Edran the Wise

Edran was born under unusual circumstances. He was born while his mother was in a coma. She died shortly after giving birth, but awoke from her coma just long enough to recount that she had seen her son sitting with the god Ptah. The god seemed to be in the act of teaching her son something important. She said she didn't know what this vision meant, but thought that it suggested an interesting future for her son. The other thing that she was able to do was give her child a name: Edran. She then died. Her birth was attended by the Sisterhood of the Mother, as usual in Draconia. There was nobody else present at Edran's birth. Luckily, the Sisterhood was able to track down Edran's father, who was willing to raise Edran on his own. Edran's father was a magical artisan, specializing in creating magical lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers that use magic to illuminate.

When Edran was 5 years old, he received his first revelation from Ptah. It was a simple revelation, nothing too grand. It was more of a warning about an imminent death of somebody close to Edran's father. Edran was able to predict the exact manner and cause of the person's death. At the age of 9, Ptah officially called him to be his prophet. The story of his calling is recorded in the Sapientia Mysteriorum, in the First Book of Edran, chapter 1. Basically, Edran was sleeping and he heard a voice calling his name. He awoke, but didn't see anybody. He went back to sleep. He heard the same voice calling his name again. He looked around his room, didn't see anybody, and went back to sleep. He heard the voice for a third time, and this time he called for his father. When his father entered the room, Edran asked whether he had been calling Edran. His father said no and so Edran decided to go back to sleep. He heard the voice for a fourth time. Edran called out into the darkness of his room, "What manner of spirit speaketh to me?" Suddenly, his room was filled with a bright light, but it was an odd light, a very blue light. It seemed to be coming from a lantern. The flame inside the lantern was a deep blue color. The lantern was held by the strangest person Edran had ever seen. He looked like an old man and he had blue skin that matched the color of the flame in the lantern. He carried an ornately carved staff in his other hand. Edran was afraid of this man.

The man spoke to Edran, calling him by name, and said, "Fear not, for I am Ptah, the god of mysteries. I have called to thee, Edran, for thou wast chosen before thou wast born to be my prophet to Draconia."

Edran didn't understand. He said, "Sir"--for he didn't know what to call Ptah--"there must be some mistake. For I am only a child and have no skill in such things."

Ptah laughed and said, "You shall be given all things whatsoever thou requirest to fulfill the calling which I have called thee to."

"Why choosest thou me?" Edran asked. "Is there not another to whom this calling would better fit?"

Ptah said, "My will is mine own. There is none savest thyself to whom this calling can be given. On the morrow, thou shalt go unto the High Priest of my Order and shall speak the words whatsoever I give unto thee. This thou must do to declare thyself before my Order. Thou shalt be placed at the head of my Order, as it is your right as Prophet to do."

Ptah then disappeared, leaving Edran sitting in the dark, too stunned to do anything. He sat there until the sun came up. He told his father of the experience he had during the night. His father believed him and agreed to accompany Edran to the Isle of the Gods and the Grand Temple of Imhotep.

When Edran arrived at the Grand Temple, he found the gates locked. The Order of Mystery was not very hospitable. There was nobody at the gate and Edran wondered how they would get in. He touched the gate and tried to open it. He was surprised when heavy padlock on the gate fell away and it creaked open. He walked into the Temple courtyard and up to the great wooden doors to the Temple Proper. He stepped inside the Grand Temple and made his way to the chapel. A man knelt at the altar, but stood and turned around when he heard the door open. "Who are you and how did you get in here?" he asked.

At first, Edran didn't know what to say, but soon the words came rushing to his mind. He said, "Hearken and hear the words of Ptah which I now speak unto you. For the Lord Ptah hath called me to be His Prophet to Draconia, to guide Draconia through the perilous times which lay ahead. I am come to give unto Draconia the Law of Order, which governs the gods, in preparation for the day in which mortals and gods shall dwell together in a new Draconia."

The man, who was the High Priest, stood stunned that this small boy was speaking with such undeniable power. The High Priest did not understand why Ptah had chosen such a young child as HIs Prophet, but the god was Mystery personified. The High Priest bowed to the child and said, "I perceive that thou truly has been called by Ptah as a Prophet. Wherefore, it is your right to lead this His humble Order in Draconia."