Second session, "Strange Tale of the Island Astray"

Not our fate

From the notes Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite, bt, CB, Royal Commissioner:

Beckett claims connections between uprisings in Ceylon, North-West Frontier, Malay Peninsula, Singapore.

Sri Vikrama Raja Singha, last Kandaya Nayakar King or Ceylon ascended throne in early 1800s under dispute. Succession not clear. Uncle of King rival claimant, took refuge in a temple where a sacred sword, Chandrahas (Moon Blade) was kept.

According to legend, the Moon Blade was given to the demon Ravana by Shiva (or Vishnu, depending upon the source of the legend) when Ravana sought redemption. After achieving redemption, Ravana fell in love with a mortal princess, married her, and had numerous children. His eldest son was the first of the Nayakar dynasty, and all rulers of Kanday since have claimed descendance from him. Other children of Ravana and his mortal wife are among the ancestors of many other dynasties in the region, including the Rajahs of Capistan, the Rajahs of Bundelkund, the Shahs of Perak, and so forth.

By taking refuge in the temple, the rival claimant was preventing the coronation of his nephew. Sri Vikrama could not lay siege to the temple without provoking an uprising, so he asked the British to "help secure his kingdom." British troops invaded the temple. Unfortunately the uncle and the Moon Blade were never found. Ceylon was made a protectorate. Later, when evidence that the king had ordered dozens of his relatives executed, to eliminate dissent, he was sent into exile and Ceylon become a Crown Colony. The king died without an heir.

Over the years several uprisings have occurred around rumors of the return of another heir, descendants of the long missing uncle. The rumors also usually claim the new heir has the Moon Blade and will drive the foreigners out. The Moon Blade represents sovereignty and the divine blessing of the ruling family.

Beckett believes uncle was killed by whoever helped him escape Ceylon, the sword melted down and the precious gems it was said to be decorated with sold off.

Rumors of the return of the heir are circulating in Ceylon, once more. Similar rumors seem to surrond uprisings in several other places.

The assassin who failed to kill Sir Philip Bond (in Perak) had on his person a prayer wheel. The prayer wheel was inscribed with an unusual prayer which Beckett's expert translated thusly:

"The sword of the moon grants sovereignty,
The shield of the sun states prophecy,
The heart of the star brings victory,
The path of the earth leads to destiny."

Meanwhile, an English professor, Irving Oddbody, had been studying at a monestary in Singapore. Somehow he ran afoul of a group of rebels, who attempted to kill him. Witnesses say the professor was saved by none other than the pirate, Quaid O'Flaherty. Oddbody was seen boarding a ship (which turned out to be the Black Rock) in Singapore harbour and fleeing the port along with Captain Tiberius before the authorities had put two and two together.

Oddbody had been studying various religious texts. Most of his notes were left behind. Among his notes were a number of translations. First, from an old text said to originate in Lanka (Ceylon):

"The sword of the moon gives sovereignty,
The shield of the sun states prophecy,
The heart of the star grants victory,
The path of the earth leads to destiny,
He that would rule
Must seek enlightenment on the Island of Souls."

Next said to come from India:

"Violence, falsehood, and wickedness are the order of the day. Justice is unknown. Greedy, dishonesty, and lust rule the world. Locking righteousness, kings make selfish war and ignore the needs of the people. Kaliyung, lord of strife, invisible, unimaginable, everpresent, will enter the heart of man. Manifest, he will seek the celestial maiden on the island of souls. With the moon blade he will slay desire, pride, and passion. Thus will the new lord of understanding come forth. The king of a thousand years will end the dark age and rule over a time of prosperity and justice."

Finally, from an old text whose origins are in dispute:

"The sword of sovereinty is drawn from the moon,
The shield of prophecy is snatched from the sun,
The heart of victory is dropped from the stars,
The path of destiny is carved from the earth."

Meanwhile, in the North-West Territories (in the mountians bordering Afghanistan, where the small principality of Capistan lies) several brigades of British troops were ambushed. Among the bodies of the enemies recorved was a scroll inscribed with:

"The star of destruction fallen to the Valley of Tears,
A travellor is bathed in the blood of armies,
A faithless soldier trades eternity for power,
Destruction in his chest where a heart once beat,
Seeking destiny on the island of souls.
The sword of sovereinty is drawn from the moon,
The shield of prophecy is snatched from the sun,
The heart of victory is dropped from the stars,
The path of destiny is carved from the earth."

Sir Philip and Major Powell left Perak without sending a full report to Beckett or the Commissioner General in Madras. Beckett, through his own sources, learned that they had found one other text:

"The vessel of the hand of death, the celestial maiden, will render the greatest power. This woman will be known by these signs: Dragons court her daughter, Killers watch her, Spies guard her, A lord of machines nurtured her offspring. A traitor enticed her to false witness. She lies down with disorder and adibes with confusion. Hair red as poppies, Eyes green as emeralds, Skin white as alabaster, Heart cold as stone. This woman will deliver the greatest power unto the rightful king of a thousand years."

Beckett believed that Sir Philip was on his way here to check Pellew's research. Beckett's theory that all these legends is a lot of nonsense, but someone is used it to whip people into a religious frenzy to fuel the rebellions. He seems genuinely surprised that Sir Philip and Major Powell are not here.

The admiral informed Beckett that Pellew took all of his notes with him, leaving nothing but the proposals which Beckett has already seen copies of.

One thing is clear: we need to finish our business her and go find Pellew's island.

Proceed to Too much confusion

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