The Seeds of Dissolution

by William C. Tracy

  “It’s alright, Enos,” Sam said. With a grunt, he levered up from the floor, grasping at the speaker’s chair, and she supported him. He was pale, and breathing hard. Origon thought he was hovering just above one of his attacks, but there was a core of steel there, under the young man’s fatigue.

  Sam pulled himself upright, pushed his shoulders back. “To answer your question, Majus Ayama, I don’t know what I am, but I am fairly sure I’m not House of Communication.” Now he looked to Origon, who frowned back. What nonsense was this? What else would he be?

  “You won’t agree until I show you,” he said, neatly cutting off Origon’s question. The yellow of the House of Communication glowed about him, but Origon couldn’t hear anything. Also, the color was off—too bright, too metallic. Gold? A secondary color, at his age and experience? Where was the primary color?

  Sam cast around, then jerked a wooden crossbow bolt from where it stuck in the chair back. He held it up, and the color drifted from his hand to the bolt. Sam cocked his head to one side and Origon listened along with him. There was nothing but the normal Symphony. What Communication would there be with a stick of wood and a bit of iron on the end?

  The shaft of the bolt wavered, and grew darker. Sam’s hand drifted down, then back up, as if the bolt had gained weight.

  “Could I do this with the House of Communication?” he asked, and passed the bolt to Origon. It was now solid iron. No house could change matter at a basic level. Origon stared at him, then passed the bolt to Rilan.

  “I need it back,” Sam said. He was breathing heavily. “I don’t have many notes to waste.” Rilan handed the bolt to Enos, who passed it back. Sam closed his eyes for a moment, and a gold halo flashed around the bolt. When it passed, the shaft was once again wood, and Sam breathed out a relieved sigh.

  “How?” Origon pressed close to his apprentice. He kept his crest down with an effort.

  “I changed its melody,” Sam answered, “just as with anything else. I think—I think I can hear more of the Grand Symphony than you. There are deeper layers. Each time I listen, I hear more.”

  Another house? Another way to change the Grand Symphony? This was treading on a path of feathers, which could collapse at any moment. Origon turned to Rilan. Her eyes were hooded, the mirror of his worry. They had both seen a way the Grand Symphony could be stretched, long before, and it had not ended well.

  “Something for tomorrow,” Rilan said slowly, and he knew she was thinking of the little piece of paper he had burned in his apartment, so long ago—the one with instructions on how to manipulate the Grand Symphony mechanically. “We won’t figure it out here, and we all need sleep and food.” Her tone promised they would come back to this topic. “We need to let the guards know the void is gone. We need to deal with Vethis.” She tilted her head at Sam. “He won’t mutate into something else overnight.”

  “Um.” Origon’s head snapped back around. He didn’t like those little noises the young man made. Something bad usually followed them. “There is one more thing,” Sam said. He looked between the three of them. “We’ve heard it mentioned before, but can you tell me exactly what the Dissolution is?”

  Origon’s crest puffed out like a feather duster before he could stop it, and his fingers tingled, as if the blood had left them. Why was Sam asking about this now, of all times, unless something else had happened to him? It was nonsense, of course, but when things like the Aridori and Drains appeared out of nowhere, even he would stop to listen to a rumor like this.

  “Where did you hear it this time?” Rilan’s dark skin had gone gray.

  “It is the end of everything, and a time of great change.” This was from Enos. “My father told us that once, when my brother and I were very young. I have never forgotten it.”

  “One of the Life Coalition soldiers said it, I think. Or maybe the maji.” Sam’s eyes would not hold his, and Origon let his crest show his disbelief. “They called the Drain a seed of the Dissolution.”

  The Dissolution was said to be an upheaval of space and time—some type of transformation. Enough change to bring a Methiemum from an unknown world? To bring back a lost species? He stroked his chinfeathers.

  “I have a feeling we will learn more soon,” Origon told them. “If it truly is coming, we will rebuild, and when the Great Assembly is repaired and cleaned, then the ten species—the eleven species,” he nodded to Enos, “can face the Dissolution together.”

  END OF BOOK 1

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  APPENDIX I

  Appendix: The Houses of the Maji

  -For uncounted cycles, the six houses of the maji have worked together to uphold the Great Assembly of Species. They control the only means of transportation in and out of the Nether and between the homeworlds, and thus have a great responsibility to the non-maji members, who far outnumber them. As such, every majus has a say in the Assembly, a concept some non-maji are not comfortable with.

  Houses of the Maji, often attributed to Ribothari Tan, Knower, later of the Council of the Maji

  -Each house of the maji can hear and change one section of the Grand Symphony and thus affect reality, by the individual applying the notes that make up their own song. This application can be seen by other maji in a visual representation of color, often accompanied by a secondary color, personal to the individual majus. It is said each house’s Symphony is based on a certain frequency or note.

  From “Memoirs of Yaten E’Mez,” Highest of the House of Communication and Speaker for the Council, 379 A.A.W.

  House of Strength

  The color of the House of Strength is bright emerald green, and the areas of the Symphony it affects often have to do with constitution, defense, strength, and growth, as well as soil and rock. A large portion of these maji have jobs as herbalists, veterinarians, or naturalists, though as with any house, the possibilities are nearly endless. Their Symphony diverges from the sound of a baritone resonant string.

  House of Communication

  Members of the House of Communication are the most common councilmembers chosen to become Speakers for the Council of the Maji. Their house color is pure yellow, and they affect quick thought, speech patterns, as well as air pressure, weather systems and avian creatures. Many of the House of Communication serve as diplomats of the maji, working less with the physical changes in their Symphony than those of interplay between the species. Their Symphony’s fundamental tone is that of a low reed.

  House of Power

  The House of Power deals with the play of politics, movement of societies, personal relationships, as well as power generation, and simple heat. Their house color is fiery orange. They can as easily be found in the industrial districts of the Imperium and the homeworlds as in clandestine meetings and national assemblies. Their Symphony’s base melody is of a sounding horn.

  House of Grace

  Those of the House of Grace are often subtle, with their control of liquids and ice, as well as efficient movement, cooperation, and coordination. Their house color is sapphire blue, and they work around transportation systems, food distribution, diplomatic intermediaries, and engineering positions. Many members are fond of kinesthetic movements such as dance, athletics, and martial arts. The founding tone of their Symphony is a passionate tenor.

  House of Healing

  The members of the House of Healing are best known as skilled physicians and surgeons, as the brilliant white of their house color seems to indicate. However, there is much more to the specializations of the house, including plant and animal breeding, psychology, profiling information on individuals, and even archeology through residue of living creat
ures on ancient artifacts. Their Symphony’s fundamental tone is a high ringing of struck metal.

  House of Potential

  The House of Potential is the most directly tied to science and engineering. Its members are responsible for many of the technological improvements of the ten species made in recent cycles. Their house color is a rich rusty brown, and they are, at the very simplest, concerned with energy transfer. They are known to work with the House of Power on fuel and work generation and the House of Healing on ancient history, describing energy paths of artifacts. They deal with kinetic movement as the House of Grace does, transfer of force as the House of Strength, and energy of the weather with the House of Communication. Their members can also create Systems, or long-lasting changes in the Symphony, driven through a store of energy. Their Symphony starts with the shriek of whistling air.

  APPENDIX II

  Appendix: The Species of the Great Assembly

  -The number of species in the Great Assembly varies over the cycles. Currently it resides at ten, including the recent addition of the Lobhl. The founding members are those who, according to tradition, started the first Assembly when the maji of their species discovered each other in the Nether.

  From the notes of the Effature, Bolas Palmoran, 983 A.A.W.

  -All members of the Great Assembly share basic similarity in form and function, though the species are physically spread far across the universe. The Nether helps to form connections despite differences, to the point where some scholars wonder whether the Nether has some impact on the species that find it.

  From “Assumptions on the Nature of the Nether” by Festuour philosopher Hegramtifar Yhon, Thinker

  Methiemum

  The Methiemum homeworld is known as Methiem, and hosts a species well known as traders and decent scientists. They were one of the first to discover the Nether, as they are entrepreneurial and prone to adventure, though perhaps at the expense of long-term planning. However, this cannot have affected them greatly, as the common trading tongue of the ten species is derived from one of their dialects. In addition, they were the first to suggest an Assembly of all species who discover the Nether, probably to secure trading rights with the others. They are the most prevalent species of the ten, of medium height and coloring ranging from a dark mahogany to very pale peach, even with cases of albinism. They often have fine hair restricted to the tops of their heads and sporadically over the limbs and torso, more so on the males.

  Kirian

  The inhabitants of Kiria are known for their philosophy, debate, and ancestor worship. They were another species to discover the Nether early and became a founding member of the Great Assembly. They make fine statesmen, though they have a convoluted natural dialect in many of their nations, which does not translate as well inside the Nether as other species. Kirians do not let this stop them from expounding on any subject they know of, and some they do not. The males of the species favor long colorful robes in many cultures, while the females prefer to leave their arms and legs bare to show off their fine feathering and delicately curved nails. The species is generally tall, with wrinkled, liver-spotted skin, and feathers creating expressive crests on top of their heads. Males may also cultivate moustaches and thin beards, and both are sparingly feathered on the torso. Their pointed teeth can be unnerving when bared in smiles, though their dentation is mainly for gripping in their diet of grubs, beetles, and other slippery creatures.

  Lobath

  The Lobath are often looked down upon by the other species as dull and uninteresting, much like the prevalent mushroom farms on their rainy homeworld of Loba. However, Lobath are found at every level of society, from the menial to the most intellectual, and are one of the founding members of the Great Assembly. Consistently, they are defined as hardworking, compared to the other species, and tend to fill more physically demanding jobs. They are usually savvy with technology, especially new inventions. Other species may joke of the permanently surprised expression on the Lobath face, arising from their unblinking silvery eyes. They have a large range in coloring, from yellow, to orange, to red and brown, but are more easily identified by their squat neck-less bodies and three head-tentacles sprouting from the crown of their heads. The tentacles are often braided or tied together in certain styles. Males may have small rubbery growths above and below the mouth, while females have thinner head-tentacles and wari, the third gender, are generally of slighter, taller, build.

  Sathssn

  The Sathssn are unusual in that over eighty percent of the culture of Sath Home subscribe to various sects of the Cult of Form, based on perfection of the physical body. This invades every aspect of their society, from dark cloaks, robes, and gloves, to marriage rites, where the participants must be examined by other family for any illness or disfigurement, to livestock, bred to only descend from the most reputable lineages. The inhabitants of Sath Home are especially prone to cancers and tumors, and their winnowing practice began as a necessary response. Like many such things, it became religion. A notable exception is the Southern Coastal Coalition, a nationality where scales are allowed to be shown, and some may even go about without cowls and gloves and in short sleeves, to the dismay of the rest of their species. In the rare occasion flesh is shown, the Sathssn body is covered in tiny scales, ranging from yellow to green. Sparse hair may be present on the head and face, and eyes are red with yellow slitted pupils. Some Sathssn antisocial tendencies have caused interspecies conflicts in the past, yet they remain in good standing as a founding member of the Great Assembly. Despite their almost worldwide religion, many become scientists or statespeople.

  Etanela

  The long-lived Etanela are described as inherent pacifists, though the planet of Etan provides its fair share of malcontents, adventure seekers, and revolutionaries to the Great Assembly, of which they are a founding species. The Etanela typecast comes from their love of music, painting, sculpture, and literature. Many accepted great works were either created by an Etanela, or funded by one. Lots of educated Etanela are gifted speakers, and love to argue. Physically, they are the tallest of the ten species, with the largest individuals rising head and shoulders over even Kirians. Their skin tends to light blue, revealing aquatic origins, also noted in their large eyes and long fingers, and small, streamlined noses. The only hair the species exhibits is in a mane surrounding the head, often left to trail to the shoulders. The species is largely divided into four genders, with both dominate and subordinate versions of those who carry young and those who do not. Their mating rituals are often obtuse to those not of their species.

  Festuour

  Festuour can be hard to pin down to a stereotype. They thrive in the variability of professions and are well known for their philosophers, gourmands, mechanics, scholars, tailors, and explorers. On their homeworld of Festuour, once a member of the species finally discovers their chosen path in life, it is appended to their name permanently. Their inclusive friend-based society encourages members to do anything they set their minds to, with cheery acceptance. Children are reared communally to give the best options for advancement of themselves and society. Physically, Festuour are stout, covered in coarse greenish-brown hair. Their faces have long snouts with large noses, and nearly all members of the species possess piercing blue eyes, though a common failing is nearsightedness. The hairy Festuour do not often wear clothes, instead preferring accessories such hats, glasses, gloves, and belts and bandoliers with many pouches. They were the last of the founding members to convene the Great Assembly, though they have the distinction to be one of two species to share a galaxy, the other being the Methiemum. The two are often staunch allies politically and many of the Methiemum’s customs and idioms have bled over to Festuour culture.

  Benish

  Even longer-lived than the Etanela, the Benish were the first newcomers welcomed by the newly created Assembly of Species. Most still live on their homeworld of Aben, and they are the least populous members both in the Nether and in the A
ssembly of Species. Cautious by nature, Benish are studious to a fault, often observing a situation from all sides before making even a preliminary decision. Little is known about their home cultures, save that the species is genderless, and propagates by a form of budding, where the parents, however many, share and mix memories, arranging parts of their history before dying to produce a new child or children, who inherit the progenitor’s memories. Physically, the Benish are one of the most different species, with flesh made of a substance closer to plant than animal. They have no well-defined bone structure, and each member is varied in coloring, skin tone and roughness, and placement of internal organs.

  Sureriaj

  The Sureriaj are the most xenophobic of the ten species, surpassing even the antisocial tendencies of the Sathssn. Their culture is entirely founded on the concept of family, going so far as to have, instead of independent nations, major family lines that matriarchally govern their homeworld of Sureri. There is also a large group consisting of the disgraced—those who have lost their right to their family name—known as the Naiyul. Names are very important to the Sureriaj, and each individual has a hierarchy of names, the most secret known to progressively closer family members. Physically, the Sureriaj are tall and gaunt, with proportionally long legs. They have fine hair covering the entirety of their body, through which the skin can be seen. Their faces are not always appealing to other species, and that, with their aloofness, is the basis of the species slur “gargoyle.” Their society is two thirds male, and two males and one female are required to create a viable offspring. The Sureriaj have the second lowest birth rate of the ten species, just higher than the Benish.