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The Item Guild Wars
A novel set during The War of the Item Guilds. In this book, particular attention is paid to the intrigue surrounding the Enchanted Lunchladies Guild and the death of Hygrad the Mighty that will motivate his former Band of Men to bring an end to the War, as well as those characters that will go on to become the first of the Lawmakers.
Principal Characters
Prophecies of Hygrad
In this book we first hear the full story of the most influential prophecies in the long history of Battal. Although the first prophecy is recanted fully, the second prophecy is merely alluded to vaguely, which begins a rich tradition of skirting the exact contents of said prophecy.
The once mighty man coughed and struggled for air as Hardforge cradled his head. Solemnly he did look up with an air of great seriousness. All fell quiet in the room, listening intently as he spoke the words that would forever change the fate of the world:
"And there shall riseth in the Eastern temple a man born not of woman but of Earth. And he shalt hold the Fire of power in his Heart. Never shall his shield be rent asunder... nor shall his Sword of Illusoration be perceived.
Hygrad fell silent, and his Band of Men drew closer, and were then startled when he shot upright and spoke once more:
"He shall command the might of Air yet know it not, and in his Water shall he cleanse all but the most unclean. He shall come and with his coming comes the power to foldeth the world and to coagulate the very essence of the soul."
Hygrad coughed and went stiff, falling back onto his pillow. The Band looket at each other in puzzlement, save Hardforge, who gazed with great grief at his leader.
"Alas," said Drong, breaking the awkward silence, "I fear our--"
"He shall come and all shall quake save for the unquakable or the infirm," shouted a suddenly revitalized Hygrad, "for he will free them from their bonds... and return them to the heights!"
And with that, what seemed to by Hygrad's last breath escaped his mouth. His body relaxed, and sank down into the comfortable beddings as if weary from a long life of trial and conquest. Hardforge placed his hand on Hygrad's forehead and sighed deeply.
"Is he going to poop himself now?" asked Phillyan, "I heard that happens sometimes."
With that, all fell silent. Most were perhaps pondering their own mortality, but Phillyan was probably pondering other things entirely, as was his wont.
As the life faded from Hygrad's eyes, even the manliest of the Band of Men were overcome with emotion and fought back their bitter tears. Hardforge placed his hand upon his lord's forehead and whispered in a quaking voice:
"Your life and your death... have not been in vain, my King... and today we make our Covenant that to the death we shall defend your name... your prophecy... and all Men, have they taints or none at all... in all worlds of the lands in this Landyworld."
"Are we going to have lunch first?" asked Phillyan.
"Yes..." whispered the grieving Kingsguard, "...after lunch."
A death hung in the air. His friends and companions looked one to another and shuffled from the room. All save Hardforge, who stayed and wept. And it was then, in a final gasp, that the Second Prophecy was uttered.
The War of the Item Guilds undoubtedly contains some of the most bloody conflicts between Elves and Dwarves during The Hierarchy Period. The origins of the conflict is hotly debated by the warring races, who each accuse each other of treachery. Strongbeard of the Brothers of the Magic forge declares that it was the Pointy Eared Devil drew first blood with an unwarranted and merciless display of pw'nage. And the esteemed fletcher known to the Elves as K'dil retorts that it was the dwarves who first savaged the peaceful Elfin Fletchers with their crude Axehammery.
Neither story was able to be confirmed... for whenever Strongbeard and K'dil met on the field of battle, each ensured that the other would remain the sole survivor of the fray... so that they would have to live with their defeat and humiliation. They clashed so often during the Item Guild Wars that no other Elves or Dwarves remained who could recount the previous battles.
The first council of Lawmakers is convened at the end of the War. Due to his pivotal role in arranging the Battle of Great Coincidence, S'yrf'yl is asked to chair the council. Not interested in such bureaucratic matters that have little to do with "cold steel and hot babes", the Immortal opts to give his seat to the ringmaker, Claygon. This comes at much glee to Claygon and much distaste to the rest of the Lawmakers, who knew that Claygon would use this much to the advantage of himself and his Ringlings... which of course, he did.
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