Of Tears & Darkness: 1 Light of Elliana

Prologue

Elliana, a powerful goddess, created Aederan, a world with vast forests and deep blue seas. She made the sun, so there would be day and night, and created clouds to provide shade, wind, rain, and snow. She is the Great Mother, who made all manner of creatures that walk, fly, or swim so that life would be diverse, fruitful, and provide sustenance. Our Great Goddess created Mankind and Centaur to live upon Aederan and rule the world wisely, so this abundance would never end.

Yet-even a God's most carefully laid plans may be threatened by an evil that seeks to taint and corrupt all it touches. Wherever good exists, know too there is also evil, for Gods are always born as twins. The Goddess Elliana is the matriarch of creation, life, truth, and love; Bemenah is Elliana's dark brother and is the patriarch of ruin, death, lies, and hate. Between these Gods exists the Dragons Domain. These beings are beholden neither too good nor evil and live solely to maintain balance. Within this influential sphere is our world Aederan, and therein lies the root of our problem, a formidable war between light and darkness.

Our tale of woe began after the Great Mother labored to create Aederan, for she had grown tired and needed to rest. Yes, even Gods grow weary after great works. However, when God's sleep, their naps may take hundreds or thousands of years. You see, my friend, humanity's concept of time is not relevant to a God. As Elliana slumbered, her dark brother Bemenah chanced upon Aederan, and he thus desired the blue and green world for his own. Cunningly, he created vile creatures of dark design and concealed them within the forests, soil, and mountains.

After Elliana had rested, she awakened and gazed upon Aederan and saw her world was no longer pure. Evil creatures had gained a foothold; Bemenah had corrupted the world by placing them on Aederan. The twin Gods argued and fought in the heavens above, but neither side could gain an advantage.

Elliana's dark brother refused to remove his evil spawn; this left our Great Mother with a dilemma. For a God, powers are potent, and their touch will destroy what lies within the mortal physical plane. They can create and destroy from afar by controlling the elements. But Gods cannot physically touch creatures, water, land, or sky.

Thus, Aederans' fate fell to mortal sentient creatures whose lives depended on the Life Circle. Mere flesh and blood mortals now acted to defend Elliana's creation. Our Great Mother gave us strength, wisdom, and gifted specific individuals with powers as well.

Unfortunately, the Dark One had done likewise. For three hundred years, light and darkness battled until finally, humanity and the Centaur's were victorious. The evil army hasn't returned for two hundred years. The people of the realms believe that the evil of Bemanah's sin is defeated forever. But the vigilant elder spirits who keep watch over us say that this is foolish talk as they wait for the darkness to return.

The known world consists of Five Kingdoms. Etmindor, Wildstaadt, Strandolf, Caralon, and Arconia. Ninety years ago, Andakar Barbarians arrived by sea in large numbers in Wildstaadt; where they came from is not known. King Styner Heldwyne and the kingdoms' standing army immediately responded in the Battle of Bernsbriar and were humbly defeated by the raiders' swift maneuvering horsemen.

In the wake of this catastrophic loss, the king attempted to recover by gathering more men to defend the towns, villages, and cities; yet the enemy always appeared to be one step ahead. The army of Wildstaadt was not large enough to split up and withstand the Andakars' encroachments upon their lands.

Time and again, their forces were savaged by the invaders. The Barbarian's sought to take by force all they could; all envoys sent to negotiate for peace with the invaders had been slain. The names of lost battles: Catavak's Despair, Kellinway's Massacre, and Prince Andine's Sorrow, among others, were heard everywhere citizens gathered throughout the land and fear-filled the minds of all who lived there.

For five years, the Andakar Barbarians slaughtered, burned, and pillaged at will. Hordes of fleet enemy riders laid waste to farms, towns, and entire small cities. Each year, after a summer filled with death and fiery attacks, the invaders would cease, board their ships, and set sail. Presumably, this was because their large wooden vessels could hold no more young slaves or pillaged wealth.

It was during the beginning of the fifth year when the ruthless Andakar Barbarians had returned; that they showed signs, they were there to stay. For along with waves of roving raiders, others started to build settlements along Wildstaadt's seacoast. It was evident the kingdoms' culture and sovereignty was at stake. King Styner, always a proud man, had never asked the other rulers for assistance before. Faced with the inevitable destruction of the Kingdom of Wildstaadt, the king sent a courier to King Teddemere Answaar, also known as King Teddy. The latter was Etmindor's ruler at the time.

King Teddy, within the week, immediately sent envoys to the four other royal families, requesting them to meet in Kandalare, the capital city of Etmindor. This wise and prudent gathering resulted in the Alliance of the Five Kingdoms. An agreement was subsequently signed, which stated: "An attack upon any sovereign realm legally bound in this alliance, shall be considered an attack upon all realms."

Two months later, five armies joined forces. They began marching towards Wildstaadt's seacoast. The Andakar Barbarians sent many light cavalries, reinforced by a significant number of fleet horseback archers to stop the allied advance. Centaurs and light, medium, and heavy cavalry battled the enemy. The enemies' counter-attack was stopped dead in its tracks.

Heartened by their victory, the five kings led their armies forward, determined to destroy the enemy once and for all. Armored men-at-arms, along with various other foot soldiers advanced, and began pushing their avowed enemy towards the seacoast.

Behind them marched thousands of seasoned archers, who maintained a withering barrage of feathered shafts and crossbow bolts. Rumbling thunder grew steadily from the Corgal Hills to the North. Across grassy knolls, galloped thousands of armored riders from the Five Kingdoms and the Menduwaka. Their charge cut off the enemies' retreat to their ships and doomed the Andakar raiders.

Those responsible for slaughtering innocent men, women, and children by the thousands were herded together like cattle. Attempts to convince them to surrender peacefully resulted in dead envoys.

In response, King Teddemere led the charge, wherein Centaurs and Mankind killed all who resisted. Under the alliance's watchful eyes, the enemy survivors boarded what ships they could manage to put out to sea, carrying adequate provisions. The kingdoms divided the remaining vessels among themselves. One Barbarian who spoke the common tongue received a simple message.

"This is a land where free people live; invaders that attempt to take these lands will arrive in the Dark Hag's black bag. Understand, we are ever vigilant, and she never tires." The Andakar Barbarians must have taken the message seriously, for they never returned. The year was 410 A.F. (After the formation of Etmindor.), and the Andakar Barbarian War was over. Wildstaadt's citizens replanted their fields, re-established farmsteads, and rebuilt towns and cities. Eventually, peace and prosperity once more returned to the Five Kingdoms.

Nestled among its neighbors, Etmindor is a beautiful land filled with rugged strength. From its mighty rivers to its towering mountains, its people are a hardy breed, filled with good character. They are hard-working, honest folk who help one another and would give you the shirt off their back. Yes, this is a pleasant land filled with vast forests and fertile fields, excellent for growing things. If one decided to, a fellow could set down roots, raise a family and watch his crops grow, year after year.

In Northern Etmindor, vast forests cover its mountains, hills, and valleys. Men and women working in various northern logging camps, hunting base camps, and watchtower strongholds have reported something has changed. Forests, once green and inviting, are now filled with growing shadows. Fleeting glimpses of evil creatures stirring at night and feelings of being watched lend credence to those who say we are no longer alone on our lands.

A vague, half-realized uneasiness permeates the air, causing many to cast furtive glances toward the massive Skargtooth Mountains, far to the North. It is there, where the shadows grow darkest, as the light feebly shines thru gloomy cloud cover and rocky valleys.

Nothing moves in this formidable mountain range without the keen eyes of Elliana taking notice. For she knows the dark desires of her brother Bemenah and is determined to rid her creation of his minion's festering presence. The Great Mother patiently waits for her enemy's arrival, having planned long ago for it. It is time, and the real battle for Aederan will soon begin.

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