Gideon recalled that the degree of reverence varied among the peoples of Illúmaril. It seemed the Alor and Eldren had a more parent-child relationship and basically revered the Erradans. While others like the Bashann, some of the Edrix, and some menfolk in the Taros region had shamans or pryors and almost, but not quite, worshipped these Erradans. Gideon had in his past spent some time on a world called Earth and studied as an archaeologist; yet, at the same time, being secretly hidden there, Gideon found this semi-religiousness intriguing from a cultural point of view. Instead of priests, the Alor and all the other races had wardens or pryors who served and were supported by an Erradan. One of his former teachers, Pyne Calandon, was not only an archmaster spellweaver but also a High Warden of Ashkelion.
Gideon found out later that some menfolk held even Ragan in reverence to a degree. It was why he chose a more manlike form. These wardens, as most were called, could draw power in some fashion from the Erradan whom they served. Gideon had observed this as one of his companions, Laurelin Leaflock, and other members of the Order of the Horn, called upon Ashkelion whose very fountain Gideon now stood before. Ashkelion was also known as the lord of the woodlands and the inland seas.
Before he left the area, Gideon asked more to himself than to anyone else, why the people here had such interesting abilities. At times, he felt as if he was in competition for developing powers of his own. “Why are things like this?” In a few moments, Gideon noticed clarity to the water as he continued to move around the large fountain toward the dormitories. He then sensed with his newly developed part Elven senses a strong yet subtle presence. Then the image in the fountain cleared and Gideon felt transferred and was standing in another place before a rather large Alor-like being.
“I think perhaps it is time I answered a question for you, Gideon Finelen Lith-Gilad,” the shimmering being said. “I am Ashkelion.”
“You’re an Erradan Lord and you’re manifesting to me?” Gideon said, astounded. Ashkelion appeared like a transcendent Alor crossed with a great tree that was surrounded by water, and Gideon felt and sensed immense spiritual pressure.
“In a manner, I am manifesting to you. As you are already aware, from time to time, we Erradan Lords check on things,” Ashkelion stated. “As you were passing one of my auror fountains, I was inclined to speak or rather pass a vision of things to you, since speaking would take much longer.” In something more than a vision, the Erradan Lord explained to Gideon why some things were the way they were. Images and sounds passed before him and in moments the visitation was over.
“Succeeding generations must have the necessary knowledge and abilities to defend the Key Worlds from being taken by the Lords of Entropy and Chaos,” Ashkelion said. “The changing and, at times, increasing powers of the forces of Chaos, as well as Dormas’ several attempts to conquer Illúmaril, forced the Erradans and the other forces of Order to maintain an edge with their creations. So, early on, skills and abilities were fostered in the people to enable them to defend this Key World if necessary. The strong education ethic, the physical presence of the Tauri, and the many academies and universities all foster the development of various skills, powers, or abilities to defend this Key World.”
The visitation transmitted a large amount of information, but Gideon realized that only a short amount of time had passed, even though it seemed as if it was longer. “You must develop and improve if you wish to protect yourself or if you desire to regain control of your ancestors’ lands and defend them from the Darkspawn,” Lord Ashkelion said, finishing.
Gideon blinked and found himself starring into the waters of the fountain. He shook himself slightly and then continued on to his room. He had classes soon and still had a few letters to write to his friends. Gideon realized on the remainder of his walk to his dorm that, if he wanted to reclaim any Gilad family lands, he would need to be more prepared for the potential dangers associated with that endeavor.
Chapter Four
THATOS AWAKENED
Lord Thatos had been walking back and forth pondering things for several hours now. His eyes glowed slightly greenish from under the hood of the dark robes he wore made from hair-thin strands of woven Zetheric and Pelicium. Previously, he had been moving in and out of consciousness, dreaming in the temple crypt of his buried city in the Orloon wastelands when a waves of unusual energy passed over him. He awoke not long afterward and, initially, he wanted to look for the source. “Have I been called?” he wondered aloud. “Should I rise...? Yes, it is time,” Thatos said.
Looking about, Thatos realized that millennia had passed as he slept in stasis. He would have to prepare and gather his generals known by several names but, together, they were known as the Twelve. After he had become a very special kind of undead, one of his own making, something more than a lich or wraith lord, no one could exert control over him, save Dormas himself and, only then, because the Dark Lord had defeated him in an ancient duel arcane. After which Thatos and his forces served Lord Dormas.
Thatos looked very much as he did in life. He appeared as an Eldren male with a high forehead, tapered eyes not unlike the Alor’s, and longtipped, yet tapered, ears with a medium-sized nose. Like other members of his particular Eldren clan, he had slightly pale skin and slightly auburn-hued hair and piercing green eyes. He was not all what he actually appeared to be, however, as he was also part Eternal, and his father was one of the Lords of Chaos. In addition, Thatos had placed his soul for safety in a device called a soul container made of a special crystal. If his body were destroyed, his mental presence, together with his soul, which was sequestered safely in his soul crystal, could create another body.
As he was pacing through his underground rooms, he noticed some disturbance of his buried citadel and temple; someone was trying to enter past the guardian columns. They had evidently succeeded as a warning was transmitted through the ancient mystical linking of spellweavings in the temple building’s structure, informing him of the loss of two stone door guardians as well as a breach in the rooms beyond those guardians.
“Humm, they must have some moderate strength to have eliminated those stone constructs so easily,”Thatos said to himself. He stopped pacing and began a spellweave to see what was going on. The air shimmered as a globe of sand formed into a sphere and glowed, and then images began to form, first blurry, then more clearly after a few seconds. They are using spellweaves to block scrying and remote sensing, he thought, but they are not at my level. I was a grandmaster of the spellweaving arts long before they were born. They appear as competent thieves. Thatos created a spellweave that dissected and opened the protective spell without the original caster being aware what was happening. “I see humans. They could be from that town of Taros; evidently they have grown bold over time.”
Thatos had previously been trying to analyze the residual energies that were set loose weeks ago, and he was partially successful, as they had decayed notably. The arrival of the intruders had distracted him from his ponderings. He still wanted to remain undiscovered and not reveal his presence yet. His citadel was designed to repel scrying and his inner chambers had even more protections.
Thatos wanted to see how far the humans would be able to penetrate into his presently relatively empty citadel. Like the Eldren, Thatos possessed many enhanced physical and mental abilities, including telepathy and several other psionic abilities. He focused and concentrated, then began to eavesdrop on their thoughts and saw flashes of images that they had seen. His once great citadel and the surrounding city were now mostly buried under wild sands and desert plant growth. They were traveling across a trade route through the Orloon Province, which was tundra-like in its northernmost area and desert-like in a good portion of the rest of the region. He did not want to obtain too much personal information, as these intruders were mostly thieves and they would be punished soon for invading