Druids of Ganay

I have had a wierd week and can't really think of anything  for my blog. However, before my week got wierd I had a burst of creativity and wrote a prologue to a Shannara inspired story. As of right now, I really don't have anything more, but basically it takes place at roughly the same time as Elfstones of Shannara, except that it is located far away, to the west of any place the books have gone. I'm tempted to treat it as an entirely separate world to avoid conflicts with Terry Brooks, but still, it's far enough away they are unaware of each other even if they do exist in the same universe...unless the TV producers have any interest in using my characters, then we can work something out.

Col and Ami were excited as they went to meet their master. Today was the day they would receive their arms, the rite of passage from a scribe to apprentice, and most importantly they would have use of two hands instead of one. Their families were gathered, the entire order of twelve druids consisting of their parents and grandparents. The eldest, Widget, would preside over the ceremony of presenting the mechanical arms for each young druid. As eager as the children were, the master would not let them simply take these most sacred of treasures without the traditional pomp and circumstance.

“Today we gather on this auspicious day for the ascension of the youngest members of our order.” Master Widget began. “But before the presentation of their arms, let us first remember how we got here. Ganay is both our sacred home and a prison for the demons that are responsible for the condidtion of our world. Two thousand years ago, demons emerged and brought about the destruction of the world that was. The leaders of these demons, at least in this region, were two, known as Avidra the Mindflayer and Jotun the Troll King. There were many demons who sought to do nothing but destroy humanity, but these two were more insidious. It was not enough to simply slaughter humans, they sought to corrupt humans to slaughter each other. Before they were demons they were men who experimented on humans, replacing an arm with a machine and giving them the ability to generate electricity to power these machines. They started with one hundred and used the severed arms to create a monster known as the Hecatoncheir. The hundred soldiers were used to breed a new race to be their army, known to many as the Eels, for their similarity to electric eels, an animal from which it is rumored their powers originated. The war began as the army claimed the three cities and the world around burned.

“While Jotun was content to watch his creations destroy the world that was, Avidra wanted to erase all memory of it. He earned his title by claiming knowledge, destroying technology and the documents to rebuild them, even claiming the very thoughts from human brains to reduce technology to what he had created alone and no more. But what they did not expect was that their own soldiers would turn against them. Despite the changes to their bodies, they were still human enough to know that the way the world was going it would be the end of them all. Using the power they had been given, the Eels fought the demons, and the war reached new heights.

“At the peak of the war, it was clear that Avidra, Jotun and the Hecatoncheir were unparalled in power, as all other fell around them while they remained. They realized they could not kill the demons, but they could trap them. They drew them here to this place and sealed them within, though exactly how was lost with them and their sacrifice. But that sacrifice was well worth it, the demons were successfully sealed here. Without those masters to drive the war, it all came to an end, the lesser demons died off and the humans and the Eels were forced to coexist to survive.

“Then, a thousand years after the war of demons, came the elves and Hinu the Thunder King. By that time, mankind was struggling and feared the coming of elves that they were like demons. But fortunately, the elves were not malevolent at all. Hinu approached the Eels and facilitated a peace treaty between them and the elves. From then on, the Eels would be known as the Druids of Ganay, keepers of the last of technology and wardens of the prison of demons. Our way of life began and peace would continue between the three races of the land of three cities. The elves restored the land with their magic and though the cities remained in ruins, we built around them and a new world began that we could all be proud of. The only threat to our way of life are the trolls that dwell beyond the borders of our lands, and the warriors of both elves and humans patrol these borders to keep them out and protect our home.

“Then fifty years ago, someone found the secret grimoire that was held the secrets of the demons and attempted to use forbidden and forgotten magic to release the demons and take over the world. Although he was ultimately unsuccessful, the druids were divided in war and when it was all over, Hinu had been lost to us and only eight of us remained.

“This is our history, and you two are the last of us. This is your legacy, the secrets of electric magic and cybernetic technology you have transcribed over these past years and with these arms, you will be made whole. For the next five years, you shall learn how to make use of these gifts to live as normal a life as possiible as you protect this realm. Within these walls lie the greatest threat to our existence, but as long as we hold vigil, we assure that this threat remains contained and this world will continue.”

Col and Ami stepped forward and allowed their cybernetic arms to be attached to the stumps on their left shoulders. They charged the arms and started using them, feeling the charges through the circuits of ancient arcane technology that made them feel almost real. They flexed their hands and compared their fleshy right hands to their metallic left hands. It felt good to be whole as their people were meant to be. They each released the retractable blade that ran the length of their forearm and took a few practice swings, sparring and playing at the traditional druid sport of fencing. Over the next few years these skills were among those they would perfect in preparation for their sacred duties as guardians of this temple built among the ruins of some ancient edifice with a long forgotten purpose.

The rite was concluded by all members of the order reciting their creed in unison. “May the lightning strike from the earth to the sky, and the thunder pulse in my veins until I die!”