#7

#7
The morning suns rose above the northern sky. The horizon seemed more hazy than normal. The winter festival honored Limmu and Azazni. These gods were masters of light and darkness. Azazni governed the suns as they entered the horizons. As the suns moved above or just as they reached the southern horizon to darken the sky, Azazni the goddess of light moved the sunrays from their origins throughout the universe. Limmu was a shadowy god. He, or she at times, captured the light and turned it into dark light. Each god balanced the power of the other so that the universe was in peace. Limmu appeared to it’s prophets in the dark of night. It appeared like a black panther to its “sleepers” or prophets.
Sleepers wear black clothing of purest black. The clothing is made of a special flower, which grows in the mountains of the south. Its fibers absorb all light! The hem and collars carry symbols of golden circles, which symbolize the endless cycle of the suns.

The two “wakers”, or prophets of Azazni bore the symbols of the two suns of Aria. There could only be two wakers at a time. The suns, Emaldy and Ariadne moved about Aria, the world of all living…and dead! The “wakers’” clothing shimmered with the suns gold and green light from a shell fish powder found only in the northern seas. Azazni appeared as a golden leopard with two heads and a scorpion tail. Wakers seemed rather crazy after they had contact with Azizni. She takes their minds and drives them mad. Few wakers survive their awakening. It is called the “sifting!” Sifting is horrendous and often debilitating. Truth be told, the same could be said about Limmu’s sleepers. Sleepers do not awake or sift, they sleep…soul sleep! They are dead walkers or truly sleepers! Their bodies are as black as coal and solid like rock. The transformation occurs during the festival, no words can describe the horror of the process…but many would be sleepers come each festival for the possibility of transformation. Sleepers are promised an everlasting existence of pleasure and vice. So they continue to come with expectation. Many come to experience the transformation, Limmu takes many but only a few return…changed!

Anna and Janny prepared for the festival. Endless washing made sure they were pure for the festival. No food or drink could be eaten for 2 days before the festival. Jenny wore a skirt of Limmu black fabric with a blouse of gold and green Azazni decoration. A helmet of gold with images of a panther and leopard circling the top was placed on her head. The helmet was as old as Limmu and Azazni! It was one of the ways that the priestess’ were chosen. The day was full of ceremony and pomp, much too much for Anna.

Anna and Janny stepped onto the steps leading down to the road that wound around through the town. The temple steps were connected to the sacred river by the hallowed road. The people gathered to await the arrival of the Sleepers and Wakers. Soon the parade would begin. Anna had never seen the prophets in real life. She wondered how they would appear. The Sleepers began to arrive quite suddenly. A black fog began to creep from the river onto the road. It absorbed all light and a strange foreboding moved like a viper from person to person. When it passed, all it touched blessed Limmu for its touch and blessing. A few fell in writhing pain and burning sensations. Some were consumed to ashes. Others stood in terror waiting …! The light soon returned…following closely behind the fog. Bright blinding light ripped through air with lightning speed and thunder rolling continuously, deafening! All of Aria shook to the depths of its foundations. Electrical balls of light bounced across the sky and from person to person. Lightning struck and moved across the crowds. Some fell in horrendous pain with few sensing endless pleasure. It seemed like days passed, in reality only a few minutes had elapsed. When the light dimmed, Sleepers and Wakers stood at the base of the temple steps. The golden columns of the temple shimmered and seemed to appear and disappear in regular succession.

Janny had experienced the vision many times over the years. She always drank in the experience with vigor. This year it was even more so because it was the beginning of change in the temple. Soon her time would pass and a new priestess would take her place.

Janny and Anna began to walk down the steps. Anna wore the clothes of a young priestess. Silken breeches of blue and silver were worn under a skirt of shimmering bluish green. Images of golden lions encircled the hem of each garment. Her emerald blouse was tucked into a sash of pure gold emblazoned with silver lions and acorns. Around her head was placed a circlet of thin golden ribbon. Her sandals were made of red gold and silver inlays. The sight of the two of them brought awe to the crowd. They stood between the terrors of the prophets and the people. Bright white light engulfed the temple. As Janny and Anna moved to the street the prophets stepped aside to let them pass.

They walked slowly toward the river. All bowed when they moved near them. Suddenly before them stood a woman in red! She stood firm unmoving. Anna smiled!

#6

Alle Jah...the language of the past. It seemed to make her shiver. She often wondered if the stories were true about the old ways? No one really knew. It had been taught...that the old ways were days of unrest.

Anna where is the Orb?

It is in the wall...just beside the niche near the altar of destiny. It spoke to me the first day I was here. I listen to the music and followed the sound to the sliding door.

Anna we must go for now. We will both go to the Orb after we return. I must remind you that you can not mention this to anyone! Do you understand?

Yes Priestess, I understand.

#5

“Ok Ok! What about the Orb? Why does it call to me?”

“If… the Orb calls to you it is speaking to you. You must open your mind and concentrate on the sound.” “But Anna, no one has been ‘called’ in Millennia!”

Anna puzzled, “Why not? It has always spoken to me! It glows and seems to tickle me when I touch it… It, it changes colors and vibrates.”

“You have touched it?” Janna answered astonished at Anna’s remarks.

“Yeees, is that not ok?” Questioned Anna.

Very carefully Janna questioned, “No one has even seen it Anna!” “Have you really seen it…touched he Orb?”

“Yes High Priestess! I have…touched it…the day I came to the Temple, It called to me,” Anna answered quietly.

“Tell me how it happened, Anna. Can you describe the Orb to me, Anna? It is very important that you tell me exactly how it spoke to you!” Janna seemed agitated and anxious. It was very important that she knew exactly what Anna had seen…if she had seem or heard anything. Many in the past had talked about such things concerning the Orb or the Star Guides. None proved to be true. None lived to see another moon rise! To speak of such things was considered a heresy…especially if it was untrue. Only the ministers could speak of the Orb, Star Guides or the Old God. Most today considered the stories about them to be fables or forbidden ancient magic. The new gods had come to extinguish such untruths.

The Aquish gods were considered benefactors of mankind. Since they had come, all knew prosperity. No one remembered when they had been hungry without food or water. Stories about the past, ancient days told of the Days of Anguish. No god ruled the land and all of mankind was in turmoil and all starved. War was everywhere. No one was safe.

The stories of those days are taught to each and every child. When the Anquish arrived from out of the Volcanoes of the Sud, everything changed! So the legends say. Sanggie the language of the gods became the only way to communicate through the intermediaries. But a few select intermediaries knew of a far more ancient tongue, Alle Jah. No one even pronounced the name, it was forbidden. No intermediary confessed to speak to the ancient god of Alle Jah. No one remember the name of this ancient god. No one believed in the god of Alleh Jah anymore. Its time was a time of anger and hunger, war and deceit, struggled and death. No one wished to remember that time…it was a time long ago!

#4

Anna did not need to be taught the sacred language of the gods. She somehow understood each sign and symbol of the magical script. Even as a child before she could walk, Anna traced the symbols into the sand of the temple grounds. Horrified workers and priests ran wildly the first time the child scrolled the simple symbol for water on the ground. Thirsty, Anna wanted a drink…she received the drink in the High Priestesses quarters. Janny had been the High Priestess for longer than most could remember. Many quarters of the stars had come and gone since Janny first came to the temple. Prosperity and peace had followed her presence in the temple. Now a miracle child, perhaps sent from the god Limmu sat before her, playing with her hair, gurgling, giggling the sounds of Sanggie! Why would Limmu send such a miracle to her now? A child… of the gods!

Janny spoke to Anna, now a child of 5 years, “Anna…that’s what we will call you miracle child!” Anna please sit. I must speak to you about the festival of the stars.”

“Why must we speak always of serious matters? Why can’t we speak of simple things, like … like just simple things!”

Janny took Anna’s arm and held it firmly as she stared into her soft greenish eyes, “I must speak often of serious matters to you, not because I wish to but because you will someday take my place in the temple. You must know what is expected of you! The people … the people depend upon you to keep nature balanced. The festival must be organized correctly or Limmu and Azazni will be angry.”

“Why do they care? I have never seen them eat any of the food given to them at the festivals! The people give their best, but no one eats it? Why do they care…what if we don’t feed them? The people could eat the food!”

“Anna, be careful they will hear you!” “They will be angry!”

“The Star Guide who speaks to me does not fear them. Why should we?”

“Do you speak to a Star Guide…. Anna?” “No one has spoken to a Star Guide in innumerable star quarters.” “You only imagine what you hear. Anna be careful what you say. If you speak of the Star Guides openly they will come and take you from me … and the temple!”

“I am sorry High Priestess. I only wanted to know. If you wish I could ask her to speak to you!”

“The Star Guide is a woman! What does she look like? What does she say to you? Oh my, now I am being consumed by your imagination. No more talk today. I must teach you about the Star Festival!”

“Janny, please one last question?”

“Anna, you must address me as High Priestess. If anyone should overhear us you could be in serious trouble.”

“Ok Ok! What about the Orb? Why does it call to me?”

#3

Sanggie was given to man from the creator gods to communicate with them. It was a written language that few spoke aloud. Sanggie was forbidden to be spoken by man, Only the gods could give man permission to speak this magical language. It was first spoken by the god Limmu. Limmu rose above the stars and spoke the first words of Sanggie… ni ra mayi a ratz…a ratz a ho a vo! These simple creative words brought life to the Universe. To speak Sanggie was to be divine! Only a few communicators have ever spoken it aloud…only a few placers had ever written it! To speak or write the divine language was to be possessed of the gods. To speak Sanggie was to tap into an ancient magic far more powerful than anything man could even imagine. A magic older than the gods themselves, older than any god!

#2

The Tripod seemed to vibrate as the many swirling figures dance and shimmer with a strange faint blue haze. When the tiny hand placed the orb within the Tripod's fingers, each in turn vibrated in a rhythmic sensation. Electricity filled the air with pregnant expectation! Lightning flashed throughout the room with increasing ferocity. Each bolt sprang from the orb ricocheting from object to object,all the while increasing in speed beyond vision. The room was filled with blinding light that vibrated the very bones of the onlooker. Vibrations shook each bolt of light with a deep pulsating hum! Each moment passed in excruciating pain and ecstasy.

A child's hand emerged from behind the panel and giggled with delight as the light danced through the room. Anna was a child of the temple. She had no mother and no real father she knew. The temple was a home for the less fortunate. Each acolyte could expect hard work and long days in the temple grounds. Acolytes received meals and clothing for their labor. Some worked the gardens and kept the grounds free of litter and beautiful for the visitors. Others learned crafts and trades that would benefit the temple and the palace alike. Anne was trained to read and write. This took many years because the languages of the palace were very intricate and detailed. The symbols were used to record simple trades and agreements. Anne was one of the very few acolytes who learned the secret language of the gods.

Sanggie was given to man from the creator gods to communicate with them.

Worlds Apart #1

The shallow panel slid creakily along it's path. A small hand held an object warm and solid to the touch. To look at the tiny, round, clear and green orb made one uneasy and anxious.

Some called it the "Angel Stone." The orb was very old and older still were the many legends about it's origins. Many myths have been told about the mysterious stone. All seemed to hold some truth but none were true.

Green light glowed eerily between each small finger that held the orb. Behind the panel appeared a small tripod with swirling figures of lions, dragons and dancing Centaurs. The figures seemed to dance with a will of their own.