Prologue
Extract from the Ancients Book of Zenari
Many centuries ago, in fact when the world was still as a new born to the god's who created it, it was almost torn by the other creations of the very same gods. For in the begging the younger gods had created the earth but seeing it as a empty land created living beings to walk it's lands. The beings were the begginings of all the races both past and present. Untainted by many long hard years and mixing of the races they all possessed great power. But as all things must even these peoples were divided in their purpose.
While some meant merely to live off of and maintain the land, others were bent on power and spared no thought to the lands they dwelt in. The lands of those at peace prospered and all who lived there lived on happily. But the other side, those who cared nothing for their lands, there plots all withered and became barren. No plant would those lands now put forth and a shadow fell over them. Those who lived in the bad lands became eaters of
flesh and soon began massive wars with each other over the dominion of the lands.
In these beggings lived there the first of the race of men, dwarves, elves, trolls, goblins, and others. But also there lived beings of power untainted by long years and mixing. There were those who lived deep within the water, high in the air, dark in the mountains, in the earth itself, and even those who took no form other than an awareness that watched all but did nothing. They had power to set plains ablaze with unholy black flame; power to shake the seas; power to disintegrate mountains; power to wrench the earth apart. Of all these, except a few, they all sought dominion. They would have fought amongst and destroyed each other had it not been for the demon Marfi.
Marfi saw what was happening to the evil one and with power that far exceeded those of the others of power, he brought them to bay. With his words he weaved that if they were but to work together they could crush those who sought good for the land. Then those of power could take land for themselves and be as mighty rulers to the lands they chose and the evil that would thrive there.
Such fire in those who sought to do harm did this cause that almost immediately they stilled their fighting and began to mass as a mighty army to take the lands in one awful sweep.
But there were those of power that joined those who sought peace. These great ones had foresight of what was to be and began to train races who lived in harmony in the way of the power. Many learned and when the demons and evil races attacked, they were ready. Enough men, dwarves, elves, and some from the good tribes of the troll nations had learned the secrets. When Marfi gathered the powerful ones about himself and then sent them forward, his enemy was ready. The battles that was ragged from thence forward were long and grueling. Both sides took immense losses and those with the power for both sides was evenly matched.
For ten long years the fighting lasted. Then a council of the wise met an Elven stronghold. The battles for the last years were leaning bit by bit in favor of evil ones and those of peace feared the worse.
For many weeks they argued over what could be done. When after all of the talks seemed as though made in vain one of power that dwelt within the earth spoke.
"I have listened to all of thee bicker among thyselves like lost children and no answer hath come forth even at the evident eve of thy destruction. So now I offer unto the council a legend of old." it paused to gather his thoughts then spoke up again. "When the gods and goddesses made the earth they stood back on the lands to examine their work. While they all stood together in companionship of what they had accomplished, Gwel the God of Prophecy began to speak. His brothers and sisters then turned to listen to his words. He spoke that even when the world was still young great evil would seek a dominion over all they had created. If this was to happen the earth, so new, would die and fall into the darkest of eternal night. The gods were not so eager to destroy what they had just created and could not leave it empty. Then Gwel started again to say that a stone would be made
and that it would be filled with the powers of all who strive for good. Thus after its' making it would be handed to the most galiant of the races, a leader among many. Then this person would raise and smite his enemies locking them forever more until the barrier of light shattered. When the light shattered then world the stone be needed again, though by then it would have forgone a transformation and would no longer resemble a stone. Then Gwel stood silent. At hearing this the gods decided it to be."
Many of the council in the Elven hold then cried against it. They claimed it to be but a myth that had not come to pass when they did need it the most. Quieting them, the earth dweller told them. "I have already felt this come to pass. Two moons ago the heavens above us shifted. And just a short period after the rising of the new sun a great metal star struck the earth in the plains not a league from where we stand."
Again those at the council began to cry out but in panic for they must have this star before the enemy found it. Raising a hand, the earth dweller pulled from his mud colored robes, a large metallic stone. Placing it on a table for all to see he told them "I believe this to be the stone that the legend speaks of. I can sense a great depth of it and now I call on thee brothers and sisters of my task. I call on thee to do as the god Gwel said even then. Pour but a small amount of thy power into this stone so we may smite our enemies."
Seeing the reason of what the earth dweller said, each of the council stretched forth there hands or the awareness of there mind and poured a tiny amount of themselves into the smooth rock. After all had done so, the stone before them began to glow. It glowed a light that shifted from one color to another as it settled the power in it.
Then what was left of the council was to decide upon who to bestow this mighty force. After few debate they all settled on a king of the race of men. The wise earth dweller then called in the brave King of Men, Telar. But as Telar stretched his hand forward and grasped the stone, the brilliant glow flickered and went out.
Though discouraged they were, they had to fight it was their last hope. With the rising of the new sun the army of those for good gathered. Many in the ranks new that if this slim hope did not prevail it would be their last battle. Then rallying the army they marched upon the hated enemy.
When both armies were caught up in the battle, the valiant king came face to face with Marfi. As though a mighty power had seized everyone in the whole of the fighting, they all stopped and stood silently. Then Marfi raised his coal black sword and brought it down to strike the king. Telar lifted his own weapon and a crash filled the air as the two blades met. Then they both battled one another not as a power evil fighting the king, but as two men fighting for survival and the death of the other. Suddenly when it seemed that Telar would win the fierce duel, Marfi brought his sword to his side parrying a blow then sliced forward. Telar was not quick enough and the blade cut clean through his sword hand. The dead left hand and the sword fell the earth where the king fell beside them. When all seemed lost as Marfi stood with the blade to plunge it into Telar's heart, he remembered the stone and drew it from a pouch hanging from his belt with lightning speed. As Marfi's sword plunged down, Telar's hand rose with the stone clenched in his bloodied hand. In an instant the stone burst forth a brilliant purple light and the black sword so near his chest flew away.
The glow of the stone intensified. It shocking purple light bathed Marfi and the evil one screamed and began to writhe where he stood. Then just as quick as the light had come to the stone, the evil one exploded into a dark cloud that hovered in the air then was swept away by a sudden wind.
Coming painfully to his feet, Telar held the stone high and those demons and evil creatures that fought for evil let out a roar then sank into the ground disappearing deep within the earth. After this even the earth dwellers could not find of what had happened of them.
After the battle was won and those who had been injured treated, the council met again. All of those gathered including the one handed Telar believed that the war had been won and the last of Marfi seen, except for one. The wise earth dweller felt deep within his heart that they had only denied the evil one power this them. Sure enough the followers of Marfi were all dead. That was certain. But everything the earth dweller knew and sensed told him that Marfi even as the cloud of darkness still lived.
Much time passed after all had quieted. Those of great power slowly were lost till only those of small power remained. Even the other races were separated as they chose anew from the lands that were no longer inhabited by evil. The only place that was never again settled was the Morlands were the strongest fortress of the evil army and indeed the chooses castle of Marfi were. That land remained barren and unsettled. But the other races all began to separate.
The race of men took the lands far to the west, the dwarves took the south, the elves took the north, and the trolls, goblins, and other mixes of them being much smaller all dwelt in the east. They all separated so much as to only even receive word about the other every few years or so. None of the races hardly saw each other any more. It became that trolls were but children's tales told around a dwarves supper table. And that elves became a myth for bright eyed children of the race of men.
And still many more years passed and all live moved on whether it remember it's kin in the four directions of it or not.
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