THE SWORDS OF ARIADNE

Ariadne, the Demigoddess of Weaponry, long ago commissioned Tan, the gods’ craftsman and Demigod of Metal, to make nine magickal Swords and herself wrote a Book of Ceremony that commanded the Swords and could be used to control the emotions of the mortal realm. She gave them as a gift during the Age of Insipirility to the 10 Kingdoms of Hafer’ty, an alliance of ten kingdoms and empires formed to promote the ideals of insipirility – good companionship, devotion to home and hearth, caring only for the good and believing in the goodness of others (from the Elven insprile, "the happiness that comes from not being separated from the ones you love").

However, the Goddess of Theft, Dimatox, made designs to rule Terra and used her once-mortal God of Black Magic Xorus to attain the Swords and the Book. But Ariadne was wise and for 100 years, the Ten could not be brought together. Xorus, through conjuration by a certain Baron Cry who found the opal birthstone containing the demon-god’s mortal ashes, corrupted the Song of Terra and after gaining enough strength came to physical form, battled the Nine Swords from their kings and emperors, and entered the land of Joh’oprinia to claim the Book of Ceremony, but on crossing the land’s border, the Nine Swords flew from his hands and landed in many realms and places (listed below).

Separately, the Swords possess unique abilities; together, they have the power to invoke Nirvana, the realm of the Emotions of Oflomemnon. The bearer of the Ten can summon Nirvana and could potentially control all mortals on Terra. They are:

1. ASCHER, Sword of Aruba, Goddess of Hate; it is lost in the realm of Pandemonium;
2. HEMAGOS, Sword of Ipi, God of Joy; it is lost in the realm of Terra, in the Fiords of Al’crezian on the western shore of the Republic of Leictania;
3. NOT-NIBAB, Sword of Frederick, God of Love; it is in the possession of Xorus, the God of Black Magic, and he has used it to curse lovers such as Oromasus and Eedebee;
4. DERVISH, Sword of Gar, the God of Jealousy, able to render its wielder invisible and detect metal; its bearer is Porcie the Son, Demigod of War;
5. LABUR, Sword of Bufacopa, God of Insanity; two gods of the realm of Hunter’s Paradise, Oqu and Xiqu, are its bearers;
6. DOP-SPLYTHE, Sword of Steinman, God of Excitement; it resides with Pope Andronicus X and its protector is Archbishop Doanald;
7. CRUNDIN, Sword of Snofi, the Goddess of Empathy, can cast flame; it resides at Castle Moncrovia under King Tarl-Cabot and its protector is the King’s High Wizarder, Val’ha and then Slor’had;
8. RADA, Sword of Da, Goddess of Loyalty; it is lost in the Outlands of the Terran realm;
9. SIRE, Sword of Arn, God of Pride; Ariadne herself is its bearer.
10. THE BOOK OF CEREMONY, of Ibi, Goddess of Fear (holds the Ceremony for empowering the Swords); Ariadne is its bearer, although at least one codex has been copied.

In the Outlands of Terra, the lands surrounding Hafer’ty to the north, is Rada, which points the direction to the fog-encircled, mystickal Temple of Ariadne; only those who are staunch, loyal and of good heart will see the signs leading to Rada. The other Swords and Book of Ceremony must be in the property of those brave enough to trek there, and only they can either lift Rada from its stone or find the Temple.

In the Temple of Ariadne the Nine Swords must point toward the Book of Ceremony in a triangular fashion:

BOOK OF CEREMONY

ASCHER LABUR

CRUNDIN DOP-SPLYTHE SIRE

DERVISH HEMAGOS NOT-NIBAB RADA