Balance

TheBalance is the equilibrium in the universe betweenChaos and logic. When bothmagic and science existed together, people could wield unprecedented power. They misused it, causing strife and destruction. The only solution was to create theDivide, to separate magic and science into the twin worlds ofStark andArcadia. This was done at the instigation of theDraic Kin, one of whom (most probably theRed) founded theSentinel, a group of twelve men and women - 6 scientists and 6 magicians - and an unknown woman who became the firstGuardian.

The Balance is now regulated by the Guardian from arealm that is outside both worlds, through a greatTower. The Guardian's soul is removed for his or her term of duty, to allow this regulation to happen dispassionately. The term lasts for a thousand years, at which point a new Guardian is chosen. TheChanging of the Guard at thousand year intervals appears to be for the Balance's benefit; at the beginning ofThe Longest Journey Adrian, the 12th Guardian, had overstayed his term by 200 years before finally being forced to leave the Tower as the Balance was beginning to fail. Symptoms of this were becoming visible toApril inVenice, namely creatures and places from Arcadia appearing in brief flashes.

The key watchers of the Balance are the Sentinel. They venerate the Balance and are responsible for safeguarding it. TheTemple inMarcuria hasMurals of the Balance depicting its creation, and aTalisman of the Balance, which has powerful magic but whose true purpose has not yet been revealed. They have also recorded its history in theScriptures of the Balance. They venerate the Balance as a fundamental universal principle. According toFather Raul, also a Roman Catholic priest: "The Sentinel order was founded on the basis of protecting the Balance, not to worship a higher power"; and "It is a faith, but a faith in something less than God, yet more than magic or the laws of nature. The Balance was created by someone, was it not?"

Vestrum Tobias Grensret mentions children "born to the Balance" or "of the Balance" when speaking of Guardians-to-be. In his words, when a new Guardian was born "the Balance provided the seed from which a new fruit grew". As immaculate conception does not seem to be part of the nature of Guardians, it is more likely that the Balance somehow infuses or imparts its essence to the child in question, and its signs are there for those who know what to look for.Cortez also describesApril as a "child of the Balance".

Arcadians celebrate aFeast of the Balance over three nights, which includes singing and dancing to give thanks to the Guardian and the Balance for keeping them safe. AsBenrime Salmin tells April, the Festival is usually celebrated in the streets but, due to the uncertainties in the worlds and the growing influence of theVanguard, this year the Festival has to be held inside, behind closed doors.

The Divide's time is almost over. April has been repeatedly heralded as the one who will save the Balance before destroying it - presumably by reuniting the worlds - but just how and when this will happen is not known, although presumably theWar of the Balance will play some role in it.

Behind the Scenes[]

The symbol of the Balance was originally designed byDidrik Tollefsen, art director onThe Longest Journey.^[1]

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