Tessol was was almost completely burnt. Trees stood blackened and covered in soot although the explosion was almost three years ago. Huge mounds of dried lava sat frozen in time, still in the shape of rolling, hot magma. The four inches of rain that had fallen since the explosion had created small pools of stagnant water, creating a perfect place for mosquitoes to lay their hundreds of eggs, each one able to to carry the disease that had wiped out the last humans in Tessol.
* * * *
The smell of the horse in front of him was intoxicating but what he was really after was the rider. He could almost taste them now that he was so close. The women on top looked as if she had just gotten out of bed. She had caused him so much trouble he didn't care how she died as long as she did. She had crept into his territory three hours ago and he had chased her all the way of of his burnt Forrest into the huge crispy expanse that used to be Tessol. He was tired, but werewolves don't give up and never get enough meat. Running just made him hungrier. He bounded as far as he could.
* * * *
Queen Atta had snuggled herself in the mountain, but had thought she heard one on the shadows chasing her. She had no choice but to flee to Greftyle. After she had gotten to Greftyle she found nothing but miles of bunt trees and dirt. She had entered the forest and heard somthing else behind her. It was not a shadow, and she had no idea what was chasing her, but it looked like some sort of dog mixed with a man. A werewolf. When she first saw it, it had looked a lot smaller, but then after she had stood her ground, it stood on two legs and let out a howl that sounded like a wolf with a large pineapple down its throat. That's when she knew she had only one option, and that was running.
* * * *
The sun peeked over the mountains that covered Tessol. He knew that if the sun came up before he could hide, he would be as crispy as the landscape that stretched in front of him. He had no choice but to leave his prey and return to the forest behind him. He crept into the forest and glanced behind himself. The women was still riding. And she would be riding for another thirty-four miles before she would find anymore humans.
Thursday
Monday
Greftyle Discription (Kingdom #1)
Terrain/ Political/ Society
Greftyle is covered in dense rain forests and large volcanoes, most of which will never explode. Greftyle is inhabited by about half a million humans, and split into three Provinces: Tessol, the northern region, Milebok, the eastern region, and Dewqu the central reagion. Each Province is ruled by a Prime Minister that reports to the King who resides on Leviathan Beach in Dewqu, and is in charge of everything. Succession is hereditary, but in case there is no heir all the inhabitants of dewqu vote for a new king. The province of Dewqu is home to the higher classes of inhabitants, who while away the days drinking tea in their huge villas. A huge desert stretches across Milebok, which is home to the poor and working of Greftyle. Also, there is a thriving slave trade, with most slaves being taken from Milebok and sold in Dewqu. Tessol was mostly destroyed by a volcano three years ago, and very few live there now. The technology level is medieval. Crossbows are preferred over regular bows, and guns are uncommon, but not unheard of.
Hydras
Hydras live in the ocean surrounding Greftyle. These huge beasts grow three heads and are often bloated, because each head thinks it has a separate stomach, although there is only one per animal. Despite this, they are dangerous predators, often eating humans who stray too close to the shore. Sometimes they come up on land if there is a relatively large amount of meat available nearby. It has been rumored that there are some that have up to seven heads, and devour entire ships. People have tried to tame them, but the attempt usually ends in the Hydra's belly.
Greftyle is covered in dense rain forests and large volcanoes, most of which will never explode. Greftyle is inhabited by about half a million humans, and split into three Provinces: Tessol, the northern region, Milebok, the eastern region, and Dewqu the central reagion. Each Province is ruled by a Prime Minister that reports to the King who resides on Leviathan Beach in Dewqu, and is in charge of everything. Succession is hereditary, but in case there is no heir all the inhabitants of dewqu vote for a new king. The province of Dewqu is home to the higher classes of inhabitants, who while away the days drinking tea in their huge villas. A huge desert stretches across Milebok, which is home to the poor and working of Greftyle. Also, there is a thriving slave trade, with most slaves being taken from Milebok and sold in Dewqu. Tessol was mostly destroyed by a volcano three years ago, and very few live there now. The technology level is medieval. Crossbows are preferred over regular bows, and guns are uncommon, but not unheard of.
Hydras
Hydras live in the ocean surrounding Greftyle. These huge beasts grow three heads and are often bloated, because each head thinks it has a separate stomach, although there is only one per animal. Despite this, they are dangerous predators, often eating humans who stray too close to the shore. Sometimes they come up on land if there is a relatively large amount of meat available nearby. It has been rumored that there are some that have up to seven heads, and devour entire ships. People have tried to tame them, but the attempt usually ends in the Hydra's belly.
Chapter 1: Darkness and Treachery
"My lady?" Tarina whispered to her queen. She looked out the window, the moon was high and wispy clouds blew too and fro. A breath of wind crept in and swirled around her ankles.
"Hmmnmn." Atta moaned and rolled over onto her side.
"Majesty please!" Tarina whispered urgently. The scraps of paper on the queens desk blew onto the floor and rustled around in the wind.
"What is it Tarina?" The queen sat up and rubbed her eyes, blinking in the light of her lady-in-waitings candlelight.
"You need to leave, now." Tarina said in such a serious voice, the queen jumped out of bed.
"What is it?" she asked looking in her lady's eyes to see the fear gripping the depths of her soul.
"Just go, now." Tarina said trying to be calm. Atta dressed quickly and silently, many thoughts swimming in her head. What had made her young earth servant act so...strangely? There weren't any problems with the council, she had been at the last meeting. There was nothing Atta could think of that would cause this alarm.
"Your horse is ready M'lady." Tarina said looking down.
"What about you?" Atta asked, hesitating at the door handle.
"D-don't mind me." Tarina said quietly, lip quivering. A tear fell from her eye. Atta took steps back to put her arm around Tarina, but she pulled away. "No majesty. Stay away from me." She closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure. "Goodbye." Atta looked at her once more, then glanced out the window. Something caught her eye. It looked like a discolored cloud of mist, but it was only there for a second, then it was gone. Atta grabbed her sword sitting by the door, and left for the stables. Minutes later she was galloping off into the night, riding toward the north, and to safety. She only stopped once at the base of the mountain path to look back at her castle. There where specks of black surrounding the castle. Atta gasped; where they shadows? She tried not to think of Tarina as she faced her horse forward, and shivered in the crisp, cold air. Another few seconds, and she was smuggled deeply in the mountains.
Tarina's heart pounded as she heard footsteps approach her room door. The air from outside froze her, and her breath was short. She lay in the queens bed thinking of who she would have said goodbye to if she had had the chance. she heard the door creek open, and whoever was there crept inside. Tarina took slow deep breaths, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She shut her eyes tight as someone snuck next to the bed. Then she felt cold air touch her as the covers were ripped off.
"What?!" The someone said angrily, as she grabbed Tarina by the front of her night gown and threw her to the floor. Whoever it was was hooded and cloaked. They were wearing a torn black dress ripped and ragged around the edges. They were wearing thick black boots that really didn't look like they matched the dress but looked menacing all the same. They had a pair of tell-tale leather wings spread to their fullest length. The shadow called out and several more shuffled in. The main one stepped in front of Tairna and held out her hand. One of the other cloaked figures handed her a dagger. It was stained red as if it had never been cleaned and had done much damage. On the end there was a hint of green. It was poisoned. She took of her cloak and Tarina gasped. The shadow was as pale as the moon and had empty gray eyes. Her lips were bright red and she had black greasy hair that fell around her face, eerily framing it in the moonlight. "You know what we hate about earths Tarina?" She asked, in such a cold whispery voice, it felt as though ice was piercing Tarina's ears. the other five shadows laughed under their breath, as if they new what was about to happen.
"n-no." Tarina said, and she backed up against the wall.
"Well, you see, they can't choose a side. You gave us information on how to get past all of the castles defenses and then you tell the queen to flee." The shadow turned suddenly and grabbed Tarina again, slamming her head against the stone wall, and holding the dagger to her throat. Her hands felt like ice, and Tarina couldn't look her in the eye. "Where is the queen, Tarina?" she asked in a mocking voice. Tarina stared at the shadow. She refused to say anything. The shadow held her tighter. "Where is your queen?" Still, no answer. "Where is your queen?!" She shrieked. She raised the dagger and cut down one side of Tarina's face from hair-line to chin. Tarina refused to cry out, but she closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Blood mixed with tears soaked the front of her gown, and she new that if the dagger was poisoned she would be dead in a couple of hours. When Tarina still refused to respond again, another slash went across her face and pain burst like a bomb in her head. Her eyes swam and she sobbed silently.
"I know helping you has cost me my life. But just remember, you didn't win last time, you won't this time. I would rather die then help this hideous rebellion again." Tarina said stubbornly.
"Well, that can be arranged." The shadow said quietly. In a second it was all over, and Tarina's body fell limp to the floor. The shadow turned to her fellow members and said menacingly, "The queen shall be found this night, or you shall pay with your lives." In an instant they were gone, and the shadow looked up at the pale moon. She said to herself while looking out the queens window. "Wouldn't this land look so much better bathed in blood?"
"Hmmnmn." Atta moaned and rolled over onto her side.
"Majesty please!" Tarina whispered urgently. The scraps of paper on the queens desk blew onto the floor and rustled around in the wind.
"What is it Tarina?" The queen sat up and rubbed her eyes, blinking in the light of her lady-in-waitings candlelight.
"You need to leave, now." Tarina said in such a serious voice, the queen jumped out of bed.
"What is it?" she asked looking in her lady's eyes to see the fear gripping the depths of her soul.
"Just go, now." Tarina said trying to be calm. Atta dressed quickly and silently, many thoughts swimming in her head. What had made her young earth servant act so...strangely? There weren't any problems with the council, she had been at the last meeting. There was nothing Atta could think of that would cause this alarm.
"Your horse is ready M'lady." Tarina said looking down.
"What about you?" Atta asked, hesitating at the door handle.
"D-don't mind me." Tarina said quietly, lip quivering. A tear fell from her eye. Atta took steps back to put her arm around Tarina, but she pulled away. "No majesty. Stay away from me." She closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure. "Goodbye." Atta looked at her once more, then glanced out the window. Something caught her eye. It looked like a discolored cloud of mist, but it was only there for a second, then it was gone. Atta grabbed her sword sitting by the door, and left for the stables. Minutes later she was galloping off into the night, riding toward the north, and to safety. She only stopped once at the base of the mountain path to look back at her castle. There where specks of black surrounding the castle. Atta gasped; where they shadows? She tried not to think of Tarina as she faced her horse forward, and shivered in the crisp, cold air. Another few seconds, and she was smuggled deeply in the mountains.
Tarina's heart pounded as she heard footsteps approach her room door. The air from outside froze her, and her breath was short. She lay in the queens bed thinking of who she would have said goodbye to if she had had the chance. she heard the door creek open, and whoever was there crept inside. Tarina took slow deep breaths, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She shut her eyes tight as someone snuck next to the bed. Then she felt cold air touch her as the covers were ripped off.
"What?!" The someone said angrily, as she grabbed Tarina by the front of her night gown and threw her to the floor. Whoever it was was hooded and cloaked. They were wearing a torn black dress ripped and ragged around the edges. They were wearing thick black boots that really didn't look like they matched the dress but looked menacing all the same. They had a pair of tell-tale leather wings spread to their fullest length. The shadow called out and several more shuffled in. The main one stepped in front of Tairna and held out her hand. One of the other cloaked figures handed her a dagger. It was stained red as if it had never been cleaned and had done much damage. On the end there was a hint of green. It was poisoned. She took of her cloak and Tarina gasped. The shadow was as pale as the moon and had empty gray eyes. Her lips were bright red and she had black greasy hair that fell around her face, eerily framing it in the moonlight. "You know what we hate about earths Tarina?" She asked, in such a cold whispery voice, it felt as though ice was piercing Tarina's ears. the other five shadows laughed under their breath, as if they new what was about to happen.
"n-no." Tarina said, and she backed up against the wall.
"Well, you see, they can't choose a side. You gave us information on how to get past all of the castles defenses and then you tell the queen to flee." The shadow turned suddenly and grabbed Tarina again, slamming her head against the stone wall, and holding the dagger to her throat. Her hands felt like ice, and Tarina couldn't look her in the eye. "Where is the queen, Tarina?" she asked in a mocking voice. Tarina stared at the shadow. She refused to say anything. The shadow held her tighter. "Where is your queen?" Still, no answer. "Where is your queen?!" She shrieked. She raised the dagger and cut down one side of Tarina's face from hair-line to chin. Tarina refused to cry out, but she closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Blood mixed with tears soaked the front of her gown, and she new that if the dagger was poisoned she would be dead in a couple of hours. When Tarina still refused to respond again, another slash went across her face and pain burst like a bomb in her head. Her eyes swam and she sobbed silently.
"I know helping you has cost me my life. But just remember, you didn't win last time, you won't this time. I would rather die then help this hideous rebellion again." Tarina said stubbornly.
"Well, that can be arranged." The shadow said quietly. In a second it was all over, and Tarina's body fell limp to the floor. The shadow turned to her fellow members and said menacingly, "The queen shall be found this night, or you shall pay with your lives." In an instant they were gone, and the shadow looked up at the pale moon. She said to herself while looking out the queens window. "Wouldn't this land look so much better bathed in blood?"
Friday
Chapter 1: Intrusion
The Hivemind is master.
Timing is of the essence. Sometimes, it is best to go fast. Sometimes, it is best to go slow.
Patience is needed for plans to be completed.
The Hivemind is master.
Shadow Glytherians. Psychic powers. Strained relations. Useful
Discovery of labyrinth in Phoenicia. Useful
Queen Tatyana dying. Maornya attempting usurpation. Anya, the heir nowhere to be found. Useful
Assassination of Archeron council members by assassins unknown successful. Useful.
The Hivemind is master.
Discovery of new vein of stone. Coordinates: 76, 89, 54
Discovery of new cove of fish. Coordinates: 43, 12, 90
The Hivemind is master.
Tree branches moving at coordinates 0, 23, 89
Swazigherian scouts report hearing unrecognized persons.
Visual. Appears to be small lad. Dress is Koval. Purpose here unknown.
Located beyond borders. Immobilization deemed necessary.
Andrew opened his eyes. It was nearly dark, and he knew he was not outside anymore. He tried to move his feet but they felt like they were encased in stone. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw he was in a large room with a purplish tint. His feet were stuck in a purple subtance foreign to him. All of his possessions were on a table on the other side of the room.
He heard voices, but he could not understand them. “Vj pvsfs t p jmfph djncst.” “X xmm h pf t jp.” He strained to understand them, but they could not make sense. He continued examining himself to see what had caused his sudden blackout. He found a gash on his neck. As he was trying to figure out what had struck him there, he heard a voice.
“Touching the wound increases the pain.”
Andrew looked and he saw a man on the far side of the room. He looked like he was from Koval. Andrew looked at the man’s eyes, which seemed to be trying to see right through him.
“Where am I?” Andrew asked him.
“You are inside the Slyg tunnels.”
“Who are you?”
“We are the Slyg.”
“You don’t look like what I’ve heard Slyg look like.”
“What were you expecting?” After he said this, his voice sounded more like a snake rasping, and also as if multiple voices were speaking at once. “Sohme mohnstehr youuu couhld hahte? Wouhld youuu prehfehr thihs?”
As he spoke, large purple spines started to slowly protrude from every section of his body. After they had completely extended, he stood there for a few minutes looking like someone had stabbed him through with many purple spines. Then, the spines retreated back effortlessly into his body. As far as anyone could tell, they had never come out. Then he spoke again, in a calm tone to Andrew.
“So now that you have asked your share of the questions, let us ask ours.” The man said.
“First, what were you doing beyond our borders?”
"I didn't know I had crossed the borders."
The man held up Andrew's waithe-brom.
"Is this what we think it is?"
"That depends on what you think it is."
"Pair-bound stone. Uses Silder from Valsurstagt"
"I suppose there's no use in denying it."
"Who holds the twin?"
"The Baron Daniel FinKaerin" his eyes flashed suddenly. "You'd better release me right now. If I activate the stone, the baron himself, and half the King's bodyguard, will fly in and annihilate
you."
"How do you plan to activate the stone when we hold it?"
Andrew grinned sheepishly. The man continued.
"There is no need to call up your reinforcements. You are in no danger from us, unless you are lying. You appear to be a Kovàl peasant, yet you claim to have an army and flying Griffins at your beck and call? This does not make sense to us. Peasants do not command kings and we wish to know more."
"I'm not lying."
"We will see."
With that, the man put his fingers on Andrew's head. All of a sudden, Andrew felt like a
thousand fingers were crawling into his brain. Imagine hearing a million thoughts and yet silence.
Imagine seeing a million sights and yet nothing. In an instant, Andrew saw all throughout Trellarya and
heard many thoughts, none of which he could remember, except one which continued to pulsate itself
over and over again. The Hivemind is master. The Hivemind is master. The Hivemind is master. And then
it was over.
The man looked at Andrew. “We have found your word to be true. We will leave you on your borders with all of your possessions. We will then send one of us to talk to your leaders to ensure that no misunderstandings come of this.”
Andrew nodded his head, but something didn’t feel right.
“We will need to incapacitate you, as we have a long way to go and it will be much quicker for us to transport you if you cannot move. Do not worry. You will see, but be incapable of movement. The effects will last an hour. We will make sure not to set you where any wild animals are.”
The man then stuck a spine into his neck. Andrew felt his entire body go numb. It was the same feeling he had felt when these creatures had first taken him. He felt very woozy.
There was a bright flash of sunlight. The man was standing over him and removing the spine from Andrew. He then slid the spine into his body. He looked at Andrew. “We have kept our end of the bargain. We trust you will not come onto our territory again without good reason. To do such could start a war…” He paused. “And we don’t think you would like that, or what we would do to you if we see you again, and we will remember you.”
With that, he burrowed into the ground.
Andrew FinKarein, son of Baron Daniel FinKarein, only heir. Deaths of both would cause chaos and possibly civil war. Very useful.
The Hivemind is master.
Timing is of the essence. Sometimes, it is best to go fast. Sometimes, it is best to go slow.
Patience is needed for plans to be completed.
The Hivemind is master.
Shadow Glytherians. Psychic powers. Strained relations. Useful
Discovery of labyrinth in Phoenicia. Useful
Queen Tatyana dying. Maornya attempting usurpation. Anya, the heir nowhere to be found. Useful
Assassination of Archeron council members by assassins unknown successful. Useful.
The Hivemind is master.
Discovery of new vein of stone. Coordinates: 76, 89, 54
Discovery of new cove of fish. Coordinates: 43, 12, 90
The Hivemind is master.
Tree branches moving at coordinates 0, 23, 89
Swazigherian scouts report hearing unrecognized persons.
Visual. Appears to be small lad. Dress is Koval. Purpose here unknown.
Located beyond borders. Immobilization deemed necessary.
Andrew opened his eyes. It was nearly dark, and he knew he was not outside anymore. He tried to move his feet but they felt like they were encased in stone. His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw he was in a large room with a purplish tint. His feet were stuck in a purple subtance foreign to him. All of his possessions were on a table on the other side of the room.
He heard voices, but he could not understand them. “Vj pvsfs t p jmfph djncst.” “X xmm h pf t jp.” He strained to understand them, but they could not make sense. He continued examining himself to see what had caused his sudden blackout. He found a gash on his neck. As he was trying to figure out what had struck him there, he heard a voice.
“Touching the wound increases the pain.”
Andrew looked and he saw a man on the far side of the room. He looked like he was from Koval. Andrew looked at the man’s eyes, which seemed to be trying to see right through him.
“Where am I?” Andrew asked him.
“You are inside the Slyg tunnels.”
“Who are you?”
“We are the Slyg.”
“You don’t look like what I’ve heard Slyg look like.”
“What were you expecting?” After he said this, his voice sounded more like a snake rasping, and also as if multiple voices were speaking at once. “Sohme mohnstehr youuu couhld hahte? Wouhld youuu prehfehr thihs?”
As he spoke, large purple spines started to slowly protrude from every section of his body. After they had completely extended, he stood there for a few minutes looking like someone had stabbed him through with many purple spines. Then, the spines retreated back effortlessly into his body. As far as anyone could tell, they had never come out. Then he spoke again, in a calm tone to Andrew.
“So now that you have asked your share of the questions, let us ask ours.” The man said.
“First, what were you doing beyond our borders?”
"I didn't know I had crossed the borders."
The man held up Andrew's waithe-brom.
"Is this what we think it is?"
"That depends on what you think it is."
"Pair-bound stone. Uses Silder from Valsurstagt"
"I suppose there's no use in denying it."
"Who holds the twin?"
"The Baron Daniel FinKaerin" his eyes flashed suddenly. "You'd better release me right now. If I activate the stone, the baron himself, and half the King's bodyguard, will fly in and annihilate
you."
"How do you plan to activate the stone when we hold it?"
Andrew grinned sheepishly. The man continued.
"There is no need to call up your reinforcements. You are in no danger from us, unless you are lying. You appear to be a Kovàl peasant, yet you claim to have an army and flying Griffins at your beck and call? This does not make sense to us. Peasants do not command kings and we wish to know more."
"I'm not lying."
"We will see."
With that, the man put his fingers on Andrew's head. All of a sudden, Andrew felt like a
thousand fingers were crawling into his brain. Imagine hearing a million thoughts and yet silence.
Imagine seeing a million sights and yet nothing. In an instant, Andrew saw all throughout Trellarya and
heard many thoughts, none of which he could remember, except one which continued to pulsate itself
over and over again. The Hivemind is master. The Hivemind is master. The Hivemind is master. And then
it was over.
The man looked at Andrew. “We have found your word to be true. We will leave you on your borders with all of your possessions. We will then send one of us to talk to your leaders to ensure that no misunderstandings come of this.”
Andrew nodded his head, but something didn’t feel right.
“We will need to incapacitate you, as we have a long way to go and it will be much quicker for us to transport you if you cannot move. Do not worry. You will see, but be incapable of movement. The effects will last an hour. We will make sure not to set you where any wild animals are.”
The man then stuck a spine into his neck. Andrew felt his entire body go numb. It was the same feeling he had felt when these creatures had first taken him. He felt very woozy.
There was a bright flash of sunlight. The man was standing over him and removing the spine from Andrew. He then slid the spine into his body. He looked at Andrew. “We have kept our end of the bargain. We trust you will not come onto our territory again without good reason. To do such could start a war…” He paused. “And we don’t think you would like that, or what we would do to you if we see you again, and we will remember you.”
With that, he burrowed into the ground.
Andrew FinKarein, son of Baron Daniel FinKarein, only heir. Deaths of both would cause chaos and possibly civil war. Very useful.
The Hivemind is master.
Thursday
Tirane Description
I'm posting this for Rachel, or LCF:
In Tirane there is one main river that flows across the island and has formed a canyon. There are also tall snowy peeks and a hilly/plane land that is about the climate of Ireland. There is a big forest at the bottom of the mountain that extends to the coast line. Most of the land is covered in Oak, Elm, and Aspen. There are some trees that grow only in certain places, these trees are Wild Cherry Trees, those Asian Dr. Seuss Trees, Lilacs, and Elvish Trees [the great big ones].
In the political system each species elects a representative. That representative then is a council member. The council then votes on all matters. Each species has its own section of the island and the council member is like a governor for each section. How long a council member serves is left entirely up to the different species. A council member may never leave the council until the time their species has set.
The inhabitants are: Men, Elfs, Fauns, Centaurs, Dwarfs, Cave Vrimps, Dark Hagons, Irish Hagons, Red Hagons, and Hawk Feet. Those are just the represented inhabitants from the land. There are two kinds of water inhabitants. They are Mir Maids and Water Nymphs.
I'll be brief about the way of life. The species mostly keep to them selves but there are a few cities where species mingle. In their different section each species has their own ways and traditions. The technology is varied from rather advanced to magical happenings.
In Tirane there is one main river that flows across the island and has formed a canyon. There are also tall snowy peeks and a hilly/plane land that is about the climate of Ireland. There is a big forest at the bottom of the mountain that extends to the coast line. Most of the land is covered in Oak, Elm, and Aspen. There are some trees that grow only in certain places, these trees are Wild Cherry Trees, those Asian Dr. Seuss Trees, Lilacs, and Elvish Trees [the great big ones].
In the political system each species elects a representative. That representative then is a council member. The council then votes on all matters. Each species has its own section of the island and the council member is like a governor for each section. How long a council member serves is left entirely up to the different species. A council member may never leave the council until the time their species has set.
The inhabitants are: Men, Elfs, Fauns, Centaurs, Dwarfs, Cave Vrimps, Dark Hagons, Irish Hagons, Red Hagons, and Hawk Feet. Those are just the represented inhabitants from the land. There are two kinds of water inhabitants. They are Mir Maids and Water Nymphs.
I'll be brief about the way of life. The species mostly keep to them selves but there are a few cities where species mingle. In their different section each species has their own ways and traditions. The technology is varied from rather advanced to magical happenings.
Kovàl, chapter one: Introduction
As the prairies and rivers of the lowlands gave way to the stony hills and high moors of the highlands, Andrew took a deep breath of the crisp Latewinter air. The
While contemplating the beauties of sunrise in the highlands, Andrew’s thoughts drifted to the reason for this journey: his coming-of-age! Every boy in Kovàl, exactly six months before his eighteenth birthday, was sent out on his own, away from the city of his birth. This was the coming-of-age, fasaerid in the ancient tongue. He was to survive by his own wits and his own work for those six months until his birthday, at which point he was accepted into society as a grown man. For poor boys, this was a chance to escape from the drudgery and prejudice of home life. For the sons of nobility, it provided a taste of real life away from wealth and luxury, and invaluable perspective for the day when the responsibilities of government fell on their shoulders. Sure, the fasaerid was risky, but it was a long-standing and deeply rooted Kovàl tradition, and on the whole, a beneficial one.
Andrew thought of all this and more as the flight wore on. His hand wandered to the fine golden chain around his neck, and the small jewel hanging next to his skin. He grimaced. Andrew was no ordinary boy: he was the son of the baron Daniel FinKaerin, and the only heir of the FinKaerin barony. If he were to die during the next six months, it would be disastrous for the whole kingdom. The dispute over the succession would be prolonged and bitter, even leading to civil war. Many thousands of lives could be lost in such a war, and with Trellarya growing ever more dangerous, disunity now bring destruction on the entire kingdom. As a result, Andrew wore a waithe-brom, or pair-bound stone. His father held its twin. These useful items, made of Silder from the
Andrew snapped out of his reverie when the
“Good girl, Beulah. A perfect landing, as usual.”
The
The baron Daniel FinKaerin watched his son with approval. “Look at how the
“I believe you have everything you need,” he began, speaking very quickly. “An extra change of clothes, a warm cloak, food and water, and a small purse of money. You have bow and arrows, a sword, and the skill to use both. And of course, you have the waithe-brom. Remember what your mother has told you: stay away from the seedier inns and the gambling houses…”
As his father babbled on, Andrew smiled to himself. They had been over this at least a dozen times already. He knew he was just trying not to show how worried he was. On an impulse, Andrew ran over and embraced his father.
“Thanks for everything, Dad,” he said. Andrew was surprised to see the glint of tears in his father’s eyes.
“Take care of yourself, son.” The baron opened his mouth to say more, but thought better of it. Words were not necessary. He smiled, turned away, mounted the
Saturday
Akeylea
Akeylea~
Political/Social
Akeylea is the land of the Glytherians, a race of humanoid creatures with elemental powers. They run one of the biggest kingdoms in Trellarya, home to about 300,000 Glytherians. They are a steel age kingdom, still using swords, bows, maces...etc. The Glytherians are ruled by a council of 6, one member from each viable element, and a king or queen elected by the council members. The king/queen may veto laws, but if there is a unanimous vote from the council members, then he, or she, is overruled. Akeylea has just come out of a bloody civil war, and has found temporary peace among all elements, though there is tension between them.
Land
Akeylea is wooded with dense forests to the south-west, bordered by desert a little more to the east. Most of the north is mountainous, though along both shores lie small swamps. There are small villages scattered through Akeylea, though only five large cities to speak of.
Elements
There are seven different elements that Glytherians can have power over, water, fire, energy, earth, air, shadow, and cosmic. There are the waters, who keep to themselves and are the fighters of Akeylea. They can swim well, hold their breath for up to five hours, and they do have a pair of wings that can be used for flying short distances. Waters wield spears. Next are Fires. They are not affected by fire, and can manipulate small amounts of it. They are usually the brightest element. They wield swords. The energys are not very agile, though they have the greatest strength of all the elements. They wield whips. The earths are fun-loving and have a natural bit of luck that seems to follow them. They are very charismatic. Earths wield long bows and have wings on their ankles used to hover. Airs are strong-willed and witty. They have a good mind for strategy. They have feathered wings and can fly for great distances. Axes are their choice weapon. Shadows are the outcasts of Akeylea. Though they were welcomed into the council in the recent peace, they are the social outcasts, and only make friends with their own. They have the ability of instant teleportation up to three miles away, and they have phsycic abilities. Shadows have been the cause of many a civil war; they wield flails or maces. The last element is cosmic. there is only one known cosmic and she keeps to herself in the peaks to the North of Akeylea. Cosmics are very powerful, and their limits have not yet been tested. No one knows how their power is gained.
Military
Akeylea is very much a military state, though weakened recently by civil war. Now that the many armies of the elements have united, they have a large military force, though they are trying to wean themselves off of military force and trying to turn to more peaceful means.
Akeylea is glad to join this realm, and wishes peace to the it's many neighbors, though let it be known, they know how to defend!
Political/Social
Akeylea is the land of the Glytherians, a race of humanoid creatures with elemental powers. They run one of the biggest kingdoms in Trellarya, home to about 300,000 Glytherians. They are a steel age kingdom, still using swords, bows, maces...etc. The Glytherians are ruled by a council of 6, one member from each viable element, and a king or queen elected by the council members. The king/queen may veto laws, but if there is a unanimous vote from the council members, then he, or she, is overruled. Akeylea has just come out of a bloody civil war, and has found temporary peace among all elements, though there is tension between them.
Land
Akeylea is wooded with dense forests to the south-west, bordered by desert a little more to the east. Most of the north is mountainous, though along both shores lie small swamps. There are small villages scattered through Akeylea, though only five large cities to speak of.
Elements
There are seven different elements that Glytherians can have power over, water, fire, energy, earth, air, shadow, and cosmic. There are the waters, who keep to themselves and are the fighters of Akeylea. They can swim well, hold their breath for up to five hours, and they do have a pair of wings that can be used for flying short distances. Waters wield spears. Next are Fires. They are not affected by fire, and can manipulate small amounts of it. They are usually the brightest element. They wield swords. The energys are not very agile, though they have the greatest strength of all the elements. They wield whips. The earths are fun-loving and have a natural bit of luck that seems to follow them. They are very charismatic. Earths wield long bows and have wings on their ankles used to hover. Airs are strong-willed and witty. They have a good mind for strategy. They have feathered wings and can fly for great distances. Axes are their choice weapon. Shadows are the outcasts of Akeylea. Though they were welcomed into the council in the recent peace, they are the social outcasts, and only make friends with their own. They have the ability of instant teleportation up to three miles away, and they have phsycic abilities. Shadows have been the cause of many a civil war; they wield flails or maces. The last element is cosmic. there is only one known cosmic and she keeps to herself in the peaks to the North of Akeylea. Cosmics are very powerful, and their limits have not yet been tested. No one knows how their power is gained.
Military
Akeylea is very much a military state, though weakened recently by civil war. Now that the many armies of the elements have united, they have a large military force, though they are trying to wean themselves off of military force and trying to turn to more peaceful means.
Akeylea is glad to join this realm, and wishes peace to the it's many neighbors, though let it be known, they know how to defend!
Wednesday
Välsurstägt: The Fight for the Throne, part 1
The clouds were gathering over Välsurstägt. The Queen was ailing fast, and no one knew how long it might be until the trial of Vanderlak might be held to appoint a new one.
The whole realm was stirred by this. I felt it strongly, living in the palace, for if one is only a maidservant, such as I was, nobody curbs their tongues. I thought I knew a good deal more of events than most of the nobles.
It was the first day of midwinter, the start of the new year. The First Day is a great celebration in Välsurstägt, but it wasn’t a day of celebration for me.
I was on my feet all day, cleaning, polishing, fetching and carrying for what seemed like millions of people. I wasn’t even actually allowed into the banquet halls. The housekeeper felt I was far too rustic and common. She often said this, which irritated me. I only worked at the palace because I had too. My parents died when I was very small, and the only relation I had at all was my brother. He didn’t like me much, which didn’t bother me. I didn’t like him much either.
When the sky was darkening, I was sent to clean the large fireplace on the second floor. I despised cleaning fireplaces, and as soon as I had knelt down in front of it, an enormous gust of wind came whistling down the chimney and scattered ashes all over me.
I spat out a mouthful of coal dust, and tried to wipe off my face with my sleeve. It didn’t do a bit of good, just created a large black stain on my dress. Sighing with frustration, I picked up my brush, and began to sweep the ashes into a pan.
Just as I had got to the horribly dirty part at the back, I heard a door shut down the hall. Looking up, I saw one of the ladies’ maids hurrying toward me. I turned back to the fireplace. The ladies’ maids have no use for the servants, such as an under housemaid like me.
But then I heard a voice calling my name. “Anya! Anya!” it said, breathlessly. I dropped the pan of ashes with a clatter, as I turned again to look in amazement.
“You were calling me?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes! Come, quickly!” she said, grabbing my sooty hand and pulling me to my feet.
“What in the kingdoms is the matter?” I asked, as I was pulled along down the hall.
“The queen is worse, she wants you.”
“Why would she want me?” I gulped. “I’ve never even seen her.”
“I don’t know, all of a sudden, she just said ‘please, find Anya and bring her to me’, you are the only Anya around here that I know of.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say, and just tried to wipe a little more of the coal dust.
We came to a door. The ladies’ maid opened it and gave me a shove. I wasn’t expecting this, and lost my balance. I staggered into the room and across the floor in a most undignified fashion, not at all the first impression I would have liked to make on the queen.
She was lying in an enormous, tapestried, four poster bed. To my great astonishment, she was not a bit old, between twenty and twenty-five. Also, she looked very much like me. The very same dark gold hair, and the same, strange eyes. One a deep, forest green, and the other a dark, velvety purple. I had never seen someone with eyes like mine before
I walked tentatively toward the bed. The queen turned, and smiled at me. I made a flustered curtsy, remembering the royal etiquette, and said, “Your Majesty,”.
“Please,” said the queen. “Call me Tatyana,”
“I shall,” I said, surprised, and very much pleased. I snuck a look at the other maid, feeling smug.
Tatyana gestured at a chair. “Please, Anya, sit down. And Golnya, you may go.”
The other maid left. I sat down in the chair, and looked at Tatyana. She reached out, and took my hand.
“Were you surprised when I sent for you?” she asked.
“Well, yes,” I admitted. “I didn’t know why.”
“Because I have something very important to tell you, that will be a great surprise. You are destined to be the next Queen of Välsurstägt.”
“WHAT? I gasped.
“I thought you would be surprised,” said Tatyana, with a hint of a smile.
“How.., I mean, why...but,” I stuttered desperately.
“You are half of the fay folk, just as I am,” she said calmly.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“The eyes, you have the fay eyes, just as I do. And the fay ears too, I think.” I put a hand to my head. My ears were pointed at the tips, but I was careful always to comb my hair over them so nobody would see. “You shall be the next queen, for you are the only such person in Välsurstägt, I know.”
I was silent for moment, thinking. The possibility swam before my eyes. The next Queen! The ruler of all Välsurstägt! I knew from Tatyana’s tone that she was speaking the truth, not simply teasing me.
“But what about my brother, he is older than me,”
“He is only your half-brother. He is not of the fay.”
“But the trial, how will I pass it?”
“You will pass the trial, but you may not even make it there. You must be wary.”
“Why? What is wrong?”
Tatyana sighed heavily. “You know the duchess Maornya da Kulstey?”
“I have seen her,” I said.
“She is a very ambitious woman, ruthless and power hungry. She also works magic.”
I gasped. It is strictly forbidden for humans to work magic, it causes so many problems. “But is that not against the law.”
Tatyana laughed bitterly. “Maornya has never and will never care anything about the laws. I know that when I die, she will try to seize the throne, although she has not a drop of Faerie blood. She wants the silder mines, she wants power, she wants wealth.”
“But-, surely she can stopped!”
“No amount of force will conquer Maornya. She will kill anyone who tries to challenge her.”
“But she doesn’t know about me, and she won’t know until it’s too late.”
“She knows. She knows that you are the only half-faerie in Välsurstägt. She, in fact, holds what will stop you from having contact with the Faerie side of your nature. She holds your kivae.”
I was silent. I had heard of the faerie stone Kivae, a charm which every Fay received at their christening and wore until their death.
Tatyana reached under the collar of her night dress, and brought out a necklace. It was silver, with a green stone as a pendant. The stone throbbed with light, and threw beams across the room. I gasped.
“This is my Kivae.” said Tatyana. “While I wear it, no evil magic can harm me, such as the sort Maornya practices. Without it, she would have destroyed me long ago.”
“And she holds my kivae,” I said, slowly, beginning to realize the danger that I was in.
“Yes, you must find it, and go, far away from here, until the trial of Vanderlak, and until you can claim your rightful place as Queen of Valsurstagt.”
My head was spinning. In five minutes my life had changed so dramatically that it left me dizzy. A faerie, the next queen, a woman who wanted my life, how could I do it?
“You can do it, Anya,” said Tatyana. “I know you have the strength. Here is what you must do.” She pointed to a wardrobe. “Go and find the white cape.”
I got up, and went over to the wardrobe. Inside were many beautiful gowns and one, pure white cape. I brought it over to the bed.
Tatyana put it over my shoulders. “This is made from spun silder. It is one of the most valuable things in this kingdom, for no weapon can penetrate it. It has belonged to every one of Välsurstägt’s queens. It belongs to you now. It will protect you from any physical attacks.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
“This very night, you must go and find you kivae. It will not be far from Maornya, she guards it obsessively. However, she will be out late at the party, and will likely have left it in her room for safekeeping. After you find it, you must leave the palace.”
“How shall I do that?” I asked.
“I expect that with your kivae, it will not be difficult. You must go far from here, and when you hear that I am dead, come for the trial.”
“Surely.., you won’t die soon,” I ventured.
“Yes, I shall die soon, but I am not afraid.” said Tatyana. “And when my human body is drained of life, I shall be with the fays again for all eternity, for the fay side of me is immortal, it shall never die.”
“But-” I said, feeling as though I might cry.
“No,” Tatyana caught my hand. “Don’t worry, you shall do very well on your own. It is your destiny to rule, and never forget that. You are the rightful queen.” she paused a minute. “But, when you need help, think of me, and I will be with you, by your side to guide you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Now go,” said Tatyana. “And do not forget what I have told you. Maornya’s room is along this corridor, five doors down from mine to the left.” I knew that room well, I had cleaned it many times.
“Goodbye,” I said, desolately, standing up.
“Goodbye,” said Tatyana. “And good luck.”
I opened Tatyana’s door, and shut it behind me carefully. In a daze, my feet carried me down the hall toward the rooms of the Duchess da Kulstey.
There was the door. I reached for the knob, opened it, and walked in. The room was empty of people, which was a relief, but still, I was nervous.
Where would she keep my kivae? I wondered. The first place that occurred to me was the dressing table drawer where I knew the rest of the jewelry was. Then, I reasoned She could pretend it was ordinary jewelry.
The room was dark, and I had not thought to bring a candle. I felt my way over to the dressing table, managing not to knock anything over. I opened the drawer. I had dusted it so many times I knew it by heart. Reaching in, I felt about in the duchesses jewelry. I felt nothing out of the ordinary, I was sure I would know my kivae if I touched it.
My fingers explored the bottom of the drawer. Smooth, cold wood. But then, I felt a ridge. Feeling along it, I came to another that intersected it. Digging my fingernails into the wood, I lifted a piece about the size of my palm. As the panel came away, a gleaming purple light filled the room, radiating from the drawer. Trembling with excitement, I reached down, and drew out my kivae. It was exquisite, dark purple stone, that sparkled and gleamed, giving off an eerie, unearthly glow. The stone was cut it the shape of a many pointed star, and mounted in a silver frame, attached to a silver chain. I turned it over. On the back there were carved three words, Anya La Fay. Anya the fay.
“Anya,” I whirled. Maornya was standing in the door, holding a dagger. She spat out the word as though it pained her to say it. “I thought this time would come, when you would be so foolish as to challenge my power. You shall regret this descision.”
I clutched the kivae. “I will not regret it,” I said evenly. “You can keep it from my no longer, it is mine,” With that, I fastened the chain round my neck.
Maornya shrieked, a mixture of rage and terror. “Stay away from me, Fay!”
When I fastened the chain, I felt protection drain into me from the kivae, it felt hot against the skin of my neck, throbbing and glowing as magic spread through me.
“I shall allow nothing to interfere with my plans,” Maornya said, regaining her composure, and advancing on me with the dagger raised.
There was no doubt in my mind that she was going to kill me. I threw out my hands instinctively. The dagger fell to the floor, burning and dissolving into a purple flame. Then it disappeared with a bang. I drew back my hands, horrified. Was that magic? Have I broken the law? But no, the law is not to use magic against other people who cannot defend themselves, I would have been killed if I hadn't. It was the kivae that had done it, not me. The magic the law referred too was the sorcery that people like Maornya used to bring evil to other people, and power to themselves. It said nothing about the magic that the faeries used to do good.
I had almost forgotten the duchess in this contemplation, but now I was yanked out of my thoughts.
“You think you have defeated me, but my powers are infinite, and I shall destroy you!” she shouted,
I knew that she would, if she could. A bolt of blue lightning shot through the ceiling toward me, I turned, shielding my eyes and holding out my hand again. And the light saved me again, blocking the lightning. It struck between us and a burned black patch in the floor and a produced cloud of dark blue smoke
“You cannot destroy me,” I said, glaring strait into her cold gray eyes. I want to get away! I thought desperately. How much longer can I last? But Maornya was between me and the door. I put a hand on my kivae. Please!
I felt a very peculiar sensation, as shivers ran through me, and my feet seemed to leave the floor. Then they touched again, but this time on grass. I looked about. I was now standing in a mountain valley, in a small stand of pine trees. It was dark, and very cold, but I had never thought a place so wonderful in my life.
I sank down on the ground, pulling Tatyana’s cloak around me. For now I am safe, I thought
The whole realm was stirred by this. I felt it strongly, living in the palace, for if one is only a maidservant, such as I was, nobody curbs their tongues. I thought I knew a good deal more of events than most of the nobles.
It was the first day of midwinter, the start of the new year. The First Day is a great celebration in Välsurstägt, but it wasn’t a day of celebration for me.
I was on my feet all day, cleaning, polishing, fetching and carrying for what seemed like millions of people. I wasn’t even actually allowed into the banquet halls. The housekeeper felt I was far too rustic and common. She often said this, which irritated me. I only worked at the palace because I had too. My parents died when I was very small, and the only relation I had at all was my brother. He didn’t like me much, which didn’t bother me. I didn’t like him much either.
When the sky was darkening, I was sent to clean the large fireplace on the second floor. I despised cleaning fireplaces, and as soon as I had knelt down in front of it, an enormous gust of wind came whistling down the chimney and scattered ashes all over me.
I spat out a mouthful of coal dust, and tried to wipe off my face with my sleeve. It didn’t do a bit of good, just created a large black stain on my dress. Sighing with frustration, I picked up my brush, and began to sweep the ashes into a pan.
Just as I had got to the horribly dirty part at the back, I heard a door shut down the hall. Looking up, I saw one of the ladies’ maids hurrying toward me. I turned back to the fireplace. The ladies’ maids have no use for the servants, such as an under housemaid like me.
But then I heard a voice calling my name. “Anya! Anya!” it said, breathlessly. I dropped the pan of ashes with a clatter, as I turned again to look in amazement.
“You were calling me?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes! Come, quickly!” she said, grabbing my sooty hand and pulling me to my feet.
“What in the kingdoms is the matter?” I asked, as I was pulled along down the hall.
“The queen is worse, she wants you.”
“Why would she want me?” I gulped. “I’ve never even seen her.”
“I don’t know, all of a sudden, she just said ‘please, find Anya and bring her to me’, you are the only Anya around here that I know of.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say, and just tried to wipe a little more of the coal dust.
We came to a door. The ladies’ maid opened it and gave me a shove. I wasn’t expecting this, and lost my balance. I staggered into the room and across the floor in a most undignified fashion, not at all the first impression I would have liked to make on the queen.
She was lying in an enormous, tapestried, four poster bed. To my great astonishment, she was not a bit old, between twenty and twenty-five. Also, she looked very much like me. The very same dark gold hair, and the same, strange eyes. One a deep, forest green, and the other a dark, velvety purple. I had never seen someone with eyes like mine before
I walked tentatively toward the bed. The queen turned, and smiled at me. I made a flustered curtsy, remembering the royal etiquette, and said, “Your Majesty,”.
“Please,” said the queen. “Call me Tatyana,”
“I shall,” I said, surprised, and very much pleased. I snuck a look at the other maid, feeling smug.
Tatyana gestured at a chair. “Please, Anya, sit down. And Golnya, you may go.”
The other maid left. I sat down in the chair, and looked at Tatyana. She reached out, and took my hand.
“Were you surprised when I sent for you?” she asked.
“Well, yes,” I admitted. “I didn’t know why.”
“Because I have something very important to tell you, that will be a great surprise. You are destined to be the next Queen of Välsurstägt.”
“WHAT? I gasped.
“I thought you would be surprised,” said Tatyana, with a hint of a smile.
“How.., I mean, why...but,” I stuttered desperately.
“You are half of the fay folk, just as I am,” she said calmly.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“The eyes, you have the fay eyes, just as I do. And the fay ears too, I think.” I put a hand to my head. My ears were pointed at the tips, but I was careful always to comb my hair over them so nobody would see. “You shall be the next queen, for you are the only such person in Välsurstägt, I know.”
I was silent for moment, thinking. The possibility swam before my eyes. The next Queen! The ruler of all Välsurstägt! I knew from Tatyana’s tone that she was speaking the truth, not simply teasing me.
“But what about my brother, he is older than me,”
“He is only your half-brother. He is not of the fay.”
“But the trial, how will I pass it?”
“You will pass the trial, but you may not even make it there. You must be wary.”
“Why? What is wrong?”
Tatyana sighed heavily. “You know the duchess Maornya da Kulstey?”
“I have seen her,” I said.
“She is a very ambitious woman, ruthless and power hungry. She also works magic.”
I gasped. It is strictly forbidden for humans to work magic, it causes so many problems. “But is that not against the law.”
Tatyana laughed bitterly. “Maornya has never and will never care anything about the laws. I know that when I die, she will try to seize the throne, although she has not a drop of Faerie blood. She wants the silder mines, she wants power, she wants wealth.”
“But-, surely she can stopped!”
“No amount of force will conquer Maornya. She will kill anyone who tries to challenge her.”
“But she doesn’t know about me, and she won’t know until it’s too late.”
“She knows. She knows that you are the only half-faerie in Välsurstägt. She, in fact, holds what will stop you from having contact with the Faerie side of your nature. She holds your kivae.”
I was silent. I had heard of the faerie stone Kivae, a charm which every Fay received at their christening and wore until their death.
Tatyana reached under the collar of her night dress, and brought out a necklace. It was silver, with a green stone as a pendant. The stone throbbed with light, and threw beams across the room. I gasped.
“This is my Kivae.” said Tatyana. “While I wear it, no evil magic can harm me, such as the sort Maornya practices. Without it, she would have destroyed me long ago.”
“And she holds my kivae,” I said, slowly, beginning to realize the danger that I was in.
“Yes, you must find it, and go, far away from here, until the trial of Vanderlak, and until you can claim your rightful place as Queen of Valsurstagt.”
My head was spinning. In five minutes my life had changed so dramatically that it left me dizzy. A faerie, the next queen, a woman who wanted my life, how could I do it?
“You can do it, Anya,” said Tatyana. “I know you have the strength. Here is what you must do.” She pointed to a wardrobe. “Go and find the white cape.”
I got up, and went over to the wardrobe. Inside were many beautiful gowns and one, pure white cape. I brought it over to the bed.
Tatyana put it over my shoulders. “This is made from spun silder. It is one of the most valuable things in this kingdom, for no weapon can penetrate it. It has belonged to every one of Välsurstägt’s queens. It belongs to you now. It will protect you from any physical attacks.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
“This very night, you must go and find you kivae. It will not be far from Maornya, she guards it obsessively. However, she will be out late at the party, and will likely have left it in her room for safekeeping. After you find it, you must leave the palace.”
“How shall I do that?” I asked.
“I expect that with your kivae, it will not be difficult. You must go far from here, and when you hear that I am dead, come for the trial.”
“Surely.., you won’t die soon,” I ventured.
“Yes, I shall die soon, but I am not afraid.” said Tatyana. “And when my human body is drained of life, I shall be with the fays again for all eternity, for the fay side of me is immortal, it shall never die.”
“But-” I said, feeling as though I might cry.
“No,” Tatyana caught my hand. “Don’t worry, you shall do very well on your own. It is your destiny to rule, and never forget that. You are the rightful queen.” she paused a minute. “But, when you need help, think of me, and I will be with you, by your side to guide you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Now go,” said Tatyana. “And do not forget what I have told you. Maornya’s room is along this corridor, five doors down from mine to the left.” I knew that room well, I had cleaned it many times.
“Goodbye,” I said, desolately, standing up.
“Goodbye,” said Tatyana. “And good luck.”
I opened Tatyana’s door, and shut it behind me carefully. In a daze, my feet carried me down the hall toward the rooms of the Duchess da Kulstey.
There was the door. I reached for the knob, opened it, and walked in. The room was empty of people, which was a relief, but still, I was nervous.
Where would she keep my kivae? I wondered. The first place that occurred to me was the dressing table drawer where I knew the rest of the jewelry was. Then, I reasoned She could pretend it was ordinary jewelry.
The room was dark, and I had not thought to bring a candle. I felt my way over to the dressing table, managing not to knock anything over. I opened the drawer. I had dusted it so many times I knew it by heart. Reaching in, I felt about in the duchesses jewelry. I felt nothing out of the ordinary, I was sure I would know my kivae if I touched it.
My fingers explored the bottom of the drawer. Smooth, cold wood. But then, I felt a ridge. Feeling along it, I came to another that intersected it. Digging my fingernails into the wood, I lifted a piece about the size of my palm. As the panel came away, a gleaming purple light filled the room, radiating from the drawer. Trembling with excitement, I reached down, and drew out my kivae. It was exquisite, dark purple stone, that sparkled and gleamed, giving off an eerie, unearthly glow. The stone was cut it the shape of a many pointed star, and mounted in a silver frame, attached to a silver chain. I turned it over. On the back there were carved three words, Anya La Fay. Anya the fay.
“Anya,” I whirled. Maornya was standing in the door, holding a dagger. She spat out the word as though it pained her to say it. “I thought this time would come, when you would be so foolish as to challenge my power. You shall regret this descision.”
I clutched the kivae. “I will not regret it,” I said evenly. “You can keep it from my no longer, it is mine,” With that, I fastened the chain round my neck.
Maornya shrieked, a mixture of rage and terror. “Stay away from me, Fay!”
When I fastened the chain, I felt protection drain into me from the kivae, it felt hot against the skin of my neck, throbbing and glowing as magic spread through me.
“I shall allow nothing to interfere with my plans,” Maornya said, regaining her composure, and advancing on me with the dagger raised.
There was no doubt in my mind that she was going to kill me. I threw out my hands instinctively. The dagger fell to the floor, burning and dissolving into a purple flame. Then it disappeared with a bang. I drew back my hands, horrified. Was that magic? Have I broken the law? But no, the law is not to use magic against other people who cannot defend themselves, I would have been killed if I hadn't. It was the kivae that had done it, not me. The magic the law referred too was the sorcery that people like Maornya used to bring evil to other people, and power to themselves. It said nothing about the magic that the faeries used to do good.
I had almost forgotten the duchess in this contemplation, but now I was yanked out of my thoughts.
“You think you have defeated me, but my powers are infinite, and I shall destroy you!” she shouted,
I knew that she would, if she could. A bolt of blue lightning shot through the ceiling toward me, I turned, shielding my eyes and holding out my hand again. And the light saved me again, blocking the lightning. It struck between us and a burned black patch in the floor and a produced cloud of dark blue smoke
“You cannot destroy me,” I said, glaring strait into her cold gray eyes. I want to get away! I thought desperately. How much longer can I last? But Maornya was between me and the door. I put a hand on my kivae. Please!
I felt a very peculiar sensation, as shivers ran through me, and my feet seemed to leave the floor. Then they touched again, but this time on grass. I looked about. I was now standing in a mountain valley, in a small stand of pine trees. It was dark, and very cold, but I had never thought a place so wonderful in my life.
I sank down on the ground, pulling Tatyana’s cloak around me. For now I am safe, I thought
Night of Terror- Archeron
Dulaman Elmen sat up with a start. His dreams had been troubled for several nights now, but this time it hadn't been a nightmare that jarred him awake. There seemed to be some sort of commotion outside his room. He jumped out of bed, ran over to the door, and peered out the keyhole. There were six guards in the hall leading to his room, and they were all fully armed and ready.
"Lock this place down! Come on people, let's move it!" bellowed the leader. Dulaman straitened up and opened his door. The second the head guard noticed Dulaman, he turned and spoke quickly:
"Sorry councilman, you've got to stay in your room. Orders."
"Why, what's going on?" Dulaman replied quizzically.
"Consul Grifton's been assassinated." The guard responded grimly.
"That's all? You woke me up for that?"
"He's not the only one, sir."
"Wait, someone else has been killed too?"
"Yes. Half the council is dead already, and we fear there may be attempts on the rest of the council as well."
"I'll go get dressed immediately then."
"Good, hurry sir." Dulaman quickly retreated back into his room. He opened his wardrobe and donned his forester's clothes; A long, forest green hooded tunic, high boots of brown leather, and a full quiver. He also strung his bow, and strapped his short sword onto his belt. The second he was done he opened his door once again.
"So, what's the plan?" He asked the chief guard as soon as he got out.
"I just told you a moment ago, councilman, you're to stay in your room." The chief guard replied.
"But that's total folly! If I stay in my room they'll know exactly where to find me."
"I'm sorry councilman, but we can't leave."
"Listen," Dulaman said to the man, leaning in and looking him square in the eye. "I'm a master of the Forestry guild. If there truly is a threat to my life, I'll be best equipped to defend myself if I'm outside." The guard stared at him, unmoved. "Fine," Dulaman continued "but I'm sure you know that anyone who is going to attempt to kill a councilman will account for six Surrian guards." The chief guard was about to speak, when one of the young guards interrupted.
"Sir, out there in the courtyard, I think I see something." he said as he pointed out the only window in the corridor.
"Get down!" Dulaman yelled, but it was to late. There was the sound of a gust of wind, and the young guard fell to the floor, dead. "How about now, Guardy man?" Dulaman asked sarcasticly "They'll be making for my window."
"All right. Let's move men!"
***
Several minutes later, as he ran through the darkened street towards the river park, Dulaman couldn't help but marvel at how nice the night was. Though it was Latewinter, there was no frost in the air. 'Something isn't right' he thought to himself as he continued. He looked around to get his bearings. There was the Red Quatl Inn, it was just three blocks now, and he'd be on his turf, in his own element. As he looked around he realized he must have lost his guards somewhere along the way. 'Oh well, easier to hide that way.'
Somewhere off on the other side of the river he heard the cracking of gunfire. 'Whatever is happening in Ser tonight, it's obviously not confined to the West Bank. Someone must be trying to eliminate the council, but why? The current council can barely agree on anything anyway.' Dulamamn could now see the trees and brush encased in cast iron fence looming on the left ahead of him. He was almost at the park. But then, something caught his eye. There was a bit of movement in a window on the right side of the street. Instinctively, Dulaman dived forward. The second he did he was thankful for it, because two arrows whizzed through where his chest had been a second ago. Quickly he glanced about the street looking for some cover, but there was none to be found. So, without thinking he stood up and sprinted blindly back the way he had come. More gunfire sounded in the distance.
'Well, this isn't the worst off I've ever been.' thought Dulaman to himself as he ran. 'I can think of a plan. I'll live. I mean, Dulaman, twenty-nine years is too short a life, right? I've done a lot, but it's still too short.' As he was passing the Red Quatl Inn for the second time, the moon came out from behind the clouds, illuminating the street in front of him. Dulaman froze in his tracks at the sight that confronted him. Three figures in black cloaks stood in the road in front of him. He turned around to run back again, but saw another figure further down the street, with an arrow trained on him. 'This is really the end now, isn't it?' He raised his hands and turned back to the three figures in front of him.
"You've given us quite a chase, councilman Elmen." the figure in the middle said sarcastically, as it began to advance toward him. "Of course, we expected it would be interesting with you."
"Would you just kill me and get it over with?!?" Dulaman shot back.
"Oh, but where would the fun be in that?" sneered the figure. Then Dulaman heard the cold metallic sound of a swords being drawn, and saw the glint of blades in the hands of his assailants. They began to advance. He looked around quickly. The bowman still had the arrow trained on him, and there were no other ways out. Now they were only thirty feet in front of him. More gunfire rumbled in the distance. This time, however, it didn't die away. The rumbling
continued, until Dulaman, and his assailants, could tell that they were no longer hearing gunfire. The rumbling was coming from beneath them.
"Wha- what is is it?" stuttered one of the silhouettes.
"Speak not!" the leader shouted back. Then, with barely any warning, a large copper sphere broke from the ground between Dulaman and the three assassins, showering bits of dirt and stone into the street. Dulaman and the assassins all froze. An arrow zipped from behind Dulaman and broke on impact with the sphere. Suddenly, the sphere, which was about 15 feet
in diameter, and had about a dozen small bulges at various places around it, sprouted what looked like a periscope from a bulge on top. Another arrow shot out, but to no avail. As the periscope looked around, Dulaman stood frozen in utter bewilderment, wondering what the thing was. Then, from four small bulges around the bottom, the sphere sprouted four long, spindly legs, each ending in a circular disc-like foot. The sphere stood up and began to move toward Dulaman. Its locomotion was almost a walk, but it was more precarious, and left you with the impression that it had been based on the walk of a drunk spider. The sphere stood at least 8 feet off the ground, and didn't stop until it was directly over Dulaman. As he stared up at its underside, it popped open, and a ladder dropped down.
"Get in, quick!" called a voice from inside. Dulaman was too awestruck to question, and did as he was told.
***
The second Dulaman climbed in, the ladder retracted and the hatch closed below him. As he climbed out of the short shaft, he found himself in a small, cramped, dimly lit room. It was circular, about eight feet across, and had a comfortable looking bench that ran all around the edge. Also, Dulaman saw that the circular shaft he had climbed from was open in the center of the room, and about four feet deep. He also noticed that he couldn't stand up straight because
the ceiling was too low, so he decided to sit down. He was glad he did, because a moment later, there was a large lurch, and he felt the sphere moving downwards, as best as he could tell. Then, without warning, the center of the ceiling of the room opened up, and down hopped a man.
He was about five-foot eight, had a jolly face, and a muscular build. He was dressed in a dark brown shirt with white leggings and a short light brown tunic. On his head thin locks of red-brown hair peeked out from under a leather cap. The man turned to Dulaman.
"Grand Master Jeshu Mechix of the Clockwork guild, at your service councilman!" he said with a wink and a bow.
"Uh, thank you." Replied Dulaman stupidly.
"Goodness, why do they always act so dumbstruck?" Jeshu muttered to himself. "This sphere is only simple clockwork. Well, maybe complicated clockwork, but it's still only clockwork. Nothing spectacular about it. Now, might I have the pleasure of your name, councilman?"
"Elman. Uh, Dulaman Elmen."
"Well, Dulaman, why so glum? You're alive, and very safe, for the moment. I'm afraid that most of the council members aren't as lucky as that right now." Jeshu sat down across from Dulaman and looked expectantly for a response, but Dulaman just stared ahead moodily, lost in thought. Finally he spoke.
"They're probably all dead, right now. They were my friends, my colleagues, and they've been murdered for no reason other then that they are the leaders. And I've escaped. Somehow, through some stroke of random luck, I'm still alive. Why me and not one of them!? Why couldn't we all go together? I wish I had died back there! It would make everything so much easier."
"Actually Dulaman, the record will show that you did die." Jeshu said gravely.
"What?" Dulaman asked, confused.
"You see, a guard was killed near your bedchamber. I've had things set up so that they use that body to make it look like you died. It's the perfect cover for you. You see, I'm getting a team together. Myself and several other higher-ups in the guilds believe that there is a great threat to Archeron, perhaps even all Trellarya, growing in the mountains."
"What do you mean?" Dulaman asked skeptically.
"Basically, I need your help, and now the way has been paved for you to be able to leave everything and help me."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes, of course you do! If you don't want in, then I can simply return you to Ser. Of course, if you do agree to come, you'll be instrumental in shaping the future of Archeron, much more so then you'll ever be in the government." Dulaman thought hard. 'My life has been torn away from me tonight. It'll never be the same. I can either go back to the wreckage or take a new life altogether. Which way should I go? They both have their advantages and disadvantages. I better decide, Jeshu is waiting. Oh, why not? You always wanted adventure.'
"I'll do it." Dulaman replied surely.
"Lock this place down! Come on people, let's move it!" bellowed the leader. Dulaman straitened up and opened his door. The second the head guard noticed Dulaman, he turned and spoke quickly:
"Sorry councilman, you've got to stay in your room. Orders."
"Why, what's going on?" Dulaman replied quizzically.
"Consul Grifton's been assassinated." The guard responded grimly.
"That's all? You woke me up for that?"
"He's not the only one, sir."
"Wait, someone else has been killed too?"
"Yes. Half the council is dead already, and we fear there may be attempts on the rest of the council as well."
"I'll go get dressed immediately then."
"Good, hurry sir." Dulaman quickly retreated back into his room. He opened his wardrobe and donned his forester's clothes; A long, forest green hooded tunic, high boots of brown leather, and a full quiver. He also strung his bow, and strapped his short sword onto his belt. The second he was done he opened his door once again.
"So, what's the plan?" He asked the chief guard as soon as he got out.
"I just told you a moment ago, councilman, you're to stay in your room." The chief guard replied.
"But that's total folly! If I stay in my room they'll know exactly where to find me."
"I'm sorry councilman, but we can't leave."
"Listen," Dulaman said to the man, leaning in and looking him square in the eye. "I'm a master of the Forestry guild. If there truly is a threat to my life, I'll be best equipped to defend myself if I'm outside." The guard stared at him, unmoved. "Fine," Dulaman continued "but I'm sure you know that anyone who is going to attempt to kill a councilman will account for six Surrian guards." The chief guard was about to speak, when one of the young guards interrupted.
"Sir, out there in the courtyard, I think I see something." he said as he pointed out the only window in the corridor.
"Get down!" Dulaman yelled, but it was to late. There was the sound of a gust of wind, and the young guard fell to the floor, dead. "How about now, Guardy man?" Dulaman asked sarcasticly "They'll be making for my window."
"All right. Let's move men!"
***
Several minutes later, as he ran through the darkened street towards the river park, Dulaman couldn't help but marvel at how nice the night was. Though it was Latewinter, there was no frost in the air. 'Something isn't right' he thought to himself as he continued. He looked around to get his bearings. There was the Red Quatl Inn, it was just three blocks now, and he'd be on his turf, in his own element. As he looked around he realized he must have lost his guards somewhere along the way. 'Oh well, easier to hide that way.'
Somewhere off on the other side of the river he heard the cracking of gunfire. 'Whatever is happening in Ser tonight, it's obviously not confined to the West Bank. Someone must be trying to eliminate the council, but why? The current council can barely agree on anything anyway.' Dulamamn could now see the trees and brush encased in cast iron fence looming on the left ahead of him. He was almost at the park. But then, something caught his eye. There was a bit of movement in a window on the right side of the street. Instinctively, Dulaman dived forward. The second he did he was thankful for it, because two arrows whizzed through where his chest had been a second ago. Quickly he glanced about the street looking for some cover, but there was none to be found. So, without thinking he stood up and sprinted blindly back the way he had come. More gunfire sounded in the distance.
'Well, this isn't the worst off I've ever been.' thought Dulaman to himself as he ran. 'I can think of a plan. I'll live. I mean, Dulaman, twenty-nine years is too short a life, right? I've done a lot, but it's still too short.' As he was passing the Red Quatl Inn for the second time, the moon came out from behind the clouds, illuminating the street in front of him. Dulaman froze in his tracks at the sight that confronted him. Three figures in black cloaks stood in the road in front of him. He turned around to run back again, but saw another figure further down the street, with an arrow trained on him. 'This is really the end now, isn't it?' He raised his hands and turned back to the three figures in front of him.
"You've given us quite a chase, councilman Elmen." the figure in the middle said sarcastically, as it began to advance toward him. "Of course, we expected it would be interesting with you."
"Would you just kill me and get it over with?!?" Dulaman shot back.
"Oh, but where would the fun be in that?" sneered the figure. Then Dulaman heard the cold metallic sound of a swords being drawn, and saw the glint of blades in the hands of his assailants. They began to advance. He looked around quickly. The bowman still had the arrow trained on him, and there were no other ways out. Now they were only thirty feet in front of him. More gunfire rumbled in the distance. This time, however, it didn't die away. The rumbling
continued, until Dulaman, and his assailants, could tell that they were no longer hearing gunfire. The rumbling was coming from beneath them.
"Wha- what is is it?" stuttered one of the silhouettes.
"Speak not!" the leader shouted back. Then, with barely any warning, a large copper sphere broke from the ground between Dulaman and the three assassins, showering bits of dirt and stone into the street. Dulaman and the assassins all froze. An arrow zipped from behind Dulaman and broke on impact with the sphere. Suddenly, the sphere, which was about 15 feet
in diameter, and had about a dozen small bulges at various places around it, sprouted what looked like a periscope from a bulge on top. Another arrow shot out, but to no avail. As the periscope looked around, Dulaman stood frozen in utter bewilderment, wondering what the thing was. Then, from four small bulges around the bottom, the sphere sprouted four long, spindly legs, each ending in a circular disc-like foot. The sphere stood up and began to move toward Dulaman. Its locomotion was almost a walk, but it was more precarious, and left you with the impression that it had been based on the walk of a drunk spider. The sphere stood at least 8 feet off the ground, and didn't stop until it was directly over Dulaman. As he stared up at its underside, it popped open, and a ladder dropped down.
"Get in, quick!" called a voice from inside. Dulaman was too awestruck to question, and did as he was told.
***
The second Dulaman climbed in, the ladder retracted and the hatch closed below him. As he climbed out of the short shaft, he found himself in a small, cramped, dimly lit room. It was circular, about eight feet across, and had a comfortable looking bench that ran all around the edge. Also, Dulaman saw that the circular shaft he had climbed from was open in the center of the room, and about four feet deep. He also noticed that he couldn't stand up straight because
the ceiling was too low, so he decided to sit down. He was glad he did, because a moment later, there was a large lurch, and he felt the sphere moving downwards, as best as he could tell. Then, without warning, the center of the ceiling of the room opened up, and down hopped a man.
He was about five-foot eight, had a jolly face, and a muscular build. He was dressed in a dark brown shirt with white leggings and a short light brown tunic. On his head thin locks of red-brown hair peeked out from under a leather cap. The man turned to Dulaman.
"Grand Master Jeshu Mechix of the Clockwork guild, at your service councilman!" he said with a wink and a bow.
"Uh, thank you." Replied Dulaman stupidly.
"Goodness, why do they always act so dumbstruck?" Jeshu muttered to himself. "This sphere is only simple clockwork. Well, maybe complicated clockwork, but it's still only clockwork. Nothing spectacular about it. Now, might I have the pleasure of your name, councilman?"
"Elman. Uh, Dulaman Elmen."
"Well, Dulaman, why so glum? You're alive, and very safe, for the moment. I'm afraid that most of the council members aren't as lucky as that right now." Jeshu sat down across from Dulaman and looked expectantly for a response, but Dulaman just stared ahead moodily, lost in thought. Finally he spoke.
"They're probably all dead, right now. They were my friends, my colleagues, and they've been murdered for no reason other then that they are the leaders. And I've escaped. Somehow, through some stroke of random luck, I'm still alive. Why me and not one of them!? Why couldn't we all go together? I wish I had died back there! It would make everything so much easier."
"Actually Dulaman, the record will show that you did die." Jeshu said gravely.
"What?" Dulaman asked, confused.
"You see, a guard was killed near your bedchamber. I've had things set up so that they use that body to make it look like you died. It's the perfect cover for you. You see, I'm getting a team together. Myself and several other higher-ups in the guilds believe that there is a great threat to Archeron, perhaps even all Trellarya, growing in the mountains."
"What do you mean?" Dulaman asked skeptically.
"Basically, I need your help, and now the way has been paved for you to be able to leave everything and help me."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes, of course you do! If you don't want in, then I can simply return you to Ser. Of course, if you do agree to come, you'll be instrumental in shaping the future of Archeron, much more so then you'll ever be in the government." Dulaman thought hard. 'My life has been torn away from me tonight. It'll never be the same. I can either go back to the wreckage or take a new life altogether. Which way should I go? They both have their advantages and disadvantages. I better decide, Jeshu is waiting. Oh, why not? You always wanted adventure.'
"I'll do it." Dulaman replied surely.
Saturday
Phoenicia One
Just East of the Ruined City of Knossus, on the Island of Crete
The late afternoon sun was obscured by a dark shape. It rose slowly in the blue sky, silhouetted against the yellow light. As the huge shadow fell over the dig site the laboring excavators looked up to see the cause of the sudden darkness. A loud whirring sound filled the air, accompanied by a strong wind. The noise grew, and the wind blew harder. The diggers stopped their work. A few covered their ears, some ran in fear. Most stood up to stare. Finally the source of the disturbance, an enormous ship-like craft, abruptly lost altitude. As the vessel descended it became more visible.
They had expected the arrival of this strange ship, but not its size. No one among them had ever seen anything like it before. Shaped like a bireme, there was an enormous inflated balloon above the craft where a sail should have been. A propeller at the rear of the ship (in place of a rudder) seemed to be the cause of the noise. The underside of the vessel had been flattened out, so as to provide a steady landing. Tiny figures could be seen walking about the deck of the airship, performing unknown tasks. It descended onto an open grassy field prepared for it a few miles away from the workers.
Two men and three horses were waiting for the airship. The shorter of the two, Demetrious, was uneasy. His companion was awe-struck.
‘So this is what they’ve been up to back home,’ he said in a stunned voice.
‘Yes, this and more. Only the very important get to use things like this airship, Pyramus. Do you know what that means?’
Pyramus rolled his eyes. ‘I’m going to guess that it means our guest is important.’
‘That’s right. He is the personal advisor to the Emperor himself. Second most important man in all Phoenicia. Maybe in all of central Trellarya. So don’t mess this up for me.’
‘If he doesn't like what he sees,'' Pyramus replied, ''it's your head on the chopping block, not mine.’
‘Thank you for the vote of confidence.’ Demetrious sighed. ‘But he will approve. We've been working at double capacity, and it’s not like we're in any hurry. Still, Lord Adastros is supposed to have a temper. We've hardly scraped the surface of the Knossos site alone. We’re on schedule, but the schedule wasn’t very detailed.’ He was talking mainly to himself now.
‘You wrote the schedule for him, sir.’
‘Still…’
''Have you met him, sir?’
‘Not met him, not exactly.’ Demetrious sighed again. ‘But I've seen him! This man is adviser to the Emperor! Whatever he says goes!'
‘We have been through this before...’
There was now silence between the two. Their relationship was very paradoxical. When Demetrious was put in charge of the Crete project he had virtually no idea what he was doing. Pyramus, his assistant, had the brains. His knowledge complimented Demetrious’ leadership, his ability to get people to do things. Demetrious resented the debt he owed Pyramus, and it showed during their interactions. But he did respect his assistant, and, in fact, Demetrious even envied Pyramus.
‘It’s landing,’ Pyramus said.
‘I can see that! Are we ready? How do I look?’
‘Fine. You look fine.’ The wind whipped Demetrious’ hair. As the airship touched down the noise lessened, and propeller slowed. Demetrious could see the Lord Adastros now, looking down on them from the deck. A gangplank was lowered, which Adastros descended. He raised one hand in greeting. Demetrious noticed the man’s dress: he wore only a simple tunic, with ought toga. He had a sword-blade at his side, but it was only a ceremonial weapon, unsharpened. ‘Demetrious?’ Adastros was looking at Pyramus. The foreman leaped forward.
‘I am Demetrious, my lord. Welcome to Crete! It is an honor to meet you!’
‘Is that so?’ Only Pyramus noticed the sardonic way in which Adastros spoke.
‘Yes, my lord!‘ Demetrious continued. ‘I think you will find that we are on schedule. We have located the Palace at Knossos and began work there. We have already found what we think is the treasure vault, my men - our men are working there right now! And might I say again what an honor it is to meet you in person!''
‘Yes, yes,’ said Adastros impatiently. He pointed to the horses. ‘Are these for us?’
‘Of course, your honor! It is a few miles to our camp, and we’ve had no need for any sort of chariot until now.’ Adastros grimaced and swung himself onto one of the steeds. Demetrious and Pyramus followed suit, and together they began down the dirt path to the dig.
All the while Demetrious rambled on about the excavation, and all the artifacts they were finding. Urns and chamber pots seemed to interest him as much as money interested a tax collector. He spoke about what remained of the city. The lower sections of the city walls remained intact; the upper parts having collapsed onto the streets along with the houses. The marketplace had been partially indoors also, so when the earthquake struck virtually everyone had been killed. Few seemed to have survived the first quake, but were killed during the aftermath when they foolishly sought shelter in any remaining buildings.
During Demetrious’ monologue about the native wildlife of the isle, Adastros interrupted. ‘This is all well and good, foreman. But what I am really interested in is the Palace. Especially the throne room.’
Demetrious looked a little surprised. ‘Oh. Yes, of course! Pyramus? Can I have the plans to the Palace?’ Pyramus reached into his satchel and withdrew a scroll. ‘We got this from the family that designed the Palace hundreds of years ago, from Tyre.’ He handed over the according scroll, and Adastros unrolled the parchment. ‘There,’ Demetrious said, pointing. ''Is where we think the Throne Room was. There are doors all around, leading to antechambers and various halls. This one,’ Demetrious pointed again. ‘Mysteriously leads to . . . nowhere. It would make sense for secret, unplotted rooms to store treasure, no? The diggers are working through the rubble in front of the door as we speak.’
By this time the trio had traveled to the main gate of Knossus. The brick walls were only about six feet high, where before they had towered several stories high. They passed through the gates and along a path cleared of rubble. The air still stank a little: no one had been there to clear away the bodies of the dead Cretans, and they had decayed where they fell. An inglorious burial for such an amazing people, Adastros thought.
As they neared the center of the city he saw a series of tents erected in an area cleared of rubble. ‘Here we are, my lord!’ Demetrious announced, unnecessarily. ‘We are only a few meters from the palace site. Would you like to rest a bit first, or go there directly?’
‘Directly, if you please, foreman. A servant comes behind me with my personal effects, so I am unprepared to rest now. Lead on!’ They dismounted their horses and went forward on foot. With Demetrious in the lead, Adastros looked over Pyramus. He had stayed quiet through almost their entire encounter, and maintained a façade of subservience to Demetrious. But Adastros could tell the humility was just that: a façade. He had met many politicians in the years he had worked for the Baltzar dynasty, and Pyramus resembled many of them. True, he had only known the man in for a few hours, and couldn’t be sure. But Adastros never achieved anything in his life by hesitating. ‘I wish to speak to you tonight, Pyramus. Come alone.’
The other man looked at him blankly. Adastros just turned and followed Demetrious.
* * *
Pyramus approached the Lord Adastros’ tent hesitantly. He wasn’t sure what the man wanted from him, but he had an unnerving feeling that it had something to do with Demetrious or the Emperor. And since Pyramus had never met (or even seen) the Emperor once in his life, he guessed it was the former. But Demetrious would do anything that the personal advisor to Emperor Baltzar asked him to. He was a suck-up like that. Whatever his superior wanted was his command. Still . . . His primary interest was archeology, or what counted for archeology in this day-in-age. And he believed that the Knossus dig was mainly about old pots and pans of the Cretans.
Pyramus, however, knew better. The dig was about what drive all men: money. Knossus was one of the richest cities in all of Phoenicia. Mainly due to it’s location on the island, the city and surrounding villages could expand farther than any of the mainland cities could. And the fishing was incredible. Cretan fish, of any variety, from the cold north waters of the island, were considered delicacies.
Yes, money was what it was about. The lord Adastros would ask him to supervise some secret export of all the jewels from the Palace, or some such nonsense. And Pyramus would have to accept, because Demetrious had gotten one thing right: this was the right-hand man of the Emperor, and had complete immunity. If Pyramus even thought about reporting to Demetrious, Adastros could kill him and his master, and sleep well that night too.
With all this in mind, he entered Adastros’ tent. Adastros was sitting at a rickety desk, looking over the plans to the throne room. He stood up when Pyramus entered. ‘I Pyramus! ’ He said. ‘Thank you for coming. Please, sit.’ He pointed to his own chair, and sat himself down on his cot. But as soon as Pyramus seated himself, Adastros stood up again. He paused, then began. ‘Let me be blunt. The moment I saw you I knew what type of person you were. You are a thinker. You have a very good idea of what is going on around you, correct?’ Pyramus stayed silent. ‘You and I both know that your superior is a fool. He thinks only about old things and dead cultures, nothing that has any effect on the present.’ Adastros was pacing around the tent. ‘The real reason I am here. Yes. The throne room.’ Here it comes, thought Pyramus. ‘Have you ever heard of a man named Daedelus?’
Silence. Daedelus? ‘Why do you ask?’ Pyramus’ mind was rushing. Crete. Daedelus. Knossos. Crete. Daedelus. Knossos . . . AHA!
‘I have reason to believe,’ Adastros began, slowly. ‘That the Labyrinth exists.’
Silence. Again. Pyramus looked at the ground, stroking his beard thoughtfully. ‘And I thought you just wanted money,’ he said.
Adastros shook his head. ‘That is the Emperor’s prerogative, sir. Not mine. I serve a higher calling.’
‘You don’t serve the Emperor?’
‘Oh, I serve the Emperor. I ways he recognizes, and some he doesn’t. My loyalty lies with him: he is the one hope this land posses of becoming great, of competing with the more powerful nations. Do you understand our national position, truly?’
‘We share a border with a land populated by . . . Monsters! Few even know what they look like! Some mixture of slugs and insects, I hear. They act as one individual. Imagine an army working in complete unison. If you have been in as many wars as I have you will know what a terrifying idea that is. All around us: strange things. Faeries, wizards, fiends of every description. We need the upper hand in the war that I know will come!’
‘And you think the Labyrinth will provide you with this weapon?’ Pyramus was beginning to understand the Lord Adastros. He was driven by something completely different from most men. Not greed, or self-righteousness, or even fear (despite evidence to the contrary). He was driven by xenophobia. The fear and hatred of strangers. Anything non-human, anything different from what he was, was wrong and evil. He would have lived a good live several hundreds of years ago, when all the nature creatures were driven from the mainland into Germania. All the fauns and centaurs, dryads, naiads and oreads. Everything slightly spiritual or out of the ordinary or supernatural. But after the persecutions persisted, the nymphs and satyrs willfully fled into the uninhabited forests, an have stayed there ever since, mostly forgotten.
Pyramus tore himself away from his own ruminations. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Just keep your master occupied,’ Adastros smiled. ‘He can’t stop me, of course, but I don’t want word getting out about what I’m really interested in. It would make my job much harder. And bloodier. So you will help me?’
Pyramus paused. ‘Yes,’ he said
‘This will come back to you, Pyramus. I promise you that. Now get out. I want to sleep.’
Pyramus left the tent, and walked off to think.
* * *
When the door broke in, and the shafts of dusty sunlight penetrated the darkness, the smell of the air told Adastros he had found what he wanted. ‘Give me a torch,’ he said to one of the attendants.
‘Are you sure you wish to descend first, lord?’ Demetrious asked. ‘Send a servant, or one of these remarkable pieces of ingenuity!’ He directed the last comment towards the automaton Adastros brought with him. It was five feet high, and covered in bronze plating. ‘I still don’t understand how it operates! It takes commands, but I don’t see how that can be!’
‘Demetrious!’ Adastros cautioned. ‘Can we focus at the matter at hand?’
‘Oh, yes, of course. I apologize.’
‘The automatons are not agile. They are mainly for manual labor. They are very strong.’
‘If you wish, you may absolutely descend first, my lord.’
‘Thank you.’ Adastros rolled his eyes. ‘May I have a torch?’ An attendant quickly did as he requested. ‘I shall descend. Please continue to clear the surrounding area.’ With that, he stepped through the broken door, and into darkness.
His flames licked the cobwebs and painted bizarre shadows on the brick walls. The ceiling arched over his head. Several paces down the hall turned, and all light from the sun was gone. Adastros began to feel claustrophobia pushing in his lungs, but he ignored the feeling. He followed the tunnel deeper and deeper. When he came to a series of steps, he halted. His torch showed nothing of what lay below. It had been five minutes since he entered the chamber, with no sign of anything. Was it possible that he was going nowhere at all? But the steps . . . Had to lead somewhere. He would not let fear control him. He stepped forward.
The steps kept going down. But the hall was widening the deeper it got. Soon he couldn’t see either walls or the ceiling. He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. The torch wasn’t shedding enough light. Why? It was burning brightly. But if he didn’t find anything soon, he would have to return to the surface. He felt blindly to his right for the wall. Leaned against it when he found it. He brought his left hand down to his side, unintentionally pressing against a brick. It gave! He started around, held his flame to the brick. It had sunk maybe half an inch into the wall. Quickly, he felt the rest of the wall. Another brick gave to his touch, then several more. When he had pressed ten different bricks in, and paused. What was the purpose of this? Would the cave collapse on him? But for some reason, he pressed against another brick. Then another. CRACK
There were whirrings and clackings. The grinding of gears. Light filled what was revealed to be an enormous cavern. Adastros stared. ‘By Jove . . . I found it!’ But something roared.
* * *
‘Did you hear that?’
‘No. What was it?’
‘It sounded like . . . Screaming.’
‘Screaming?’
‘Yes, fatuus! Screaming!’
‘Demetrious?’
The foreman came towards the two young men, standing where the Lord Adastros had been last seen, at the entrance to the tunnel. ‘What do you need?’ He asked.
‘Hiram says he heard something.’
‘That’s right, sir. I thought I heard screaming,’ Hiram said.
‘From the tunnel?’ Demetrious asked.
‘That’s right, sir.’
‘Hmm . . . ’
‘Wait! There it was again!’ Hiram said.
‘Yes, I definitely heard it that time, too.’
‘Guards!’ Demetrious shouted. They rushed over. ‘Hiram and Adad here say they heard screaming. Please investigate.’ The guards looked at each other, somewhat fearfully. But they were saved, because the screams got louder. Shouts of gods names were now distinguishable among the random noises. Suddenly, the Lord Adastros came tearing out of the tunnel. His face, previously so composed and emotionless was stricken with fear, his eyes wild and dark hair disheveled. Sweat poured down his face. ‘Balor!’ He shouted, completely without composure. ‘Balor save me, what have I done?’
Demetrious seized him by his shoulders. ‘My lord! What was it? Have you been attacked?’ But his question was answered before Adastros could answer. A roar echoed out from the tunnel. The guards stepped back, and lowered the spears. All the workers around the courtyard who hadn’t noticed the disturbance noticed it now. The ferocious noise sounded like three beasts at once. The ground shook, and the wall around the tunnel seemed to throb, as though some creature was trying to break through it. And the entrance collapsed. An enormous lion leaped through the falling stone. Fire spewed from it’s mouth. And it wasn’t a lion. No lion had two heads, a second one protruding from it’s back. Lion’s didn’t have tales with snake heads. Lions didn’t breathe fire.
The Chimera roared again. The guards dropped their spears and fled. Hiram and Adad tried to follow them, but the Chimera was to fast. It’s tail whipped and wrapped around Adad’s throat, jerking him backwards. Hiram shouted and ran to help his friend, but the lion-head flames caught him full on, and he ran away, flaming.
‘By Jove!’ Demetrious shouted. ‘By Jove, Jove, save us! Guards!’ Nothing happened, excepting the Chimera tossing aside Adad’s mangled body. Only he and Adastros remained now. Free of the tunnel’s constricting halls, Adastros seemed to have recovered himself somewhat. He looked around for a weapon, and saw only the broken spears of the cowardly guards. But he did have his ceremonial blade. He withdrew it from it’s sheath. He had to slay the monster! Otherwise it would ravage the whole city! Destroy everything he had worker for!
He looked closely at the Chimera, trying to spot a weakness. But before he could think of anything, it opened it raging maw and shot a spurt of flame towards him. He leaped quickly behind a toppled pillar. I glanced behind him at he monster, and saw it turning to face Demetrious. ‘Demetrious, run!’ he shouted. The foreman didn’t need to be told twice, and turned to flee from the Chimera. Adastros made a silent prayer to his god. And the Chimera followed Demetrious. Adastros closed his eyes, and leapt from his hiding place. Before the serpent-tale could detect him, he swung his sword at it’s neck. It took two swipes to decapitate the snake, and by that time the monster had noticed it was being attacked. It reared over Adastros, who fell over. But he still grasped his sword, and he thrust it upwards, into the chest of the beast as it descended upon him. He had to put all his strength into the thrust, but the dull tip did penetrate into the monster. It howled again, in pain. Adastros rolled quickly away. ‘Stalvart!’ He shouted. The Chimera spun to face him again, and approached slowly, savoring the kill. It’s mouth opened. Adastros saw the fire forming down it’s gullet. He had never thought he would die like this, just after he made the discovery of a lifetime. But he closed his eyes and accepted his fate.
It never came. He looked up, and the monster was lying on it’s side. Further examination showed several thing metallic blade-spikes protruding from it’s back. He stood up, and saw his automaton. It must have heard him cry it’s designation, and come to his rescue. All of his personal automatons were equipped with projectiles, in case of emergencies. It had been a good idea on his part, apparently. ‘Saved by a piece of machinery,’ he muttered.
‘Demetrious! Come out! It’s dead!’ His shout echoed around the courtyard. Demetrious’ head appeared around a doorway.
‘Phoebus above! You killed it! I don’t believe it. Oh, dear gods! What is the world coming to? Where did this come from?’ Demetrious collapsed onto a boulder. Adastros approached him.
‘Are you all right, my friend?’ He was smiling,
‘I’m fine, my lord. Are you?’
‘I think so, now. That was actually fun.’
‘Fun!’ Demetrious looked aghast. ‘That was fun?’
‘Not at the time, but now I find myself strangely invigorated.’
‘Phoebus above!’ Demetrious said again. ‘My poor heart!’
‘I think you should call it a day, friend.’ Adastros was in a very good mood.
‘Yes, indeed. I need some water.’
‘You get yourself some water. I need to send a message to the mainland.’
‘To the Emperor?’
‘Yes, the Emperor. And someone else. I’ll need some reinforcements, if I’m going go back down that tunnel.’
‘Reinforcements? Back down the tunnel?’ Demetrious shook his head. ‘Will there be more of these monsters?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Adastros, grinning. ‘Lot’s more, I’m afraid.’
When the door broke in, and the shafts of dusty sunlight penetrated the darkness, the smell of the air told Adastros he had found what he wanted. ‘Give me a torch,’ he said to one of the attendants.
‘Are you sure you wish to descend first, lord?’ Demetrious asked. ‘Send a servant, or one of these remarkable pieces of ingenuity!’ He directed the last comment towards the automaton Adastros brought with him. It was five feet high, and covered in bronze plating. ‘I still don’t understand how it operates! It takes commands, but I don’t see how that can be!’
‘Demetrious!’ Adastros cautioned. ‘Can we focus at the matter at hand?’
‘Oh, yes, of course. I apologize.’
‘The automatons are not agile. They are mainly for manual labor. They are very strong.’
‘If you wish, you may absolutely descend first, my lord.’
‘Thank you.’ Adastros rolled his eyes. ‘May I have a torch?’ An attendant quickly did as he requested. ‘I shall descend. Please continue to clear the surrounding area.’ With that, he stepped through the broken door, and into darkness.
His flames licked the cobwebs and painted bizarre shadows on the brick walls. The ceiling arched over his head. Several paces down the hall turned, and all light from the sun was gone. Adastros began to feel claustrophobia pushing in his lungs, but he ignored the feeling. He followed the tunnel deeper and deeper. When he came to a series of steps, he halted. His torch showed nothing of what lay below. It had been five minutes since he entered the chamber, with no sign of anything. Was it possible that he was going nowhere at all? But the steps . . . Had to lead somewhere. He would not let fear control him. He stepped forward.
The steps kept going down. But the hall was widening the deeper it got. Soon he couldn’t see either walls or the ceiling. He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. The torch wasn’t shedding enough light. Why? It was burning brightly. But if he didn’t find anything soon, he would have to return to the surface. He felt blindly to his right for the wall. Leaned against it when he found it. He brought his left hand down to his side, unintentionally pressing against a brick. It gave! He started around, held his flame to the brick. It had sunk maybe half an inch into the wall. Quickly, he felt the rest of the wall. Another brick gave to his touch, then several more. When he had pressed ten different bricks in, and paused. What was the purpose of this? Would the cave collapse on him? But for some reason, he pressed against another brick. Then another. CRACK
There were whirrings and clackings. The grinding of gears. Light filled what was revealed to be an enormous cavern. Adastros stared. ‘By Jove . . . I found it!’ But something roared.
* * *
‘Did you hear that?’
‘No. What was it?’
‘It sounded like . . . Screaming.’
‘Screaming?’
‘Yes, fatuus! Screaming!’
‘Demetrious?’
The foreman came towards the two young men, standing where the Lord Adastros had been last seen, at the entrance to the tunnel. ‘What do you need?’ He asked.
‘Hiram says he heard something.’
‘That’s right, sir. I thought I heard screaming,’ Hiram said.
‘From the tunnel?’ Demetrious asked.
‘That’s right, sir.’
‘Hmm . . . ’
‘Wait! There it was again!’ Hiram said.
‘Yes, I definitely heard it that time, too.’
‘Guards!’ Demetrious shouted. They rushed over. ‘Hiram and Adad here say they heard screaming. Please investigate.’ The guards looked at each other, somewhat fearfully. But they were saved, because the screams got louder. Shouts of gods names were now distinguishable among the random noises. Suddenly, the Lord Adastros came tearing out of the tunnel. His face, previously so composed and emotionless was stricken with fear, his eyes wild and dark hair disheveled. Sweat poured down his face. ‘Balor!’ He shouted, completely without composure. ‘Balor save me, what have I done?’
Demetrious seized him by his shoulders. ‘My lord! What was it? Have you been attacked?’ But his question was answered before Adastros could answer. A roar echoed out from the tunnel. The guards stepped back, and lowered the spears. All the workers around the courtyard who hadn’t noticed the disturbance noticed it now. The ferocious noise sounded like three beasts at once. The ground shook, and the wall around the tunnel seemed to throb, as though some creature was trying to break through it. And the entrance collapsed. An enormous lion leaped through the falling stone. Fire spewed from it’s mouth. And it wasn’t a lion. No lion had two heads, a second one protruding from it’s back. Lion’s didn’t have tales with snake heads. Lions didn’t breathe fire.
The Chimera roared again. The guards dropped their spears and fled. Hiram and Adad tried to follow them, but the Chimera was to fast. It’s tail whipped and wrapped around Adad’s throat, jerking him backwards. Hiram shouted and ran to help his friend, but the lion-head flames caught him full on, and he ran away, flaming.
‘By Jove!’ Demetrious shouted. ‘By Jove, Jove, save us! Guards!’ Nothing happened, excepting the Chimera tossing aside Adad’s mangled body. Only he and Adastros remained now. Free of the tunnel’s constricting halls, Adastros seemed to have recovered himself somewhat. He looked around for a weapon, and saw only the broken spears of the cowardly guards. But he did have his ceremonial blade. He withdrew it from it’s sheath. He had to slay the monster! Otherwise it would ravage the whole city! Destroy everything he had worker for!
He looked closely at the Chimera, trying to spot a weakness. But before he could think of anything, it opened it raging maw and shot a spurt of flame towards him. He leaped quickly behind a toppled pillar. I glanced behind him at he monster, and saw it turning to face Demetrious. ‘Demetrious, run!’ he shouted. The foreman didn’t need to be told twice, and turned to flee from the Chimera. Adastros made a silent prayer to his god. And the Chimera followed Demetrious. Adastros closed his eyes, and leapt from his hiding place. Before the serpent-tale could detect him, he swung his sword at it’s neck. It took two swipes to decapitate the snake, and by that time the monster had noticed it was being attacked. It reared over Adastros, who fell over. But he still grasped his sword, and he thrust it upwards, into the chest of the beast as it descended upon him. He had to put all his strength into the thrust, but the dull tip did penetrate into the monster. It howled again, in pain. Adastros rolled quickly away. ‘Stalvart!’ He shouted. The Chimera spun to face him again, and approached slowly, savoring the kill. It’s mouth opened. Adastros saw the fire forming down it’s gullet. He had never thought he would die like this, just after he made the discovery of a lifetime. But he closed his eyes and accepted his fate.
It never came. He looked up, and the monster was lying on it’s side. Further examination showed several thing metallic blade-spikes protruding from it’s back. He stood up, and saw his automaton. It must have heard him cry it’s designation, and come to his rescue. All of his personal automatons were equipped with projectiles, in case of emergencies. It had been a good idea on his part, apparently. ‘Saved by a piece of machinery,’ he muttered.
‘Demetrious! Come out! It’s dead!’ His shout echoed around the courtyard. Demetrious’ head appeared around a doorway.
‘Phoebus above! You killed it! I don’t believe it. Oh, dear gods! What is the world coming to? Where did this come from?’ Demetrious collapsed onto a boulder. Adastros approached him.
‘Are you all right, my friend?’ He was smiling,
‘I’m fine, my lord. Are you?’
‘I think so, now. That was actually fun.’
‘Fun!’ Demetrious looked aghast. ‘That was fun?’
‘Not at the time, but now I find myself strangely invigorated.’
‘Phoebus above!’ Demetrious said again. ‘My poor heart!’
‘I think you should call it a day, friend.’ Adastros was in a very good mood.
‘Yes, indeed. I need some water.’
‘You get yourself some water. I need to send a message to the mainland.’
‘To the Emperor?’
‘Yes, the Emperor. And someone else. I’ll need some reinforcements, if I’m going go back down that tunnel.’
‘Reinforcements? Back down the tunnel?’ Demetrious shook his head. ‘Will there be more of these monsters?’
‘Oh yes,’ said Adastros, grinning. ‘Lot’s more, I’m afraid.’
End Phoenicia One
Friday
NT 1
It is now(as of August 1st) the start of New Trellarya Year 1! We're now open for stories. The year lasts for two months real time. I'll probably think of an event within the next week. I'm loving everyone's summaries. For those of you who don't know, the calendar year in Trellarya consists of twelve 27-day months, which are:(in order) Midwinter, Latewinter, Firstspring, Midspring, Latespring, Firstsummer, Midsummer, Latesummer, Firstfall, Midfall, Latefall, Firstwinter. That's about it for now.
The Kingdom of Archeron
HISTORY/POLITICS
For nearly over 700 years the Kingdom of Archeron was ruled by two mighty forces. One was a coalition of 7 noble families who held land and controlled the people. The other was an alliance of wizards, who helped to perpetuate a climate of fear among the people. Then, 150 years ago a man named Vincy Mechix made a wonderful discovery in a city called Interat. In order that it would not be taken away from him by the nobles, he hid away and formed a secret organization. Almost simultaneously, in Gildren, another man named Gunner Gylin also made an incredible discovery and started a secret organization to keep it from the nobles. That was the beginning of the two most powerful guilds, the clockwork and gunpowder ones, respectably. Working in hiding, Gylin and Mechix grew their guilds, until, 100 years ago, they were powerful enough to forsake hiding and attempt to overthrow the Nobles and wizards. However, by this time they were both old men, and neither would see their work come to fruition. The war raged for twenty years. During this time both Gylin and Mechix died. Also, two other guilds were founded, the Husbandry guild and the Forestry guild. With this united force, and the support of the people, the guilds fought back against the wizards and nobles. But the war was destroying the kingdom. An uneasy cease fire was called, and talks began on how the kingdom could be saved. At this point the wizards vanished. For another twenty years the kingdom was like a tinderbox, ready to catch fire and destroy itself at any time. During this time an additional three guilds were organized. The Magic Guild, the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, and the Guild of Secrets. Eventually a compromise was reached. It was decided that a council of twenty-one would be elected to rule. Seven members would represent the people. Seven would represent the Nobles. And each guild would get one council member. However, this council would not have all the power. Out of themselves, they would elect one to rule all the land for life as Consul. The Consul could only be defied if the council was unanimously against him or her. That was sixty years ago. So far, it has been sixty years, and seventy-two consulates. Though there is no more open war, and the noble families are very weak, the power struggle continues between the different guilds through series of intrigues, assassinations, and subversions.
SOCIETY
The Guilds hold most of the power, with each one having it’s own headquarter city, with bases in every other. However, only about fifteen percent of the total population, which is roughly 1 million, are guild members, and much fewer then that are nobles. Most of the people are tradesman or farmers, however, do to the work of the guilds, the literacy rate is surprisingly high. Anyone can apply for membership to a guild, and most try. Few actually make it longer than a month though, and those that do are almost always guaranteed apprenticeships, and membership. Powerful Guild masters are highly respected, and some are also feared. About half of the population lives in or near the twelve major cities.
TERRAIN
A large mountain range runs three-fourths of the way up through the middle of the Kingdom. To the west of this are dense forests, which further south give way to a plain. Here a short river flows into a lake. To the North of the mountains two rivers flow, creating a large area of fertile land. To the east is a large plain with a small forest on it, and a river running east through it and cutting south near the border.
TECHNOLOGY
Most of the technology is about early renaissance, with some of the guilds possessing more advance abilities. The Clockwork guild can build automatons, though they can only be made to do one thing, so are not very flexible. The gunpowder guild is armed with rudimentary firearms. The common weaponry consists of swords, bows, and chain mail. The most powerful force is still muscle, though in some cases springs and gears can almost equal it.
THE GUILDS
The seven guilds each have a specialty, which they are highly skilled at. In order from least powerful to most, a short description of each, and their headquarter city. The Guild of Secrets; no one exactly knows what they do, but they don’t seem to do much, Flyat. The Magic Guild; it is believed that this guild was founded by the wizards of old when they realized it would be more beneficial to be a guild, Zur. The Husbandry Guild: This guild knows all about creatures of all sorts, and their uses to man, Warnl. The Bounty Hunter’s Guild; They are skilled in finding, capturing, and if need be, killing, anything or anyone, Bildresh. The Forestry Guild; these are the most elite woodsmen and trackers in the land. They are also very skilled in archery, Tolern. The Gunpowder Guild; This guild knows all about gunpowder and its uses, though it is rumored they also have experimented in alchemy, Gildren. The Clockwork Guild; this guild is completely devoted to clockwork machines, and they can make them to do many different tasks. This is the most powerful guild, and also the one that has done the most to rebuild the kingdom and keep peace. The guilds are generally on civil terms with each other, at best. There have been several incidences of two guilds being on the brink of war, but every time the Consul has intervened and resolved the situation.
For nearly over 700 years the Kingdom of Archeron was ruled by two mighty forces. One was a coalition of 7 noble families who held land and controlled the people. The other was an alliance of wizards, who helped to perpetuate a climate of fear among the people. Then, 150 years ago a man named Vincy Mechix made a wonderful discovery in a city called Interat. In order that it would not be taken away from him by the nobles, he hid away and formed a secret organization. Almost simultaneously, in Gildren, another man named Gunner Gylin also made an incredible discovery and started a secret organization to keep it from the nobles. That was the beginning of the two most powerful guilds, the clockwork and gunpowder ones, respectably. Working in hiding, Gylin and Mechix grew their guilds, until, 100 years ago, they were powerful enough to forsake hiding and attempt to overthrow the Nobles and wizards. However, by this time they were both old men, and neither would see their work come to fruition. The war raged for twenty years. During this time both Gylin and Mechix died. Also, two other guilds were founded, the Husbandry guild and the Forestry guild. With this united force, and the support of the people, the guilds fought back against the wizards and nobles. But the war was destroying the kingdom. An uneasy cease fire was called, and talks began on how the kingdom could be saved. At this point the wizards vanished. For another twenty years the kingdom was like a tinderbox, ready to catch fire and destroy itself at any time. During this time an additional three guilds were organized. The Magic Guild, the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, and the Guild of Secrets. Eventually a compromise was reached. It was decided that a council of twenty-one would be elected to rule. Seven members would represent the people. Seven would represent the Nobles. And each guild would get one council member. However, this council would not have all the power. Out of themselves, they would elect one to rule all the land for life as Consul. The Consul could only be defied if the council was unanimously against him or her. That was sixty years ago. So far, it has been sixty years, and seventy-two consulates. Though there is no more open war, and the noble families are very weak, the power struggle continues between the different guilds through series of intrigues, assassinations, and subversions.
SOCIETY
The Guilds hold most of the power, with each one having it’s own headquarter city, with bases in every other. However, only about fifteen percent of the total population, which is roughly 1 million, are guild members, and much fewer then that are nobles. Most of the people are tradesman or farmers, however, do to the work of the guilds, the literacy rate is surprisingly high. Anyone can apply for membership to a guild, and most try. Few actually make it longer than a month though, and those that do are almost always guaranteed apprenticeships, and membership. Powerful Guild masters are highly respected, and some are also feared. About half of the population lives in or near the twelve major cities.
TERRAIN
A large mountain range runs three-fourths of the way up through the middle of the Kingdom. To the west of this are dense forests, which further south give way to a plain. Here a short river flows into a lake. To the North of the mountains two rivers flow, creating a large area of fertile land. To the east is a large plain with a small forest on it, and a river running east through it and cutting south near the border.
TECHNOLOGY
Most of the technology is about early renaissance, with some of the guilds possessing more advance abilities. The Clockwork guild can build automatons, though they can only be made to do one thing, so are not very flexible. The gunpowder guild is armed with rudimentary firearms. The common weaponry consists of swords, bows, and chain mail. The most powerful force is still muscle, though in some cases springs and gears can almost equal it.
THE GUILDS
The seven guilds each have a specialty, which they are highly skilled at. In order from least powerful to most, a short description of each, and their headquarter city. The Guild of Secrets; no one exactly knows what they do, but they don’t seem to do much, Flyat. The Magic Guild; it is believed that this guild was founded by the wizards of old when they realized it would be more beneficial to be a guild, Zur. The Husbandry Guild: This guild knows all about creatures of all sorts, and their uses to man, Warnl. The Bounty Hunter’s Guild; They are skilled in finding, capturing, and if need be, killing, anything or anyone, Bildresh. The Forestry Guild; these are the most elite woodsmen and trackers in the land. They are also very skilled in archery, Tolern. The Gunpowder Guild; This guild knows all about gunpowder and its uses, though it is rumored they also have experimented in alchemy, Gildren. The Clockwork Guild; this guild is completely devoted to clockwork machines, and they can make them to do many different tasks. This is the most powerful guild, and also the one that has done the most to rebuild the kingdom and keep peace. The guilds are generally on civil terms with each other, at best. There have been several incidences of two guilds being on the brink of war, but every time the Consul has intervened and resolved the situation.
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