The Rod of Seven Parts

## Lore

**The Rod of 7 Parts**

**A sermon of Disces, the Gomteun Sage**

72 eons have there been, and we now reside in the 73rd. But common to all have been the divine, the arcane, and the ancients.

The most fearsome of these, the ancients, do worse than demand obeisance as the most detestable of the divine might, nor do they bother binding things together as the arcane winds do - the ancients expect to rule. They do not hesitate to use their powers as they see fit, because they believe rulership is their due. It was the ancients who, furious at the minds and hearts of mortals who preferred allying themselves with gods, magic, or nothing, destroyed the material existence within which they dwelled. And so concluded the first eon. The gods worked together to form a new existence, and used their power to banish the ancients to the elemental chaos and astral seas beyond… but eventually, the ancients always returned. Gods rose and fell, but the ancients, who do not die as others do, persisted with memories inscribed as if by fire with all that has befallen them from time immemorial.

At the beginning of this 73rd eon, Gomteus and Xinir, gods of chaos and order, came together to form a new reality with a plan to once and for all bar the ancients from entry. Together, these two entities formed the remnant dust of the 72nd eon into the tool with which they would craft a new, safe home for all things. They created a staff of immeasurable power. Piece by piece they took the essence of what had been and crafted with it a section of the scepter that set the 73rd eon in motion. Seven pieces there were, formed from the seven essential threads of being. The first three of these were shaped by Xinir, god of Order, and of the stars.

The first segment represented all that was benevolent and honorable of the kings of 72 past eons. Xinir formed it into a scepter of brightest gold, never to fade or smudge, that it’s bearer may nobly defend those of lesser stature by harnessing it’s power- if the bearer be strong enough to carry such responsibility.

The next segment represented all the logistical cunning and judicial acuity of the kings of 72 past eons. Xinir formed it into a scepter of frosted iron that could enlighten it’s bearer with the wisdom of the ancients- if the bearer possessed the capacity to understand all that was held within.

The third segment represented all accumulated wealth and power of the kings of 72 past eons. Xinir shaped this scepter of blackest obsidian, with a rearing dragon at it’s head serving as a warning to those who would risk binding it to their hearts. This, too, could be tamed- if the bearer of the scepter be wise enough to tame the self-serviance of all those rulers who came before.

The next three segments of the staff were shaped by Gomteus, god of Chaos, and of the moon.

The fourth segment represented the hardiness of mortal beings, resilience in the face of trial and adaptability in the face of impossibility. Gomteus formed it into a baton of sturdy stone with the crenelations of a castle parapet at it’s head, granting all the stubborn resilience and supple flexibilty of 72 past eons to a wielder, if that soul be resilient enough to channel such power without being consumed.

The fifth segment represented all that could not be achieved by one, but which had been achieved by all in 72 past eons. Gomteus formed it into a baton of hardy wood with gnarled roots twisting at it’s base into a pommel. A worthy soul could channel the power within to nurture their own community, to sway the hearts of mortal beings to common purpose and titanic achievement- if the bearer be strong-willed enough to first make an ally of the baton itself.

The sixth segment represented the skill and mastery of 72 past eons. Gomteus formed it into a baton of carven ivory who’s runes adapt to train the wielder for the skill they need most- if, that is, the bearer be dextrous enough to wield the baton at all.

Gomteus and Xinir had fashioned what they valued, and yet still some few specks of 72 foregone eons remained, bright spots upon the void of limbo. Working as partners, the moon and stars collected these and fashioned the final segment- though truth be told, this segment fashioned itself, and the three worked as one.

This final, seventh segment became a spearhead of shining mithril, a full shin in length, same as the others. It carried within the luck and chance of 72 eons, that a wielder might pluck the very lutestrings of fate as she played - if the wielder be lucky enough to carry to the spearhead at all.

From these seven components, the material plane of this 73rd eon was constructed. But when combined, they formed something different altogether. A rod of seven parts that brought together all the rippling undercurrents of existence itself. And when the ancients made to attack, Gomteus barred their passage and used the rod to force them out, to banish them to the outer reaches of the astral seas and elemental chaos for good. In the battle, now known to we who keep such secrets as the great conflagration, the rod exploded. These disparate elements were not meant to be united in such a way, and god though he was Gometus was not strong enough to wield them more than once. The attack unleashed such power that the seven pieces flew apart. Scattered, each fell to the material plane, where as time has passed, mortals have found and used them as they will, if they were strong enough. Uniting even two pieces of the rod requires great skill, strength, and artificery- and would grant greater power than either component could provide separately. Uniting all seven pieces would grant mastery over reality itself, if ever a being stronger than a god were capable of bringing them together.

And as for the ancients, the tactic worked, for a time. Destroyed in the great conflagration, it took 10,000 years or more for them to reform. Without the rod fully assembled, however, the gods had no way to prevent the ancients from entering this 73rd eon as they’d entered all those that came before. Not for lack of trying, mind you- 9 avatars were called forth by the gods, not only the elder 2 but the younger gods also. 9 avatars to find 7 segments. Some were sent deep into the underdark by Oara and Xinir, while others searched the skies at Gomteus’ command and still more scoured the land at Setonia’s behest.

Some succeeded in finding a single segment, which they were to safeguard. Others formed great guilds of mapmakers and thrill seekers hoping that among their many travels and journeys the lost segments might surface. Some turned aside from their journeys altogether, to their shame. And when the ancients arrived, they knew the only way they could succeed was to divide the avatars. To break the nine into groups smaller than 7, ultimately isolating them completely, so that they wouldn’t have the strength to wield the rod. And the ancients formed their own guild, the order of the broken scepter, determined to keep the rod broken. Some say the order themselves keep the pieces, in seven vaults across seven locations. Others say the scepters will present themselves to worthy possessors at times of greatest need.

I, however, believe it most likely that they are simply lost, and waiting to be found. They will likely gravitate towards concentrations of the same power they contain, so if you plan to go searching, expect great trials on your journey.