Secrets at Sea

Chapter 21

Thousands of years ago the Goddesses roamed freely on this earth. These Goddesses were kind and cared about all life on this planet. They wanted what was best for everyone and would move hell and high water to make sure life survived and thrived. They were never controlling or abusive with the power they held. They would join in on celebrations and festivals and have real, genuine connections with the people that worshiped them. The witches of the Tribes taught the people to give back to the land, just like the Goddesses had once taught the witches. Everyone was happy. Well maybe not everyone.

The Counsel, a group of greedy, self interested renegades started planting seeds of doubt within all the tribes but  could never convince the Northern Tribe of the Goddesses ill intent. Their beliefs ran strong like their men and as deep as the forests they tended to. Once a Northern had their mind set, there was no way to change it without the blessing of the Forest Goddess. Medlinda was a fawn in a human's body; a Goddess of all plants and animals that roamed the four tribes. She was fair and just, a mother and a warrior to those that needed aid. However, her compassion became her downfall when The Counsel arrived in the Northern Tribe. They spent only a day talking with the Imperial Witch of the tribe, before being violently thrown from the grounds.

That didn't sit well with The Counsel.

As retribution for the lack of hospitality and disrespect coming from the Northern Tribe, The Counsel set the forest ablaze. The fire was the biggest in history and it was sure to destroy every living thing in its wake, including the Northerners way of life.

Medlinda wouldn't allow this though. She had spent her life nurturing and tending to the needs of this land. She refused to sit by and watch as everything she loved and held dear was wiped off the face of the planet. So she used a spell that was ancient and pure, a spell that would bind her and all Goddesses of her lineage to the land for the next hundred years. No Goddess of Nature would be brought to life in the next three generations, but the Northern forests would be healed from the fire and protected for centuries to come. Her sacrifice would not go in vain. The Northerners, mourning their beloved Goddess, started a war against The Counsel. All four tribes joined as one, all rallied behind the martyr Medlinda.

However the power of The Counsel was too much. The Counsel had spies within the ranks of the Tribes and those bits of knowledge shared and plans ruined would lead to the downfall of the people. The tribes-people that had survived the war were enslaved for their rebellion against The Counsel. Once The Counsel had complete control of the land they started wrecking it. Using up every natural resource they could get their grubby hands on; destroying the environment to the point where the oceans had dried up almost completely. The water that was left was diseased and toxic to humans and animals alike. The witches that once ruled and balanced out the land were either slaughtered or in hiding.

The Goddesses wouldn't stand for the destruction of their world. They continued fighting The Counsel for years after the Tribes were taken out. Most of the Goddesses scarified their lives for the cause, their powers being transferred into their reincarnations. With only a few Goddesses of age and at full magical ability, Senna the Goddess of the Waters, made a discovery that would change everything. She had found an ancient scripture describing the way to summon the Vierikks, the creators of the universe. She, along with the other Goddesses still fighting agreed to bring a Vierikk by the name of Wyuthurus, the Wave Bringer, back from the realm he was banished to long ago. The Goddesses planned to use Wyuthurus' rage against humanity to flood the planet, hopefully wiping out The Counsel and the damage they had caused the earth. So that's what they did. Senna sacrificed her life to see that balance was restored to the planet through the force of the water, but also used the last of her energy to seal Wyuthurus back into the realm from whence he came.

Humanity survived the floods by finding refugee atop the highest peaks; both witches and Counsel alike. Years later, civilization returned to its former glory, but it still had The Counsel leading the charge to use up all natural resources it could get its hands on. Companies such as Genocryte have used their influence to try and combat The Counsel, giving back to the land in every way possible, as well as keep the reincarnations of the Goddesses safe and out of harm's way. Most reincarnations now don't know about their powers, keeping them innocent and naïve as they blended in with the rest of the population. The few that do are taught to utilize their powers for good and heal the world in whatever way they can, all while under the close protection of Genocryte.