The Cataras Springs

The Cataras Springs is a large garden of springs that was created by the Fairy Circle about four hundred years after Xyntriav came into existence. There are thirteen springs in total and each holds a special power. The more extreme the power is, the harder it is to find the spring. At the entrance to the garden is a dark, marble water fountain holding thirteen chalices, one to each spring. The trick is to match a chalice to the appropriate spring of choice. When the chalice is matched to the correct spring it will disappear in the water. Drinking from the wrong spring with the wrong chalice results in death, as well as drinking from more than one spring within in the same day.

The springs are located in the heart of Carnific, the island on the Continent Island chain with acidic water supply. There are three ways to enter the garden: with the key, from beneath the island, or with the dagger.

The easiest way to enter the Cataras Springs is with the key as it simply unlocks the door. There is an empty patch of forest in the very center of Carnific where one of the trees that encircles this space is a mirror, reflecting everything on the island excluding foreigners. The key is to be inserted into the center of this tree and twisted as if unlocking an actual door. Thereafter the door will appear and open.

The dagger is a more difficult way to enter the springs as it must be in the presence of the key for at least a week (four days) to gain the power that allows one into the garden. Once it is “charged,” in a sense, the dagger must be plunged into the center of the same patch of forest, where the ground then opens and the user tumbles into the Cataras Springs.

To enter from beneath the island is the most difficult way, as one must be able to breathe underwater and avoid the wrath of sirens. After finding ones way through a maze, one must ascend up a blue beam of light to resurface inside the Cataras Springs.

The Thirteen Springs:

1. The Spring of Agelessness: The Black Chalice

• drink from this spring and one stops aging immediately. The drinker will never die from age or illness, yet s/he can still be killed.

2. The Spring of Youth: The White Chalice

• every drink from this spring subtracts twenty years from ones current age. If the drinker does not have twenty years to spare, the drinker will die.

3. The Spring of Healing: The Light Blue Chalice

• drink from this spring and one becomes completely healed from any and every health issue, even health issues that are unaware to the drinker.

4. The Spring of Wisdom: The Crimson Chalice

• drink from this spring and one becomes knowledged of proper morals and wise choices. The drinker will gain understanding of individual behavior and an awareness on how to solve and/or avoid particular life situations and problems. Although the drinker becomes aware of all positive aspects of life and the world, s/he also becomes aware of all negative aspects, which constitutes a very heavy burden to carry.

5. The Spring of Knowledge: The Orange Chalice

• drink from this spring and one becomes book-smart. The drinker gains knowledge in math, science, literature, language, puzzles, strategy, code, legends, myths, history, navigation, investigation, mystery, etc.

6. The Spring of Beauty: The Silver Chalice

• drink from this spring and the more one drinks, the more desirable s/he becomes. Drink too much, the spring will kill the drinker before someone else does.

7. The Spring of Wealth: The Gold Chalice

• drink from this spring and one gains the “Midas Touch." Anything the drinker touches will somehow produce the currency desired.

8. The Spring of Power: The Lavender Chalice

• drink from this spring and one gains all of the powers of the Fairy Circle.

                   9. The Spring of Life: The Green Chalice

• pour this spring water down the throat of someone or something deceased and the corpse will return to life

                   10. The Spring of Strength: The Blue Chalice

• the more one drinks from this spring, the stronger the drinker becomes until the large muscles cause the drinker to combust.

11. The Spring of Complete Rule: The Purple Chalice

• drink from this spring and people will wish for the drinker to rule.

12. The Spring of Freedom: The Pink Chalice

• drink from this spring and one will gain freedom from any and every curse.

                    13. The Spring of Ultimacy: The Clear Chalice

• drink from this spring and one will experience the limits of all of the above. Only one drink is required. Take another and the drinker will die a most painful death.