Editing HC History (section)

=YP 498 Whither the Empire? Prophecies and the End of the World=

''It is 150 years since the Empire of Hugaar, Pashnaar and Sirdehaar joined with Alaya, a move which threatened its very integrity. Doomsayers then said that the Empire was losing its way.''

''Thirty years ago, this seemed to be coming true. The Empire was stagnating, yet Leo III defiantly took its armies across the sea, returning with new lands and unrivalled wealth. The Empire had fatally overeached itself, many said, the Rendwall had breen breached and the consequences would be grave.'' 

''It is now two years since Leo was assassinated. His son Rhamnus has wed himself to Sirdehaar, in a bold return to the old ways. Optimists see this as an attempt to appease the northern allies and conservative factions in Hugaar; a snub to Alaya. But skeptics say this are more surprises to come.''

''Meanwhile, the Church is in turmoil. Sacred art has always been a feature of Sturian worship. Leo III, however, decreed that images of the gods and saints should be destroyed. This edict has not been universally obeyed, least of all in a remote abbey on the Tegayet Plateau.''

''The winter has been harsh but the air now is crisp with the promise of spring. As the first snows melt, a band of travellers arrives at the Abbey of St. Alcuin, begging refuge. Declaring that they are pilgrims on their way to the Heartstone, they cannot be refused entry and shelter. But nothing about these travellers says pilgrim. The old saying is remembered, "When the spring snows melt, Death comes knocking".''

'''It is the 498th Year of Pasin. The attentions of Emperor Rhamnus II are in the south and east, with tales of wars to come against the Saurians and of new lands to conquer. At home, priests and scholars vigorously discuss their interpretatons of ancient texts, while the last two years have seen barbarian incursions from the west. New creeds and cults arise. An ancient prophecy is remembered: “Huth will rise and fall thrice, then the Worm and the Devil will fight for the World. The Pale Man will show the future in Silver and Gold.”'''

'''Interpretations abound.'''