Where do I begin? I ask myself. I sit here, gazing into the opaque surface of my seeing stone, trying desperately to remember where it all began. So deep am I in my thoughts, that I do not notice fair Galaphyrae coming to stand behind me, until she moves to rest a delicate hand on my shoulder.
"Time rolls ever forward, my dear student," her musical voice ripples through my mind, in a way that I never did get accustomed to. "When memory fails to take us backward again, we can only rely on magic to remind us." With that, she waves her hand in front of the palantir, which bursts into life, detailing a thousand fleeting images of my life in Avalon before my very eyes. Suddenly, the memories return to me, with such clarity that I cannot help but clutch my head in a brief, intense pain.
My arrival in Avalon- bright light, disorientation, confusion. Rather like being born, I would imagine. As the swirling mists in my vision subsided, I found myself sitting atop a grassy knoll in the middle of a market place, alone and naked in the driving rain. Onlookers spared me the occasional bemused glance, but I was but one of untold thousands of travellers there, and they paid me no heed. I was later to learn that I was in the great city of Mercinae. With no money, no knowledge of the land, and not even a shirt on my back, I sat there alone, shivering as the icy rain beat down mercilessly upon me, and wondered how I came to this place, and where I would go from here.
Within a few heartbeats, my latter question was answered for me. A kindly sage took my hand and escorted me to the Academy of Mercinae, whereupon I began many an arduous quest to prove my worth in the land. Dwarves, adventurers and that same sage escorted me across the lengths and breadths of the land, as my first few tentative steps granted me a brief insight to what this world had to offer.
It was around this time, as I progressed through the accolades, that a kindly Seeress named Zerina (then, the leader of her kind) first greeted me. Out of the blue, I was startled by this stranger, and no less so than when as soon as I had finished my accolades did she appear before me, materialising out of thin air. This magic awed me that I could only beg to be one of her kind, and surely the gods smiled on me that day, for she agreed, and took me to Thakria, the City of Miracles, whereupon I met Galaphyrae for the first time.
Galaphyrae. When first I saw her, I could only fall to my knees and weep at her majesty and beauty. Zerina and Galaphyrae both took pity on the forlorn soul that I was, and so they took me within their guildhall, where my training as an apprentice seer began.
In time, many more seers, more accomplished and wise than I, made themselves known to me. With the likes of Foreigner, Sorithia, Derillion, Malachaius and Aghion to aspire to, I knew that the path ahead of me would be a long and winding one, but I was eager to rise to the challenge. However, here I met my first stumbling block- the seers are nothing if not busy, and soon after I was apprenticed did Zerina leave the land of Avalon. With many of the seers sparing for me what little time they had, nonetheless often I was alone, and my fantastic new skills were still alien to me. It was a long time before I could teach myself even the most basic principles of surviving within Avalon.
Within time, I began to gain my footing, and ventured further and further afield. Friends from many walks of life I met, of which perhaps the most memorable was the young Thief, Meriadoc. Together we braved the challenges Avalon had to offer us. Never once had our comradeship been broken, although a few tense moments manifested around a magical artefact I had uncovered. So intensely did both of us want this relic of a bygone and golden age that more than once did we exchange blows. Of course, the matter is long forgotten now, as we have other things to concern ourselves with. However, every now and again, I cannot help but to unlock a casket in the deepest recesses of the Seers guild and still admire the beauty of that glowing spade, and gloat, for I kept it and Meriadoc didn't.
Other close comrades I made. With the blessing of Galaphyrae, my skills as a seer were developed, and I practised them alongside Aghion, mocking the occasional sparring match around the room of stars, in the shattered remains of Ilmarael. Also more than worthy of mention is Loric, who began as a thief with Meriadoc, but then departed to Mercinae to become a mage. It was only a matter of time before Loric tired of the life of magic and returned to the thieves of Thakria, to stand alongside Meriadoc and I once again.
How did I come to meet Karah? I glance over to Galaphyrae for inspiration, and again she issues an unheard command to the palantir in front of me. The dancing nodes of light flit across the surface of the stone, but alas, even Galaphyrae's magic can not serve to remind me how I first came to cross paths with the thief-girl.
However, meet her I did, for better or for worse. Many times have I gladly called forth my magic to aid Karah, and many times has her stealth and cunning saved my skin. One of my most erstwhile companions in Avalon, Karah and I have together journeyed the most distant corners of the land, and unlocked some of its most precious secrets and artefacts.
I gaze about the room, thinking of what I should chronicle next. My eyes settle to a plaque on the wall, upon which are etched the names of all the guildmasters ever to have taken charge of the seers, and smile in recognition of my own name there.
It was eventually the case that Sorithia took hold of the guild, and saw fit to end my apprenticeship. Soon, my friends began to shower me with their guildfavours, and slowly my standing within the guild increased. No longer was I Ingens the apprentice and dogsbody, I was becoming known, and dare I say it- respected almost.
But soon Sorithia tired of his role, and departed the land of Avalon too. The seers were without a figurehead, and the combined forces of the Mystics and Astrologers against us were forcing us further and further back. The last straw came when all the power was stripped from our seeing stones. It was then that I decided to go for broke, and challenge for the guildmastership. Unconvinced by my own ability, I was surprised when I won the election, and took my position as guildmaster. I still remember my pride when Galaphyrae etched my name upon that plaque which I now stare at.
The times that followed were hard for us all. My time was split between struggling alongside my fellow seers to re-establish control over our seeing stones, and negotiating with the likes of Ithakus, Gandalf, Mercy and Blondel for a peace between our guilds. It took many, many years of work, but eventually a peace was established, and our stones were restored. I could relax again, and my duties as guildmaster turned to building up our guild so that none would dare challenge us again.
I almost go on to mention my patron, but Galaphyrae softly reminds me of something I nearly forgot. It was about this time when, as I sat in the room of the stars, pressing the oracle there for more information on how my skills were to develop, that I became aware that Zerina had returned to Avalon. Joyful at the return of the maiden I had missed so long, I was even more delighted to see she wasted no time in beginning to recruit new young blood into the guild, making my job somewhat easier. Even now, every time she brings another young hopeful into our halls, I can not help but smile inwardly as I remember how she showed the same kindness and patience to me.
As time went on in Avalon, I was becoming ever more aware that I was yet to choose a patron in the land, to guide me, for there was still much for me to learn. Many of the gods I considered, but each was either not of my outlook, or unconvinced that I would be any worth to them. It was perhaps the turning point of my life in Avalon when I was approached by the sorcerer Shriek.
I do not need the palantir's images to remind me of this. It was a warm, summers day in Thakria, and the dusty heat mingled with the sweat on my brow. As I meandered through the market stalls in Thakria Square, a sudden chill drifted up my spine. I whirled round to see the shadowy form of Shriek standing behind me, backed by his entourage of demons. Shriek somehow knew that I was without a patron, and informed me that his patron was seeking a young seer which he could take on. In utmost secrecy he told me to seek the attention of the Annihilus, and threatened me within an inch of my life should I speak that name in public, for indeed, in those days, Annihilus was the unknown and unspoken, a god who was never seen or heard.
To attract his attention was difficult. Eventually I located a spot where I could sacrifice to him, and sacrifice I did. And so I went on. I continually made all the offerings I could, and I pestered Shriek day and night for an answer.
Eventually, my voice was heard. As winter drew on, I sat in the Domed Look-Out of the seers guild, exchanging sweet nothings with fair Galaphyrae. Suddenly, I turned to be confronted by a huge stone balrog, which breathed an impossible life. I instantly knew this was Annihilus, and for the second time in my life, I could do nothing but fall to my knees and beg to be taken in.
Once again good fortune had befallen me, for indeed He did initiate me into the order of Doom. I was surprised to find many of my friends in His order, but not displeased, for it meant I had many a companion to do His bidding alongside. The cause of Doom had pervaded my life, and I could do nothing but to follow it with all the reverence and zeal I had.
But things could not bode well for me forever. As the seeing stone flickers before my eyes, beginning to replay some of the less successful moments in my life, I turn to Galaphyrae, almost ready to ask that this stage in my career could be perhaps forgotten. Slowly, she shakes her head at me, and I sigh in resignation. Putting quill to parchment again, I continue to write, as I stare at the ghostly images manifesting in the stone in front of me.
The guild was becoming dissatisfied with my policy of caution, for some wanted to strike back at the Mystics and Astrologers, and even further afield. I alone knew what it was like in the last guild war, I alone had to suffer the defending of our cause against insurmountable odds, had to waste time I could better spend in pursuits of my own bargaining with our foes, especially when I had nothing even to bargain with. I could not bring myself to risk all that again, but others could. A young seer I had apprenticed myself, Asmodean, was gaining support quickly, and his sword-rattling set my teeth on edge. Of course, by the time I had realised his ambitions, it was too late, and I could do nothing to stop the inevitable, when he had gained enough support in the guild to turn my friends against me, and cast me out from my position as guildmaster.
Once again, I was alone, and now embittered. Having to silently bear the taunts hurled at me for my falling from grace, I was without any support, and any ambition. Asmodean began the guild along a path of aggression, and I could play no part in it, for the years I had spent as a diplomat had denied me the opportunity to practise my combat skills. I was near to leaving the seers guild forever, and probably would have done if it were not for Zerina convincing me that maybe I still had something to offer. Even so, I felt no longer a part of the seers, where I was no longer respected.
Fortunately for me, my patron had about that time begun work on building the city of Gabbad, a task which I warmed to. Being given the opportunity of building my own halls within Gabbad, I summoned all the resources I had to building the Obsidian Hall of Prophecy. As the work on the hall was completed, I felt a new sense of purpose, for I had built my own home in Avalon. To further my pride at building these halls, my patron saw fit to erect a statue of me in the Hall of the Founding Fathers. I could only smile inwardly, I needed the guild no longer, for I had a home of my own.
Nothing, however, could stop my departure from Avalon. For almost ten years I was gone, as my spirit was detained in another world. Dimly I was aware of the order of Annihilus flourishing in my absence, and I was pleased by this. Eventually I could return, however, and was eager to return to Gabbad, now fully built, and take my post as the first Prophet of Gabbad.
This was something I never understood- why my prophetic powers could not foresee the catastrophe that awaited me. Again, I turn to Galaphyrae, who shakes her head at me. Even she cannot explain this failing in my powers. I sigh inwardly, and turn back to the palantir, which replays to me this most disastrous event that awaited me.
So perhaps it was destiny, or a premeditated work, or perhaps downright bad luck. But it was the very same day I returned to Avalon that Shriek had turned his back on Annihilus, and had handed the city of Gabbad over to Lazarus, the god of pain. Many of the less loyal followers of Annihilus left his order, although all remained true to Gabbad. I however, would not leave, for I was still embittered by what had happened to me in the guild. The order was my only remaining family, and in the hard times that followed, I committed myself to doing all I could for my patron. Many times did I storm Goblin Town and the home of the river bandits to make all the offerings I could to my patron, safe in the knowledge that he would again lead us to might. Still proud of my order, and now that my patron had revealed himself to the world, I walked the land known as Ingens, Doom's Prophet.
Turning my attention back to the guild, I had to re-establish relations with members new (who had heard of me but never met me), and old (who had nearly forgotten about me during my long absence). Pleased to see the guild now under the leadership of Talos, also an old apprentice of mine, I eased myself back into its running. Talos was proving to be a superb figurehead, and saw fit to put me in charge of the palantir, a task which I warmed to. Even Galaphyrae welcomed me back in open arms, and I had to aspire to earning the respect of my fellow guild members once again, a task which never seems to end for me.
And so we come to the present day. While much of my time is consumed by devotion to the order, I still try to help the guild wherever I can, the spell Galaphyrae's beauty had cast on me the first time I saw her being too strong to break, even when I was betrayed. I still seek to make friends wherever I can, for friends are more valuable than enemies. However, of course my commitments call for some to regard me as an enemy. Now though, my combat skills are slowly improving, and I feel ready to carry this burden.
A recent event was my old friend Meriadoc coming to join me in the ranks of Doom, as my patron has recently assumed power over the thieves guild. This is encouraging, that my companion since days long gone by now stands beside me again, and together we can do the bidding of our Master.
I still remain in Gabbad, spending time alone wandering through my hall of obsidian. The place seems somewhat...strange to me now, despite the fact that I had cut and placed every stone in that building myself. It is my home, but now that my claim to be one of Gabbads founding fathers is forgotten under the cities leadership by Lazarus, it is not so welcoming any more. Even my statue no longer stands in Gabbads Hall of the Founding Fathers. I am trapped in Gabbad, unable to stay in a city where I am denied any power for the god I worship, but unable to leave, for I have nowhere else to go. No matter though, I will rise again, one way or another. If not in Gabbad, if not in my guild, if not even in my order, someday and somewhere I will rise again. That is my promise to the world of Avalon.
I sit back, having chronicled all I can think of. Galaphyrae is still standing behind me, and she bends over to hug me, the smell of her perfume filling the air around me, and her inner wisdom bringing me to calm once again. She whispers in my ear, "It is done, dear Ingens. Now all that remains to write is what lies ahead."
But although I am a prophet, and can see inklings of what the future has in store for me, I think I will leave it here. The future will unfold in good time. And I have learned to be patient.
Standing, I kiss Galaphyrae lightly on the cheek. I then turn to leave Avalon for a time, a messenger of the gods lifting me up and carrying me to that distant haven where sleeping souls lie.
I leave the hall. Galaphyrae sighs softly, and then returns to her work. The light in the palantir dies, and the room goes dark.
Written by Ingens
