The Makers of Wonders

A story inspired on Changeling: the Dreaming, the RPG by Jorge Arredondo

Long, long ago, lost in the depths of the Dreaming when it was but a misty shadow, a kingdom was built of the very realm of stones. It was so long ago, that it was even before there were sidhe and trolls, and any of the other kiths. It came from the depths of the gray nothingness of the Dreaming, for the dreams were weak in that time, and got stronger with each rock put together. That cathedral of stones gave the Dreaming a form and substance, as it forged its surface and physical body.

Who built that kingdom, you may ask. That ancient race of stone lords is thought long lost, forgotten under the heavy weight of centuries. There were the True Builders, the ones who didn't build, just created with their bare hands. Some scholars call them the Makers of Wonders, as no other name is known of them.

Yet they weren't beautiful and awesome as the Tuatta de Danaan would be, so long after them. They were small and thin and gnarled, much in the way modern nockers and goblins are. But they were able to create were nothing existed, and their works were as beautiful as symphonies of rock. They weren't proud of their work as normal people is about what they do, because they, in a way, were their work. The perfection and beauty they worked were just an extension of their own souls.

Thus they built a world of rock and caves, and mountains and hills. But it was covered by the veil of darkness, because nothing but the grey mist was over the surface of the world. "What can we do? Let's create a ball of pure molten rock, and place it high above the world. It will shed warmth and light to our works, and it make it all shine with beauty" the said, and did.

Under the new light, the world shone like a valuable gem, and the Makers of Wonders liked their work, though pride wasn't in their hearts. Beautiful as the world was, they found it bare, and so they covered its surface with soft rock and fine dust, making its jagged edges softer, its ground nicer to step on, its valleys less deep.

"How static is our kingdom" they claimed, then. "Though beautiful, bathed under the light we built, it is quiet and slow. Only the wind fills its empty spaces, its howls cold and whimsy. Lets take the blood of stones, make it live outside of them, make it dance and sing, and fill the world with a new symphony". And so they did, lakes and seas soon filled the depths of the world, rivers, both small and large danced over the lands they had built.

And the earth and the sun and the water gave birth to all manner of things small and green, all beyond their powers to mold rock, though they liked how things could grow and get nurtured by the work of their souls. For a while in centuries, they rested and watched.

Then they noticed that with time, even mountains can fall. Rivers ate at their very roots, trees pierced its skins, wind torn its exposed flesh, and they knew fear. For if the own rocks could fade away, what would be of them, the Makers of Wonders? Their very souls were getting torn apart as the world got older and weaker.

Deep in grief they asked advice to the greater between the great, Dana. She smiled and said "All your works I've watched with great delight, for your works are good and beautiful, and I understand your fears. But fear not, because all what is done must be destroyed before being rebuilt, such is the cycle of life".

"But, what will happen? We've grown to love this world we've made so much. We can't watch it fade away to dust, blown by the wind, inside our hearts are breaking as the own rocks we gave birth to".

"There is a way to preserve your work forever. The price is high and the reward is even higher" Dana continued. "You've but started the world, but, who will continue it? As you've seen and felt, your time might come to an end, so the world could meet its end with time".

"No!" they shouted "What can we do?"

"Others will inherit the world someday, but no one will ever be able to reclaim the title of Makers of Wonders. They shall make use of your world till it cease to feed them and dissapears, because they won't be able to make it grow again. My own children shall need your miracle... if you so desire, you may merge with your own work, and make it last forever as the sun lives and dies everyday. You'll disappear and at the same time stay forever with your work".

"Do we have to die to preserve our works?" they asked.

"The greatest sacrifice is also the most powerful one" Dana replied, with a soft and reassuring smile "Giving up your life for what you care and love, makes it much stronger than it ever was, and preserves your existence as long as what you loved last, sometimes even longer. But you've made more than building the world, Makers of Wonders. You've set the rules, because what you did is what you are. You did what you had to do, and did it to the best of your abilities, because that is the way you are. In fact, you've already chosen your decision, the first time you brought a stone to the realm of dreams. Don't worry, you'll live forever in the world you've created, forever asleep at its very core, and your dreams will make it grow, and change, to no end. Others shall come and make good use of the world you've made. And they'll make it even more beautiful, because even the most beautiful dream is nothing if nobody dreams it".

The Makers of Wonders nodded "We'd love if someone could make good use of our work. We've worked hard finishing the world, and we'll give it freely to your children. We just hope they'll enjoy it and find our world a good place to live as much as we've done".

And they left, and did as Dana told them, and so they were never seen again though their works are everywhere to be seen. Their work finished, well done instead of arrogantly, and gently ready for its not yet awaken new inhabitants to live in. They slept, and shall sleep forever. And forever is a long long time.

And then, all the kith begun to awake to the dream within a dream.

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