the mythos of Salvation

chapter 3-4

**Chapter 3: The Arrival of the Hidden Society**

A couple of centuries ago, during a time when the British Empire was at its peak, there existed a small, secretive group on the fringes of society. Unlike the rigid, traditional norms of their homeland, these seventeen individuals were seekers of a different truth. They were visionaries, mystics, and philosophers-believers in the unseen forces of the universe, the hidden energies that guided life, and the ancient spiritual truths that had long been forgotten by the modern world. They were New Age before the term had even been conceived, and their beliefs isolated them from the rest of British society.

Shunned by their peers for their "dangerous" ideas, they left Britain in search of a place where they could practice their spirituality without persecution. Led by an enigmatic figure named *Elijah Sterling*, a man whose mind was deeply attuned to the cosmic currents of the universe, they set sail for an uncharted island Elijah had seen in his dreams-a mysterious land he believed held the key to ultimate enlightenment.

For months, they sailed across treacherous seas, guided by visions and omens that seemed to defy logic. When they finally arrived, they found the island of *Elarian*-hidden, cloaked in fog, and shrouded in an eerie stillness. The island, long thought lost to time, had become a place of decay and shadow, its beauty corrupted by the ancient curse that lingered from the seven eternal beings.

Yet, to the settlers, this land was perfect. The mists and darkened skies seemed like a barrier, keeping the outside world at bay, and they felt that this desolate island would become their sanctuary, a place where they could bring forth a new era of spiritual awakening. They did not know of the darkness that lingered beneath the surface, nor of the ancient beings who had watched the island decay over millennia.

The 17 spiritual seekers settled quickly, building their camp near the shores of the blackened sea. Elijah, with his piercing visions, sensed something ancient and powerful on the island. He believed this was the energy that had called them across the seas-the island's secrets were waiting to be revealed. They did not fear the island's corruption; they saw it as an opportunity for purification and transformation. They believed their presence would redeem the land, turning its decay into something sacred once again.

As they ventured deeper into the island, they discovered something strange-traces of a forgotten civilization. Ruins, overgrown by the blackened forest, stood as silent witnesses to a once-great power. It was there, in the ruins, that they encountered the seven guardians for the first time. The beings, once radiant with cosmic energy, were now shadows of their former selves-spectral, wraithlike figures that wandered aimlessly through the decay. The settlers could feel the weight of their ancient power, but they also sensed weakness, a vulnerability that had not existed before.

Elijah and his followers quickly realized that these beings were not ordinary creatures-they were tied to the island, perhaps even the source of its corruption. But instead of fearing them, Elijah saw an opportunity. He believed that by imprisoning these ancient beings, the settlers could reclaim the island's energy and redirect it for their own spiritual purposes.

With rituals long forgotten to the outside world, the settlers enacted their plan. Using their arcane knowledge, they crafted a binding spell, imprisoning the seven eternal beings in the very ruins they once ruled. The guardians, their powers diminished by the island's decay, were unable to resist. They were trapped, bound to the stone that once held their dominion. It was an act of defiance, a symbolic cleansing of the island's corrupt past, or so the settlers believed.

To solidify their victory and claim the island as their new spiritual home, the settlers erected three *Crosses*, tall and imposing, at the island's highest point. These crosses represented the triumph of their New Age beliefs over the ancient forces of the island, a symbol of their power and righteousness. They believed that by aligning themselves with both the cosmic energies and the teachings of Christ, they could purify the island and usher in a new era of spiritual enlightenment.