The Sacred Book of Shadows

In the beginning, there was only the Spirit of Life called Auriesiel. Auriesiel grew lonely and created the first guinea pig, which it named Shadow. Shadow was adorable, and intricate in nature, but it lacked the proper environment. While they became fast and dear friends, Shadow soon died. Auriesiel harvested Shadow's spirit, and used it to create the perfect environment. From Shadow's spirit, the water was born. From Shadow's body, the earth. Auriesiel then created the great air burrow, which breathed life into the earth, and the water and the earth joined to create one entity- a planet. On this planet, Auriesiel created the second guinea pig, and many more. Then it created all of the creatures of the earth and water. Auriesiel saw its work and watched it progress. It made many more planets, supernovas, black holes, all the things of space to keep it company as it watched. When the second guinea pig died, Auriesiel brought its spirit up to the Great Burrow in the Sky to watch with it. And the third and the fourth. On a clear night, you can look up into the sky and find the spirits of the fallen, shining as they watch over you. All guinea pigs will eventually join Auriesiel in the Sky. Still, Auriesiel grew lonely for its friend. As it looked on what it had made, it wished Shadow could see what it had created. It couldn't bring Shadow back, but as it looked on the planet, it decided to keep his memory alive. Aurisiel took the form of its dear friend and Our Great Shadow descended in the region of Kevas, pairing with the Sacred Elf, Freya, and creating the Federation of New Guinea. Where the chosen rule.   Our history begins with the liberation of Shadow. Freed from his shackles by the Great Elf, Freya, Shadow the guinea pig and Freya befriended a Giant Turtle and discovered the Continent. After forging a pact with the Giant Turtles and creating Freya's Pet Shop, the Great Shadow began our civilization. His first mate begot 8 pups whose names were Shadow II, Julia, Fergus, Bean, Pickle, Pebbles, Anthony, Hester, and Pearl; and his second begot 4 pups were Annabelle, Chase, Calzone, and Muffy. Shadow II's first mate begot 5 pups whose names were Shadow III, Shelby, Harris, Pretzel, Patches. Julia begot 2 pups whose names were Hazel, and Tequila. Fergus begot 12 pups whose names are Mezcal, Marshmallow, Pierogi, Burrito, Potato, Java, Cookie, Pringle, Marinara, Bubbles, Dorito, and Johnson. Bean begot 1 pup who died. Pebbles begot 3 pups whose names were Shadow IV, Stoney, and Boulder. Anthony begot 2 pups whose names were Pizza and Belle. Hester begot 1 pup whose name was Jerry. Pearl begot 5 pups whose names were Arthur, Peter, Delores, Bartholomew, and Shadow V. Annabelle begot 4 pups whose names were Carl, Jim, Diana, and Jerry. Chase begot 2 pups whose names were Muffy and Shadow VI. Calzone was exiled. Muffy begot 2 pups whose names were Taryn and Rico.   After forging a pact with Freya and the few humans who had already populated the area, our Great Shadow built this great civilization. He and Freya taught all of the pups of the land to speak Common and Elvish and started the University of the Federation, henceforth called the University of Our Lord Shadow. With this education, society was able to grow, and by the Great Shadow's death, the Federation of New Guinea had liberated the entire continent.   Seven years after the discovery of the Federation of New Guinea, Our Lord Shadow died at age 12. His last words, spoken only to his elf Freya, were "Help them. I will be watching over them, will send them good leaders, and will come to rule again". The continent mourned for 5 days. All operations were shut down and every guinea pig came out of its hobbit-hole to publicly mourn. In accordance to his wishes, Freya cremated him and distributed his ashes across every state in official grave-sites. Every year on the anniversary of His death, these grave-sites become lush with lettuce. It is said that these grave-sites bear great bell peppers when a reincarnation of The Great Shadow is born.   Each Shadow Guinea pig is hand-picked by the Great Lord Shadow in the otherness, and upon its birth, is given the title "noble" to signify Our Lord Shadow's mercy, love, and care for all guinea pigs. Upon his instruction, the law was passed that only nobles named "Shadow" at birth are capable of becoming ruler. This name is given to the parents in a divine sign of His approval at the time of the pup's birth.   After Our lord's journey to the otherness, his son, Shadow II became the ruler of the Federation. Shadow II revised the original pact with the Giant Turtles, and created a large armada. He also began the Church of Our Lord Shadow and instated the university's proxy schools all around the continent. In his 2nd year He passed the law that no guinea pig be allowed to live past the age of 12, in reverence to the Great Shadow. During that second year, Chase attempted to assassinate Shadow II with the help of native humans, but failed and was exiled. All humans were exiled from the land.   Upon the Reincarnation of Our Lord Shadow, he imposed upon all of us these tenets:   I. The Great Shadow's word is law   II. Guinea pigs are burdened with the duty of guiding lesser races   III. Elves are the sister race to guinea pigs, fated to serve and reap the benefits of The Great Shadow's divine gifts   IV. A common guinea pig must never speak down to nobility   V. Shadow Guinea Pigs have a duty to serve the country and the Great Shadow   VI. No Shadow Guinea Pig shall murder another guinea pig.   Thus began the Age of Charity. All guinea pigs spread the gospel of Shadow and taught other races the joy of servitude under Him. The country flourished and the University spread its influence to the furthest reaches of the continent. Shade became the domineering religion, and all was peaceful.   Our Lord Shadow sees all and knows all. He, the creator, graciously gifts us life and vegetables every day. We shall thank Shadow for the gifts he has given us by singing the ancient song of thanks every morning.   Sqeeaaak Squeak Squeak Sqeaaaaaaaaaaaak Squeak   (NEW TRANSLATED VERSION:) Oh Shadow By your grace and sacrifice we benefit the earth Thank you     BOOK OF MUFFINS   The Coming of the Third Shadow.   This is what happened during the time of Shadow IV. At the time of Shadow's third reincarnation, he was touring and ruled in the city of Haywold, which had suddenly become large and prosperous. Upon arriving in Shadow's birthplace, he gave a banquet for all the nobles and officials of the city. For a full 25 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the slender and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, Shadow IV gave a second banquet, in the enclosed space of his gardens, for the family and friends of Shadow, who were noblemen, which lasted seven days. The garden had hangings of green and burgundy linen, fastened with cords of gold linen and purple material to gold rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and green on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones. Apple juice was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other.   Royal Mate Esther, who had been known as a detriment to the Federation, also gave a banquet for the common family and friends of Shadow. On the seventh day, when Shadow IV was high on apple juice, commanded that his Royal Mate be brought to the banquet so that they may look upon her lush coat, for it was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the Leader's command, Esther refused to come. Then the Leader became furious and burned with anger.   Since it was customary for the Leader to consult the Council on matters of law and justice, he spoke wit the wise men who understood the times. These seven nobles were closest to the king and were highest in the Federation. Memukan of the West Shadic Church, known for his devotion to the sacred book, replied in the presence of the Leader and the Nobility Council. "Royal Mate Esther has done wrong, not only against Our Lord Shadow, but also against all nobles and peoples in the Federation. For the Mate's conduct will be known to all mates, and they will despise their mates and say 'Royal Mate Esther would not come before the Leader'. There will be no end to disrespect to the Lord Shadow and discord in the Federation." "Therefore, if it pleases the Leader, let him issue a decree and let it be written in glory of Shadow, which cannot be repealed, that Esther is never again to enter the presence of Shadow IV, or the Great Shadow, also let the Leader give her position to someone better than she is." The leader did as Memukan proposed, and also sat with the Lord Shadow, who granted him a vision of his True Mate.   Muffins made Queen.   Later when Shadow IV's fury had subsided, he remembered Esther and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. Then, the Leader's personal attendants proposed, "let a search be made for the true Mate of the Leader. Let the leader appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these guinea pigs into the harem in the City of Shadow. Let them be placed under the care of the government; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the True Mate, who pleases the Leader, to be queen instead of Esther." This advice appealed to the Leader, and he followed it. In Shadow City, there lived a beautiful guinea pig by the name of Muffins. Though common, her beauty caused her to be approached by commoners and noblemen alike. She had long and lush fur of a white color with gray undertones, which was consistent throughout, and a plump body of perfect proportions. When the Leader's edict had been proclaimed, many guinea pigs of long hair and white/gray fur were brought to Shadow City. Muffins was also taken and entrusted to Meres, who was also in charge of the harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the Leader's capital and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. Muffins had not yet revealed her background because her guardian had forbidden her to, knowing she'd likely be killed for the deception. Every day he walked back and forth to the courtyard to find out what was happening to her. Before a guinea pig's turn came to in to Shadow IV, she had to complete 6 months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, 3 months with oil and myrrh and 3 with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the Leader: Anything she wanted was given to her to take to the Leader's Hall. In the evening she would go there in the morning she would return to another part of harem to the care of Poppy, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the Leader unless she pleased him and he called her by name. When the turn came for Muffins to go to the Leader, she asked for nothing other than what Meres had suggested. And Muffins won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was taken to Shadow IV in the Leader's Hall in the 10th month and the 3rd year of his reign. Now the king immediately recognized his True Mate from the vision. So he set a crown on her head and made her Royal Mate.   Muffins and Shadow IV ruled for another 6 years until Shadow IV's death, when the Third Reincarnation of Shadow sat on the throne. He kept Muffins by his side to look after the common people, and revealed her true identity as a former commoner to the Federation after Shadow IV's death. Muffins did much good for the people, and was beloved by noblemen and commoners alike.