book three sample chapter
Chapter 1: The Wind
In the years following the rise of the Great Tyrant and the subsequent demise of the ancient beings known as Tenturo, Bahknar, Chera and Densa, a small group of four individuals created an alliance to fight for the salvation of truth and the pursuit of virtue. The alliance was created to maintain the old ways, with the hope that the Ancients would one day return and vanquish the Tyrant. These deeply spiritual beings, sworn to the Ancients, referred to themselves as the “Wind.” This ambiguous name was chosen to maintain anonymity and to protect the alliance from those who would seek to disband them, or far worse, destroy them.
The Wind continued the teachings of the old ways in secret. They were the protectors and the professors of the Ancients’ philosophy of peace and harmony among all creatures of the world. They imparted all they knew of the Ancients’ history to those who would hear it, doing everything they could to detract from the spreading lies perpetrated by the supporters of the Tyrant. They worked fastidiously to maintain the gifts of elemental control bestowed to humans and teach the possessors how to properly use them. They were pillars in a crumbling land. They were wisdom among the ignorant. They were eyes among the blind.
Ephanlarea had hope in the days of the Wind. Many creatures of the earth spoke with passion and determination of how the Wind blew strong. To speak of the Wind in such a way was to confirm an allegiance to the Ancients, and to exhibit contempt for the Tyrant. It was a risk to speak openly, but many were brave and bold, believing salvation was but a breath away. For a small time it seemed as though virtue would ultimately prevail, but even in the days when the Wind blew its strongest, the Tyrant’s poison worked deep in the veins of men.
Over time, supporters of the Wind were routed out of hiding and punished severely. The Tyrant was without mercy and his minions delivered his cruelty with a malicious pleasure. Beheadings, hangings, torture and crucifixions became common public spectacle. It was not long before the alliance of four that called themselves the Wind were cut off from all those who would seek to help them. They were left with no recourse and nowhere to turn; the Tyrant had taken complete control.
It was in the last, desperate hours before the alliance would agree to dissolve and separate, that they prayed to the Skyfather for help. They prayed in the ruins of an old temple, far from the shores of Ephanlarea, in a place that humans had long forgotten. The four individuals unburdened their souls of the atrocities they had seen and of the sufferings they had known. Together, they decried the evil of the Tyrant. They tore at the vines that clutched the temple walls and they pounded the floors with their limbs in frustration. They bellowed until their voices cracked from rage and exhaustion, and until their bodies fell limp upon the altar from hours of petition. They begged, they pleaded and they implored the Skyfather for the earth’s salvation.
Then, in the droning hum of the wild night, hours before the golden berth of the waking sun, above the aching, parched and weary bodies of the four sleeping outcasts, the Skyfather appeared. To see him was to dream of him; he was more apparition than body. The Wind awoke to the Skyfather’s faint orange glow, amid the darkness and the warm blanket of his low rumbling words.
I have heard your voices, he said as he touched their minds. Now, rise.
The four members of the alliance slowly rose to their feet and focused their dried and itching eyes on the miracle before them. The energy of the Skyfather danced about in the darkness, briefly illuminating shapes and lines of the material world. He waxed and waned like the tides of an ocean. No member of the Wind would keep the same memory of this moment. The vision was as personal as it was communal, and each member of the Wind found their own peace within the Skyfather’s presence.
This is your world to mold, the Skyfather said. But I can no longer sit idly by while you face insurmountable odds. I bring to you gifts. Use them well.
The Skyfather presented each member of the Wind with a gift they might use to fight the Great Tyrant. The alliance was instructed to keep their gifts safe, until a time came when the world could unite.
To Strongback, the bear of Gray Mountain, the Skyfather gave the Everflame. It flickered gently as it appeared in front of Strongback. He reached out and touched it cautiously. Its warmth surrounded his paw, but he was unharmed by the flame. It twinkled in the reflection of his deep brown eyes and it filled him with purpose and hope. The bear’s heart swelled and his body felt light and freshly alive.
Take the Everflame, Strongback, the Skyfather said. It is but a glimmer of my spirit. Let it light the darkest nights ahead.
To Andor the eagle, companion to Aella, Spirit of the Plains, the Skyfather gave the Eversense. The Skyfather touched the large eagle lightly on his brow and his eyes became bright. Andor bristled his brilliant feathers as if a chill had run his length. His mind became aware of things it never had before and his gaze stretched far beyond its previous horizon.
Take the Eversense, Andor, the Skyfather said. It is but a small fragment of my mind. It will allow you to see beyond the material world, to dangers that lie ahead.
To Ulinawi, the great turtle of the deep, the Skyfather gave the Evermight. Ulinawi felt his blood pulsing through his body. His weariness was gone and he felt a great strength in his muscles as he flexed his legs against the temple floor.
Take the Evermight, Ulinawi, the Skyfather said. It is but an echo of my vast strength. Use it to shield this world from its most malicious foes.
The Skyfather’s last gift was given to the only human member of the alliance, a man by the name of Esteban Floyd. To Esteban, the Skyfather gave his most precious gift, the Everlife. Euphoria descended upon Esteban as the apparition of the Skyfather moved through him. He felt like laughing, and tears fell freely from his eyes. Esteban looked down at his hands, and watched his skin as it sparkled ever so slightly before returning to its normal state.
Take the Everlife, Esteban, the Skyfather said. It is but a page in the tome of my history. As long as you are its possessor, you shall live beyond the measure of time.
The four members of the Wind regarded their gifts with more reverence than their own lives. They knelt and thanked the Skyfather from the depths of their souls, unable to believe what had happened to them.
Use these gifts wisely, the Skyfather said. I must leave you now, but know this…
As the light of the Skyfather disappeared from the dingy temple ruin, he left the Wind with a prophecy:
In the world’s most desperate hour of need
Earthly elements shall be set free
And evil tyrants should beware
The coming of an unlikely pair.
Behold the golden fires of hope
That curse and grace the lives of man
Yet one cannot in life exist
If two won’t find the strength to stand.
In the years following the rise of the Great Tyrant and the subsequent demise of the ancient beings known as Tenturo, Bahknar, Chera and Densa, a small group of four individuals created an alliance to fight for the salvation of truth and the pursuit of virtue. The alliance was created to maintain the old ways, with the hope that the Ancients would one day return and vanquish the Tyrant. These deeply spiritual beings, sworn to the Ancients, referred to themselves as the “Wind.” This ambiguous name was chosen to maintain anonymity and to protect the alliance from those who would seek to disband them, or far worse, destroy them.
The Wind continued the teachings of the old ways in secret. They were the protectors and the professors of the Ancients’ philosophy of peace and harmony among all creatures of the world. They imparted all they knew of the Ancients’ history to those who would hear it, doing everything they could to detract from the spreading lies perpetrated by the supporters of the Tyrant. They worked fastidiously to maintain the gifts of elemental control bestowed to humans and teach the possessors how to properly use them. They were pillars in a crumbling land. They were wisdom among the ignorant. They were eyes among the blind.
Ephanlarea had hope in the days of the Wind. Many creatures of the earth spoke with passion and determination of how the Wind blew strong. To speak of the Wind in such a way was to confirm an allegiance to the Ancients, and to exhibit contempt for the Tyrant. It was a risk to speak openly, but many were brave and bold, believing salvation was but a breath away. For a small time it seemed as though virtue would ultimately prevail, but even in the days when the Wind blew its strongest, the Tyrant’s poison worked deep in the veins of men.
Over time, supporters of the Wind were routed out of hiding and punished severely. The Tyrant was without mercy and his minions delivered his cruelty with a malicious pleasure. Beheadings, hangings, torture and crucifixions became common public spectacle. It was not long before the alliance of four that called themselves the Wind were cut off from all those who would seek to help them. They were left with no recourse and nowhere to turn; the Tyrant had taken complete control.
It was in the last, desperate hours before the alliance would agree to dissolve and separate, that they prayed to the Skyfather for help. They prayed in the ruins of an old temple, far from the shores of Ephanlarea, in a place that humans had long forgotten. The four individuals unburdened their souls of the atrocities they had seen and of the sufferings they had known. Together, they decried the evil of the Tyrant. They tore at the vines that clutched the temple walls and they pounded the floors with their limbs in frustration. They bellowed until their voices cracked from rage and exhaustion, and until their bodies fell limp upon the altar from hours of petition. They begged, they pleaded and they implored the Skyfather for the earth’s salvation.
Then, in the droning hum of the wild night, hours before the golden berth of the waking sun, above the aching, parched and weary bodies of the four sleeping outcasts, the Skyfather appeared. To see him was to dream of him; he was more apparition than body. The Wind awoke to the Skyfather’s faint orange glow, amid the darkness and the warm blanket of his low rumbling words.
I have heard your voices, he said as he touched their minds. Now, rise.
The four members of the alliance slowly rose to their feet and focused their dried and itching eyes on the miracle before them. The energy of the Skyfather danced about in the darkness, briefly illuminating shapes and lines of the material world. He waxed and waned like the tides of an ocean. No member of the Wind would keep the same memory of this moment. The vision was as personal as it was communal, and each member of the Wind found their own peace within the Skyfather’s presence.
This is your world to mold, the Skyfather said. But I can no longer sit idly by while you face insurmountable odds. I bring to you gifts. Use them well.
The Skyfather presented each member of the Wind with a gift they might use to fight the Great Tyrant. The alliance was instructed to keep their gifts safe, until a time came when the world could unite.
To Strongback, the bear of Gray Mountain, the Skyfather gave the Everflame. It flickered gently as it appeared in front of Strongback. He reached out and touched it cautiously. Its warmth surrounded his paw, but he was unharmed by the flame. It twinkled in the reflection of his deep brown eyes and it filled him with purpose and hope. The bear’s heart swelled and his body felt light and freshly alive.
Take the Everflame, Strongback, the Skyfather said. It is but a glimmer of my spirit. Let it light the darkest nights ahead.
To Andor the eagle, companion to Aella, Spirit of the Plains, the Skyfather gave the Eversense. The Skyfather touched the large eagle lightly on his brow and his eyes became bright. Andor bristled his brilliant feathers as if a chill had run his length. His mind became aware of things it never had before and his gaze stretched far beyond its previous horizon.
Take the Eversense, Andor, the Skyfather said. It is but a small fragment of my mind. It will allow you to see beyond the material world, to dangers that lie ahead.
To Ulinawi, the great turtle of the deep, the Skyfather gave the Evermight. Ulinawi felt his blood pulsing through his body. His weariness was gone and he felt a great strength in his muscles as he flexed his legs against the temple floor.
Take the Evermight, Ulinawi, the Skyfather said. It is but an echo of my vast strength. Use it to shield this world from its most malicious foes.
The Skyfather’s last gift was given to the only human member of the alliance, a man by the name of Esteban Floyd. To Esteban, the Skyfather gave his most precious gift, the Everlife. Euphoria descended upon Esteban as the apparition of the Skyfather moved through him. He felt like laughing, and tears fell freely from his eyes. Esteban looked down at his hands, and watched his skin as it sparkled ever so slightly before returning to its normal state.
Take the Everlife, Esteban, the Skyfather said. It is but a page in the tome of my history. As long as you are its possessor, you shall live beyond the measure of time.
The four members of the Wind regarded their gifts with more reverence than their own lives. They knelt and thanked the Skyfather from the depths of their souls, unable to believe what had happened to them.
Use these gifts wisely, the Skyfather said. I must leave you now, but know this…
As the light of the Skyfather disappeared from the dingy temple ruin, he left the Wind with a prophecy:
In the world’s most desperate hour of need
Earthly elements shall be set free
And evil tyrants should beware
The coming of an unlikely pair.
Behold the golden fires of hope
That curse and grace the lives of man
Yet one cannot in life exist
If two won’t find the strength to stand.
