Chosen Meet Domi

After trials, we came to an underground room on an island that had just risen from the waves. We saw a figure from whom rich, warm laughter came. Each of us perceived the person to be the God of War ... and he was just exactly as we always imagined him to be. He beckoned us to approach him.

"Come...come, my children ..." The bass voice that invited us closer did so in Tauric. "... I want to meet those who met all the different types of battle I sent you ... and triumphed!"

Then Domi took my own sword -- this very sword here -- and blessed it himself. That was because I had been too foolish to do so earlier when I had the chance to invoke his blessing.

Domi spoke to me: "There ... you now possess an enchanted weapon. It will aid you in battle to hit and hurt your enemy."

Then Domi took two holy relics we had brought him -- the Heart of the Stag and the Heart of the Beast. Revealed, both relics floated in midair before the god. The two artifacts were drawn to each other in a slow but inexorable orbiting kind of dance, each of them whirling around the other faster and faster as they draw closer and closer together, until --

-- contact!

At first nothing seemed to happen. Then the reunited heart began to glow ... faintly at first, but brighter and brighter still until it was as though the sun itself was shining in this underground chamber. Laughter, even more rich and welcoming than previously heard, swirled around you, and all present felt the warmth and joy of the being that had brought us there.

"Yes! YES! I just KNEW you could do it!!!" the voice resounded within the chamber as well as in our hearts and heads. "I am Domi ... Imod ... Tomi ... and you are all my children! You have made me proud!"

The chamber rumbled and the sensation that gripped us was that of rushing up into the air as though to a great height -- and, suddenly, the chamber we were in seemed to dissolve away.

We found ourselves standing atop a large stone dome -- in a circular area that was apparently an observatory of some kind, for as we looked around, we realized we were in the very center of a new island, and that we could see for miles around from this vantage point. To the northeast appeared the unmistakeable coast of the Minotaur Isle ... and to the southwest, the shoreline of Centaur Isle. If we strained very, very hard, we could just barely make out the faint outline of Wemic Isle upon the west-southwesterly horizon, even.

Then Domi spoke again. "My dear children," the rumbling bass of the god's voice broke into our reverie, "You are standing in the midst of the island that will serve as headquarters to you -- my chosen ones. This island will serve as a physical confirmation of the bridge you all will be the living embodiment of ... the bridge between all Taurs.

"Once upon a time, I sought to create the ultimate warrior race -- one skilled in all aspects of war. Thus was born the Taur. I do not possess omniscience, however, but immortal power. I did not realize that the different perceptions of combat could fracture my vision of one perfect warrior into many different warriors ... thus was born the Minotaur, the Centaur...and the Lion-taur, who is called Wemic." A gusty sigh sounded from the deity.

"My Heart was torn asunder because I thought I had caused irrepairable damage to the Taur, weakening that perfect warrior race ... but you have shown me that I did not weaken the Taur, but made the Taur stronger through diversity. Now it is up to you to prove that all three aspects of Taur can unite in spite of their differences ... that all three make up a nigh-unbeatable force for good in the Wold."

When we turned to look at Domi/Imod/Tomi, we no longer saw the epitome of our own race, but a large humanoid with a flowing mane and tail reminiscent of a Centaur, a broad face and upper body built much like a Minotaur, and the solid structuring of sinewy and powerful, tawny-furred lower body of the cat-pawed Wemic.

"Behold the form of your ancestor race," the God of War bid us. "And know this: Bridge Island is to be your stronghold to keep and protect, as you are the first of the separate parts of Taur to begin realizing your true potential.”

Domi told us that we would reside on Bridge Isle and keep watch over the reunited Heart that would remain there.

His final words to us were these. "My beloved children," the God of War intoned, "You have already accomplished the first mission that I sent to you -- the reunion of my sundered Heart. All that needs doing from now on is that you lead by example, following your conscience and doing your best ... together."

Compiled from Chosen of Domi posts in mid-January, 2001.