The Book of Thaumaturgus

This is the opening prologue, to a short novel I am writing. Based on the idea of the Greek tragedies. Its a fantasy based book. enjoy

In times of great sorrow, imagination is our only hope of a future unseen to us.

Set of Heggan

 

Two worlds, a dichotomy, with or without each other, they would cease to exist.  So a fabric of sorcery is woven to protect them from each other while still keeping them linked.  A delicate balance lies between the two dimensions, held together by the Book of Thaumaturgus.  A book which holds the knowledge of all things seen and unseen, known and unknown, real and surreal.

 

The Overworld had stood solid in its own magnificence blessed with the light of the Moon and Sun Goddesses and all the bountiful richness their presence gave. Rivers ran full of life and the soil was rich and fertile. Its people built colossal temples overseen by their noble and wise ruler Set. Emperor and King of the line of Heggan, the Royal seed of ten generations all blessed with the blood of kings by the Goddesses of the Skies. For his loyalty the Goddesses entrusted him to be the keeper of the Knowledge.  The Book of Thaumaturgus was a book immense power which held the key to the two worlds and which if in the wrong hands could lead to destruction and devastation.

 

The Underworld was in comparison, worlds apart from the Overworld, its darkness and cold a stark reminder of the punishment for its seedy past.  For the Underworld had only become the home of Rathma, Set’s younger, ambitious brother because of his lust for power. Rathma stood in the shadow of his brother his entire life and fuelled by his aspirations and in his blind foolishness had boasted that the Royal line of Heggan were the true Gods of the mighty worlds and that he was the light of the day and of the night commanding the Sun and Moon to bow down and worship him. 

 

His brother Set begged him to see the error of his boastful claims but Rathma was consumed by his own ambitions.  Set was proved right.  The Sun and Moon enraged by his lack of respect banished him to beneath the soil and turned his skin to scale and hand to claw.  Set loved his brother and begged that the Goddesses be lenient, they refused but granted Rathma one day in which he could visit Set but his skin would be tarnished with his indiscretions. If sun or moon light bathed him or any of his subjects their skin would become opaque exposing their true identity.  

 

Rathma did not take to his punishment well; his burning anger grew until the day he was to be reunited with his brother. On the day of Sanhaim the two worlds merged and Rathma came with an army of loyal followers whose hearts had hardened in the months of darkness and despair.  Set and his people were taken by surprise.  Not prepared for such an onslaught thousands perished. Rathma murdered his brother and stole the Book of Thaumaturgus.  The Book entrusted to him to keep balance between the two worlds.  With such power in his hands Rathma was indeed now mighty and brought the two dimensions together opening doors to demons and succubus’.  He was no longer contained to the confines of the Underworld and plundered his former home, murdering and maiming all who dared to stand against him.

Set’s family had fled to a far region of the land and were protected by the Goddesses but even they were no match for the power held within the pages of the Book of Thaumaturgus.

 

So for almost ten years a war had raged between the two worlds, the Overworld plagued by the rage of Rathma, Ruler of the Underworld. His tenacious thirst for power and his burning jealousy of Set, spurred him on to create a time of desolation and anguish.  Two worlds torn apart until the delicate fabric of their dimension threatened to be destroyed forever. He searched night and day to find Set’s family but a spell covered them and they were invisible to the naked eye.  Rathma became consumed in his search, as the only royal blood line, he become convinced that only on taking Set’s wife as his own and murdering her offspring would he truly be without threat.