The Key

As with all genuine Truths, there is no beginning, for Truth is a constant. Nothing effects it's grace except the balance of an individual's understanding of that Truth.

And some truths are too valuable to be misunderstood, and too dangerous.

Through the ages those who have known such truths kept them hidden to insure their safety, but left clues in metaphor, ritual and allegory, to ensure that the secrets wouldn't be lost. As history flowed, it became known that these truths existed, and their presence became enshrouded in myths and legends, but here the truth was victim to the effects of 'obscurity' and 'absurdity'. To the world this deluge of meaningless half-truths and fact-filled lies, which have corrupted the discovery and understanding of the Truth, gave new names to the secrets, 'The Holy Grail', 'The Philosopher's Stone' and, more precisely, 'The Great Work'.

But the Truth is eternal, and those few who knew its immense and fearful value, vouched safe that it's meaning would not be lost. They devised a 'Key', a device that in its very form could ensure the 'Great Work' could be rediscovered and understood by someone considered worthy. It was designed as an item that could be easily hidden but once discovered would prove itself as conclusive evidence of its power and meaning. So valuable was this device that it too became embroiled into the realm of legends, but so secret was it that it's image was forever entrusted to allegory and protected from misunderstanding.

With each generation an initiate re-forged the Key to ensure its continued existence. For this Key not only protected the understanding of the 'Great Work', but was also the evidence of the centuries of venerated secrecy and meaning that accompanied it. Kings have sought to own it and priests have been killed to protect it. Leonardo da Vinci hid it, Nicolas Flamel discovered it.

This Key not only unlocked the greatest of secrets, it was the conclusive proof of the Truth's very existence, a prize that was considered too valuable and dangerous to release.

And now, we begin our quest, good hunting....