Daniequy, Ladimara, and Mouli approached the clearing slowly. They had been hunting all day, mostly rogues and brigands, but hadn't seen anything for the last hour. The three friends had all felt the draw to continue on even though there had be nary a beast or foe. They took a few more steps and gasped in surprise.
"Home!" all three exclaimed at once.
Daniequy turned to the others, "how is this possible? Tales of the Klyros homeland tell of ocean and beaches. I see here that which the elders described, but again I ask how this is possible?"
"Perhaps, like Hinoseri, you are in need of spectacles, Klyros" Mouli suggested, "Your eyes are mistaking boulders for oceans."
"Oceans, sand, boulders?? You've both lost your senses" Ladimara laughed, "This is clearly just a a clearing in the woods we've been traveling through. I can almost smell the stew cooking in that little cottage on the far side."
As Ladimara began to proceed quickly towards the mysterious clearing, Dani cried out, "Wait! Do you not find it strange that each of us sees what we could call home as clearly as the other? Perhaps it is a trap."
Suddenly a rather curious looking old man came bustling across the clearing. He was dressed in what appeared to be a monk's robe, although there was no religious insignia adorning it.
"Oh dear...Oh me..Oh my...This is all my fault. There is nothing to fear. You have successfully maneuvered your way through all my illusions designed to keep out those that do not seek knowledge with a pure heart. It never occurred to me...well I guess I must admit seeing into the future was never my strongest skill...I mean I never thought..."
Mouli readied his magic in case a counter atack was necessary.
Daniequy tried to calme the old man. "My good Ylian, be at peace. Please explain what seeing into the future has to do with the tricks that our senses are playing on us."
The old man took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Welcome friends to my humble abode. It has been decades since I have seen anyone else. My name is Thessalonius. I am keep of a great book of truth. I have waited long for someone tru of heart to find me and the book."
"A book of truth hidden by a glamour?" Ladimara asked.
"Oh no my dear lady, the last was meant to be a charm that would help the true soul fell comfprtable after the long journey. What I failed to foresee was that there would be a group of adventurers representing different races. My attempt at hospitality turned into what may have appeared to be a threat. Please join me. the stew is almost ready. Once you enter my home the illusion will fade."
With a quick nod of agreement between them, the three followed te old man. As they entered the cottage and looked out the window, they could see that it was just a small home on a very isolated plain. There were no trees, boulders, sand, or sea.
"Come, help me set the table. I will tell you my story over dinner."
Thessalonius told of being the third son of a Captain Saargard of the Shadow Squadron and Abbess Llewarie of the Temple of Laanx. His parents were good people although he may not have believed it at the time. He was expected to enter the military or monastery, but he rebelled against both. The summer of his 15th year, his father made him go on a salvage mission into the stone labyrinth. It had been eons since anyone had come through the portal yet there was still evidence of those that hadn't made it and those that blindly wandered away leaving their earthly belongings behind. The plan was to secure the area, clean up the remnants left behind, and all the scientists to study the portal.
"Most of what the team found was garbage destined for the fire pit. We did find some valuable weapons and armour. But I found what was perhaps the greatest treasure an never told anyone."
"In an old trunk with a broken lock I found a leather bound book with an embossed design on its cover. From the moment I touched it I felt the truth of humanity and the goodness of all the races deep in my being. I didn't think any of the soldiers or scientists would understand. I hid the book in my pack and waited till I was in my sleeping chamber that night to look at it. Only then did I discover that it was written in a language I had never seen before."
"I finished my assignment with my father, ut on the trip back to Hydlaa I slipped away. I sent them a cryptic message that I had found greater destiny and went in search of a place of quietness to begin the task of translating the book."
The four had cleared the remains of supper as Thessalonius finished his story.
"Now my good people," Thessalonius began, "If you could each help me one more time, I will share what I found that day with you. Gemma, please set us a fire to ward away the nighttime chill. Dani, Would you please set up the coffee on the table by the fire, and my Ladi, if you would kindly bring us the box from on top of the mantle..."
Dani, Mouli, and Ladi looked on in anticipation as Thessalonius slowly lifter the cover of the richly polished mahogany box and lifter out the leather bound book. "I made this box to store this treasure in," Thessalonius said in answer to the unasked question.
"When I first found it, only the first third of the book was used. Over the years, I have used a second third to translate what I could into the common language of Yliakum. That leaves the last third in which to write your story."
"This book will ivariably change the destiny of all who wee to read it. From the pieces I have been able to translate, it contains a history of an ancient group of Warriors that devoted themselves above all else to the keeping of peace and creating peace among all people's that they came across. Their ideals were to promote peace where there was peace and to create peace where there was war. Their exploits seemed nigh impossible to recreate. They had no fear of battle or impossible foes but would run headlong into battle being outnumbered greatly and always seem to come out on victorious. These warriors, knights and mages called themselves Pax Amor; Which by best understanding of their ancient tongue meant Lovers of Peace."
"This book contains the structure of the Pax Amor, the ranks and titles that it's members could earn, and many pages that I have been unable to translate even all this time. I believe you were drawn here because you are meant to carry these ideas back to the lands where people roam. It has remained hidden far too long in this desolate wilderness."
"Now my friends, I am tired. You will find rooms prepared for each of you at the top of the stairs. I bid you good night and pleasant dreams."
A thought flickered across Ladimara's consciousness that this house was much larger on the inside that it appeared from the outside and she hadn't seen the stairs before; But as quickly as it appeared, it flittered away again. The friends agreed that they were tired as well and headed off to sleep.
In the morning, the trio made their farewells to Thessalonius. Then hoisted their packs and set out for Hydlaa to share the book and tell their friends all that had happened. As they reached the spot where they had each a vision of their homelands, they turned in unison to wave once more to the old man that had given them this wonderful gift. To their surprise there was nothing there. Not even the clearing. They were standing at the bottom of a sheer cliff. Without being asked Mouli checked his pack. The book was there. Each of the three placed a hand on its worn cover.
Ladimara spoke first. "I know not who or what Thessalonius was, but I can fell the truth radiating from this book. There is yet much to be translated and much to write. Do you both share the dream of forming a new guild based on the original Pax Amor?"
They all grasped each others hands and the book while nodding in agreement.
And thus begins the adventures of Pax Amor.
