Beta Lore: The Pact of Miragul

Long ago, when Erud led his followers from the great old port city of Qeynos, the seeds for our creation were sowed. Not content with the aeons long drudgery of human existance, a few brave souls stood forth to challenge the old and stagnant ways of civilization. Reviled by the lords of men, Erud and his people fled to the land of Odus, where a new city of learning and progress was founded. For many years, all seemed well in the new land — the chains of slavery were cloven asunder, and mankind was free to learn the secrets of creation.

Alas, too happily did the people of Erudin pursue their goals of enlightenment — for as they worked to forge a new understanding of man and his place in the cosmos, tragedy crept cravenly into the hearts of many. The men and women too small-minded or old and powerful to accept continuing new truths and their fruits of discovery turned to greater and greater introspective contemplation of the new society. With the passing of a single generation, the persecution and slavery of old Antonica had been all but forgotten. A new shroud of distrust and stagnation settled over the greatest city of men, Erudin. As this miasma of foolishness and greed began to absorb the people of Erudin, one man stood valiantly to oppose the creeping armies of the stupid — Miragul the Mighty. Close within his councils were a growing group of powerful dweomercraefters and archmages, as well as their faithful apprentices and journeymen.

In public council, Miragul alone stood against the new laws limiting research and discovery. For a time, he held back the tide of darkness gathering at the horizon, and his vision engendered a new renaissance of science and metaphysics. All too soon, however, his enemies mass their strength and worked their evil wiles upon the men of the city. With Erud himself long dead, the new leaders of the city-state of Erudin were a council of the rich and landed — inheriting their wealth, just as the oppressive lords of old Qeynos in Antonica. In a single fell swoop, these lords of decadence killed many of the valiant men and women close to Miragul. Fearing for their lives, the remainder of Miragul’s close circle of companions fled for their lives.

A time of darkness descended upon Erudin, where the only light was that creeping from behind the sooty doors of myriad pleasure halls and places of debauchery. The scattered remnants of Miragul’s people were hunted down and slaughtered mercilessly as they could be found. In time, however, the people of Erudin tired of seeking the few remaining companions and returned to their sport in the city. Those of Miragul’s companions who survived began to gather with other discontented peoples and started a new city in the far south of Odus.

In this new city, Paineel, all things were free to be researched and discovered. Still fearing for their lives, the people of Paineel took great pains to deflect any attention from their new lives and, as such, greatly reduced the speed of their researches. In this time, Miragul, who had been presumed lost during the purges of Erudin, once again returned to his people in Paineel. There was much rejoicing, and those closest to his counsels reforged their companionship anew. This new circle of the great minds of man was named the Brotherhood. The sole purpose of this Brotherhood was to seek out and explore the mysteries of the cosmos. Much progress was made, with individuals venturing all over the known world, gathering artefacts and tomes to absorb and duplicate. Miragul himself was the Grand Hierarch and Archivist of the Order.

In time, all good things come to an end. Erudin, still a great city, but reeking of corruption, had once again gained knowledge of the peoples of Paineel. Frenzied with wrath, the lords of Erudin called holy jihad upon the people of Paineel and labelled them unholy heretics. Rendered grim by this new treachery, the people of Paineel prepared for war — intending to obliterate their implacable foes once and for all.

The wars between Paineel and Erudin were of such a scale that the world has never seen them before or since. To this day, they rage on, alternately crushing one side or the other, but never enough for a definitive victory. Long ago, however, Miragul and his Brotherhood departed both places, moving out into the world to seek their fortune. The Brothers and Sisters of the Order wandered the world in search of knowledge. It was with horror that the news of Miragul’s disappearance was circulated amongst the thaumaturges of the Order. Eventually, it was gleaned that he had been trapped in an experiment gone horribly wrong. Since that time, many of the Brotherhood have sought out his final resting place to undo the terrible mistake, but Miragul remains trapped to this day.

The Pact of Miragul is the Oath that every member of the Brotherhood takes upon Initiation. The Oathtaker solemnly swears to make the search for Ultimate Enlightenment their one and only goal. Subsequently, the Acting Grand Hierarch charges the new initiate with the duty of saving the true Grand Hierarch, Miragul himself.

Reference: http://reality-smiths.com/brotherhood/pact/index.html