20100324

The Elder Gods

Well before the Pyslistroph, more than two billion years ago, the Elder Gods existed. Their exact number is unknown, but there seem to have been about 30 of them. Legend says that they were individuals of great power, each one the personification of some natural element such as fire, wind, the stars, destruction, and time itself. According to the earliest tales of the Seven Races, the Elder Gods were responsible for the creation of the universe and the life that fills it.

Individually, the Elder Gods appeared as fairly unremarkable creatures. They often took the shape of whatever species they were in the company of; it is said that they reflected the race of their observer, simultaneously appearing (for example) as Daamin to the Daamin and as Coruman to the Coruman.

Not much is known of the origin of the Elder Gods, although they have hinted that they came from another place and time, perhaps a different universe, and that they were only passing through our universe on a journey to some other, unknown destination. Whether they were returning to the place of their origin, or moving on to yet a third place, remains a mystery.

Although the Elder Gods seem to be immortal, many of them are known to have departed our space and time at specific historical times. By the time of the Pylistroph, only ten were known to remain. The first eight were active in the Pyslistroph and have been venerated ever since. They are:
  • Ellan: (Life)
  • Hesket: (Snow)
  • Jaseni: (Music)
  • Maranna: (Nurturing)
  • Naervara: (Stars)
  • Tha'p: (Rational Thought)
  • Timash: (Lovers)
  • Yx: Elder (Fire)
The remaining two Elder Gods shunned the Pyslistroph and were generally feared and distrusted:
  • Den (Destruction)
  • Ka (Nothingness)
One by one, most of the remaining Elder Gods departed, most recently Den after the fall of Avethell. The only ones believed to remain at large are Jaseni, Maranna, Timash, and Ka. Of these, the first three are occasionally active in the Scattered Worlds.

At the center of the Temple of All Worlds on Nephestal stands a dais bearing holographic figures of the eight Elder Gods venerated by the Pylistroph. These images, like the Elder Gods they depict, always appear to be the same species as the observer.



copyright (c) 2010, Don Sakers

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20100310

The McIntyre School

A subdivision of the Schmidt Foundation, the McIntyre School  identifies, trains, and registers telepaths and other psi-gifted (aka "Fey") individuals. Telepaths trained by the School are identified by the Greek letter psi tatooed on their foreheads, and are greatly in demand to fill various roles in the Imperial government.

The McIntyre School was founded by Xia McIntyre on Terra, and expanded greatly under the stewardship of her successor, Eduard Raytheon. By TE 116, the School had facilities in every Province.

Masters of the School

TE 15 - 48: Xia McIntyre
TE 48 - 116: Eduard Raytheon
TE 116 - 168: Mark Huunt
TE 168 - 267: Jams McLaghlen
TE 267 - 315: Helen Armenta (b. TE 221)
TE 315 - 406: Philip Armenta (b. TE 284)

copyright (c) 2010, Don Sakers

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20100303

City Eternal


Timbuktu, Timbuktu,
River brown and sky so blue,
Upon the desert sea you stand,
A city made of sand.

Within your high and mighty walls,
Wisdom walks your shadowed halls,
Goods exchange in traders' meets;
And angels walk your streets.

Peoples come and peoples go,
'Round you, kingdoms ebb and flow,
Empires rise and empires fall;
Yet you outlast them all.

Ghana passed with salt and gold,
Then Mali with her warriors bold,
And Songhay with its golden grains;
Still Timbuktu remains.

Moors then ruled with sword and blood,
France toppled mosques of sun-dried mud,
Bamako brought the desert nigh;
And yet, you will not die.

Umoja's peace is come at last,
And quiet, from the ancient past,
The music of a thousand years,
Timbuktu still hears.

-Princess Mahlowi Sisse Keita Toure
March, 2037





copyright (c) 2010, Don Sakers
Find out more on The Scattered Worlds site

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