Kangen - Clear Water
Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 10:57 am
!Shorah b'shemtee,
As a fellow Writer and a historian of Ages, I would like to share with the guild a glimpse of what I have been working on since before shutdown. Here is a section from one of my Age descriptive books that I hope you will all enjoy.
KANGEN - CLEAR WATER
"......I have found many magnificent journals and books on my Journey; some of particular great import. One such book I found while I was exploring an untouched area just within the bounds of J'eruth District in the City.
It was hidden in a dark wooden box of unknown make within a small wall compartment I had found in one of the larger houses there. The book was well preserved; bound in opulous red leather, the color of blood red laquer, and gilded with gold letters of D'ni origin and rough cut gemstones of unmatched beauty.
There was an inscription on the wall inside the compartment just above the book that read: "Kangen". Beneath this was another inscription: "Clear Water", and beneath this: "a gift from Mihrotahn of D'ni for the family Ash'taroth, guardians of the lost ages" Upon opening the book, I saw a faint glimmer in the pages and the viewer sprang to life; the book still had a solid link remaining after so many years. I touched the crystal viewer and linked away from the J'eruth.
And I was taken upon the highest ridge overlooking a magnificent and lush green isle surrounded by mountains and the great sea beyond; and within it's center a vast lake of cobalt blue waters, whose fathoms could not be told. Upon further examination of the area it appeared that there was not much else on the isle but the vast lake and, at intervals along the rim of the lake, carved out patches of cleared land upon which stood 5 obscure structures in odd-shaped pattern; 5 statues made in the likenesses of great scaled serpents with spiked crowns upon their heads and large, membranous wings. Beyond the statues, a thick, tangled veil of livid green vines climbed sun-wards on the trunks of massive towering trees, and enveloped the land beyond in a dark green blanket clear to the mountains and the sea.
Near one of the statues, I found another book bound in thick course leather. The book contained the last words of the one remaining inhabitant of the Age of Kangen, whom had been a priest born of the royal Kanganese temple sect dedicated to the Azonei, the 5 serpentine deities who ruled all of Kangen and all of the creatures of the lake. In one of his longer entries into the journal he told of how the people of Kangen had all perished and the land had been swallowed by the forest and the sea; the Azonei had been responsible for the devastation.
At the time of glory in Kangen's history, the isle had supported a vast city of great wonder, with the lake as it's epicenter. In the center of the lake there once stood a great glimmering silver temple, and within it lay the black hearts of the loathsome Azonei. It was not known when or from whence these vile beings had come to Kangen; only that their wrath was great and that they demanded servitude. The people had always worshiped near the statues; just before the temple itself, and were forbidden to enter the waters of the lake by threat of being pulled beneath the surface by the vile creatures that lurked in it's murky blue depths.
There had been those rebels known as Kangen Chun-ji(meaning literally "the pure waters of heaven and earth" who had for many centuries of Kangen's history opposed the 5; they hid in the mountains bordering the sea and they were not allowed to enter the city for fear of bringing the wrath of the Azonei down upon the innocent. Later in his journal, he described how the temple was overturned by several of the Kangen Chun-ji, in hopes that the 5 could be banished, and of how the Azonei had been enraged by this, rising up from their ancient sleep beneath the depths of the lake, visiting their evil wrath upon the inhabitants of Kangen. He had escaped death along with a few others; all else was laid waste, and a half portion of the isle of Kangen was swallowed by the outer sea. A great and enveloping forest covered the remaining land and , all but the lake. The city, the people, and the Age of Kangen had been utterly destroyed.
And there had been those known only as "d'ji"(outlanders) who had come suddenly after the devastation, and they bore witness the plight of his people; though even with all of their kind words, infinite wisdom, and advanced technology, they could not help them live again as they once had. The d'ji stayed for many years searching for the remaining survivors, and protecting the remaining as best as they could. They had left from Kangen long ago; their marks can to this very day be seen in the places where they resided in that place.
In his final entries into the journal, just before his own departure from Kangen, he described how the temple had sank shortly after the devastation; which lead him to believe, over many years, that the Azonei had once and for all returned to ancient slumber beneath the surface of the darkling lake. It was the last words he left that were most revealing of all; the Azonei had in fact been dragons, fiery creatures from beyond the outer mysts of time itself. He alone had seen them in their purest form; witnessed their wrath, and had lived. And there was more.
Before the temple had been overthrown, it was well known that there existed others; creatures that hid from the dark bane of the Azonei just as the Kangen Chun-ji had done, and who were opposed to the 5, and who had helped in overthrowing Mi-Natomi, the silver temple of souls. They were controlled by the Kangen Chun-ji; the power of their essences were contained in an orb known as the Chi-zu stone, and the Kangen Chun-ji used the stone to enslave them and call upon them in times of need. It was said that if the stone were ever destroyed it would release them from their servitude to the Kangen Chun-ji, and that they would be free for all eternity.
Some of these creatures still remained in Kangen after the devastation; they were known as Kangen Ten-guku, or "the hidden warriors(the revenge of) Kangen". The priest, who was in fact a prisoner of the Kangen Ten-guku, had written that they still served their dead masters whom had never released them, and they watched over Kangen and the lake, ensuring that Mi-Natomi never rose from the lake again, and that the Azonei slept for eternity through the aeons.
There were strange symbols in the journal, and these were the unbindings that the priest had kept hidden all these years that would release the Chi-zu stone from its enchantment and allow it to be destroyed. It was not known where he had received those unbindings; however he mentioned that the d'ji had helped greatly in their creation just before they departed. Being imprisoned, he could not release the stone; his captives' power was too great upon him. He had stayed in Kangen in hopes that a savior would come; helplessly imprisoned by the ravenous Kangen Ten-guku and the beckoning power of the Chi-zu stone. He was to never be allowed to escape; he had fallen victim to the Kangen Ten-guku before the Chi-zu stone could be released, and the d'ji had long since retreated.
And as I had read those words, the persuing sounds and shrill cries of the Kangen Ten-guku could be heard far in the distance; somewhere out in the forest. I had gleaned quickly from the drawings in the journal that these were malicious creatures; they possessed dark features and were composed of ethereal like skin, and their eyes were hollow black pits of nothingness, filled with the pain of time long past. They were sure to come here now that I had come. I could feel the pulse of the power of the Chi-zu stone, somewhere out in the forest; it was still there, commanding all of that place and all within it. I placed my hand on my side and touched the cool surface of my Relto book. I wanted to see more of Kangen; I had to find the Chi-zu stone and free the Kangen Ten-guku-and in turn free Kangen for eternity. I didn't have much time.
Upon further examination of the statue I found the same strange symbols and letters laid out in peculiar orders; but these were the binding spells of the Kangen Ten-guku against the vile deity(s). They glimmered like fire, and were hot to the touch; unlike the unbindings of the priest, they were not meant to be touched. A glint of light caught my attention off in the distance; deep within the outer edge of the forest. I found a path leading into the vale of the forest from the statue and followed it. After a while, I came to a great temple of dark stone, crippled by time and covered over in emerald mosses and ferns. Another cry in the distance; this time closer, much closer. At the top of the temple was a shining orb; I had found the Chizu-stone. I began to climb.
Something stirred in the shadows beyond the trees just as I reached the stone. They had found me here. I could hear them climbing the temple walls. The symbols were here, just as they were on the statues, and i touched each one in the order i had seen them in the priest's unbindings in the journal. The Chi-zu stone was free at last. I dashed the stone upon the dark plain of the temple and it shattered into tiny silver fragments, releasing an intense white light that burned hot and was carried away by the winds. I heard a great cry of many thankful voices and then- utter silence. My vision darkened and I collapsed unconscious.
When I awoke; the lapping of the waves upon the distant shore of the lake and the sea beyond. The sun shining brightly through the trees again. Down below me, I found that a doorway had opened into the temple. Inside I found another linking book like the one I had found that brought me here(no doubt the work of the "d'ji); I took it with me and I have it to this day. I had accomplished what the Kangen and the d'ji could not in all the long years. The Azonei would sleep for eternity, the Kangen Ten-guku dismissed; their time of servitude over at last. Kangen was free. I linked away with the book, back to Relto, with a tear of hope in my eye that one day I might return to Kangen.
I went back to the house in J'eruth District and took the other book as well; Kangen remains guarded forevermore...."
Kangen is just one of many Ages i have envisioned over the years...it is meant to portray an Asiatic style theme, simply because I am deeply interested in the tales of ancient Japan, China, Tibet, and Nepal. I hope that one day I can share this wonderous Age with the Cavern; any comments or suggestions towards making that a reality are are welcomed here. I hope you have enjoyed the Age of Kangen in it's preliminary storyline form, and look forward to more ideas about other undiscovered Ages in the future. See you all in the Cavern soon....Keep up the great work!
To Our Restoration Success,
Stranger
Historian of the Guild Of Writers - D'ni
Guardian of the Age Of Kangen
As a fellow Writer and a historian of Ages, I would like to share with the guild a glimpse of what I have been working on since before shutdown. Here is a section from one of my Age descriptive books that I hope you will all enjoy.
KANGEN - CLEAR WATER
"......I have found many magnificent journals and books on my Journey; some of particular great import. One such book I found while I was exploring an untouched area just within the bounds of J'eruth District in the City.
It was hidden in a dark wooden box of unknown make within a small wall compartment I had found in one of the larger houses there. The book was well preserved; bound in opulous red leather, the color of blood red laquer, and gilded with gold letters of D'ni origin and rough cut gemstones of unmatched beauty.
There was an inscription on the wall inside the compartment just above the book that read: "Kangen". Beneath this was another inscription: "Clear Water", and beneath this: "a gift from Mihrotahn of D'ni for the family Ash'taroth, guardians of the lost ages" Upon opening the book, I saw a faint glimmer in the pages and the viewer sprang to life; the book still had a solid link remaining after so many years. I touched the crystal viewer and linked away from the J'eruth.
And I was taken upon the highest ridge overlooking a magnificent and lush green isle surrounded by mountains and the great sea beyond; and within it's center a vast lake of cobalt blue waters, whose fathoms could not be told. Upon further examination of the area it appeared that there was not much else on the isle but the vast lake and, at intervals along the rim of the lake, carved out patches of cleared land upon which stood 5 obscure structures in odd-shaped pattern; 5 statues made in the likenesses of great scaled serpents with spiked crowns upon their heads and large, membranous wings. Beyond the statues, a thick, tangled veil of livid green vines climbed sun-wards on the trunks of massive towering trees, and enveloped the land beyond in a dark green blanket clear to the mountains and the sea.
Near one of the statues, I found another book bound in thick course leather. The book contained the last words of the one remaining inhabitant of the Age of Kangen, whom had been a priest born of the royal Kanganese temple sect dedicated to the Azonei, the 5 serpentine deities who ruled all of Kangen and all of the creatures of the lake. In one of his longer entries into the journal he told of how the people of Kangen had all perished and the land had been swallowed by the forest and the sea; the Azonei had been responsible for the devastation.
At the time of glory in Kangen's history, the isle had supported a vast city of great wonder, with the lake as it's epicenter. In the center of the lake there once stood a great glimmering silver temple, and within it lay the black hearts of the loathsome Azonei. It was not known when or from whence these vile beings had come to Kangen; only that their wrath was great and that they demanded servitude. The people had always worshiped near the statues; just before the temple itself, and were forbidden to enter the waters of the lake by threat of being pulled beneath the surface by the vile creatures that lurked in it's murky blue depths.
There had been those rebels known as Kangen Chun-ji(meaning literally "the pure waters of heaven and earth" who had for many centuries of Kangen's history opposed the 5; they hid in the mountains bordering the sea and they were not allowed to enter the city for fear of bringing the wrath of the Azonei down upon the innocent. Later in his journal, he described how the temple was overturned by several of the Kangen Chun-ji, in hopes that the 5 could be banished, and of how the Azonei had been enraged by this, rising up from their ancient sleep beneath the depths of the lake, visiting their evil wrath upon the inhabitants of Kangen. He had escaped death along with a few others; all else was laid waste, and a half portion of the isle of Kangen was swallowed by the outer sea. A great and enveloping forest covered the remaining land and , all but the lake. The city, the people, and the Age of Kangen had been utterly destroyed.
And there had been those known only as "d'ji"(outlanders) who had come suddenly after the devastation, and they bore witness the plight of his people; though even with all of their kind words, infinite wisdom, and advanced technology, they could not help them live again as they once had. The d'ji stayed for many years searching for the remaining survivors, and protecting the remaining as best as they could. They had left from Kangen long ago; their marks can to this very day be seen in the places where they resided in that place.
In his final entries into the journal, just before his own departure from Kangen, he described how the temple had sank shortly after the devastation; which lead him to believe, over many years, that the Azonei had once and for all returned to ancient slumber beneath the surface of the darkling lake. It was the last words he left that were most revealing of all; the Azonei had in fact been dragons, fiery creatures from beyond the outer mysts of time itself. He alone had seen them in their purest form; witnessed their wrath, and had lived. And there was more.
Before the temple had been overthrown, it was well known that there existed others; creatures that hid from the dark bane of the Azonei just as the Kangen Chun-ji had done, and who were opposed to the 5, and who had helped in overthrowing Mi-Natomi, the silver temple of souls. They were controlled by the Kangen Chun-ji; the power of their essences were contained in an orb known as the Chi-zu stone, and the Kangen Chun-ji used the stone to enslave them and call upon them in times of need. It was said that if the stone were ever destroyed it would release them from their servitude to the Kangen Chun-ji, and that they would be free for all eternity.
Some of these creatures still remained in Kangen after the devastation; they were known as Kangen Ten-guku, or "the hidden warriors(the revenge of) Kangen". The priest, who was in fact a prisoner of the Kangen Ten-guku, had written that they still served their dead masters whom had never released them, and they watched over Kangen and the lake, ensuring that Mi-Natomi never rose from the lake again, and that the Azonei slept for eternity through the aeons.
There were strange symbols in the journal, and these were the unbindings that the priest had kept hidden all these years that would release the Chi-zu stone from its enchantment and allow it to be destroyed. It was not known where he had received those unbindings; however he mentioned that the d'ji had helped greatly in their creation just before they departed. Being imprisoned, he could not release the stone; his captives' power was too great upon him. He had stayed in Kangen in hopes that a savior would come; helplessly imprisoned by the ravenous Kangen Ten-guku and the beckoning power of the Chi-zu stone. He was to never be allowed to escape; he had fallen victim to the Kangen Ten-guku before the Chi-zu stone could be released, and the d'ji had long since retreated.
And as I had read those words, the persuing sounds and shrill cries of the Kangen Ten-guku could be heard far in the distance; somewhere out in the forest. I had gleaned quickly from the drawings in the journal that these were malicious creatures; they possessed dark features and were composed of ethereal like skin, and their eyes were hollow black pits of nothingness, filled with the pain of time long past. They were sure to come here now that I had come. I could feel the pulse of the power of the Chi-zu stone, somewhere out in the forest; it was still there, commanding all of that place and all within it. I placed my hand on my side and touched the cool surface of my Relto book. I wanted to see more of Kangen; I had to find the Chi-zu stone and free the Kangen Ten-guku-and in turn free Kangen for eternity. I didn't have much time.
Upon further examination of the statue I found the same strange symbols and letters laid out in peculiar orders; but these were the binding spells of the Kangen Ten-guku against the vile deity(s). They glimmered like fire, and were hot to the touch; unlike the unbindings of the priest, they were not meant to be touched. A glint of light caught my attention off in the distance; deep within the outer edge of the forest. I found a path leading into the vale of the forest from the statue and followed it. After a while, I came to a great temple of dark stone, crippled by time and covered over in emerald mosses and ferns. Another cry in the distance; this time closer, much closer. At the top of the temple was a shining orb; I had found the Chizu-stone. I began to climb.
Something stirred in the shadows beyond the trees just as I reached the stone. They had found me here. I could hear them climbing the temple walls. The symbols were here, just as they were on the statues, and i touched each one in the order i had seen them in the priest's unbindings in the journal. The Chi-zu stone was free at last. I dashed the stone upon the dark plain of the temple and it shattered into tiny silver fragments, releasing an intense white light that burned hot and was carried away by the winds. I heard a great cry of many thankful voices and then- utter silence. My vision darkened and I collapsed unconscious.
When I awoke; the lapping of the waves upon the distant shore of the lake and the sea beyond. The sun shining brightly through the trees again. Down below me, I found that a doorway had opened into the temple. Inside I found another linking book like the one I had found that brought me here(no doubt the work of the "d'ji); I took it with me and I have it to this day. I had accomplished what the Kangen and the d'ji could not in all the long years. The Azonei would sleep for eternity, the Kangen Ten-guku dismissed; their time of servitude over at last. Kangen was free. I linked away with the book, back to Relto, with a tear of hope in my eye that one day I might return to Kangen.
I went back to the house in J'eruth District and took the other book as well; Kangen remains guarded forevermore...."
Kangen is just one of many Ages i have envisioned over the years...it is meant to portray an Asiatic style theme, simply because I am deeply interested in the tales of ancient Japan, China, Tibet, and Nepal. I hope that one day I can share this wonderous Age with the Cavern; any comments or suggestions towards making that a reality are are welcomed here. I hope you have enjoyed the Age of Kangen in it's preliminary storyline form, and look forward to more ideas about other undiscovered Ages in the future. See you all in the Cavern soon....Keep up the great work!
To Our Restoration Success,
Stranger
Historian of the Guild Of Writers - D'ni
Guardian of the Age Of Kangen
Thanks again!