Part 15: The Bear God

From The World of Dreams Manual

WoD History

Part 14: Fallen Monarchs

Gizash reformed, Queen Lissar dead, the realm split asunder and reunited. Before long, Sir Sy, last of the original knights, would fade into the legends of the past. This was our new age.

A new threat emerged for this new age. For many years, a group of mages and bandits maintained a fortress north of the crossroads. From here, they raided Skara main and Yew, occasionally daring so far as to attack Britain. They were driven out and replaced by the fearsome Shabooli, a primitive tribe. Armed with spears and barely dressed, the Shabooli proved themselves to be more than capable in a fight. Unencumbered by armor, they easily dodged blows. In return, their spears glided past shields and penetrated even the heaviest plate. Often striking from hidden places, one was an even match for a warrior, and more than one sent the wise running. After a few encounters with the blue skinned primitives, many took large detours around the Shabooli fort.

As frightening as the Shabooli were, we didn't realize the true threat was from their religion. In these modern times, we have made a religion of the worship of the virtues. However, some of the Old Gods of our ancestors still have contact with this plane. Among these is the bear god, Matumus. God of nature and enemy of civilization, Matumus hates humans. Our ancestors may once have paid him homage, but we turned away when we started building roads and cities. In the simple Shabooli, mirrors of our ancient forefathers, Matumus found a tool to destroy humanity.

To detail every encounter with Matumus would be a lengthy affair. In modern times, I believe there have been no less than five separate incarnations. Through a combination of ceremony and sacrifice, the Shabooli have called Matumus back from the Void, and he has taken physical form. Every incarnation has been in a new and more powerful form. The only thing the forms have had in common was they glowed with a blood red aura. His most recent appearance was in the form of a reaper, called forth by command of the Blood Queen.

It was in one fight against Matumus that brave adventurers discovered a Shabooli village far to the north of Yew. From my own visits I cna attest it is a horrible place, a testament to the savagery of the Shabooli. A blood stained altar is at the center of the village. From the walls hang bodies of the Shabooli's victims. The first human visitor appears to have been the hero, Big Ed the Bad. It was a sad day indeed when his corpse was found adorning the wall.

Although every incarnation of Matumus has been destroyed, each was more powerful than the last. The Shabooli have been quiet for months, but it is possible they will summon him from the Void again. Perhaps someday soon they will reincarnate the Bear God into a new, invincible form.

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