Belg
My Endless River... The History of Belg I'd like to think that, in the Grand Scheme of Things, my history was something unique. Unfortunately, centuries upon centuries of experience in the world about me has colored my view drastically towards the amount of difference any one man can ever make in the unlimited and vast river of time. It seems that most people view history as something factual and concrete. What they do not realize, is that time itself is a river. it flows continually, yet that which lay behind, is still just as fluid and dramatic, taken as a whole, as that which lay ahead; that what one person sees as the past, another lives in the present, and another strives to be...
The logical place to begin is NOT with my distant past as Belgarath. If you are curious enough, there's been plenty of literature written about me. I don't need to rehash old stories over and over again.
It starts roughly 300 years ago, in a small village established on an Island in the Great Sea. Having seen the Purpose of the Universe be set back to Right, I decided to go someplace where I could live in relative anonymity from all but closest family. The villagers know who I am, but when you help them tend crops, build fences for cattle, and bleed when you cut your skin, they don't think of me as any different than anyone else. 7000 years of fame can make a guy get real old real fast...so to speak. It is a small farming village, surrounded by crops and herds, fertile and lush and teeming with life and Beauty. We have a population of roughly 450 people, and are one of about 8 villages on the island. The people are intelligent, honorable, and friendly. A small pack of wolves also resides on the island, of which, my wife Poledra and I are welcome parts.
A common library/college is seated at the center of the Island, built, staffed, and maintained exclusively by volunteers, of which I am honored to be one. This has allowed me to continue my study of the roots of mountains, and turn the aggressive energies of some young villagers to a thirst for knowledge. I am also a member of the Island Council, representing our village on the Council of Elders. It is a small governing body designed to address whatever issues may arise...make decisions on who gets to maintain the few roads this year, what we can do to improve the variety of foods we grow, and the odd crisis such as village wells running dry, etc etc etc. It's a great honor to serve there as well, and one I have held for more than 150 years. When I am not teaching, studying, telling stories, or dragging down game, I like to fish, sail, and of course, drink from my Tankard, a gift from my Master ALDUR.
To the best of my knowledge, I am the only one of my Island that dreams. Perhaps it is my experience with the Will and the Word, or the fact that I have always lived in two worlds simultaneously, but I cannot explain it. One night, my dream seemed a bit more real than the one the night previous.....and with the subtle focus of my will, I became coherent. Now, if I could just lose coherency enough to change my avatar form at will, and go wolf......
That brings us up to the present. You know me in the dream as Belg, and at the time of this writing, I have most recently reached my Third Sphere. I am a GateKeeper, with the Focus of Willpower... an ability I have had several thousand years of practice in focusing in my waking world.
Now you know of my past. Come join me in my future, and sail this mighty river we call time.
Clear Dreams!
