CHAPTERS
CHAPTERS
WHAT CAME BEFORE
The Akbah desert is a no man’s land. There is no safe travel across it. There are only heavily guarded caravan routes that skirt the borders of desert to reach the few kingdoms that dare rest and attempt to thrive on the desert borders. But people and caravans still disappear, never to be seen again. But I digress. The Akbah desert in ancient times was a thriving environment full of various kingdoms, cities, and oasis settlements scattered throughout. A traveler could traverse the shifting sands with ease, but at night one had to take refuge or risk the attacks of the beasts of the desert. Giant scorpions along with other creatures came out freely at night. But there was peace and trade flourishing. And for hundreds of years everyone benefited from the standing peace.
But in places that did not concern mortals a war between the Gods was brewing. No one knew who started it. Some say it was the God of tyranny himself, Bane in his nonending hostilities with his rival Cyric. Other gods got pulled into the conflict taking sides over who they felt was in the wrong. The battle started in their own domains but ended up spilling into the mortal planes and straight into the Akbah desert. Creatures under the command of various gods descended on the desert to do battle. The beautiful peace that held for hundreds of years was shattered in a single night. Settlements fell like houses of cards; people ran for their lives leaving behind things they held dear to survive. Most fled to the border of the desert where the battle did not touch.
The war lasted for almost twenty years with both sides suffering loss. Finally, a truce was reached and the Gods returned to their domains without a care of what had happened in the desert and the communities they had devastated in their rivalries. But even after the dust had settled those wishing to reestablish the old desert settlements soon realized it would be impossible. Due to the great works of combat magic that had happened along with the summoning of vile creatures from various planes the desert itself changed. It started small at first, a few random sandstorms crossing the desert, but over time they grew stronger and more frequent until it was a maelstrom of gigantic proportions that never ended. The people ended up naming it The Grand Maelstrom. In the fifty years after the maelstrom dominated the desert there were some brave souls who attempted to go into and beyond, but they were never seen again. Another anomaly was that three months of the calendar year the desert was thrust into eternal night. During those months none dared travel outside the confines of their city. Since the desert was now a no man’s land kingdoms rose along the borders of the desert. But always the great maelstrom churned its way through the desert, in view only a few miles from the borders. Resources now lost, trade became difficult with no direct route through the desert. The only safe route was a single caravan route that was kept in line with the border of the desert. The prosperity dwindled to survival. But the rulers kept the peace. They had no other choice.
THE ANCIENT PAST
For hundreds of years the border kingdoms survived but did not flourish as in days past. The Great Maelstrom never changed, and no one ventured near it. Sentencing the guilty into the desert became the preferred way of executing criminals. Then a rumor started when lightning filled the skies over the maelstrom. Some say it was more residual effects from the magic during the battle of the Gods. But some believed the great blue dragon Zodozenan had chosen to make its new lair in the center of the maelstrom. But it ended in rumor. No one was willing to venture in to go take a look.
Then it all changed. In the kingdom of Dranesse they celebrated the new year with a large festival. The reigning Queen, Kathryn and her court paused when it was brought to her attention that a large armed force had entered the city from the northern gate. The festival turned into chaos. People lined the streets to watch the procession of mounted and armed force wind its way through the streets heading for the southern wall. The gates had been sealed hundreds of years ago. Demands to stop were ignored. At the head of this army was a tall and imposing man upon a black stallion. He was clad from head to toe in black armor. When this armed force reached the sealed southern gates and the Dranesse force blocking it, the man only spoke one sentence. “You are in my way.”
The Dranessean ambassador came down notifying this man that he brought the greetings and wishes of the Queen. It was explained that the gates had been sealed long ago due to the changes in the desert and it was folly to enter it. The man seemed unmoved by the words of Ambassador Killian and just looked at the gates in annoyance. The people watching from windows and balconies stared in fear at the armed force. Something seemed unnatural about them. Some swearing that the eyes of some were glowing in colors of yellow, red, and orange. None spoke. None looked around. Their focus was straight ahead. The silence was broken by the deep growling voice of the leader. “Open the gates. I am aware of what is out there. Open them or I will.” The silence was deafening. The man sighed and raised one hand, black shadows shot out and slammed against the ancient doors. Once. Twice. Then the doors flew open causing gasps from the people. Queen Kathryn by this time had made her way to the scene just as the gates flew open. She screamed for them to stop, even putting herself between the armed force and the now wide-open gates. The man slowly dismounted. He was tall, so much so Kathryn had to look up at him. “You can’t! There is nothing out there but death!” The man leaned down and growled at her. “Then it won’t mind if death comes to greet it, hmm?” He turned back for his horse. “My business does not concern you little Queen. Let’s keep it that way.” Mounting up he rode right past her, leaving Kathryn in stunned silence. How dare he just ride by her like she was nothing! The force was in motion now, riding out into the desert. Breaking out of her daze she turned, the gaping wide gates swinging in the wind created by the distant maelstrom. “Seal…Seal the gates dammit!” She squeaked. Guards quickly moved to close the gates. People of the city lined the walls to watch as the great force rode on straight for the maelstrom. Their leader is the first to be swallowed up by it.
For weeks people would walk to the southern walls to see if the mysterious man and his force emerged from the maelstrom. Weeks turned to months and slowly the people lost interest figuring he and his army suffered the fate of all else who had ventured into the desert.
All seemed peaceful or so it seemed. Plans were being made for the coming three months of night in the desert. One night people started showing up at the eastern gates calling themselves refugees of the kingdom of Kireth. Hundreds carrying what they could, carts haphazardly packed with belongings. The people spoke of their leader Sultan Nazim who had provoked a man of darkness who had proclaimed the desert as his domain and if anyone had issue to do something about it. Nazim it seems had seen it as a challenge and did try. They spoke of rumors that the crown prince of Prophis had abandoned his throne and swore fealty to this man. That Prophis was now abandoned, and all had moved to some new place where this man held dominion. As more displaced people poured into not only Dranesse but other border kingdoms, scouts were sent out to get facts surrounding the rumors. The scouts reported that the kingdom of Kireth was nothing more than a smoldering ruin now and Prophis was also destroyed and abandoned. More stories poured in about the battle at the border of Kireth. Nazim and this man had faced off. Some reported seeing a gigantic black wolf that almost reached as high as the greatest tower of Dranesse in the desert with glowing red eyes and a tail tipped in nine crescent razors. A fear rose up that the Gods had come back down to wage war again. But reports confirmed that not only was Nazim dead but his family, the entire military forces of Kireth and hundreds of its people had sworn fealty to this man and left with him. Slowly the final refugees filtered in, and all was quiet. The desert succumbed to its three months of night, and nothing happened.
On a quiet evening Kathryn sat in her sitting room taking part in her favorite evening activity, cross stitch with her daughter Nadira. But she jumped at the sudden smell of ozone and ripping sound as a portal opened and out stepped a man. She knew this man. Dressed in all black the portal shut behind him. It was him. The man who had ventured into the desert over a year ago. Nadira almost screamed but didn’t when the man put his hand up. “Let us have none of that shall we?”
“How dare you!” Kathryn screamed causing four guards to run in.
The man looked at the guards like they were dust on the floor. “I am the king of Assyria.” Touching the fore and middle fingers of his right hand to his forehead as he bowed at the waist his hand went out palm up towards the terrified women.
“You killed Nazim.” Kathryn motioned for the guards to stay put for now.
“Nazim was foolish. He provoked me. Provoking me never ends well for anyone.”
“Just tell me what you want.” Kathryn looked at her daughter who was just smiling as she looked the man up and down.
“I want you to gather the royals of the border kingdoms here.” His fingertip tapped on a table. “In this city so we can discuss terms. A week from now.”
“Terms? And if I choose not to?”
Nadira giggled. “Then you provoke him mother.”
He smirked and winked at Nadira. “Smart girl. A week from now. Don’t provoke me.” A portal opened and he was gone.
“How dare he!” Kathryn glared then she looked at her daughter. “Close your mouth young lady you look like a love-struck fool.” She immediately rose to send out missives his words of don’t provoke me ringing in her ears.
A week later the meeting took place in the council room of Queen Kathryn. Representatives from the remaining border kingdoms were in attendance. King Singu representing Deepport, King Arcturus representing Bream, King Gauril representing Khaste, and Kathryn representing Dranesse. No one knows what went on during that fateful meeting, but the leaders left with pale faces. Rumors stated he had delivered a stay out of my way and I will stay out of yours message. Regardless of what happened behind closed doors, over time trade routes were established and sandships once more sailed along the sands, but it was monitored, regulated, and under control of the King of Assyria. No one made waves because what was established was working.
As the years passed peace reigned. Items arriving from Assyria defied what would be available in the middle of the desert. Rare metals, gems, plants. No one asked questions. All the kingdoms were profiting from the arrangement. But visitors were not openly welcome into the kingdom of Assyria. You could not book passage on a sandship and make the journey. The ships were for goods only. But it is said that in the border cities if you knew the right streets, the right inns, passage could be bought by a representative of Assyria. By no means is it cheap. Assyria it is rumored was a melting pot of cultures and people. Those looking to start new. Those bullied, misunderstood or of a darker nature who would not feel welcome in most communities. Assyria was a place of mysteries, a haven for those seeking the rare and forbidden. It as said you could find almost anything in Assyria for a price.
