The times were hard in the Land of KraLor and the people were very poor. In their poverty, they had gone mad and their thoughts only revolved around the things they did not have. The monks of the Monastery of the Two Delusions were also very poor, but silver glinted in the natural springs of the monasteries garden and the skin of the grandmaster gleamed with gold.

Hopei Long was a great and honored student in the Monastery of the Two Delusions. He had learned all the secret teachings of the monastery from his master and everyone assumed that he would continue to teach the path when the master had left this world. However, he wanted to see beyond the walls of the monastery. He wanted to learn to know the Un Lo* better and believed that he could achieve that only by experiencing it entirely. So Hopei Long put on his blue travelers robe and began his journey. He did not know it, but his journey would span the whole of Glorantha. **

When Hopei Long scaled the mountains, the Hawk traveled with him and he enjoyed the crisp air, the dew in the mornings and making his own way. When he plowed the ocean, he felt the sea wind in his face and enjoyed its fury as much as its tenderness. Amidst the dust of the desert, he found an oasis and it eased his troubles. He even went to the bosom of the woods with his head shaven bald and found a magnolia flower there. *** He was very delighted indeed.

Hopei's travels brought hope to many and so many people living in poverty found the simple pleasures of life yet again. That is how he brought much needed light to a dark and sad world.

Finally, Hopei returned to his old monastery and he was welcomed with relief. His master was pleased, for his student had returned. However, he said that Hopei had to return to his meditation and never return to the outside world. The master claimed that the risk was too great.

Hopei thought about what his master had said and withdrew to his old chamber to meditate. To his surprise, it was not as easy as it used to have been. His mind kept wandering and he no longer saw the dragon as he looked inside. Besides, the Irritant Fly was buzzing around the chamber and he could not ignore the distractions of sound anymore. He grew angry at the fly, caught it from the air and squished it in his palm. Then he cursed. He started thinking about the implications of his masters words. Why should the master control his life?

After countless of cycles of fruitless meditation and soul-searching Hopei Long stepped out of his old chamber and he was very mad. He stepped out of the main building and in his fury, smashed both the Statue of Being and the Statue of Un-being. He then left the monastery throwing aside every monk that stood in his way.

After arriving in the countryside, Hopei Long always found new adversaries that tried to inhibit his freedom. So he fought monks, mandarins in hiding, normal farmers, and local governors, demons plaguing the country, bandits and deranged cultists alike. Indeed, Hopei's journey did not end until Emperor Vayobi returned as the War Dragon and returned the order to the land. In doing so, he released Hopei Long from the life that was tormenting him. ****

* Refers to the World Dragon in this sentence.
** Obviously not, but the locals do not know much of the lands outside Kralorela anyway.
*** This is probably a euphemism for something most monks would consider preposterous.
**** He was killed.

Author: Olli Kantola