The Balance - III

"Checkmate in twelve moves"

The growl came from deep within the Dragon's throat. It's eyes widened and it's second and third lids slid back as it studied the adamantine and mithryl figures on the board between them.

The mage laughed and then sprang to her feet, doing a little jig as she spun around the gigantic board.

The Dragon spoke- in Language, of course- "Very well, Acrivain.  You have defeated me.  What is your question? "

She swept her long hair back and drew in her breath. Before she could speak a voice- soft, fluid, teasing- spoke in her ear. "Be careful mistress- ask for something real.  Trusssst me in thisss.  The Dragon's knowledge is worsssse than noooo knowledge at aaall!"

Acrivain slapped her hand on the curved black sword at her side and hissed, "Quiet Demon!"  At her touch of the sword the fully grown Troll- settled behind her- stirred.   The Dragon's eyes narrowed and then re-widened and stared at Acrivain.

"WELL?"  Acrivain leaned back against the almost palpable DragonFear that swept around her.

"Tell me of the Balance! What is it?  What is it's history! "

Laughter rang in the space of the cavern.  "Are you sure, little meat puppet?  It will be dangerous for your little linear life for you to know that answer- and you will fail at what you seek in the gaining of what you ask. "

"Tell me, damn you!  You gave your Word."

"So I did- and I am my Word.  Sit down...."  His claw motioned to the beautiful divan that appeared behind her.   She felt the Troll's senses sweep over the couch, taste it, decide it wasn't a threat to her, and recede.  She sat down.   He thought for a moment framing the Truth in her context, capabilities, and experience.

"The Balance," he began, "can be understood as a Pact between the most powerful beings in the universe.  It was forged merely centuries ago in your linear time stream but has always shaped YOUR epoch's history."

"Yes, yes..." she interrupted, "I know all about Discipline 3 Reality Transforms- go on!"

He paused, waiting just long enough to make her uncomfortable, and then continued.

"The Balance is a Pact between the greater beings that survived the Chaos War.    Some of those beings you cannot comprehend but they include: the Second Power, the Protector, the Judge, the Human-Father, the Seeker, my father, and my aunt-against her will I might add.

"The pact monitors and binds all being of a certain, how would you say it as a human being, hmmm...all beings of a certain soul weight.  No- that is not a effective way of saying that.  It monitors and binds all beings of a certain effectivity in your World.  This effectivity is measured by soul strength and mass, and the being's capability to express that strength and mass in your world.

"As soon as a being becomes strong enough, or massive enough, or effective enough it becomes indoctrinated into the Pact.  This is done with or without the being's knowledge and consent.  The being authorized by the Pact holders to instance the Pact makes those decisions.  Currently, that being is my father, who was one of the major architects of the Pact.

Acrivain stamped her foot. "I want to know the way it works... how will it impact me when my time comes!  I want to know so I can avoid its hold on me. "

"Yes," the Dragon rumbled, "You know then that once you are in the Pact you are bound to it for it's existence."  He laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"The irony, little spark plug."

"Stop calling me things like that!!!" She gripped the handle of the black sword and the Troll stood suddenly, rising to its full height and orienting itself towards the Dragon, "Don't make me press my case....."

The Dragon again was silent and still.  "Very well.  If I may....  once bound you are ever bound, and who you are is part of the conversation.  What you know the conversation knows. Of course those that spoke the pact were wise enough to not let that information be accessible to anyone- that knowledge merely fuels the intention of the pact.

"Its design is to keep any power from upsetting the Consensus Reality that makes up your World and your conception of Time. The pact has re-shaped and given history to Epochs stretching back before your ancestors climbed the trees to avoid their Lethar predators.  This is how it does that:  Any action taken by a member of the Pact against another member of the Pact will result in an equivalent counter-action- in the form of information or 'coincidence'- to happen or be made available to the opposing forces of the initiator of the actions.  The more powerful the member of the Pact the lower the threshold of actions that will trigger the Pact's measures. Humans and elves brought into the Pact can do almost anything and not have the Pact Act.  The Greater Gods and the Titans must move carefully in every action they take.  "

"What are the rules?" she asked hurriedly, "What sets this threshold?"

"The threshold is decided by the Over-conscious Consensus of the Pact Holders.  The rules also are set that way. "

"What?  There are no set rules?"

The Dragon voice rumbled, "The rules are whatever the Over-Conscious Consensus decides are the rules."

"Damn.  That is a lot harder to work with and get around!"

The Dragons laugh shook the cavern.  "Too late, little meat puppet!  This knowledge gives you just a little too much power! WELCOME TO THE BALANCE!"

The Dragon's roar rattled Acrivain's sword as she raised her fist at the heavens and gnashed her teeth...