The Legends of Khrystia: The Journey Begins (Sampler)

Prelude

A fire crackled in the hearth, logs burned to give warmth to the denizens of the tavern. It was early fall, and a cool breeze was blowing early this year. It chilled to the bone, many seeking warmth at the local tavern. With the week's end, many spent their earnings on food and ale to fill their bellies with sustenance, and their minds with renewed morale.

There was dancing with music, laughter with jokes, and there were reunions from traveling adventurers, reuniting with long missed friends.

The simple tavern was larger than many, and allowed for a good amount of patrons to come and go. The tavern was also famous amongst adventurers, as it was built in the city of Goldmane.

A city with a strong trade network, and located in a wonderful place where the Sylvan kingdoms could prosper. From here all roads lead to adventure. This is what brought many wanderers and people with quests on their shoulders here to relax before setting out once again.

The fire was being stoked by a hunched figure. He was tall in his frame and stockier than most Ocara men. Some could even say he was unnaturally tall and well built. As though some dark magik had built this man. Many would come to whisper, only to find nods, or a threatening fist in the face from a patron who knew the mysterious man.

He was covered in a simple linen cloak, with the hood pulled up to hide his faces upper half. The fire illuminated his groomed black beard and his grizzly smile underneath. It was eerily friendly, yet it told a story of past experiences. A smile that was friendly, and told others without words that they would be considered a friend, less they wished not to be. It was a smile that had seen a lot.

Many came not only for the entertainment of music and dance and companionship. How so many came to hear the mans stories of valiant heroes, wicked villains, and quests given by the divine oracles who heard the voices of the Aesir above.

A child tugged at the man's cloak. He turned and smiled over his shoulder at the little Sylvan girl. She was small, perhaps only six years old. Her mother already scolding her for bothering the nice man.

He bowed his head to the mother. "By all means, the little one was only inquisitive about me. It is no trouble." His voice was like silk, with a gentle gruffness that hide his grisly experiences of his past. It was a voice of wisdom that would share with any open ears.

The mother gave the man a strange look. Realizing who he was. "You are-"

"The tavern storyteller. I missed the last few weeks, for I was on a pilgrimage of fasting and prayer. Kheheha." He chuckled as his frame seemed to deny the fasting part.

After much of the tavern began to quiet down, the man knew it was time that the crowd would love to hear his stories. He turned so the fire was behind him to this left. Warming him and filling him with vigor. He grabbed his stein of mead and took a long draught. The sweet drink dribbled down his dark beard and gave a sparkling amber shine like twilight of gold.

With the sun beneath the lands and the stars and Silver moon coming out. He opened his mouth and spoke with his warming and inspiring tone.

"For centuries, and maybe more than we can count upon our drunken minds. People have gathered around the flame, for it stokes our hearts and souls, giving us strength in such dangerous and dark times."

With many now captured by his opening. The tavern grew completely quiet, except for a many drunks shouting cheers of welcome before simmering down, others nodded, silently giving their respect. Others drew closer to hear the man speak. Many children gathered the closest.

"A fortnight ago I left for a personal journey, and in two more weeks I shall be gone again, but I wish to share a personal favorite, a story of the Holy Writs. Where the Makers began our creation. Life was in its dawn."

The man gestured with his arms. Making all feel welcomed.

"In the ancient days, the world was empty and devoid of all. Nothing but the Aesir and the Erebus roamed the void. Nothing existed here. Until suddenly, great beings from beyond came to the land and gave it shape in the void. They created forests, oceans, mountains. They created animals that ran through the wilds, fish that filled the oceans, and birds that soared high in the sky.

They named that shape, Khrystia, the heart of Midgard, our home. These great beings, the Aesir, they were the Makers. For they gifted life and creation. The other gods however were spiteful, they hated the sight of the void being given shape without them, they are known as Erebus. For the Makers adhered to what they wanted life to be. The gods turned to them and began to ruin their lands. For the Erebus caused with their powers pain, ruination, chaos.

It started a great war between them. At first the Makers were greatly outnumbered, Asgard would have fallen for sure, but then a beacon of light spread across the void. From Alfheim, the angelic beings known as the Ælves came to their aid and fought beside the Valkyrie and Aesir. Together they defeated the Erebus, but the dark gods were not all banished. Many went into hiding in the shadowy corners of the realms. Occasionally they would step out and challenge the Makers, or speak their corrupting words into the minds of mortals. Though such stories of those can be told another day. Some are unaware of how life was granted to us.

It was from Fjralka, Mother of the Dragons. She is revered by all as the Mother of Life. As she taught the other Makers how to create such intelligence as man. From the mind of Rhianus, she went to work and crafted many human races from her mind and gave us the greatest gift of all: the ability to create life of our own.

When came to be, we were told to be fruitful, and we were given the world of Khrystia, alongside with the Drakhen, many of you know them as the dragons.

The Makers taught us Harmony, the faith we must keep to stay strong against evil and the corruption of the dark gods. Prejudice is strong, and for that we must be cautious in our lives. For skin, nor eyes, nor our first impressions, we must be wary, for it is not those that show taint in the eyes of the dark gods. It is the heart and mind we must be careful off.

Fear will lead us to our hatred, and that is what the dark gods want of us. Stray from the path of Harmony and we fall into damnation.

But what drives our fear more than any other. Beware of the Dark One, known as Drakkiinas. For his desire to corrupt the world we must be careful, and he is without a doubt the most powerful darkness in all the realms.

In our creation, the Makers called us human, a meaning strong and equal to our passion. For to be human is not how we are shaped, but how we are strong. Dwarf, elf, ocara, halfling, we are all human in our hearts. Never falter in your journey." He paused for a long breath. "Where do I truly begin..."

The man lost his train of thought as his eyes drifted upward. He stared at the ceiling for some time, but no one dared to interrupt his thoughts. For they knew that they were in for a good story. When he smiled slowly and looked back at the denizens of the tavern. Their waiting faces eager to give their attention.

"Let me tell you of a story, of unlikely heroes who would go out to save the world from a dangerous artifact. And their legacy would turn out more heroes to come. Many years ago, on a midsummer day."