, the Adept still fell as a bullet bounced off the hide of the Deep Ones and managed to find itself in the soft flesh of his neck, and slew him. The word traveled fast, while the Bishop cheered and made the proclomation that "I claim these lands in the name of his High Holiness, the Pope. All who will not join us, will fall before the might of the Lord and his earthly agents!"

The First got wind of what was happening, and of the Slain Adept. "There has not been Sakkran blood spilled on these lands in many a year. These beings are a blight to be wiped out of the lands." And he went to the Grass-Walkers, and requested they send a mental message to all Sakkrans. "Let the land be cleansed of this blight on our existance. I call out a full engagement against those that would see us destroyed. This is a fight for our right to exist in peace."

And the people of the land heard this thing, and prepared themselves as scores of human fighters landed on the shores. Everywhere the humans went, they were met with hard resistance. From the Whispering Savannah to the Black Swamp, there was conflict. Many Sakkrans were slain, but many more humans met their end. Off the shores, the Sakkran Warships engaged the humans, and many human crafts were sunk. The Deep Ones would continue gutting other warships where they could. The fighting continued in this fashion for many months.

The Bishop, in the meantime, had taken to camping in the Basking Plains, where his commands were given out to his soldiers. The First decided to cut the serpent off at the head, and gathered together a force of Grass-Walkers and Adepts. They emerged from one of the subterranean passageways near the human encampment, where he stood atop a hill. With the aid of the Lord of Winds and Air, his voice carried far to the Bishop. "Be aware that you will not live the day. I come for you, and will see you expire. You and all your men." He then signaled to the Grass-Walkers.

They gathered and fell silent. They melded their minds into a singular force, and sent it out to the Bishop. They penetrated his mind, and sent waves of screeching agony at him. The Bishop emerged from his tent, hands clutching his head. His screams could be heard from far off, and his men were frightened and began running in fear for their lives, for they thought the Bishop was possessed by some devils. Blood ran from his ears and eyes, and finally he dropped down dead, twitching and writhing as his nerves were set afire. The Grass-Walkers did much the same to all the soldiers of the camp, until those that did not flee were dead.

All over the lands, soldiers were slain and routed into the ocean. Their retreat was slow, and took weeks, but they were repelled at great cost to Sakkran lives. Missionaries that were found were executed, and their bodies cast into the waters. And Rragg grew sorely upset. "These humans will not stop until they gain dominance over all that comes into their sight."

He gathered the Grass-Walkers of the Order, and a great chanting was begun. Glyphs and symbols were drawn into the dirt and stone, and the names of the Pantheon were invoked. It was asked for some manner of fog to encircle the lands that no human eyes could penetrate. The Pantheon heard this, and decided it would be best for the people of the land that it be done. And it was.

The wreckage of the human warships all about the lands were gathered by the Deep Ones, and deep in the encircling fog, they formed the wreckage into a defensive reef around the island, so that if human crafts did manage to penetrate the fog, they would find their doom on the reef. And it was done. In time, the oceans would harden the wrecks into a very formidable barrier. And so they managed to have peace for a century or more.

But in time, this would not be enough.
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Llhaar closed the book, and looked at the hatchlings. "So you see, our lives were quite put upon by the old generations of humans. Now the humans you come to know are vastly different in their minds and hearts than those ones, for their arrogance has lessened greatly. Keep that in mind when you meet them." His finger waggles in a mock-admonishment. "Now get home, and we'll continue next week."

And so the week passed. Llhaar, the Village Elder, found his health failing rapidly. It was with no small effort that he roused himself from his slumber this week, and an even greater effort got him to the serene grassland where the hatchlings were already at play.

Sitting on his stump, smoothed over the years with decades of people sitting on it, he lifts the Book with an audible grunt and a wince and opens to the appropriate page.

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The centuries passed, and the Deep Ones, as well as the Grass-Walkers, Skulkers and Burrowers, were no longer about. The people of Sakkra had bred amongst each other to such a degree that it was difficult to tell one from another, and so it was decided that all of our kind were to be known under the one name of Sakkran. The strengths of the old races was still evident, but it was in a very diluted form. We could, and still do, swim deeply, have great strength and fortitude, make crafts and the arts and can stil lblend in with the environment around us. But not nearly as well as the separate races were able to.

Time passed, and the First lay dying. He could have been granted immortality, but shunned it. "I would grow distant and cold to those I cared for. All about me my people would die, and I would continue on, never knowing the solace of the Void. It is not our way; the natural way." He laid his hand upo the head of his favorite Adept. "Let it be known that all who are of the name Acolyte and beyond, will bear the Mark of the Order. They will wear the Cowl and Cloak, and will keep our Order."

With this he transferred all he knew, and all his power, into that Adept. And it was then that the First Scion of the Order passed into the Void. This ritual would continue even to this day. But that Adept also had his own ideas. It had been a couple of centuries since the Sakkrans went out into the human world, a world that was developing and growing swiftly.

The Scion of the Order made an address to the people of the land. "If we are to maintain our strength as a people, we too must grow. We can not sit in our solitude and watch as all about us we find ourselves fading into obscurity. Adapt or perish is the Order." And the Concealing Fog was charted and mapped. Passages into it that were safe were found, and marked, and the Sakkran ships went out from it to see the world.

On a rare instance, groups of humans called Privateers, or pirates, were found, and discussions were held. In exchange for knowledge and technology, the Pirates were given safe haven from other humans that would see them put down. Their crafts were maintained, and their larders were stocked. Gems and metals made their way to us, as well as literature and lore in the growing fields of the sciences. Atronomy became the task for the Neophyte of the Order. A military presence was formed, and in this time the First Emperor was crowned, who was a descendant of Rragg.

On occasion, a group of human Pirates would misbehave, and it was discussed with their Captains what should be done with them. Trial by combat? our advantage was too great. Trial by peers? That was also a one-sided affair. The Emperor, Sraag, held council with the human Captains of the various Privateer ships. It was decided that a jfitting punishment for the offenders was banishment. The banished would tell of the Sakkrans, and they would not be believed for such was the human arrogance that they believed none greater than themselves could exist so.

The relationship was fruitful, with many of the human pirates taking their retirement in the Whispering Savannah alongside the human settlements already in existance. Gold, silver and a variety of precious metals were reduced to their base form and remade into decorative accessories for the Imperial line. But even this tranquil time had to end.
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Llhaar closed the book, and looked out over the assembled hatchlings with one blood-shot eye. "Go to your studies now, and i'll continue shortly. I need to rest for a time."