The Swamp

Nestled in the heart of the deep south, there lies a most peculiar place. Its a place where most will never see and most will never even hear about. Fortunately, it is not lost to human kind all together. The world, the living world, chooses five solitary humans to visit this place, The Swamp. These five simply have to find the Great Bayou and take a small boat downstream. The trees will get thicker as the boat glides further. Soon, waters all around the boat will take a blueish tint. The brackish water of the bayous will vanish and leave in its place water of the purest kind. The trees will be larger and greener and fuller. The sunlight will grow greener, the animals louder, and the world more ancient.

This is The Swamp, the last untainted place in the modern world. The few chosen ones that are allowed to step on its fertile soils are bound to always cherish the land and keep it pristine. In the center of this paradise, there is one oddity in the entire kingdom of nature. In the middle of four huge cypress tress, there is a single colorful pane of painted glass. The window stands on the ground painting the earthen floor different shades of different colors all day long. If one were to investigate the window further, they would notice several wooden seats littering the ground surrounding. Most would believe the formation to be an outdoor theater, but a solitary mahogany pulpit lies in the front of the seats, announcing the place a sacred outdoor church.

This church is the headquarters of the chosen few who are allowed to enter The Swamp. Every eighty years or so, the world must renew its chosen ones for life on this world flees quickly, even more so for the selected few. The five are chosen quickly and effectively. Usually those selected are native to the South. This is where the window comes into play, for it lulls the chosen to its earthen hallowed grounds. In their dreams, the quintet dream of the colored window. Pulsing the colors of the rainbows, the vivid images transcends their dreams into their daily conscious. The colors fill their every thoughts until they are driven into despair. When they begin searching for answers to their nightmarish daydreams, they find their solution’s portal, a rickety wooden boat.

This story begins at an active time for The Swamp for the past five Chosen had ended their service to the world. Three had passed in the year period, and two vanished into exile to live their retirement. It was time for the near ritualistic Choosing Ceremony. The decision always takes place at night, usually windy and particularly star lit. A single stone basin lies on the mahogany table. When the winds of the night begin to twirl the leaves of the trees, the rustling leaves fall from their lifelines and levitate slowly into the basin. This occurs until the bowl is filled with lush green foliage. The leaves then melt as if they were icy leaf sculptures warming in the summer sun and a shimmery green goo is left in its wake. The basin was said to be carved from the great Wanderer, whom you will most certainly learn about later. Inlaid with precious gems and polished stones, the basin was beautiful to the eye and sacred to the touch.

On this particular night, the moon’s twin glimmered atop the watery substance contained inside the bowl. As if lightening had struck the aquatic surface, white light overcame the surface of the basin. Seconds ticked by as the sounds of the night grew quieter, and a first face appeared for The Swamp to see.

The Sorting had begun.