199) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 32 -- The Zhaalmohhrians

Kohra began to read.

“History of the Zhaalmohhrians

This noble Whiteling family can trace its bloodline directly back to the Founders, and even further back, they claim, before the Lost Age to the Age of Gods. The Zhaalmohhrians have long believed that they are the direct descendants of the great Lord of Truth, known by many names over the Ages, now all but forgotten: Lucifer, Jesus, Prometheus, Vishnu, Cthulhu, Einstein, Bill Cipher, and many others.

Over the centuries since their ascent into the halls of power in many lands, the Zhaalmohhrians have weathered some intense criticism. Many of their most prominent Matriarchs and Patriarchs have been accused of following not Truth, but Power. Furthermore, several scholars of renown — Relwayyn of Neverborn, Danarra of CenterWorld, and the mysterious Earthborn sage, Emggrzzznt the Quiet, among others — have promoted the theory that the Zhaalmohhrians were responsible for the Breaking of the WorldSkin, and the Lost Age that followed. The Zhaalmohhrians, of course, deny this, claiming to have barely survived the Lost Age in the darkness of the DeepWorld, the same as everyone else who made it through those terrible times.

What is known for certain about this family is that over these many centuries, they have built a vast empire throughout many Worlds, their power held in check only by the Alliance of the Five.

Local Legends

Of note to those in the lands around Annuvin — It has long been rumoured that the original family home of the Zhaal dynasty is hidden somewhere deep in the Broken Spine mountain range.

One story, whispered from ear to ear, apparently originating with a member of the Zhaalmohhrian staff who defected (and was later found assassinated in his bedroom), tells of an ancient ritual, the Inheritance, which holds the secret to the immense and long-lasting power of this family. Receiving the Inheritance requires passing some sort of ancient test that is given to each Zhaalmohhrian blood-heir, every time a Pinnacle of the family dies.

It is said that when the Inheritance is successfully received, the Heir, who is now the Pinnacle, gains great power and wisdom, a Golden Age dawns for the Zhaalmohhrians. Thus, by the time of this writing, in the year 335 of the Age of Kings, they have penetrated many governments and empires with their tendrils of control. Many believe that there are shadow governments, sometimes referred to as the Illuminati (although that is believed to be a mere colloquialism), which are in fact the Zhaalmohhrian family, operating throughout the Worlds.

The symbol of the Zhaalmohhrians is a twisted crescent, enclosing a single eye, one of the most ancient symbols we know of, hearkening back to a time even before the Age of Gods, about which virtually nothing is known.

According to Zhaalmohhrian legend, their symbol holds the secret to a sacred “Whale Song Weapon,” which can save all the worlds from destruction when the final Reckoning of the Gods takes place. The only other known reference to this Weapon is the sacred text of the Aboleth Poem, the founding document of the Starborn Faithful.”

* * * * *

            They left the temple abuzz with excitement. The Hooded Man WAS a Whiteling, just like Lenny had surmised, and from an ancient, shadowy family with secrets that had been protected for centuries, even millenia! It was all so delicious that Kohra completely forgot about the book Lenny had taken. She didn’t think of it again for a very long time.

As they neared the Inn, their excitement was replaced by Devona and Kohra’s shared concern about what they were going to do when Gorb realized he had “lost” all his money.

            Devona was especially angry, the positivity of their previous conversation vanishing as she criticized, once again, Lenny’s decision to steal the money and buy the arrow. Kohra wondered if it was all because of what Madame Mystere had said to her. “You won’t find what you are looking for.” Kohra sure wouldn’t have wanted to be told that.

            By the time they’d reached the Inn, they still hadn’t decided what they were going to say to Gorb. But it turned out not to matter. Dominic met them at the door of their room, smiling; Gorb was completely passed out.

Lenny presented the slender case, opening it to reveal a beautiful black arrow, with a spider symbol etched into the shaft. “This will kill any spider, even the Goddess of Spiders herself! Although we were cautioned not to wait until we meet her.”

Dominic whistled appreciatively.

            “It’s probably fake,” Devona scowled.

            Lenny shrugged.  Kohra tried unsuccessfully to suppress a grin.

            Dominic looked back and forth between the three of them. “Well, thanks! It’s a beautiful arrow. And hey, who knows, if we ever meet a big, nasty spider, we’ll find out if it works!”

            Devona rolled her eyes, and that was the end of it. They went to bed.

* * * * *

            In the morning, as expected, Gorb roared and cursed, tearing both of their rooms apart looking for his money. Kohra and Devona played dumb, helping him search with pretend concern. They both felt terrible.

Lenny ‘helpfully’ suggested that maybe he’d gotten too drunk and someone had pick-pocketed him? The old Klliik looked furious, trying to stare her down, but Lenny merely stared back at him. “Yeeeee.” It was impossible to stare down Lenny. Even for an angry LightSinger.

            “We’rrrre s’pposed t’pay Juanita wit’ dat money!” Gorb glowered at all of them, but then hung his head, like he was accepting that maybe it was his fault after all. Pickpockets always look for easy marks; he shouldn’t have been so irresponsible.

            “Don’t worry Gorb,” Dominic assured him. “Let’s just go have some breakfast, get you some coffee,” (“Coffee!” Lenny sing-songed from the side), “and things will look better. I’ve been working on a plan….”

After breakfast, he took Kohra aside, looking worried. “We need a plan. I’ve got nothing.”

“You said —” Kohra began, but he interrupted her.

“What were you guys thinking? Stealing Gorb’s money to buy some arrow?”

            He was waiting for her to say something. “Uh, yeah, I know. We did try to talk Lenny out of it….”

            “Not hard enough,” he muttered.

            She raised her voice. “Look, you know how Lenny is! She was going to do it anyway. We just happened to be there.”

            He scowled. “Well, anyway, we need a plan. Like the Snakey and Squirrelly show again? What do you think?”

            Kohra shook her head immediately. “We can’t make ourselves known here like that. Remember that Black Thing? Remember how Jorn the Blacksmith was supposed to be our salvation, but instead we led that Thing right to her? We can’t do that again. So no. No way. Let’s just get jobs washing dishes or something. Doing chores for people like at the beginning.”

            It wasn’t very satisfying, but they didn’t have anything better.