The Lock and the Eye; Chaos Bound

MANY years ago, as the country was suffering in the aftermath of the First World War a new threat reached the shores of Britain in the Other. Spirits of gas and machine guns, of war and death and pain and terror, of slaughter and fear, of killing and harming – dozens of spirits, hundreds of them, had come to their End.

A mighty Ithaeur of the time had seen the damage which might be caused by these spirits and so created a prison, a Fetish made of Bronze and Iron, of Steel and barbed wire – created, forged from the debris and detritus of a thousand miles of conflict. He created a prison which was also a source of power to the one canny enough to use it – the spirits which were placed within were held in a sort of stasis; a stasis which left their Essence intact. This prison was called the Eye by its creator, and he jealously guarded it – taking to keeping it with him at all times, even when sleeping or bathing.

THE Ithaeur was a militant member of the Blood Talons, more than that he was a warrior born, forged through the fires which raged through Europe. He was Garmir. In his Pride he took a name from his creation, calling himself the Eyes-Smith and claiming that if any was strong enough, was pure enough to use the Essence within it was He. He was wrong.

THE fractured and foul Essence within was enough to corrupt this bold and brave soul; he slowly turned from the noble defender of the country to a cruel and despotic warlord. He gathered others beneath his banner till his Pack was mighty indeed. Some claim his pack was called some the Eye of Fury, or the Eye of the Storm. Others say it was called the Iron Giants, or that he became called this as he grew in stature and the colour of his hair washed out. Some others claim that the Eye of Fury was a Lodge, with the Patron being a canny and fearsome Wolf spirit who escaped imprisonment in order to give its blessing to those who crusaded through the Other.

FOR many moons the Eyes-Smith had such success in controlling the Other that many turned a blind eye as the Essence he drew on so freely corrupted him to a Bale Hound. When those Packs who would not join him, would not call him Alpha started to have their Shadows ruined, their allies in the Other eaten by the Eye and their Pack Totems devoured people finally took notice and moved against him. Still none suspected anything more than a violent and ambitious Ithaeur; few mouthed the words ‘Bale Hound’ let alone took it seriously.

ONE of his former apprentices, an idealist known now only as the Locksmith, another Garmir and another Fetishsmith (though one who made weapons; blades which would cut through steel as if paper) took note and determined the only course open to him; to take the Eye – to take it and seal it away.

HE conferred with his packmate, an Irraka of the Blood Talons known as Night-Eyes, and he agreed to take it and make a prison, a place where the Eye would be corrupt any others. He sought out the boldest and most knowledgably of the Bone Shadows and Hunters in Darkness to find a place where the fabric of the Other was thinner. He moved there and took with him as pack some of those who knew so much of it. Honour’s Shield they called themselves, seeking a spirit of Honour and Duty as Patron, and swore it was the pack of which the Eyes-Smith had been a member reforged. Honour’s Shield would stand for their fallen brother, and undo the evil which he had unleashed. Many of Honour’s Shield were also sworn to Garm, and those swore that they were undo the stain upon the Garmir their fallen Lodgemate had caused.

WORKING in flesh and mind, with forge-fired metal and wood, with stone and with Shadow they bored a hole within the Other – creating a place where there was no Essence, a place without reflection in the Flesh. A place where the Eye could be placed without danger; a dangerous Barren within a Place-which-is-not.

IT was then that the Locksmith gained his name as he crafted five great locks, each one to open on only under the light of Luna’s face, so that each was aligned with one of her Auspices. Each was forged upon an anvil infused with a Lune of the correct choir. When each was finished he made a key for it – again made from metal and stones, leather and wood gathered only under the light of the moon; forged on the anvil and cooled with blood given by those of the five Auspices.

FINALLY all was ready; all that was needed was to place the Eye in the prison and then spread the keys to the five winds against an unknown future need. So it was that Honour’s Shield gathered their weapons, armed themselves with fine-crafted blades, armoured and blessed and following their Patron, a ghostly knight-errant, they made clear to the lands of the Iron Giants.

BOLDLY a noble Rahu, Flame-hair, claimed that the Eyes-Smith was fallen low, Zi’ir, Asah Gadar, traitor. He challenged him to single combat – Garmir against Garmir in the traditional way of the Suthar Anzuth. The Eyes-Smith refused, instead sending near-rabid werewolves to seize him and chain him with silver. Flame-hair would be shaved, his eyes put out and the pools filled with molten silver, his claws ripped out and silver nails hammered in, more nails hammered into his knees and elbows so that he would live the rest of his days broken, battered – a creature to be pitied.

DURING the struggle with Flame-hair, who fought magnificently with his fiery spear, Honour’s Shield paid tribute to their brother and came to his aid. The Locksmith led the charge which cut him free and then they fought their way clear. All were sorely hurt, the weapons of their foes often made from silver, or bound with Silver Spirits, to cause deep and weeping wounds. Poisons and powders were used to blind and torment. In the battle and confusion two of Honour’s Shield gave their lives that the others might live. The twins, Mace and Shield, called out that they would buy their sore pressed packmates time, and wished them well. They stood back to back, blooded, battered but unbroken and roared their defiance as the Eye of Fury carried them under.

WITH much loss and sadness Honour’s Shield gathered together to count the cost. It was then that it was realised that Night-Eyes, the lone Irraka in a pack heavy with Rahu, was missing. Mourning him too the Pack readied themselves to make another attempt to gain the Eye, but decided they would wait till the first rays of morning.

BY the time dawn was threatening Night-Eyes had returned. The wily Irraka had taken advantage of the distraction and destruction caused by Honour’s Shield and had slipped into the martial den of the Eye of Fury. He stole his way to where the Eyes-Smith rested and moving quickly and quietly seized it and was away. Never looking back nor stopping to fight he made his escape as well he could and then found his fellows.

QUICKLY they left, crying a howl of loss for their fallen packmates, but ending with a flourish of triumph they sped to the Lock. As the Eye, swollen and bloated with a myriad of spirits, was placed in a box of metal, within a chest of wood, and then encased in concrete was left within each of the Locks was shut. The blade which was its key removed and given to one of Honour’s Shield for safekeeping.

THEIR purpose done the pack sundered. The Eyes-Smith and his followers needed to be dealt with still, something which would take much time, but his power and corruption were done with. Some of the Pack dedicated themselves to fighting him, and one is said to have guarded the Lock, but for the others nothing is known.

REMEMBER them, the Honour’s Shield, and do them great respect. Flame-hair, Mace and Shield – three great Rahu of the Garmir. Night-Eyes, Irraka and Chosen of Fenris-Ur. The Half-moon Meninna called Ballista and Gibbous-moon Hirafahra Hissu known as Spirit-story. And remember the one who flew from his mentor and crafted a resting place for the Eye, the Locksmith.

ANST Desktop ~ Enemies ~ Events ~ Places ~ Resources ~ the Spirit Courts ~ Tales ~ Venue Style Sheets ~ Who's Who

Edit this page