page_0: "\"The Three Relics\"

The Shrine of the Builder's First
Apprentice actually held 3 relics.

Two of these relics are widely
known: the Mystic Heart and the
Mystic Soul.

Legend claims that these were
created by a great Mystic, who
had somehow captured both the
heart and soul of the Builder's
First Apprentice, at the time of
his death, and had then changed
them into magnificent gems.

But the rite of transformation,
also imbued each of the two gems
with a spell that would bring
bad luck and disaster on whoever
possessed them, if the gems were
ever separated from the third
relic.

Only women and members of his
order, the Keepers, were immune
to the effects of the evil spell.
Fortunately, for us, the Keepers
have apparently disappeared into
oblivion long ago and we women
can now claim the gems that
have resurfaced."

page_1: 
"The third relic, is much older
than the gems. It was once just a
plain rosary carried by the
Builder himself when he crossed
the rifts from a parallel world.

An ancient legend claims that the
Builder, at that time, was only
a simple knight of the Order of
the Temple, a sect who worshiped
a god who had overcome death
on a tree. And that at the time
of the crossing he was fleeing
from the extermination of his
Order by the kings and high
priests of his world.

That same legend claims that
the emblem on his surcoat was
transformed to that of a hammer
on the day that he laid down his
sword and swore to dedicate the
remainder of his life to building
instead of destruction.

And on the same day, his rosary
was also transformed into gold.
He later gave the rosary to the
squire who had accompanied him
across the rifts ...the same man
who would later become known
as the Builder's First Apprentice.
"

page_2: 
"A millennium later, the 3 relics
came into the possession of the
Order of the First Apprentice, an
offshoot of the Hammerites, who
worshiped the First Apprentice as
a god and stored the artifacts
in a magnificent shrine that
was built near the City of Bohn
soon after its founding.

The Order flourished for several
centuries. However, the close
knit religious group never grew
beyond the confines of the Shrine
and the community built around
it.

150 years ago, several major
earthquakes and avalanches first
destroyed, then covered up, what
had become a vibrant quarter of
the expanding city of Bohn. All
that remained were the peaks of
4 spirals topped with blue-flame
torches and a deep depression
in the ground.

The Hammerites, keen on ending
what they considered an heretical
cult, endeavored to make sure
that every written record about
it was completely expunged from
the annuals of man."

page_3: 
"However, the Hammerites were
unaware that three people had
survived ... along with the relics.

Two of them were men, who
unaware of the Mystic's curse,
had fled with the two gems to 
the far west with the intent of
reviving the order within the
vicinity of the Bonehoard.

They were never heard of again.
But the gems have turned up in
several collectors' hands in
recent years.

The third survivor, my great,
great grandmother, decided to
guard the golden rosary close
to home.

Its care has been transferred
from generation to generation
until finally it has come to me.

Twenty-seven years ago, when I
was only 15, I met and married
Guilliume le Fort, who upon
hearing of our history became
enamored with our cause ...to
rebuild the Order of the First
Apprentice."

page_4: 
"Getting permission to build the
museum from the city was easy.
However, the Hammerites had
expunged all records about the
site, but their own, and would
not renounce their feeble claim
to it until we agreed to cover
up every last vestige of the
former shrine.

Which we did ... after first
clearing out the entrance to
the shrine, creating a passage-
way directly under the large
dome area, and installing a
stone in the floor to hide it. 

Thousands of people have stood
in that spot, admiring a statue
dedicated to the past ...unaware
of the history that is being
rekindled below.

As for the Golden Rosary, I've
hidden it where none but a true
candle-bearing believer would
ever find it.

Catherine le Fort, High Priestess,
Order of the First Apprentice
10/13/34"


