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The child felt the picture waver and wondered if it was emotion or failing memory. She reached out and touched the Lady and whispered in awe "You knew Freak? You talked with him?" Kayal nodded and a tear glistened in her eye as she said "He made all of this for us. But he must have foreseen that he would have to leave us, because one day, he appointed Clan Leaders and told us we would have to teach the young Shapers ourselves. I wish I could remember them all, but we elves live such long lives compared to some of the races and the memories become dim. There was Carmon and Braveheart and myself....." and her voice trailed off.

There was no special Clan equipment save what the City of Hearts shops sold, but the Shapers wore that armor proudly. We scorned unnecessary adornment and wore the plain items proudly, only the colors changing as we progressed in power.

I loved World. It was austere and proud and I think that I ruined that. Tis a shame that I have kept to myself till now. Since you are to be Keeper, I will tell you though. Most people would not even remember that in its infancy World really did follow its ideals. The main one being to teach us to draw on our natural powers and talents. To encourage this, Freak refused to allow us to use scrolls, wands, staves, or potions. But then he left. And the first and last and only lie I ever told the clan was uttered.

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I remember coming home one day and realizing that nothing would ever be the same again. We all knew he was gone the moment we entered the Garden. It seemed that even the great Tree of Life was mourning. I was Clan Leader then with Carmon, but he was the great and mighty General and I was the Shepherd. Even then, I was the Keeper. It felt like the family would disintegrate. Every other clan had an Immortal who protected them. Only World stood alone and unprotected. So I gave the Shapers hope.

It was difficult to bring hope when your heart was breaking, but I told them the wondrous tale of how Freak had finally decided we were ready to stand in our own right as custodians and caretakers. I spoke of how he had entrusted the known lands and its peoples to our care. I told them that he was needed elsewhere in ways that our mortal minds could not comprehend. I told them that he would always be with us, and I lied and told them as a tangible reminder of our compact he had left a rare and precious item for the clan to cherish and protect.

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You may have wondered why we have the World Globe, yet every other clan has Orbs. Tis because ours was the first. The rare and precious item that I pretended was a gift to the Clan from Freak, was really a boon granted to me by the Greater God Dimi. A wish and all my worldly belongings were offered in payment. Since our lowest Clan Level was earth, the youngest amongst us was chosen to carry the symbol of our hope. It saddens me that I cannot now remember who that was. We all vowed to protect this precious symbol of our duty and the Globe was passed on down the line to another chosen one, as each carrier reached the next Clan Level. Our rule was that only an Earth could carry it.

I know we astonished Darkness in particular with this practice and many a battle was fought to protect or recover the Globe. I think they wanted it simply because it was precious to us.