//------------------------------// // Intermission: The Father and the Mother of Monsters // Story: Land of Friendship and Magic // by Archmage Ansrit //------------------------------// The Serpents of the Sky and the Earth. Notes from Twilight: The texts are old, and the story itself can be traced back to oral tradition predating any written language; as such, there are some inconsistencies between regional variations, or translation difficulties can plague the scholars. Depictions of Zacherle and Faust make no distinction between hands and hooves, with some texts describing them as having both simultaneously or interchangeably (uncertainty denoted by *), although Tirek is always depicted as having clawed hands. The word denoted by (+) can be taken to mean simply 'family', yet the relationship is better represented by the word 'herd'. ***** Zacherle, Faust, and Tirek directed their sight to the young World. "This is the nascent World?" Tirek asked, leaning closer to it, gaze piercing through all. "Yes." The Apprentice replied, beckoning her Mentor to approach. "I intend to form from it a Land of Friendship and Magic, where Harmony reigns and Love and Hope are suffused into the very World." "Admirable goal." The Dark Sentinel said, straightening as he turned to the Illustrator. "Your Apprentice has your heart." "I need help." Faust said. "To infuse the land with Power enough to fill its inhabitants, and to make it Balanced so they can learn and grow. The World needs to be Shaped before it is properly set in motion." The Illustrator and the Sentinel agreed. "I have made many additions already, yet more still is required." Faust stirred the Air with a wing, and caressed the Earth with a hoof*. "A joyful Being of the Breath itself; swift and dauntless, bringing Direction and Freedom so that all shall be free of stagnation, with the Colors and the Courage that are synonymous with Wind itself, both subtle and potent, the weather and the skies shall be his Home and Domain. Another of proud Earth; wise and patient, bringing Stability and Steadfastness so that all shall be able to grow, bringing the Kindness and the Nourishment that are so akin to Earth, both enduring and decisive in action, the soil and the stones her Home and Domain." Zacherle and Faust took winds from the air, and a chain of mountains from the earth. "Do not forget." Tirek pointed with his long nails to the mass of winds. "He will be moody as the clouds, and fickle as a breeze, impatient and unfocused." He turned his claws to the mountains. "And she will be stubborn as a rock, and lazy as the trees, demanding and overly proud." "I am aware." The Apprentice said as she started to weave the winds. "That is why they shall have each other, and more to follow; for the purpose of bringing balance to each other, and love making them find it within themselves. Their children can help shape the world just as any of mine would." The Dark Sentinel signaled his approval, and smiled at her Heart. Only as they reached the half-way point had they realized their mistakes. The winds were too numerous and wild, and the mountains too long and coarse. "We need your help." The Designer said. "We have made a mistake, but we do not wish to start over. His scales are so beautiful, the thought of destroying them alone fills my heart with pain, and makes me feel as though I am depriving him of dignity he deserves." "We need your help." The Writer said. "We have made a mistake, but we do not wish to start over. Her scales are so strong, I am afraid of being unable to make them as powerful as that again, and makes me feel as though I am robbing her of strength she deserves." The Keeper stood silent for a moment, deep in contemplation. "I have indeed Shaped numerous creatures, but my very Touch can taint them. They may give rise to monsters, most of which shall be unable to reason and filled with the thirst of blood." Faust and Zacherle shook their heads. "The Light may chase away the Darkness, but the Darkness does not reject the Light. Anything that might come from this can be overcome, Love mandates so." Persuasion accomplished, Tirek lent his aid. Under his experienced and skilled hands, he granted them Shape and strengths. The winds became many serpents, with scales no less beautiful than the rest. "He will be able to adapt his Form, able to resemble mine, or yours, or those of the snakes that compose him." The sharp rocks became quills, powerful enough to pierce the very skies. "Her I grant a similar boon, yet my contribution is in the form of these great spines to defend herself and the land." And so, Typhon and Echidna were born, the first of their herd(+). Their love knew no bounds, and though some of Echinda's children were monsters, it did not stop them from Shaping the Lands of our fair Tellus. ***** Notes from Twilight: Since Typhon and Echidna are beings of the world and magic, it is said that, once they either decided to rest - or the somewhat-popular theory that the world's magic field changed until it could not support their consciousness - they integrated back into it. The Major Ley line of the West is said to be Typhon's place of rest, given the way it resembles many snakes becoming one enormous entity; the Major Ley line of the Mid-way is said to be Echidna, with her quills providing countries like Saddle Arabia with its power. Support for these theories are the numerous weather phenomenons of the Western Line, and the place the Saddle-Arabians call the Fireland, located directly where a heart would be if the Central Line was taken to be a Lamia or a Naga. Both variants are said to be related to the legend as well.