| Quagmiria: The Beginning� Chapter Six It was said in the first days of our world that nothing except desolation existed. Yet, it was from this desolation that the three apostles appeared. They looked at the emptiness and knew that such was not how it was to be. With a breath from the first apostle two infant beings grew. He named them Insectorr and Crabytese. Both were born in his image. The Insectorr bore a hard golden shell on his back that protected its willowy wings. The Crabytese too possessed wings, but what they inherited from the apostle was his wisdom. The apostle that gave them life sent them off into the desolation until they had vanished from sight. The second apostle smiled at seeing what his brother had created. With a breath from him � two more infant beings began to grow. With pride he named them Pollyne and Ecoseed. The Pollyne was thin and had six arms. It was very quick � much like his father. The Ecoseed stood tall for its gift from its father was his knowledge. The apostle smiled at his two children and sent them away. The third apostle stepped forward. He saw the greatness that the world could have one day � it was a prize that he did not want to see harmed. So with a breath he created two infant beings. He named them Swamplop and Krokos. The Swamplop appeared to be made of muck and slime. Because of his body being that way � he would be hard to slay. The Krokos was like a large lizard. It possessed a hard shell on its back and was very powerful. The apostle smiled at his two children. The legacy of Quagmiria was now secure. The three apostles looked around at the desolation around them on last time � and vanished. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Origins. *** Within the desert that was Quagmiria, the six children met for the first time. They had no food � no water � nothing to protect them from the elements. There was no common language to bind them together. Through hard work and the divine will of the apostles, the Crabytese and the Ecoseed struggled and toiled � the common dialect was formed. The children for the first time talked. They told their respective brothers of their fathers and the grand destiny that was to be Quagmiria. Night fell on the desert. The cold winds that blew across the plains made them strong. The six diligently worked together and created a sanctuary that would protect them from the elements. It was the grandest structure ever made � not for its luxury, not for its mammoth size � but because all six children worked together to make the structure whole � and to make it strong. Day came. The harsh elements that seemed so strong now seemed weak. It was time to begin their holy mission. As their fathers breathed life into them, so too did they, the six children, begin to breathe life into the lifeless desert. From this breath of life, a greenish spore escaped. It took root in the ground and in the air around them. Before the children a plant grew. This plant grow and become the Great Life Tree � the symbol of the faith of Quagmiria and represented what could be accomplished when all of the children worked together. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Life. *** Many years had passed since the Great Life Tree first took root in the desert. Since that time, the children had grown and life had blossomed outward. Where one plant once stood � a small forest was growing. Water pushed its way up from beneath the ground to feed the trees and plants. The once dead sand began to change into fertile soil. The children now had a home. Through hard work, determination and faith in the will of the apostles, the children grew strong � and with them, so did the land. The plants lived longer � the trees grew taller � the waters became purer. Their home, now paradise, was complete. The time had come to reshape the world in the image of their fathers. For the first time since the children planted the seeds for the Great Life Tree, the children left their home. It had been many years since they had seen the harshness of the desert, only now it did not seem so desolate. For in everything around them they could see their fathers� plan. It was their destiny to bring life back to a world that had lost it. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Destiny. *** The world � is reborn. Where once only desert existed, now fertile forests and rivers spanned for as far as the eye could see. The Great Tree of Life, that once stood several meters tall now almost reached the heavens themselves. Their work being done, the children split up and went their separate ways. The Insectorr made his home near the river. Despite having wings � being near the water put his mind at ease. The Swamplop chose to make his home amongst the mud and algae at the bottom of the rivers and streams. The Crabytese, unlike his brother Insectorr, chose to reside in the high branches of the trees. Being in the sky and high in the trees made Crabytese feel closer to the apostle that put him there. The Ecoseed chose to make his home on the forest floor by plants and trees. The Pollyne kept moving from place to place. The whole of Quagmiria was its home. The powerful Krokos preferred to live in the secluded areas of the forest. Shortly thereafter, the children themselves had children. And thus the six races were born. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Populous. *** The children�s children have learned from their fathers. All know of the will of the apostles and of the apostles� decree: 1st Without life there is nothing � protect it and keep all life safe. 2nd The sun shines equally on all living things � all therefore are equal. 3rd With attention and care � even a weak plant can become strong. 4th Take the water from a strong plant � and it will become weak. The four parts to the apostles� decree explain the basis of how life is supposed to be and how the children of the apostles are supposed to be. the first decree, without life there is nothing � protect it and keep all safe. Is a reminder of the days of desolation � when the only life on the planet were the children. The second decree, the sun shines equally on all living things � all therefore are equal. Is to state that despite the strengths and weakness of all the children � all are equal. As to is it with the land. The third decree, With attention and care � even a weak plant can become strong. When the children first brought life to Quagmiria � even the Great Life Tree was tiny and weak. With the attention and care of the children � it grew to be the biggest strongest tree on the planet. The forth, take the water away from a strong plant � and it will become weak. Was a warning to the children and to the children�s children � that no matter how strong a Quagmirian, tree or plant is � it takes much to keep it strong. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Faith. *** The first children that gave life to the world � have perished. The children mourn the loss but know that all is not forever. The first children were buried beneath the Great Life Tree � the tree that they brought life to. But through the apostles� decree all of the children�s children know their place in the world and know how to make it even better. It was shortly after the loss of the first children when a being began to rise up from the water. Many believed it to be on of the legendary apostles, but it reassured that it was only a prophet. It said that his name was Parisitica, a priest of the water. It said that he knew of their loss and would aid them in their time of need. True to his word, his aid did restrengthen not only the Quagmirian people � but also the Quagmirian spirit and the belief in the will of the apostles. Unfortunately, Parisitica inspired their belief in the apostles too much. Several years after the first children�s passing � the children of each apostle are becoming more zealous. For the first time on the peaceful planet of Quagmiria � the children were at war! The children were divided � the fighting caused a rain of tears to fall from the sky. It was said to be the tears of the apostles and the children. And the rain fell � and fell. The water rose so high that the world that was once mostly land � was now mostly swamp. Parisitica found the survivors of the children and told them that their hearts had changed their world into what they had seen. Perhaps � should they prove ready, their hearts might be able to set it back. Parisitica then vanished into the water and was never seen again. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Mourning. *** Many years after the holy war, the children began to rebuild what was lost. The children looked at each other, but after all that had happened � a wall of bitterness had risen between them. Each of the children quietly blamed the other for the destruction. All save the Krokos vowed that they would not war against the other. The Krokos shied away from the others and became recluse. Several sects of children of the apostles can not adjust to what Quagmiria has become. For the first time ever � the children look to the stars believing that perhaps, out there, is a world that would suit them better. Despite their differences � in belief and opinion, many of the children agree to work together. Even the recluse Krokos have agreed to help. All of the children � once again are together. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Stars. *** On top of the trees, hive like structures have been built. It looks almost as if there is a city suspended in the trees. The hives were created to house the prototype ships and to store enough solar power to launch them. Night and day, day and night, all of the children work. Almost as if they have let go of the decrees of the apostles to follow a newer path. A path that would lead the children away from home � and a life they once loved. Many years later, the first fleet was done. Once again, the populous of Quagmiria is divided. Many desire a new life, one free of the ruin that was Quagmiria � others wanted to remain to be true to the teachings of the apostles. There was no bitterness between the factions this time. those that desired to leave did so � those that wished to remain, stood and watched as the huge bug-like ships flew up and away. From space, the children saw their old home � the home of their fathers and the gift from the apostles. It was an emotional time for all � but the choice was made. The fleet turned to face open space � and never looked back. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Travels. *** Almost a year had passed since the fleet had left Quagmiria. In the course of their travels they had witnessed two worlds. Neither of them was suitable. Many began to question if they could find a world similar to the one that was spoken of by the first children. It was as they were about to lose hope that they saw it. It was by no means a desolate world, but it reminded them of what Quagmiria was before the rains. It was decided that they would resettle here on this planet, a world they called Parisitica Prime, in honor and memory of the wise water prophet that aided them in the past and tried to guide into the future. The fleet went down and landed in the center of a large forest. The life on Parisitica Prime is nothing like that on Quagmiria. Some of the creatures were huge. There was a huge legless creature that dwelled in the dense forest. It moved swiftly and silently. We named these fierce killers Cobranns, Quagmirian for killer vines. In time we were able to train the Cobranns. They helped us greatly as we set up our hives. Everything is starting to go right here on Parisitica Prime. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Building. *** The colony has been established. As the elders breathed life into a dead world, so too do we. In the time we arrived here, the settlement has doubled in size. At the rate we are going, it will continue to do so. It was near end of our sixth expanse when we met them. they were blue skinned lizards. They spoke in clacks and whistles. We called these strange creatures Parisauns, as they were the color of water. Having never seen such a strange breed of creatures we observed them from a distance. We watched as they mercilessly cut and slashed their way through the forest. Completely oblivious to the creatures they were killing and the vegetation they were mutilating. After watching them cut a path straight to our hive, we intervened. The Parisauns attacked. Within seconds, the warmness of the forest was reduced to freezing temperatures. In an act to save the trees we used our breath of life to save the frozen trees. Much to our surprise, it worked much faster on the ice. the Parisauns fled at the display and were never seen on Parisitica Prime again. . So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Races. *** Some time after our encounter with the Parisauns, our scouts informed us of a new people. In the time we were established our settlement in the forest � these people had set up a civilization of the plains. These people had reddish skin and were very strong looking. We called them Desorns � as their empire seemed hotter than the deserts told of in the Book of Origins. The structure was made of fiery stones and at the center seemed to be a volcano. It was unsure as to if we should investigate these people � but when their civilization began to expand in our direction � the choice was no longer ours. A small band of delegates that represented the new settlement made their way towards the largest of the Desorn structures. As we approached, several large Desorns approached. Their language sounded very feral. We attempted to communicate with our neighbors � but they didn�t seem to understand. Then one stepped forward and drew something on the ground. From the illustration, they believed that the Desorns were having difficulty growing things. One of the children used the breath of life on the ground where the Desorn drew. The Desorn fell over coughing. It accidentally inhaled the breath. The other Desorns attacked. Many of the children fell at the hands of the savages � but a few escaped back into the forest. . So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Conflict. *** The children returned and warned of what happened. It was dire news. The eldest children dispatched many in the vain hope of delaying any Desorn that might be approaching. Many are saddened but know that there is no real choice. The children quickly gather everything they can from their homes and make their way back to where the fleet was stationed. Many of the Krokos remained behind. Should the Desorn get passed the others � someone would need to stay behind to delay the savages. They came through the trees. Burning a path of hate and destruction through the forest leaving only flames and death in their wake. The Krokos fought as valiantly as they could, but they were no match for the Desorn savages. All watched from the ships as the savages laid waste to the only home that many here had ever known. . So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Exodus. *** The return to Quagmiria was not a happy one. The loss of Parisitica Prime � the desolate state that the home world was in � all left a bitterness in them that would not easily wash away. Thus began our costly war. The way of war has now replaced the decrees of the apostles. The Desorns and Parisauns were now the root of all the troubles that were plaguing Quagmiria past present and future. Once again � all of the children were united. Many battles were fought � both in space and on Parisitica Prime. Much was gained � more was lost. The loss of life � is easily in the millions. The apostles and the first children once cried for the loss of Quagmiria. One can only believe that they have no more tears to shed. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Loss. *** Thousands of children have gone missing. Some were believed to be lost in battle, but even more disappeared on Quagmiria itself. The terrible loss is causing many of the children to panic. That is when we found the terrible eggs. They shined like the backs of the Insectorrs. Then they came to life. They rose up and stood on two legs. Arms grew out from it. These terrible beasts slaughtered all that were near. But that wasn�t the only horror. We called these beasts C�antaris � our word for demon seeds. More ships have appeared from the sky and have attacked the hives. From the ships emerged a race of monsters. They stood twice as tall as any Desorns or Parisauns yet they carried the traits of both. We called these monsters C�antora � our word for demon servants. All of the ships that were docked were destroyed. The children tried to resist � but then another creature appeared. It possessed speed like nothing we had ever witnessed. Its strength surpassed anything we could match. We called this evil � C�an � our word for demon. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Book of Destruction. *** The rule of C�an has irrevocably changed all that was Quagmirian. All of the old temples that were found were desecrated and destroyed. Many have accepted this tyranny without question � calling it the punishment of the apostles for ignoring their decrees. Others secretly plan and plot to undo the evil of C�an. Under the fifth year of the rule of C�an, a huge black seed appeared in the sky. C�an gathered all and forced them to watch as the terrible seed slowly sunk into the swampy waters of our world. Whatever grows from that evil seed will not do well for Quagmiria. Shortly after that dark day, the waters grew mildly toxic. The trees began to wither. The Great Life Tree � the symbol of all that is Quagmirian � is slowly dying. It is rumored that if the black seed is destroyed � the planet would once again be healed � but none know where the seed was planted � and none know of any way to destroy it. The apostles have ignored our prayers � the water prophet has ignored our pleas. It is feared that the darkness that envelops our land will never fade. So it was written � so it was prophesized in the Final Book of Histories. Cenesese, Clan Crabytese, Coris, Clan Ecoseed � last disciples of Pinciata the Water Prophet |