Metamor Keep, by Copernicus

Story name: Metamor Keep
Author: Copernicus
Publication date: November 22, 1997 (on TSA-Talk)

Date: Spring 706 CR, (1 week; see Chronology)
Location: Northern Midlands, Metamor Valley, Metamor Keep

Overview

In the very first story of Metamor Keep, Michael is introduced to Metamor Keep and its many strange inhabitants.

+ Story info (Spoilers!)

Summary

Michael was the youngest of three children, born on a farm near a small village in Bernicia. His father had been drafted when he was young, leaving his iron-willed mother to press him and his siblings hard. When he was 17, his immediate family died of the plague. Michael left the farm to his uncle, and set out on his own. After seeing some guards at an inn, he purchased a sword and armor and applied to be a guard.

On his first trip, Michael's merchant captain reminds them of their next destination Metamor Keep, and the guards grumble with disgust. As the captain leaves, Michael asks a friendly guard Jerek what she meant. Jerek tells him that Metamor Keep was built thousands of years ago in the pass between the Giantdowns, where dark magic and monsters lay, and the Midlands, where they are. It has protected them for thousands of years, and they are good warriors. But a few years ago, an army led by a sorceror came down the pass. The Keepers rebuffed him, but at great cost. Jerek is reluctant to explain how, reminding him to just watch for the Lutins, tiny deformed people who continually raid the area.

The caravan moves more slowly on the road to Metamor Keep, the soldiers getting more tense the closer they get. After passing a sign marking the boundary, two beautiful women step out, fully armed with weapons. They examine the captain's papers and then send her on. 2 miles from the Keep, Lutins ambush the caravan. Although the guards are skilled, Michael is baffled how to fight, and beheads one by luck. One of the Lutins slings a rock at his head, knocking him out. After the battle, the guards realize they'll have to leave Michael at the Keep; his head injury is too severe to make the journey back. Someone apologizes for not being there to fight, and reluctantly takes Michael in.

Michael awakens slowly, panicking when he sees a reptilian snout inches from his face. He looks around, and finds himself in a small bed in a clean room, but with a clothed humanoid raccoon and lizard occupying it. The lizard introduces himself as Copernicus, and the raccoon as Brian. After another moment of sleep, Michael finds he has a thick beard, and asks how long he's been out. Brian says a week; the caravan left long ago. Everyone at the Keep has been taking turns watching him, except Copernicus, who has been here almost non-stop. He was on patrol that night, and feels guilty being ambushed, even though he isn't as skilled a fighter as most Keepers.

Copernicus re-enters, and Michael is ready for the tour of the Keep. He marvels at the twenty-foot ceilings and glass windows in the main hall, and the inhabitants: beautiful women in military gear, animal people, and children who act like adults.

Copernicus leads Michael down another hallway to a tavern, The Deaf Mule. A bull named Donny serves them, and a ten-year-old named Mark Van Sciver calls out to Copernicus, accompanied by a woman named Jenn Rose. They explain that 6 years ago, they were all normal human men, until Nasoj cast a spell on the defenders. Some got animal forms, called morphs, and can change between a full animal and a hybrid. Some were youthened, known as AR's, and can change between appearing about fourteen to newborns. Some changed genders, but can only change towards being bombshells. There are also women who became men as well.

Copernicus explains that the AR's do spy work down south, as they are in the least amount of danger. Jenn explains that the women work in the military, and help out for anyone too short or without thumbs. Their ruler is Thomas Hassan, though he is quite humble. In fact, social hierarchy is loose in Metamor Keep. Copernicus invites Michael to see the court.

Copernicus tells the story of Metamor Keep: outsiders have always been welcome at the Keep to defend the pass from the northern invaders. 6 years ago, Nasoj and his massive horde of monsters invaded the pass, driving the defenders into the Keep. After a long attrition, a plan was made to open the gate from the outer wall into the courtyard, while their warriors occupied three gates leading into the Keep. As Nasoj's army moved in, he threw the three spells on each of the gates. For a moment, each section was paralyzed by their transformations, and the wizards worked a counterspell. Nasoj's magic was unique, though, and the counterspell only partially succeeded, changing them to their current forms. But it was enough for them to destroy the army.

Copernicus then introduces the many members of the court, including Malisa the adopted daughter of Thomas, and the Prime Minister Bob. As he concludes the tour and shows him to his room. Michael protests that he hasn't even agreed to stay, and Copernicus reveals that anyone who stays near the Keep longer than a week, as Michael had while unconscious, the curse effects them too. Michael feels the fur on his neck; as an animal morph, he will be stuck at Metamor Keep.

Characters

Main Characters:

• Michael: A young farmer whose family recently died from plague. He tried to be a guard, but was knocked out during his first assignment outside of Metamor Keep. Due to being unconscious for a week, the Curse is slowly affecting him, turning him into an animal morph.
  • He is 17 years old. He was born and raised in Bernicia. He knows how to read and write from his mother.
  • Michael's father was drafted in the war, leaving the farm under the ownership of Michael's mother. Michael inherited his family's farm from his mother and siblings, who all passed away from plague. His farm is currently owned by his uncle.
• Copernicus: A lizard morph, who acts as court astrologer, court wizard, court jester, and court lizard. He is the first person Michael sees upon waking up. He feels guilty for Michael's condition, as it was his patrol that was to escort Michael's caravan to the Keep, and was interrupted by a Lutin attack. He gives Michael a whirlwind tour of the Keep.
  • Before the Curse, he wore glasses and was 5'10".

Supporting characters:

• Jerek: A friend of Michael's in the caravan. He informs Michael about the Keep, Lutins, and other dangers.
• The Merchant Captain: A no-nonsense captain of Michael's caravan, a sharp trader, and a feared but respected captain. Her exploits in her earlier days make for popular stories amongst the crew.
• Brian Coe: Describes himself as a part time scout, part time nurse, and part time card raccoon. He is the second person Michael sees upon waking up.

Minor characters:

• Mark Van Sciver: A 26-year-old diplomat, spy, and a child morph. He affectionately calls Copernicus "Lizard Lips", who in turn calls him "Pampers". He explains to Michael about the Battle of the Three Gates.
• Jenn Rose: A female gendermorph. She describes for Michael the impact of the gender curse. She is engaged to Princess Malisa.
• Malisa: The adopted daughter of Thomas, and heir to the throne. She's a decent fighter and a talented wizard, but is known for a temper. She is engaged to Jenn.
• Jason: A cat morph being rebuked by Malisa.
• Bob: A horse morph, Prime Minister and the most powerful wizard of the Keep.

Cameo:

• Pascal: A porcupine morph, and court alchemist.
• Phil: A rabbit morph, described as "court rabbit".
• Wanderer: A wolf morph, and court actor and poet.
• J Wells: A court writer.
• Arthur: A court artist.
• Bill Hart: A court writer.
• Jennifer Adams: A court writer.
• Charles Matthias: A court writer.
• Bryan Derkson: The court mad scientist.
• IWP: The court mystic.
• Magus: A court wizard and court writer.
• Jon Sleeper: A court writer.

Important Mention:

• Michael's father. He was drafted for a war when Michael was very young, and he never returned.
• Michael's mother. She inherited her husband's farm after he disappeared. She caught the plague and died a short time ago.
  • She was an extremely strong woman, and few were willing to disobey her. She was literate, and taught Michael how to read and write.
• Thomas Hassan: Ruler of Metamor Keep. He is easy-going and loose about authority at Metamor Keep.
  • His stated duties are as a crisis manager, an advisor, and judge.
  • Thomas is not given a title here, though he is indirectly called a king twice. Later stories, in particular Malvoisin, will establish his title as Duke, though occasionally called King in flattering terms.
• Nasoj: An evil wizard who lives in the Giantdowns. About 6 years ago, he cursed Metamor Keep, giving its inhabitants one of three curses. Rumor has it, he is starting up some new trouble against the Keep.

Referenced:

• Michael's siblings. They die of the plague soon before Michael's mother.
• Tim and Garek: Two guards who died with the Lutin attack on Michael's caravan.
• Scarett: A guard who lost an eye in the Lutin attack on Michael's caravan.
• Destrier and Tony: Two horse morphs who race with Bob.
• Wildstar: A teacher of magic.
• Jack: A weapons trainer at the Keep.
• Redtailed: A scout.

Locations:

• The Northern Midlands: The country where Michael and other humans live in relative peace.
  • Bernicia: Michael's homeland.
  • The unnamed town that Michael and the caravan visit before Metamor Keep. It is surrounded by forest, with trees and grass growing all around. It contains a small tavern which satisfies the guards.
  • The road to Metamor Keep from the unnamed town takes them through a forest, through scrub forest, and then to the base of the mountains, the Metamor Valley. A sign that says "Welcome to Metamor Keep" sits at the entrance to the valley. Two scouts wait a couple minutes in, checking the caravan for their papers. This checkpoint is at least 2 miles from the Keep.
• The Giantdowns: The country to the north, where evil magic runs wild, where monsters, giants, and lutins live.
• Metamor Keep is a fortress set in a mountain pass between the Midlands and the Giantdowns. It is said that the Keep is unimpenetrable as long as at least 5 people are left. At the north entrance is a great gate leading to a courtyard. Between the courtyard and the Keep are the three cursed gates. Geometry within the Keep itself is said to be voluntary; there is always enough room for more. At least some of the halls are built out of marble with clear glass windows.
  • • Later stories will specify that the gate to Metamor is on the south entrance.
  • The Deaf Mule: It is accessed via hallway within the Keep.
    • Later stories there is a more widely-used entrance to outside the Keep.
  • The throne room: The throne room is a breathtaking room; visitors have been known to pass out. On the domed roof are painted scenes of battle from the Keep's past. Elevated gilded chairs line the walls towards the duke's throne, which sits atop a plain marble dias. Behind it is a smaller throne for the second-in-line. In the corner is a desk for the prime minister.
  • The library and the gym are mentioned but not visited.

Chronology

• The Battle of Three Gates is said to have happened 6 years ago. (Consensus among other authors would place the battle sometime in September 699 CR. Presumably, various characters are rounding down, or thinking of its last anniversary.)
  • Nasoj led the most powerful force ever to attack the Keep. Before Metamor itself, Keepers had been trying to defend the various farms to the north. Thomas had them withdraw to Metamor for a last stand.
  • After a long attrition, both sides were running out of food. The people of Metamor decided to draw him into a decisive fight in the courtyard by opening the outer courtyard gate. Nasoj accepted this ploy and sent in his army. While his army was still winning, he cursed each of the three inner courtyard gates with one of three curses: a bimbo curse, a polymorph curse, and an infancy curse.
  • For a short time, it works, but the Keep wizards manage a counterspell, which partially regained their humanity. The magic was too unique to fully counter it. With their forms regained, the Keepers then sealed the outer courtyard gate and destroyed the rest of Nasoj's army. Nasoj himself escaped.
• Though an exact date is not mentioned here, this story takes place in 706 CR. Support Group and Facing Knight specifically take place 2 weeks after Michael has been cursed, and take place another 2 weeks before Easter. If Easter in 706 CR takes place in March 22, 706, then Michael's capture takes place roughly around mid-late February, and regains consciousness a week later, in late February.

World

• The curse is explained in basic detail:
  • Nasoj's spell is centered on the three courtyard gates, but its range covers "the Keep and surrounding areas".
  • The three spells would change a person into, respectively: an animal, an infant, or a "bombshell" / "bimbo" (women are changed into very attractive men). The effect was for the animals to be disoriented, the infants to be trapped in their own armor, and the "bimbos" to collapse under their new endowments.
    • The reason for this combination of spells, according to Copernicus, is that Nasoj knew that the Keep wizards could counter any direct spell on them.
  • The curse's effect lasts permanently on the Keep, perhaps also thanks to the counterspell performed by the Keep wizards. This counterspell allows the curse to be reversed up to about a halfway point. The animal transformed, or morphs, can shift from a full animal to an animal-human hybrid. AR's, short for Age Regression, can shift from a full infant to around 14 years of age. TransGenders can go from a bombshell to a normal human being, though only of the opposite sex.
    • The combined curse-counterspell takes effect on anyone who spends more than a week in the area, though apparently not immediately.

Behind the Scenes

• Every member of the Keep mentioned was the name of a prominent Transformation Story Archive member at the time it was written. Their occupations generally reflected their real-life hobbies or aspirations, albeit with a medieval theme. (Hence why so many of them are writers.)
• Malisa is seen berating a cat morph named Jason, reminding him to make his next story the right size for the library. These are TSA-List in-jokes; the first to a then-recent controversy stirred up by a List member named Jason (who also inspired the name of the wizard Nasoj); the second to several times where List members would submit stories with too big a file size for the mailing list to handle.

	Matthias's First Cycle	Second Cycle >
Stories	Stories in yellow are not part of the cycle proper, but give important context for other stories.
	Metamor Keep · Writer's Guild · The Fight That Never Happened · Support Group · Facing Knight · Confession · Evening Stroll · Especially Disappointed · Escaping · Escalation · Errands and Editors · The Secrets in Truth · A Small Repair · Equinox Arriveth · Entertaining Thoughts of Eucharist · The Effects of Rising Too Early · Eating at the Duke's Table · Easter Endeth · Early to Sleep
Characters	Charles Matthias · Kimberly · Channing · Elliot · Goldmark · Hector · Father Hough · Julian · Loriod · Michael · Nahum · Phil · Saulius · Tallis · Thalberg · Duke Thomas · Zhypar Habakkuk