Hugadia is a magic kingdom where anything and everything is possible. When the original Hugadia masters of the universe wanted protection from the furious people from the desert, they asked the powerful kingdom across the seas, and, viola!—they got protection. Soon the protectors became the masters and imposed their will and culture on the Hugadia people. Hugadians quickly caught on, and prided themselves in how well they spoke, dressed and behaved in the mannerisms of the protector. The natives began to bear exotic names, such as Morris, Yoweri, Elvis, Grace, Lucy, Marjorie, etc. Those who did not quickly catch were deemed uncouth and primitive. Decades later the power of the protector kingdom began to wane across the globe. The natives called their bluff to take the concepts of their religion and liberal democracy to their logical conclusions. Hugadians were caught up in the global spirits of the day, made some noise, and the protector walked away—as simple as that—no shots, no nothing.
The exit of the protector was greeted with fanfare, pomp and circumstances, excitement and enthusiasm. Sooner than later, however, the new native masters of Hugadia resorted to rule by magic as of old. This turn of event brought confusion, dissent, civil wars and sufferings as rulers came and went.
Of all the rulers of Hugadia, King Mesmer Musava stands out. His brand of magic basically goes like this: What you see should be what he says it is. In fact, his name has its origin from the German physician Anton Mesmer from which the word “mesmerize” is derived, but more particularly because a Mesmer is a master of illusion, misdirection, and control. The Mesmer subverts the damage-dealing capabilities of others, manipulating their perceptions to achieve personal goals.
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King Musava is fond of prancing around the kingdom naked and telling his hapless people that, in fact, he is dressed in fine linen attire from the House of Dior, and only those who are “unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent” are unable to see. Woe unto a Hugadian who dares to say the king is, in fact, without clothes on. Soon magical things will happen to the culprit, as the three musketeers—Athos Bagasa, Aramis Anyaga, and Porthos Atanna—were to learn.
Medicine man, Athos Bagasa had fought alongside Masava in the heady days of the chaos that engulfed Hugadia. He is said to have sneaked into a Hugadia hospital and pilfered some penicillin to treat Masava for a case of the clap that he contracted in a rare moment of weakness. When Mesmer Masava and his gang were victorious, Bagasa was one of the Chief Knights of the Round Table. A few years later, however, there was a fall-out between Bagasa and the King. Bagasa declared publicly—deemed the “wrong forum” per Hugadia’s standard—that he could not see the fine clothes the King was bragging about. In his own words: “The Emperor is Naked.” This, of course, was treason and high crime in Hugadia. The King was swift. He disowned Bagasa, smeared him with nasty calumnies, and even talked of putting Bagasa six feet below terra firma.
We will never know why Bagasa took on his fearsome boss. Various theories have been floated—some not so charitable. One thing is certain: Bagasa is determined to free Hugadians from the magic spell of King Mesmer Masava.
The venerable story teller, Aramis Anyaga has had his run-in with the masters of the magic kingdom. While Anyaga’s theories behind some of his stories are some time prosaic and unbelievably fantastic, he is known for telling it like it is. On several occasions he has told the world that things in Hugadia are just smokes and mirrors. These, of course, brought the wraths of Hugadia power to lean hard on him. The next time we hear from him, he is shunted to a neighboring country and given some bizarre title. Anyaga still has his forum to tell his stories, but King Masava’s henchmen had the “honor” of cackling they showed the man who was the Cock in town.
The third Musketeer is the learned Porthos Atanna. Atanna has seen the great halls of learning of the world. His admirers call him the Grand Master. While he is a Johnnie-come-lately in New Hugadia, nevertheless, he has had a long history with King Masava—way back when. In the dark days, which many would prefer to put behind them, Grand Master Atanna had to negotiate a truce with the then bandit Musava. Various theories are afloat as to what really transpired in the infamous peace charade. The fact is Atanna and his gang lost to the man who would be king. Atanna and his group have been ticked ever since. Decades later the Grand Master has returned to stake his claim in the history of Hugadia. But then again opportunity, like a shot of an arrow or a slip of the tongue, once lost is rarely recaptured. In the meantime the Grand Master has blurted out, to the chagrin of King Masava and his posse, that the king is, in fact, a naked night dancer covered with ashes instead of fine linen attire.
Even as we speak the sagas of The Three Musketeers and the Naked Emperor continue to unfold. King Mesmer Masava continues to mesmerize the population. Aramis Anyaga tells stories of the kingdom from outside the kingdom. Medicine man, Athos Basaga and Grand Master Porthos Atanna are pressing on with convincing the population of the naked untruth of the emperor. And so, the tale of the Magic Kingdom of Hugadia continues to unravel.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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