1.8 Panther U.

        The arrival of the Book of Life from Lemuria was good news but Bakkon, god of the Skies knew of it's sinister plot, he would ensure it was returned, once it had been reproduced and generally forgotten about. He hurried down the street to see the coveted treasure, one he himself had foretold would bring about great change for the future of the Atlan Empire.

         Bakkon was the king’s Astronomer, the High Priest of the Atlan Empire, the keeper of Spiritual Knowledge, Atalon's Right Hand Anunnaki. The Temple of Medel was his domain, it was also the annex of Panther U, the hall where the Oracles and Astronomers, Scribes and Artists documented, illustrated and forecast the past, present and future. It was this powerful Order whom guarded and practiced the ancient scientific and sometimes dangerous esoteric arts of the Atlan Empire, Knowledge too immense to burden upon the slaves, the labor force of the empire.

         An honest god, Bakkon was troubled by the way his predictions were being misread, and it wasn't just the heist. The Book of Life had potential to open all kinds of doors for Doctor Seton, good, positive doors, but good, positive doors came with equal and very real dangerous doors, too. Lately it had become clear things weren't running so smoothly in the Firmary, the scent of deception was polluting the air, and now this meteor in the sky was being misconstrued. It wasn’t heading to Ebar, it was heading their way, but he wasn't going to tell anyone, especially not now.

         "It's quite lovely..." Bakkon leafed through the ancient book, surrounded by a gathering of the gods for the catered viewing in the king's penthouse suite.  Regardless of title and reputation, King Atalon lacked any type of real divination skills, he had never mastered the art to a professional degree, his talents were all display, but he fooled everyone well. "Are you sure the Panthers be able to translate this maniacal writing?"

         Bakkon admitted being a little concerned, there was no way they could be sure if the Scribes translated these things correctly or not. "I think so... Some of the older ones should still be able to read that stuff."

         "I told you not to take it out of the curriculum" Dell hissed.

         "I can read it" Halios interjected. "Just look at the pictures."

         "Look" Atalon pointed to the next page, an image of a silvery skull with a diamond shaped crystal radiating from the center, it sparkled in the light when he tilted the page. Rising from the skull were three yellow serpents, spiralling up as if coming out of the skull.

         Curious, Bakkon ran his finger across the surface and rubbed the glittery substance between his fingers, wondering....

         "Quartz?" Halios offered. 

         "Yes..." Bakkon blew the sparkling dust off his finger. The Lemurians held the crystal rock in high esteem, was there something they didn't know? "Dustified Quartz."

         Atalon was more focused on the image itself. "I wonder if it has something to do with the Light Serpents?"

         Bakkon studied the glyphs below. "I think it's naming the elements... Lemurian Crystal... Light... " 

         It was an intriguing clue! As they studied the image the yellow serpents appeared to glisten even more brightly in the light, as if animating to life. 

         "Perhaps... Perhaps if we misunderstood the power..."

         "What if we didn't misunderstand it?" Atalon had seen the silvery serpent lights in the night skies over Lemuria many times, the myths had never been proven, or proven wrong. "What if we're already onto it but didn't know? What if the power can be channeled through the skull like we're trying to do already? You know Malodon's been having some positive results with the Electric Brain theory, it all seems to connect to this if you ask me."

         "How?"

         "I wonder if they are going into the skull?"

         "Do you really think those are images of the Light Serpents?" Halios, god of War leaned in closer to study the page.

         "Maybe they're electric currents?" Malodon, god of Transformation offered. "Leaving the skull."

         "What's the diamond thing in the middle?"

         "That's their brain you idiot!"

         There were several Origian tribes living in Lemuria. The Star tribe lived on the western coast, south of Anur beyond Crystal Mountain in the quaint and very beautiful seaside town of Mu, home of the famous Lemurian Moonwine. Founded by the Panthers who escaped from Atlan during the Great Revolt, Mu was a modern replica of a Solarian town, it had naturally attracted the architects, artists, musicians and vintners of the Origian races who had fallen in love with the stories of their ancient past and yearned to keep their cultural flames alive. 

         A newer town, Mu didn't mirror the patchwork ruins that gave Anur it's higgledy piggledy signature style. Geometrically and astrologically aligned to powerful points, Mu was a work of art in itself. And like Anur and Kergal, there was a blend of Origian races that made up the colorful tribe.

         The Star tribe was led by Neter, a vintner and musician, one of the original founders of the town, one of the leaders of the Great Revolt that led the Origians away from the walled city so many years ago. As much as Mu was home, a part of Neter's heart lived in Anur, and since the vintners of Mu did regular business with Anur, he made the business trip most regularly. 

         But today, as they approached the Crystal Temple with their kegs of Moonwine, Neter felt nothing but dark energy emanating from the white pyramid ahead. Worried, he rushed inside only to find a solemn town meeting was taking place. Angry students were gathered, upset, wet faces told him the news was bad, even Mina was visibly distraught.

         "What happened?" He rushed to her side. "What's going on?"

         Mina explained what had happened to bring about the distress in the usually peaceful and happy village. 

         "We've been robbed" she explained. "The Book of Life.... It's been stolen from the schoolhouse!"

         "The Book of Life was stolen?" Neter frowned. "Who stole it?"

         "I think it was the gods from Atlan. It was Orius, Halios... Halki, they were here. Vikkar brought them."

         "Orius and Vikkar?" Something wasn't right, Neter sensed deception instantly.

         "They came looking for medicine plants... Herbs."

         "They came here looking for herbs?"

         It wasn't until the following day that Orius found out about the theft. He stared out his office window toward the landscape in the distance, feeling the guilt rising like bile. Surely Mina would assume he had something to do with it. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, he could tell it was the king by the frankincense billowing into the room as the door swung open.

         "Orius, my brother!" Atalon's mere presence changed the energy in a room like no other personality could. 

         "Your Honor" Orius snapped to attention, immediately.

         "Here you go!" The king strode in and placed an aribu skull on his desk.

         For a moment Orius was lost… "What's that for?"

         "I want your stonemasons to make me twelve of them" he ordered.

         "Twelve?" Orius picked the skull up to have a closer look, daring to ask what they were for. "And… Make them out of what?"

         "Lemurian Crystal!"

         "Lemurian Crystal?" Orius echoed, studying the skull with a critical eye. "You know how hard that stuff is to craft!"

         "Your best masons can do it, I've seen their work."

         "I only had two masons that could work with Lemurian Crystal and you let Bakkon take them both for the Panther program."

         "You can have them back, they've almost expired, this can be a Farewell Honor for them" Atalon replied as he turned to leave.

         Atalon's whimsical requests were becoming ridiculous. Annoyed, Orius placed the skull on the edge of his desk as the king left the room, shaking his head in dismay as the door closed. It was projects like this that were preventing him from doing what he was meant to be doing, the real things Atalon was hounding him for, things like figuring out why the vimanas wouldn't fly.