Deep Water Dreams - Part 2 - The Beginning (506 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 2 on 2 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by SilvrWolf (View user info) at 2005-04-02 08:21:13 EST
<I finally got this story straightened out in my head enough to start Part 2. For those of you who've followed this series so far, you might be a bit confused with this installment. Rest assured that it'll tie in to the people and events in our mysterious little coastal town.
I'm not going to do my normal excessive linkwhoring here, just the one to the last installment. The full list is there: http://www.ubersite.com/m/56904 - I hope you enjoy this and suggestions are welcomed, as always.>
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Chapter 1 - The Fall of Airumel
Ch'atalo stared smiling down the hill overlooking the site and the Great City. The lush valley below him stretched seemingly endlessly in all directions. On the horizon, immense mountains lifted their snowy peaks to the heavens. He peered off to his right and could see the Great Lake; the legacy of his empire and people. The sight of the vast lake shimmering in the generous sunlight filled Ch'atalo with pride to the point of arrogance. Perhaps it should; it was his family that engineered it two generations ago. The temple being built in the city below him was his legacy for this generation of his family. Because of the great things Ch'atalo and his family had done for Airumel, he held the highest standing with his king and was considered his confidant.
The reign of the first God-King was coming to its end. Pao'al had ruled for nearly 300 years and turned a fertile river valley into the world's greatest kingdom. It was time for his Ascension to take his rightful place with the Ancients. The temple would be his vessel to make the transition back to the heavens. At least that was what was being told to his people. If he was to tell his subjects the truth, the sheer horrific reality of it all, it was his only means of escape from the fate that would soon sweep over this great kingdom. Such was the way things were meant to be.
There were two other great empires developing in this world, and they were growing in their power with each passing season. They were of different races, and this disturbed Pao'al greatly. They didn't concern themselves with the balance of the elements around them like the Airumelians. By doing such things, they had evolved their empires faster but corruption had spread through their people like a plague. Because of this, the world would be forever tainted by the stench of war. Pao'al's empire had never known war; his benign influence and incredible wisdom attracted people from all over the continent to join his kingdom, not fight it. There was nothing he could do but prepare for his Ascension and abandon his people to their fate; the rulers of the other two empires were the second and third God-Kings and it was supposed to be this way.
Ch'atalo took comfort and continued to smile as he contemplated the secret things his king had told him. He knew that this king and kingdom which he loved so dear had run its course and was fast drawing to a close. He knew that he was part of something special, though, and his inevitable demise brought him no fear. He would be alive to see the end of the First Era and his grandfather had been there to usher it in. This was his destiny; his fate.
Rising from the valley floor was the Ascension Temple. The workers were putting the last stones into place on the great structure and were preparing the main chamber for tonight's ceremony. Ch'atalo chose to watch the completion from the hill overlooking the city across the river and was glad he did. As he watched the final stages, Pao'al approached him from behind.
"Atalo, your family has been of great service to the empire and you deserve a reward better than that which I can give you. Unfortunately, there are plans in place over which I have no power to control. I am subject to the will of the Ancients, as are you," he said.
Startled, Ch'atalo turned around and faced him, but didn't speak.
Pao'al continued, "I can, however, tell you what is to happen to our people and what the future holds for them. This cannot be given to you without a sacrifice, of course. In light of your loyalty, I feel that this may be too much to ask from a soul so faithful."
"My Lord," Ch'atalo spoke nervously, "there is no sacrifice too great to ask of me for such knowledge. If it pleases you, I will give whatever you wish."
Pao'al spoke with a seriousness not seen by Ch'atalo before, "In order to know these things, you can never return to Airumel. You must journey across the vast Lake of Salt and find the land of Sitnalta. On your way, you will find many small kingdoms that must know of the fate awaiting them. You are to tell them the things I will share with you here today so the knowledge of our great empire will live on forever and that we will rule once again when it is our time. Once you reach this distant empire, you will be accepted as one of their own and you must share the knowledge that I have given you at all costs. Is this a sacrifice which you are willing to give, Atalo?"
Ch'atalo thought for a moment, "You would not request this of me unless there was a purpose, so my answer is yes. I will be your prophet."
Pao'al sat on the grass and began to speak, "You will only be the prophet for your people, Atalo, not myself. Everyone you see below you is going to die, but in return for your sacrifice here, you will live many lifetimes without seeing death yourself. The Temple will be turned to rubble and the Great Lake will run red with the blood of our people. There will be a great catastrophe that will start tonight after the ceremony. The ground beneath you will tremble violently and the sky will fill with darkness for 70 days. You will see many creatures like none you have ever seen. These creatures will kill some people throughout Airumel and cause much destruction, but there is nothing you can do. This is the way it is supposed to be and you will not be harmed by them on your journey.
"Know that it is not the gods' wrath which will bring these things; the demise of our people will be of natural causes. The Fire Mountain will awaken violently from its ancient slumber and slowly consume the valley with creeping fire and unending darkness.
"The fire is the beginning of the Second Era, Atalo. There is no room for us in the new era, either, but rest comfortably knowing that our time has only just begun. We will return again to rule the fourth era and all will be well. I wish there was more to tell you, but our time is up. I have to go to the temple and finish my duties to our people," Pao'al stood from the ground and prepared to leave. "One more thing: I wish for you to stay here and witness these events that will unfold tonight. It will be important for you to help you understand what it is we are doing here."
Ch'atalo said, "Since it must be so, I will honor your wish, my lord."
And with those words, the air around Pao'al started to swirl as a luminescent blue vapor. The intesity of the light rose rapily in brightness until Ch'atalo had to shield his eyes. In that instant, Pao'al was gone. He looked down toward the temple, half-expecting his king to be flying through the air toward the temple; he'd never seen him leave like that before.
Ch'atalo pondered the things told to him. He felt so isolated and alone and he'd only recently chosen his exile. He fell to the ground like a stone when the first earthquake struck. He hadn't expected it to start so quickly and he struggled to get to his feet. He could see the shockwaves ripple through the surface of the valley as the sun set low over the distant mountains. Fires had broken out in the city, but seemed so small and insignificant from his vantage point high above them. When the ground stopped shaking, a brilliant blue beam shot into the heavens from the top of the Ascension Temple. Another earthquake nearly knocked him down again and an eerie orange glow started to spread across the northern horizon. Within minutes, he could see an ominous black column of darkness spreading into the sky from the direction of the glow.
That was the end of the First Era. The Second Era and the rise of the empires of Sitnalta and Um had begun. Such was the way things were meant to be.
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Submitted by Alter (user info) at 2005-06-18 18:29:58 EDT (#)
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Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2005-04-02 08:24:55 EST (#)
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I guess technically this would be "Book 2 - The Beginning". Oh well... that's what makes sleep deprivation so fun!