The Five Apprentices
Korak’s five principal servants work with him in his forge
as apprentices. Recently deceased followers of Korak, they
serve in his smithies (in Heaven and in the land of the
dead, traveling with him) for a century. His mortal followers hope to find a place by his forge in death, for it is a
great honor to be chosen. They recite over their labors, “If
my hand is steady and my work is true, then I shall stoke
the fires for the Grand Wright.” After serving in this
capacity, the apprentices go on to become journeymen in
Heaven, making wondrous artifacts for the gods. They are
journeymen eternally, for there is no Master in Heaven for
such crafts but Korak.
The five apprentices are named after the parts of the
forge: Bellows, Fire, Hammer, Anvil, and Tongs. For
the century in which they serve, they lose all other identifications, and do naught but perform their function.
Some great artisans taken before their time refused to
return when called back by ceremonies of resurrection,
because they became one of the apprentices. Anyone
earning a place at Korak’s side is unlikely to ever return
from the dead
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