A Song for the Glaennyn
Since you are the nameless one I presume to call you brother, indeed brother, in some ways that is exactly what we are. We are bound now closer than blood, my ‘path’ as some call it on Grayhawk, seems determined before time itself, as was our meeting. Our dreams were bonded in the Maelstrom such bonds do not break.
More like a distant cousin, though our blood is bound together in a way that only the perversions of the universe can sustain. You are certainly one of us though in what form we have yet to discover.
I wish to speak about several things. Firstly, we need to define our relationship. Secondly, I wish to discuss my first impressions and suspicions about the staff. Finally, to define my aims and worldview.
Defining our relationship is both simple and deeply complex. From a simple perspective one could argue that if the Glaennyn, ‘sing to my tune’, as Malkar put it then the relationship is one of servant and master. However, such a simplistic view entirely misses the point, as he well knows. You will not accept me if I force you to sing a tune you do not like. That is why I wish to call you brother. Our aims will be one and our strategies united. I will never compel you, because there will never be a need, we will act as one.
Malkar’s view is clouded by his perception of mankind. My ties to you and the staff are complex, they go beyond the normal relationship of master / student or brother / brother. If you wanted to you could indeed force us through the staff but what would that achieve? Enmity probably, a caustic relationship that would fester and destroy. You are not a destroyer, nor are you a traitor.
As the lords of the Glaennyn I am still – even now – searching for answers. Your astute nature, your human perspective, will serve us better than tyranny. I have faced the staff wielded by an enemy and it is not pleasant – four Glaennyn died that day – but if it comes to that then I am ready.
So our relationship will be one of brothers and equals. There will be no master and servant. Each of us will serve the needs of the other and long may that relationship last, because like you I wish to retire and study the Maelstrom. But for now I must meddle in the politics and strife of Grayhawk.
Politics is a game you are far better suited for than I and I concur that it is the avenue with which you will naturally be led down. You have displayed an excellent sense of nobility…the kings and emperors of Grayhawk like you…respect you. It is no accident that Archibald, the Rosen king, holds you in such high regard. He realises that you wield a power far greater than anything on earth…and he also realises that your in built respect and regard for others makes you a good ally. Many of the noble rulers of Grayhawk will view you so.
This brings me to my second line of thought. The ‘Dragon’ Staff. Excuse my ironic tone because it seems clear to me that the Staff is wrongly named. A coincidence born of your race’s discovery and later fascination. What then is it, and why does it fascinate you. Here are my first impressions. There are creatures and objects that can exist within the Maelstrom and which have the Maelstrom existing within them; you and the Staff are clear examples. I am interested in whether you stumbled across the Staff while looking for something else or whether you were looking for it specifically. If the later is true then it is likely that you knew of it from other universes and where thus driven to look for it.
As discussed earlier the staff came into being very early on…we have been studying it ever since and still do not have all the answers. It is the embodiment of the Maelstrom.
My suspicion is that the Staff acts as a conduit between the Maelstrom and Grayhawk. It exists within both. In the Maelstrom the Staff resonates Grayhawk, in Grayhawk it resonates with the Maelstrom. The Staff is balanced, thus its resonant properties. Your fascination is a consequence of this, perhaps even your very existence is dependent on the Staff. The Staff permits and restricts the existence of the Maelstrom on Grayhawk and the converse. This may also present an answer to what to do with the souls of the dead. I suggest the correct place for the souls of the dead is within the Maelstrom – from whence I once dreamed that Prometheus believed they came and should return. But then dreams can be misleading. But at least within the Maelstrom they will rejoin the Great Song and be released.
Now this is interesting. As you now know the demon Azael used a creature called Muziel to reap the souls of the dead. (DM: the Nameless One has a further conversation with you regarding Muziel – it’s on the way in another email so I’ll not comment here). The lost souls into the Maelstrom? Hammoth seems to think that this would alter the balance of the universe…I’m not so sure. First you must understand why Nature wanted the souls in Limbo in the first place.
My understanding of the Reaper is that he took them to limbo – that is no end – neither is the present situation. This demon that is presently ‘reaping’ them is no answer. But how would you channel the souls of the dead? With the resonance of the death perhaps.
We’re on shaky ground here. Limbo is a place I have seen in several of Promethius’ universes…in all cases the function of it was the same. I’ll explain: Limbo is a one-way plane…once your soul (which is bodiless presumably) enters it can never leave. Only one creature (in this case the Reaper) is allowed to come out. To my knowledge Promethius made this law universal and never once entered Limbo himself.
There is obviously a good reason for this otherwise why take all the lost souls back? The most obvious reason was displayed with what Azael did…he managed to reap the dead and return them to fight for him. Extrapolate that further and you have the end of the universe – if souls return to one creature then that creature will end up very alone.
So my initial reaction to putting them into the Maelstrom is a cagey one. Until our understanding is clearer we don’t know what impact that would have. The only real way to understand why Nature had the Reaper put souls into Limbo is to go there…but if that is to happen then we need more information into it. In this we may need the help of Malkar.
The lost souls are obviously a problem so it is something that needs to be addressed…
To summarise my thoughts. The Staff is no ‘Dragon’ Staff. It is a conduit between the Maelstrom and this Universe. I suspect this explains both your existence and fascination. I also believe that the staff can help free the souls of the dead from this universe back to where they came from.
So now what are my aims and world view?.
I our primary aim must be to preserve. My inspiration for this is the description of the valley you where trapped inside. That is now a rare jewel it must be protected from pollution. As must all of Grayhawk. But perhaps the appearance of some demonic blood within Grayhawk is both important and inevitable. It certainly is not a new idea. Indeed Azael served in Loramas’ court and doubtless this inspired him. However, the idea that demons OF Grayhawk may be part of the future suggests we should also seek to understand how this might come to pass with the least damage.
The valley was a beautiful prison and it will remain in bloom all year round. Demonic blood has always been here; the chaos lords have long since married demon and human stock (or even elven stock). Loramas did not invent this procedure she merely perfected it. Valadain Raikos’ father was also an adept of this and – as you know – Azael has already started a program of reproduction.
It will be an uneasy integration but it is inevitable…we should just await and embrace the results.
Related to this we should strive for a balance of power on Grayhawk, while always presenting an enigmatic and aloof stance.
We should use the least power possible, though for a time I will be forced to experiment and learn and this will inevitably involve use. That power we do deploy should be aimed at creation and preservation rather than destruction, although we must always retain our options and deterrents.
Death is not a solution; it is the cause of the problem.
Let us usher in a the Golden Age your in which your knowledge and potential will be found invaluable.
Finally I should go to many pubs as frequently as possible and check the pulse of Grayhawk.
I hope my first thoughts regarding aims don’t seem trivial to you but the last is the most important.