The Chronicles of Alloria

Chapter One: Of Rude Awakenings

‘Wake up. It’s time for your ceremony to begin young monk’ .The voice was mellow and monotonous but carried with it a sense of urgency and importance. Vesaria stirred from his endless sleep. He looked around the room as his eyes adjusted. Above him stood a tall, pale man in a long black hooded cloak. Deep red eyes were staring down upon Vesaria as he began to get out of bed.

‘What day is it Master Arturius?’ The cloaked man took a step back and turned to face the only window. The room was made of solid grey stone with no furnishing except the bed on which Vesaria slept.

‘It is the third sunrise of Snowfell in the year seven forty-two. You have been sleeping for the designated twenty eight days and your time has arrived. Please, take your robes and come with me Brother Vesaria’. Arturius looked towards the large steel door and opened it. He turned to Vesaria and beckoned him to follow. Vesaria stood and folded his bed sheet before picking up a long dark grey, hooded cloak and sliding it on over his tunic. He slid the hood up until it covered all of his face but his mouth.

‘I’m ready Master’. Vesaria left the room and Master Arturius trailed just behind him. They walked along a long stone corridor lit by a few torches built into statues of cloaked figures. At the end of the corridor there was a large ornate wooden door flanked by two onyx statues of cloaked figures with red eyes and blue flamed torches in each hand. As Vesaria walked closer he could hear an ominous humming resounding from every direction. It grew louder and louder until it masked their footsteps. The two men stood in front of the door and Vesaria turned to look at Master Arturius.

‘Are you ready Brother? Beyond these doors lie both your future and your past. You have shown your devotion to the faith but have yet to prove to yourself to Mistress Aria’. Vesaria took a deep breath and turned towards the door.

‘I know Master. My fate lies eternally with Mistress Aria and her desires’.

‘Then speak the oath Brother, and your trial will begin’. Master Arturius stepped back into the darkness and disappeared. Vesaria let out a long breath and placed his hands together in prayer.

‘Great Mistress, I beseech thee as a humble servant and protector of your faith. I ask for your guidance in the trials to come and your protection from those who seek to destroy you’. The doors began to creak open and a thick smoke floated through into the corridor as the torches began to go out. Within a few seconds the corridor was in complete darkness. Vesaria closed his eyes and slowed his breathing to a minimal. He took his first steps into the room. The doors slammed shut behind him and a torch lit at the far end of the room. The humming began again but this time it was deafening. Vesaria took another deep breath and focused his mind. He stepped forward into the darkness. The torch flickered and Vesaria began to hum along with the other voices. With each step forward the flame flickered and bent. It began to cast monstrous shadows against the harsh stone walls. The humming became discernible and he noticed it was the chant his Master had taught him when he first joined the order. He stopped in his tracks when he felt something lap at his feet. It began climbing up his leg, slowly pressuring against his flesh. Vesaria began reciting the chant as he stepped forward closer to the torch.

‘The darkness prevails where once there was light, your agents are we as we walk through the night, the silence we bring saves us all from plight, the angel of death if you grant me your might’. The darkness receded and Vesaria continues to walk on. He reached the torch and the humming stopped. The room exploded in light as numerous torches burst into life. Several cloaked figures approached Vesaria and placed their hands upon his shoulder.

‘You have been proved worthy and have received the blessing of Mistress Aria’. The voice was simultaneously single and multiple speakers. The group of men were known as The Council. They were the mortal speakers for The Mistress Aria. She was regarded by most as evil and cruel but the monks, who Vesaria had to just become one of, considered her to be the matron of balance. Where there was chaos in the world her followers sought to bring order and where complacency ruled, they sought to bring reverence and humility. They were known as The Monks of Everdark. They were an ancient order of monks that secluded themselves in a mountain fortress built in ages long since forgotten and serve as guardians of the shrine of The Mistress. These monks also train in secret arts that allow them to hone the gifts Aria bestows upon them such as vastly increased strength, keener senses and increased speed. Once initiated, the new monk would have to venture into the world to perform services to any person who called upon the services provided by Mistress Aria.

Vesaria turned to face The Council and bowed.
‘I am ready to do your bidding my lords. The Mistress has given me her blessing and I ask for my soul to be bound to her will’. The council stood silently for a second, took in a deep breath and let out a bellowing voice and the torches erupted in a blinding light. This was their signal of approval. Vesaria bowed once more.

‘Thank you, lords. I will do the bidding of The Order until my final hour’. The door slowly opened and Master Arturius was stood with his red eyes gazing at Vesaria as he walked out of the room. The hallway was now lit with blue flamed torches and the walls were covered in tapestries which showed the rich history of the order.

‘You have done well Brother. I hear you passed the test with a calm that would rival Grand Master Kretus’. The two men began to walk down the stone hallway back into Vesaria’s room. When they got to the room Vesaria noticed a cloaked figure on his bed.

‘Master, who is this?’ The figure immediately stood up as Master Arturius closed the door and bolted it from the inside.

‘This, young Brother, is Lady Cerana of Belathur, the city to the west of our fort. She came to us asking for help with a particular matter that, at the time, we were unable to help with. Now that you are initiated the council believe that you can aid her in her matter’. The cloaked figure drew back her hood to reveal flowing blonde hair, bright green eyes and skin as pale as a corpse. She took a step closer to the men and knelt at their feet.

‘Great monks, I do not wish to ask more than my share but I come to you with a matter most urgent. My town has been plagued by series of mauling by strange creatures the likes of which I have never seen. My people are terrified and my lord is distraught. We do not know what to do and no one has been able to help. You are my only hope, please, lend us your services?’

Vesaria looked up to Master Arturius in anticipation. He could sense the burning red eyes were staring into his soul and he knew what he had to do.

‘My lady, I will accept this contract under the condition that you recognise and acknowledge that once called upon we cannot be stopped until the contract is complete. Do you understand these terms and take full responsibility for its recourse?’ Lady Cerana seemed shocked but quickly retained her calm.

‘I understand and accept my lords. I do not enter this contract lightly and am willing to face any repercussions that arise from your actions’.

‘Then it is agreed’. Master Arturius had opened the door and began walking outside, beckoning the others to follow. ‘You are to receive your armour of the Order from Brother Andenax in the armoury. Come my lady, I will show you to your carriage’.

Master Arturius and Lady Cerana walked towards the grand entrance hall of the ancient fort while Vesaria continued to the basement to find the armoury empty except for the large, hulking figure of Master Andenax shaping steel at the forge. For centuries, the monks had crafted their own weapons and armour using ancient runes that allowed their warriors to channel their strength more precisely. Their armour was imbued with similar runes which amplified their agility and allowed them to move unseen when necessary. The materials used were often said to be magical and wicked in origin since they could only be found inside a cave deep in the mountain which only the monks could use.

‘Young Brother, it appears your time to leave has come already. Such an early beginning; we expect great things from you’. Master Andenax placed the heated steel he was holding in a cooling vat and walked towards a shelf in the corner of the room.

‘I crafted this armour for you just shy of twenty sunrises ago. One of my finest works I do believe. The metal is light and flexible but strong enough to stand a blow from even the mightiest of opponents. But only one blow lad, so don’t get caught up for too long or against too many opponents’. Andenax slowly turned to Vesaria with armour and weapon in hand. He placed them into Vesaria’s hands and pulled the sword from its sheath.

‘This blade was particularly difficult to craft. The rune did not bind easily and required a stronger seal than normal. History tells us that you should be wary when using it. Its power is slightly more than you will be used to. So don’t go swinging it like child or you’ll lose an arm or worse’. Master Andenax always had a dark sense of humour. Unlike most monks who become stoic and cold, Andenax had always been jovial, if not a little dark in his revelries.

‘Thank you Master. I will treat it as an extension of myself and take adequate care of it’. Vesaria bowed and took his new apparel. He quickly changed into the armour and placed his sword across his back before sliding his cloak over the top as to not raise suspicion.

‘I leave shortly for the town of Belathur. Is there anything you would like me to acquire or any message you would want delivered Master?’. The large monk stopped in his tracks and began pondering. He turned to face Vesaria and held him by his shoulders and whispered.

‘There is a girl, in the local tavern that goes by the name of Valandrea. Please, deliver this message to her. Tell her that the Red Sun rises in the east and the mountain flower blooms in the warm winters light. She’ll know what it means’. He smiled and patted Vesaria on the back. ‘Good luck lad. I always liked you’.

Vesaria bowed his head and turned to leave the armoury. He entered the grand corridor of the castle to see Master Arturius standing by the massive steel doors as they began to slowly open. A cold breeze snapped at his face as he approached the large cloaked man.

‘Brother Vesaria, you leave today to enter a world that will both hate and fear you to do it a service that few will remember and less will think of as good. You must have faith in the mistress in your heart and remember your scared vow to her and this order. Go, do your bidding and return to us a champion of our lady. We will be waiting for you’. Arturius was much like the other monks, cold, harsh and seemingly emotionless in his mannerisms but Vesaria knew that he cared for him.

The two men exchanged bows and recited their oaths before parting ways. Vesaria left through the ancient steel door and took a deep breath of the cold mountain air. It was early morning and the air was crisp. A gentle snow was falling and coated the land. The courtyard at the front of the fort was all made of solid grey stone. A large stone fountain lay barren in the centre with a frozen stream of water etched onto the face of a mysterious figure at the centre. The road led towards a large stone gatehouse with two monks standing on top of a wooden walkway erected much later than the gate itself. Vesaria approached it and nodded towards one of the monks. The gate then began to creak open and the path was laid bare before the young monk. As he left the ancient fort that had been his home for many years, he looked back one last time and began on his journey into the world.

Chapter Two: The Lay of the Land

In the land of Imladris there are eight realms. Seven of which are ruled by the Ventari Empire after the great war of the fourth era that saw a thousand armies clash and millions die. The war lasted for several decades and showed the strength of men and their ability to overcome adversity. They conquered the land through superior tactics and determination where elves and orcs could not.

The Orcs of the land resided in the southernmost regions and were an industrious race. They were short and stout with thick dark skin and coarse grey hair. Often wearing the finest clothes and taking part in only the most intellectual arts they are known to be the richest of all the races. They were rumoured to have great towers, billowing steam out into the sky with vast engines producing mechanical monstrosities unlike anything seen on this world. They harbour hidden cities spread across their land and remain secretive, even after the war ended. They were vastly more intelligent than men but this was their weakness. Their intelligence made them arrogant and easy to trick which men used to their advantage to end the Great War. Their furtiveness leads people to be suspicious of them and they are often shunned by many men.

The Elves resided in the eastern most lands of the Empire and were a warrior people. All men of the elves were trained from a young age to wield a sword and a bow with unparalleled prowess and were a deadly foe to face in battle. They had the strength of five men and an unmatched agility. Fortunately for men, they do not breed often and are small in number. What they lack in number they make up for in ingenuity. They have legendary masonry with cities behind walls that have never been breached and are said to be protected by an ancient magic, forged by the ancient Elves with a pact to The Mystics.

The Mystics were a mysterious race that few have seen. They reside in the westernmost land which is shrouded in thick fog and the ground is made mostly of a black stone known as ‘Soul stone’. Little is known of the Mystics except that they are powerful users of magic. Many fear them for they know nothing of fear or loyalty and are bound only by their desire for knowledge and power. They hold no allegiance to The Empire but have no wish for war and thus hide themselves from the troubles of the world. The only city in their land is a vast labyrinth of underground streets and towering spires that rise above the landscape like mountains, piercings the skies. The Great Conduit is a colossal black tower that dwarfs all others. It is the home of their most powerful warlocks and is believed to be the path through which all magic enters the land and all souls leave it. They are said to draw all of their power through the souls of those lost. Many dark rumours are spread throughout the land about The Mystics but little is ever known as any who venture into their lands are seldom seen again.

The Men of the world reside in the central and northernmost regions with the seat of the Empire being in the far north realm of Atherena. Men were once a simple race who posed no real threat to any other races but they grew to outnumber all others and what they lacked in strength and intelligence, they made up for in numbers, valour and faith. They worshipped their gods with a zeal that allowed them strength beyond their means. Their history was not notable until the beginning of the great war when Lord Ventari united all of the men under one banner and took them against the armies of Orcs and Elves. Their cities were loosely walled and poorly built with cobbled stone streets and stone and wooden houses. They had not yet mastered the science of steam but had begun to forge weapons as strong as the Elves and had learned some of the arts of the Orcs. When the Great War ended they had absorbed much of the knowledge of the other races and incorporated it into their lives making them a formidable force. This adaptable nature also became their downfall when in the time of peace, they grew complacent and weak. Their fear of all things magical stopped their advance in science and brought about many problems and petty struggles broke out within their ranks in later years. The first kingdom to have such struggles and rebellions was the central region of Alleria.

The kingdom of Alloria was the seventh realm of the Ventari Empire. It was the central region of the land and thus was a trading hub. The land was walled on all sides by a vast mountain range but consisted mostly of rolling planes and a vast swamp that stretched across a third of the land and cut off several of its major cities for weeks during winter. There were several large forests that dotted the land, many considered to harbour monster that lay dormant, awaiting would-be adventurers. It is said that there are creatures of immense power residing in Alloria, ancient evils that plague mankind and all who dare to stand in their path. The land is steeped in thousands of years of history; it had always been in a state of war and chaos of some kind because of its location and its strong ties to the magical planes. The land itself was split into five separate realms with a Lord presiding over each of them. Each realm held different customs but all held the same Gods and Goddesses that had been there for centuries. There were three main deities, Ventarius, the God of war, for who the ruling family were named. Sevana, the Goddess of lust, who was the patron of many sordid businesses in the land. The third is Kalindhov, the God of wisdom, considered by many to be the father of man. The Mistress Aria is known as the fourth God but the people of the land do not worship her for fear of reprisal as she was considered by many to be evil in nature. Her realm was that of justice and balance. Her will was said to bring order to the world through balancing the forces of good and evil by dispatching of vile creatures and men. Her agents, The Monks of Everdark, held her in the highest regard and fulfilled her every wish.
Nobody knows how they come to hear of her wishes but many approach them in need of their services. The people of the land were a hardy, opinionated folk who weren’t too welcoming of outsiders or newcomers. They were especially hateful of any kind of magic which was universally considered to be evil and banned by most Lords in the land.
At the beginning of the fifth century, the emperor was brutally murdered in his own palace with one hundred of his guard slaughtered. Many held the belief that it was the monks of Mistress Aria who carried out the murder but the killer was never found. For one hundred years after, the monks were hunted down and killed by all across the empire until only one fort remained which housed and guarded the shrine to Aria herself. They remained hidden and secluded up in the mountain range on the border of Alloria. The lords of the realm knew of its existence but knew too well that they were far too valuable as agents to be killed, so in secret they convened to decide what needed to be done. Only one lord requested that the monks be killed and he mysteriously vanished several days after the meeting.

In the last century, evil has returned to the land. Monstrous creatures once again roam freely. Destroying villages and slaying hundreds of people. Men have been able to do nothing in this matter and have no power to stop it. Their age of conquest has long since ended and their strength is waning.

Chapter Three: Footsteps in the Dark

Before Vesaria stood a crumbling stone gatehouse with a wooden gate, eaten to shreds by time. There was a solitary guard barely standing at his post, falling asleep resting on his poleaxe. As Vesaria approached the guard stumbled and woke up.

‘WELCOME TO DUNTRIA PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY!... Oh god I was sleeping again. Please don’t tell the watch captain?’ Vesaria walked up to the guard and slowly lifted his head until his glowing red eyes were level with the guards. A bead of sweat trickled down the guards’ cheek.

‘What you do is none of my business. I am merely passing through your town. Point me in the direction of your apothecary’. Vesaria already had a menacingly deep voice but with his crimson eyes burning into the guards’, he nearly crumpled.
‘You…you’re one of those monks aren’t you?... I’m sorry, I didn’t realise. P-please, just follow the road into the town square it’s just next to the err…blacksmith’. Vesaria took a step back and flashed a devilish smile.

‘Thank you, squire. At ease’ the guard slumped back onto his poleaxe as Vesaria slowly walked off into town. The houses were crumbling and the once cobbled streets were awash with fetid water and blood. The closer he got to the town square, the stronger the smell of death became. He noticed a small pillar of smoke and the sound of women weeping floating through the air. There were children running about, splashing in the pools of water and blood. As he turned to corner a gathering of people appeared, they were crowded around a pile of burning bodies. People started peeling off and Vesaria was able to get a closer look. As he approached he noticed a couple in rich clothing stood separate from the crowd. He approached with caution and announced himself.

‘Good afternoon, I am brother Vesaria. I was passing through your town when I noticed the crowd. May I inquire as to what happened here?’ The couple turned to face him and were obviously shocked by his appearance.

‘Oh! You startled me… I’m sorry, my name is Lady Andrea and this is my husband, Lord Kaleb. The reason for burning these bodies is that there has been a terrible affliction which has plagued our small town. We have lost most of our young men. Our apothecary hasn’t been able to find the source of the problem and we are getting desperate. Monk, you can help us can’t you? I will offer any riches that you can carry if you could please find the source of the problem. Will you help us?’
Vesaria carefully weighed up the question and politely agreed. The Lord and Lady showed him to the apothecary. It was a small cottage with a solid metal door and a worn, thatched roof. It was the only building in the town that appeared to still be intact, along with the inn. Vesaria learned that the town used to be quite vibrant as there was a small mine just north of the but it was abandoned when the workers discovered a strange liquid pooling at the bottom of a mining shaft.

Vesaria entered the apothecary but the Lord and Lady did not wish to enter.
‘It is best if you go in alone. It is said that the lady is a Mystic. We dare not question it but she has, powers, which we cannot explain. Be very cautious’. Lady Andrea looked petrified as she slowly backed away with her husband.