The Hero's Companion

Myths, Stories, and Lore of the World

AUTHORS NOTE: This is not actually the first chapter of the book as the title of this chapter implies this is mainly for back story, future plot, and just plain information so I don't have to go into too much depth with these when I'm writing. If you do not want to read this part it is not necessary to understand what's going on in the book just offers a deeper look into what's going on. For more information about updates and situations with my writing see the other author note at the bottom. And finally please enjoy my book.

CHAPTER 0: MYTHS, STORIES, AND LORE OF THE WORLD

Hello my name is Janice Woodchucker, yes I'm aware that it's a girly name paired a very weird last name I'm reminded of that quite often and it's a bit of a sore subject. So from now on let's stick with my preferred nickname Jace. Before we get into my personal life let me tell you a little about the world I live; in my language (West Vendric for those who care) it is called Dentril. On Dentril there are 3 continents each one being very large, and each supporting several different races. Some of the races in this world have the ability to use Energy; but most people prefer to call it by a different name, they call it Magika. Among the races that have a possibility of using energy, and at best up to about ten percent of that race can actually harness and use it. People who have this ability are known and energy manipulators but since this name is a bit long people started referring to them as mages originating from the layman's term for energy, magika. Now back to the geography of Dentril.

GEOGRAPHY

First is the continent I live on, it is known as Shimpar. It is mostly grassland with a few forests, lakes, and very few mountains. Thankfully the monsters here are harmless as far as monsters go, but even here there are some dangerous monsters. The three most dangerous monsters you can run into are a minatour, a lamia, or a slime. Your probably asking why a slime is dangerous, well you have evidently never tried to cut one with a sword. The only way a slime can be killed is by either dehydrating it or magik. It is also home to three of the major races of Dentril, the humans, the centaurs, and the halflings.

the race with the largest population and control on the continent is the humans. The humans on Shimpar are split amongst two empires; in the past there had only been one empire ruled by the late king, his majesty Joseph Linheart. King Joseph had 4 sons and a daughter, shortly after his last son was born the king died of an illness. At the time of his death two of his sons who were twins, each had a legitimate claim to the throne. Neither son liked the other even though they were twins. But, they agreed that they couldn't have any other contenders, so they both agreed they would kill their other two brothers and drive their sister away so no one could contest them. While they were meeting and discussing the most heinous act of murder, their sister the princess overheard and fled the castle before they started the bloody affair she only had enough time to get a few things and flee with a few small bundles. Just shortly before the princess fled the princes hired the assassins guild The Silent Honey Badgers to kill their brothers. The assassins were told to bring back proof of the kill. The assassins went about their gruesome task and brought evidence of their kills, the first assassin brought in the head of the third oldest brother who had been fifteen at the time and the other assassin brought in the baby brothers cloths covered in blood when confronted why there was no body he admitted to tossing the body into the river so there would be no evidence. Satisfied with the evidence (or lack of) both brothers then turned to the assassins and both of them at the same time ordered the assassins to kill the other brother. The assassins looked at each other and laughed they said they would not kill them and demanded their pay, after getting their pay they suggested the brothers settle their feud with a duel to the death, the brothers reluctantly agreed. before the duel After the bloody deed had been done the brothers held funeral services for their brothers though they only had the body of the older one. At the funeral the brothers blamed their sister for the murders and that after they learned the truth she fled. The day after the funeral the brothers held their duel to see who would rule the empire. Both brothers gave all they could in the fight but in the end they were equal in strength, and so no winner could be chosen with it being called a draw. After the brothers recuperated each angry at the other, they both gathered supporters and mustered armies, this lead to what is now known as the Linheart Civil War. The war split the empire into two kingdoms the eastern kingdom which now known as the kingdom of Krast, and the western kingdom now know as the kingdom of Vendrin.