SCROLLS OF KAR'NAI
The chief body of religious literature comes from about three
centuries before the birth of the Kingdom of Quendor, in the form of
the Scrolls of Kar’nai. Penned by a handful of anonymous believers
living a hermetic life far in the frigid Northlands, nearly a thousand
bloits to the north of Galepath, near the ancient and mystic religious
site of Kar’nai, these divinely-inspired works, have been organized
into books that scholars believe to have been written by different
unknown hands. Like the Sacred Scrolls of Fizbin, these documents are
said to have been uttered by the lips of Eru and united in both spirit
and theme with the former work, thus becoming its complementary.
Even
today these prophetic scrolls have been found one hundred percent
inerrant (a fact that is even admitted by those who wish to deny a
Creator), surpassing even the most eager and diligent attempts to
disprove them, much to the dismay of their opponents. According to
Litbo Mumblehum, “no single document has contributed more to our
understanding of the religious world than the Scrolls of Kar’nai.”
Still there are those who today remain skeptical of their divine nature.
Throughout
the ages, there have been many battles raged against the authenticity
of the Scrolls of Kar'nai, but never one as drastic as the Troll
Postulate in the mid-sixth century. Leonardo Flathead was thought to
have proven that Zork rested on the head of a giant troll, spiltting
religious communities all over the world. The Scrolls of Kar'nai, which
stated that the Great Brogmoid held up the world upon his shoulders,
were accused of no longer being divinely inspired. While many rejected
these writtings and their faith, many still refused to give
any credence to the
preposterous studies of any dunce of the Flathead seed.
The
Troll Postulate was debunked in 883 GUE, when the First Dungeon Master
discovered that a Great Brogmoid, tremendous beyond description, was in
fact holding up the world, and that one stood upon Zork as well.
Despite all the evidence in support of the Scrolls of Kar’nai and that
the Great Brogmoids themselves may be seen on display at their
respective locations today, there are still those who would adamantly
remain skeptics and instead cling to the planetary model.
The
Scrolls of Kar'nai played a minor roll in the defeat of Belegur in 398
GUE, when Zilbo I used gained much understanding of the surrounding
events through their prophecy.
CONTENTS OF THE SCROLLS
These
scrolls, which are as much a valid historical source as a religious
text, speak about the creation of the world, the fall of Belegur and
many amazing prophecies, some of which have yet to be fulfilled. The
Scrolls of Kar’nai teach that Implementors were appointed by The
One to create each world and all the plants and animals that dwell upon
each, and that the mass variety of life is but an expression of the
differing personas of each Implementor.
Some of the most popular passages showing prophecy and their fulfillments are as follows:
THE FIRST SCROLL OF KAR'NAI, BOOK THREE
Know
this now. The lord, chief among the Implementors and creator of them
all, weaves an unfathomable future. His hand is an intangible force
guiding our lives, moving them in inconceivable patterns, by rules
beyond our understanding. Witness the fall of the mighty Nezgeth Empire
as proof of His majesty. In glory and pride the dark-skinned warriors
built mighty castles, souring high to challenge even the Grey Mountains
themselves. The entirety of the lands to the east were theirs, across
the Great Sea. Giant temples built they, carving into walls of rock,
profaning the sacred earth that is Eru’s with false idols of rodents
and serpents, the hollow beasts that crawl in the dust.
The lord conferred with his elders and among them there was much
argument. Rebellious Implementors cried out in anger, hesitant to see
their creations destroyed. Eru in his mercy heard the elders cry and
His holy answer will stand the test of the ages. Witness the providence
of the One. The Nezgeth in their hubris likened themselves unto the
gods. He smiled and understood. Nezgeth pride is merely part of That
Which Is.
Causing the golden sword of the sun to
fall upon the Nezgeth, He bade them to leave their mighty castles and
wander the face of the earth in loneliness. Crossing the sea, the
mountains, and the desert, they left their empire behind and now live
to serve Him. Understand this. Rather than destroy His own children, He
sees the future and finds a place for them in His web of truths. He
sees a day when they will arise to their former splendor and destroy
His greatest of enemies.
THE FIRST SCROLL OF KAR'NAI, BOOK FIVE
Beware of the doubters, for they ask many questions. In their
quest for science and deep wisdom even the most basic foundations come
under their vile scrutiny. How can the world be flat? they wonder.
Those at the edges would most surely perish. The doubters ignore that
with the Implementors, all things are possible. Why, they ask, do these
powerful gods allow the death of their prophets at the hands of
infidels from other lands? The answer laughs at its own simplicity.
Sacrifices must be made. And why do these gods tempt a human lord with
life of four hundred years, only to take it suddenly away and throw the
land into chaos?
The doubters ask many questions,
spending their time wasting the precious gift that has been given to
them. While they sit deep inside unholy halls debating their empty
ideas, the final answer descends inexorably from above, proclaiming the
word of a new world. Nobody lives forever.
THE THIRD SCROLL OF KAR'NAI, BOOK NINE
[The Third Scroll of Kar’nai, Book
Nine, describes Belegur’s hideout almost exactly. A deep underground
cavern where a river spills to the sea.]
One day a king will rise to change the world. The first dynasty
shall make its mark for seven centuries, and the new king will have the
power to bring it to its knees. His dreams will lie deep underground, a
burning ambition for the hollow cavern and the cold stone sky. Inspired
by fear and driven by pride, he will tunnel into new realms, lower and
lower in search of the truth. He shall build his vision, a mighty
castle where the river gives tribute to the sea. An empire he shall
create from the tools around him.
When the fallen
angel, the Beast, walks among the mortal lords, tempting and buying
their souls, his vile actions will give rise to a great battle in his
underground lair. Defeated by the desert tribes and the servant of a
dead king, he will lie for centuries, smoldering in wait. Hundreds of
years to pass and the dead king’s dynasty will have perished. A new
empire shall have risen on the site of the great battle at the sea, and
the new king will be noticed by the sire of the Beast. He will be owned
by the devil and known as a warlike evil. A great price will be set
upon each victory of the new empire. Behold, this proud and fearful age
will have a number set upon its days, and its name shall be confusion.
THE SEVENTH SCROLL OF KAR'NAI, BOOK TWELVE
Beware of a time that shall soon come to pass. The heavens will
become cold with unease and fear, and the companions of Eru, they who
Implement His Desires, will be faced with a great temptation. One of
their number will fall victim to his own greed and anger, and he will
seek the overthrow of Eru. Know now the name of this evil one. Call him
Belegur. Know also that his dreams shall come to naught. He will be
cast out of the Timeless Halls, and he will be thrown down to earth.
When that day arrives, when Belegur walks the earth, tremble, for the
one he seeks out is you! How will you recognize the arrival of the evil
one? I tell you now that three warnings will be given to mark the
coming of this fallen angel. Even the great towers of the world will
tremble in fear of his arrival, and the ground will quake. This is
followed by the illness of an aged king. As the realm stands
leaderless, no one gives the orders to face the invaders from a distant
land. When these three signs have come to pass, be on guard, for he
will seek possession of your soul.
THE NINTH SCROLL OF KAR'NAI, BOOK TWELVE
And that great dragon was cast down, the ancient serpent, he who is
called the devil and Satan, who leads astray the whole world; and he
was cast down to the earth and with him his angels were cast down.