August 8, 3897 - Diary Entry of Ca'arn Olandi

When I was but a boy, growing up in my father's blacksmith shop, I often longed for the day I could travel through the great forest, across the vast desert and over the rugged mountains of my home world of Avashire. How far away the Elven capital of Mistwaithe seemed from our home town of Eldenwein back then. It's ironic how our perspective changes as we grow older, and we learn of new magics and technologies. Forests, deserts and mountains are conquered, yet even as I grew up, I never dared to dream of the wealth of possibilities which existed in our universe - possibilities far beyond my naive understanding.

It was not long after the celebration of my fourth century that I saw the mysterious Moongate open before my eyes. Deep in the woods outside Eldenwein, I was searching out healing herbs near the Abbey when I stumbled upon this previously unknown phenomenon. An eerie feeling passed through me, though not one of fear. Curious, I moved closer to inspect the strange swirling field of energy. It was black and surrounded by a faint blue glow with a swirling mass of colored lights. Yet I distinctly saw in the upper portion what appeared to be three larger swirling masses - one blue, one red and one green.

Unable to suppress the urge, I reached out and touched the blue swirl. My vision blurred as my hand entered the energy field and before I knew it, I was no longer in the woods surrounding the Abbey - I had been magically transported across both time and space to a far distant world known as Britannia.

Since the discovery, we've spent the past century studying this moongate, and we learned that the different mini-gates within the larger one were each links to other worlds - each as different as they are distant. The blue one led to Britannia, the red one led to Norrath and the green one to Dereth. While I, now Elder Monk, stayed in Avashire and studied the mysterious gate, I commissioned the young Daylar de'Otaros to explore them. This exiled Prince led a devoted group of men and women first to the realm of Britannia, where they sought not only to explore this new world but to also show the people of this realm how Truth, Love and Courage can benefit a world in need. The guild these Crusaders would form was to be known as the Burning Heart. Their impact was widespread, and their devotion to each other was a beacon of hope to the people of Britannia.

Through this central moongate, the Crusaders eventually sought to expand their teachings to the worlds of Norrath and Dereth. Yet as Daylar and many others decided to expand their influence into these other two realms, some decided to stay behind. As a consequence, their influence in Norrath and Dereth would never equal that of Britannia. A dejected Daylar, along with Sigma, Tarl and a handful of other ardent followers returned to Avashire less than a year ago - their resolve battered, their strength depleted. Not three weeks after their return, the moongate disappeared.

We mourned our friends, family and loved ones who are apparently now permanent residents of their chosen world. Will we see any of them again? Long live the Burning Heart, and may they continue their influence in Britannia, Norrath, Dereth or wherever the moongates take them.

Yet despite our loss of friends, the strange moongate taught us one important lesson. No longer are there limits to where we can travel, as there are infinite possibilities to the number of worlds which the moongates can link. For just two months ago, a new moongate appeared. This one surrounded by a white glow with spheres of white, yellow and purple inside.

We have learned that the white sphere leads to a time in our distant past, and a land known as Camelot. We currently take up the banner of the late King Arthur as the Realm of Albion fights to protect his Kingdom. The purple and yellow spheres have yet to be explored....

As I sit in reflection, I see now how small we are in the vast scope of life, and how eternal Truth, Love and Courage are. I believe a rebirth of our souls is needed! Thus, no longer shall we assume the mantle of Crusaders, we shall don the label of 'Children' - befitting of our rebirth. Yet History should remain a part of who we are, lest we forget lessons learned and loved ones lost. We remain observant at the Abbey here in Avashire, in the hope that some of our left-behind comrades of the Burning Heart may yet find their way home to us.

So with renewed vigor and hope, the small band taking up the name of 'Beggar's Feast' has again set out in effort to bring a little more light into the vast array of dark worlds beyond the moongates. While we no longer are Crusaders, we realize that wherever we travel, under whatever name we choose, we are all 'Children of the Burning Heart'.

So let us throw back our heads and run with a passion.
Through the fields of forgiveness and grace, we carry the Eternal Flame.
With an undying hope, and a blazing conviction
of the Truth that will never fade.
We are glowing in the dark,
Children of the Burning Heart.