Book of "Ddoe" (Everything) - Introduction

[This introduction has many paragraphs in an Elvish tongue that can be quite hard for those used to the common tongue. Please bare with it. If it is too much of a challenge, simply enjoy the pictures.

This unfinished book appears to have been destined for the Library of the Mage of Waun-Fach. It was a joint collaboration across races, for which this was a second draft - an attempt to set out the illustrations and text.  Unfortunately this version, condemned to the basket of Faadon Naano, was incomplete. Faadon's connection to the book is through Pip Cerrig, his nephew.  Pips father is Karl Cerrig, the map maker of Kreyic who is either Faadon's brother or half brother. Certainly for a man that high up in the hierarchy of human Kreyic Karl seems to have an unusual touch of the Elvish about him, and cannot bring himself to live too long away from the sea...]


Front Cover

Front cover of "Ddoe"

"Ddoe" [Dd pronounced as in a hard Th]

[Gaer Elvish (Calobelvan) translation - "Everything"] 

Page 1

Page 1 of  "Ddoe"

"Ddoe - 1(12)(11)3(11) - Lalsadaceocal"

Gaer Elvish (Calobelvan) Translation - 

"Everything - 39,915 [years] away from creation"

"Everything - 22222 AC"

[A.C. = "After creation" - Quite a discrepancy!  I suspect Human/Elvish disagreement!]

"Vaga ma negal enimova o mo fuaninanl enimofuain o Abalyo nuf mo ilmiranke o mo Shamail astaen; mo Grit Pip Serig o Glascwm Mawth, enimopinscfoarinan o Craic; Aarrddc, ma Dongil enemofoarin; Tad, ma Grit lwis; and Ewis, ma Galimean lalins.

~*~

Ddade:- Mo o ar nuf enimov o mo astaen o lara ar fi o fechmhoor ig sadar mo erins o lara cal met a ceremay erin astaen o mo ca ma blar sadar foarin o lara mhor."

Direct Translation from Gaer Elvish (Calobelvan) to the common tongue -

"Of a combined writing of the master scholars of  Abalyo use[ing] the broken-birth of the Sharmail [Priest-meeting spot]  ?Library?; the Human Pip Cerrig of Glascwm Mouth, 'out-loud reader' of Kreyic; Orddk, the Dwarvish scholar; Tad the Human nomad; and Ewis, a Galmearan refugee.

~*~

Quest:- the because is use writing of the knowledge of all is known of the history flow, towards the present of all folk are, and help build knowledge of the many a soul/spirituality towards the mastery/full knowledge of all spirits/will. "

"Sharmail"

 [The illustration shows an interpretation of the old writing houses of Sharmail, where on warm still days the side panels of the room could be removed to allow the light in.  This scholar and his room show some classic examples of grown furniture and architecture. In some cases additions to the library where planned three generations in advance in order to allow the correct pieces to be grown. You can see here the prominent use of tree-nails. Above the scholar on the wall are a few of the old spirit-signs of the Elvish people. This picture is late in the day for Sharmail, for it depicts the use of iron bindings, and more importantly, of books. Early Sharmail only housed scrolls.]

Page 2

Page 2 of "Everything"

"Ce O Mo Enimova"

Direct Translation from Gaer Elvish (Calobelvan) to the common tongue -  

 

"Birth Of The Writing"

"Origins of the writing.  

The Elves of Abailgor used the part of the library that was taken from Sharmail, seat of Gaer-Elvish knowledge since pre-6000AC. in 20882AC, when Wingaer dissolved, to Abailgor, the peace-meeting site of all the ancient families of northern old Gaer. This contains snippets of knowledge from the ethereal Mage Monilan [Mage-sign], who has long deserted the Elvish Shore. They also used the extensive annuls of the guardians of Aldurelws, who met with many travelers, including the Galmearan, as they passed through the pass of Minabiag and recorded these tales for posterity... 

Other sources used where:- 

The library of Pip Cerrig, being compiled over many centuries by his family and thought to be the largest in Kreyic;  

The open parts of the libraries of Waun-Fach and Tiron, the former thought to be the most comprhensive on Ottarol, and the latter containing most of the languages ever spoken and many more besides;

The minds of Orddk and Ewis, who hold the history of their people, and that of Tad, who has also many tales from teh more removed parts of the east. 

Pip Cerrig."

[Some discussion on illustrations and symbols -

 There are three Mage-signs used. Monilan's is in its origional form , while Tiron and Waun-Fach are both slightly elaborated. Waun-Fach is thought to have got his sign from the ear of the silver Lynx, his preferred host before the coming of Humans.  Tiron is thought to be linked to Wood-Sorrel, but no-one knows why. Very little is known of Monilan.

Mage-signs are used when writing about Mages as they use shape rather than sound in the Faerie dimensions to communicate.

Tiron Mage-sign

Monilan Mage-sign

Waun-Fach Mage-sign

This Rune of dragonic protection (bellow) is used frequently by Elvish, Dwarvish and some Human cultures. It represents the balance of the Physical, Conscious and Faerie.

Dragonic Rune of Protection

Karl Cerrig is the father of Pip Cerrig, and Pip continues to use his fathers logo on his official projects.  the use of Faadon Naano's logo is interesting. Although he is not credited for this project the use of his sign, coupled with the fact that this book has turned up in a collection of his old notes, suggest he was intimately connected with it...

 

Faadon Naano's sign

Karl and Pip Cerrig's sign

This picture is of the group working around a round table.  Orddk is on the left, then comes Pip, then Ewis, then an inebriated Tad. The style of the archetecture suggest they are at Pips house in Glascombe Mouth, Kreyic. As the Abailgor elves would not travel this far it begs the question - who did the drawing? Could it have been Faadon Naano?]

Around the round table

Abailgor? Or Sharmail...?

Page 3

Portraits of the writers

[The dry fallen leaves represent the old leaves of paper used to compile the text. The snake, with its triple tongue, hinting at the Dragonic rune of protection, represents a renewal of these old texts, a sloughing of old hardened skin of rivalry and a restoration of balance.]

Ewis

[Ewis is depicted with the mountains of Nazuoralnitotzu in the background, returning to the old hunting grounds of her people and living off the rich fruit that grow there.]

Orddk

[Orddk is pictured in a Dwarvish doorway at Farin, just inside Darngaer, where he comes from. This is a place of peace in the face of hostilities from all surrounding people, a mixing place for Elish, Human and Dwarvish traders. Above his head is the goat god who terrifies the superstitiouse Dwarvish miners. The only thing that scares this god of mine colapse is his own image, hence it is everywhere in Dwarvish towns around Nazuralnitotzu.]

Pip Cerrig

[Pip Cerrig depicted in the simple robes in fashion at the moment in Kreyic, with a background of one of the shelves of his library.]

Tad

[Tad is a Moryan, a 'Gypsy' as some say.  Her name is not her real one - as with all Moryan to avoid trouble they use pseudonyms based on their real names. Her pseudonym, she has said on occasion, is a shortening of Tadpole, but no-one believes her.  Here she is seen growling at the illustrator, a typical pose for this player of theater. Behind her is one of the vans of her people. Undoubtedly it is not hers. No Moryan would want to go down in print with too much reality around  them encase it turned around and bit her.]

The Abail Elves

[This is a group portrait of some of the Elves who helped with the book. Typically for their people not only are the scholars depicted, but so are the fisher-people who fed them, the camouflaged warrior who guarded them and hose-keeper who cooked and cleaned for them. On Abail all these duties are considered necessary parts of writing a book.]

A map of the "Elvish Shore" (slight nudity)

A map of "the Elvish Shore" by Faadon Naano

The Elvish in this banner reads "[th]e elvi[sh] [sh]ol" - The 'l' at the end must be a miss spelling - it should be 'r',  the character to the right.

Green Man from above map

We will look more closely at the main map later, but for now will content ourselves with the border.  The pattern of spiraling vegetation is a variation on an old Elvish one.  In the modern age, when the Elvish peoples feel themselves to be in somewhat of a winter for their race on this part of Ottarol it is without leaves, except for close against the green man, the symbol of the green god who gave life to the paper which made it. This means the original (perhaps this is the original) was drawn on Gaer tree-paper, rather than Vellum.

A similar green man from a much older Elvish map

The depiction of a Dragon and a Unicorn is also an old Elvish devise.  These two beings are believed to be the creatures most in balance between the three substances of matter, consciousness and faerie.

Dragon from the map above

Unicorn from the Map above

Unicorn from an older Elvish Map

 

The beings at the top are a reference to the fact that though this area is referred to as the Elvish Shore this is an anachronism.  Now there are Dwarves and Humans living in this area, and the Elves are no longer a united race but split into countries.  

Forest Elve

The first depiction is of a traditional forest dwelling Elve of Gaer. With longbow in hand and curved blade by side this being carries the long banner of history in their hand.

Dwarve

Next comes the fearsome Dwarvish iron clad warrior who first arrived in this land in the early days of their ancient empire. Now they inhabit rebeliouse Nazuralnitotzu and certian remnant townships on the Western Plateau.  They bare aloft the broad axe of their people, symbolizing the cutting and the carving out of these lands into nations. The Galmearans who they drove out of these lands are not depicted.

Plains Elve

Here is the long legged Plains Elve of Cananshall. Although their people roamed the area before the coming of the Dwarves it is only through the deforestation of the Dwarvish Empire that their current lifestyle fully developed.  They are depicted carrying an atlatl, two small spears to through it with and a long barbed spear. The atlatl symbolizes the length of their limbs, the two darts their speed and dispersed population. The long spear symbolizes their own unconquerable strength. Above them fly two birds symbolizing freedom, and beside is a mobile tipi symbolizing that they are forever on the move, while no Plains Elve can be depicted without a horse! 

Human

Lastly is the Human. in an old pot helm and a hunting spear. Faadon Naano has chosen to depict them as the noble but poor beings they where originally when they came to these shores. This is probably because given the choice between the northern Kingdom of Brach, with its often overblown and cruel leaders operating in a strictly feudal society, and the Common Lands of Brach to the south where an older and more democratic system based of gift giving and bravery is in force, Faadon felt the later better fitted the flow of history.  The castle depicts their reliance on these structures, and the banner planted in the earth depicts how reliant they are on personal stakes in land.  It is shorter than the elvish banner given their shorter time here. It is also set up to show their historical opposition to the Elvish people.

Compass Rose

At the bottom of the map is Faadon Naano's elaborate illustrated compass rose. 

Domtajoyan human and Cheetah

  

Domtajoyan trade goods

To the left is a dark skinned human from Domtajoya, the Human land in the extreme south-west. Behind him are trade goods symbolizing the wealth of the region, as well as the fact that most contact in the region is through trade rather than conflict. The Domtayoyan man brings decorated carpet, a famous export of the region, a jeweled  knife, a snake skin belt and a box of spice. Behind him are the long grasses of the fertile bits of his country and the sacred cheetah of his Savannah. He carried in his hand a ceremonial hammer-axe, as used on state occasions.

Elvish Shaman

Elvish trade goods

The Elvish woman is a shaman from the north eastern Sharmail Island region. (This area is called the Haunted Islands on this map - this is the Human name and serves the purpose of making the surviving underground vaults of this ancient library relatively undisturbed - this is a trick learned from the Galmearan people.)  She brings fruit from the forest gardens, a sealed drum of olives from her trade partners in Zingomoogaer, and the vital reason for her continued existence on this island, copies of the ancient elvish books.  Behind her is the  timid sacred deer of the island, and thick vegetation. Her weapon is the saw-spear, developed from the tools the elves have both used to tend their forest gardens and defend their privacy.  

The strait horned cow skull is from the Cananshal region, and the spear looks like the ceremonial spears of Darngaer, both regions central to the map.

Stained Glass Dragon from the Sharmail Library

Close up of dragon Stained Glass

The whole Stained Glass Window as drawn

"Stained Glass from the Sharmail Library. 

Faadon Naano 2404"

Close up of Runes on the tail of the dragon

[The runes on the tail of this Dragon are not Magish as one might expect, but look perhaps Dwarvish.  Either way they are indecipherable at present. They may well be a spell, rather than a written phrase.  The Magish Rune for Dragonic protection is used prominently in the center of the image.]

Musings on the bones of Dragons...

"The Sharmail Library Dragon Skull."

 Fragment # 1

"The Sharmail Library Dragon Skull - sketched in the scant minuets that where afforded me by the zealous librarian."

On the reverse, in an uneven script - 

"Bilge-skinned librarians! She hit me with a book crook, just for trying to touch the Dragon skull.  I thought she was reading!"

"Horse skull for comparison to Dragon"

And in more even script, bellow - 

"My suspicion is that this is a baby skull.  The fontanel is still open, the plates yet to be fused and the egg beak is still intact, and under developed.  A still-born dragon maybe?  It is a mere 3 feet in length.  If their patterns are wedded closely enough to the Organic world the teeth indicate they are not milk feeders!"

Fragment # 2

"Horse Skulls have a similar structure to Dragons, though the latter also owes its form to birds and dinosaurs.  Are they from an Organic lineage??"

Comparison of Dragon and Wolf's leg structure.

 Fragment # 3

"Dragon's leg bones."

"Wolf leg bones for comparison."

"Drawn in a hurry on a beach of the first Island of the Jagraana Archipelago north of Beorg while cowering behind a giant limpet."

"Dragon in "High Walk"" - leg bones

 Fragment # 4

"Crocodiles have a walk called the "Low Walk" and another called "High Walk". It appears that Dragons are in some ways similar..."

"Dragon in "High Walk". My mood:- Concerned."

"Wings (not to scale)" - Bone structure

Ottarolian dinosaur hips and badger hips

Fragment # 5

"Wings (not to scale)"

"My Dragon leg (Jagraana)

Primative Dinosuar (e.g. Central Ottarol)

Pterosaur (e.g. Northern Ottarol)

Bird (e.g. Northern Ottarol)

Bat (e.g. Tuy F'Fowyap)"

"Allosaurus Fragilis Skull"

Fragment 6 #

"Allosaurus Fragilis skull from  Uryupinsk trader, who acquired it in Alaran. Thought to originally have come from Ottarol"

On reverse - 

"Structure of the Fragilis is very open, and in many ways similar to birds and to the Sharmail Library Dragon Skull.  Birds and Dragons fly - Fragilis, as far as I am aware does not.  Is this an adaption for a speedy and fish based diet? More importantly - Why do Dragons have all these poetic resonances with the birds and beasts of the Organic Physical world? If, as I suspect, they are essentially poetic creatures, what does this say about their magical Faerie structures? Do they rhyme as well with the other realms? If only I had had the patience to complete my shamanic training!  Why does the horizon always call so strongly??"

"Allosaurus Fragilis"