The Cloak

Prologue

The land began before time itself, and the door to the Eternals of light was open. Those who passed through were true to the land and developed its goodness. They populated the land and were given many gifts. The inhabitants of the land were many and varied.

The line of sorcery had magical powers of health and strength. The line of everlings were gifted with gentleness, joy, and agriculture. The line of elves was begat from the line of everlings, but grew in the land reaching upward into the trees and outward to the seas. They grew tall, strong and wise. They learned from line of sorcery and developed their own form of magic. It was choice that caused them all to be there, and choice was a gift they all carried, from the beginning.

There were many other beings in the land as well; fairies, nymphs, giants and beasts of all shape and size. All these, the natural inhabitants of the land were given life.

The human line was most unique. Like the other natural inhabitants, they were created from and for the land, but with souls from the Eternals. They were wise, gifted with strength, courage, power, and dominion over the land. Their purpose was to be caretakers, to work with the others, learn and grow, and make the land a place of peace and substance. They too were given choice, and with choice they could find their talents and apply them most wisely. Freedom to love and multiply was also given, and they did.

But evil found the land, saw its wealth, and knew the door to the Eternals would be accessible. The Evil Lord Drolong, master of the worlds of darkness, craved and feared the light. His curse to remain in darkness could be undone if he could wage war in the Eternals with the Lord of the Eternals, and win. From his abyss he saw the land and lusted after it, seeking the door to the Eternals and total dominion.

He sent his demons, captains, seven in all, and their armies, to sway the inhabitants of the land. Though confined to dark places, they lured humans first, and beasts of many kinds, into their lairs, breeding with them, and the offspring could enter the light.

The Eternals watched in sorrow as decay grew in the land, and handed through the door the Book of the Chronicles of Time. When the first words were written, time was imposed on the land. Time to limit decay, with the unfortunate consequence of limiting the things of beauty and grace as well. The Everlings were charged with responsibility to record time. No more could the beings, trapped in time, exposed to decay, pass through the door, so all would remain in the lands until the end of time, except for the souls of the Eternals.

The land divided. Three elf kingdoms formed. The first in the east, near the seas; the kingdom Kluangale, the kingdom of the grey elves. Living peacefully with the spray of salt and the beings of the water. The second kingdom formed in the north, nearest the everlands, the golden elves. The citizens of the kingdom of Goudenelle lived in the sunshine and meadows. Their peaceful kingdom emanated warmth and light. The third formed in the center lands, in the mountain ranges covered with forest and fauna. They mined in the natural caverns, bringing beautiful gems into the light, and sharing their powers with the rest of the lands. They were the elves of Crepusculo.

The Everlands divided also, the north, at the door of the Eternals, remained the everlands, while the south became known as Adomedes, and the inhabitants remained faithful to the land, but were shrouded in forests of sorcery.

Human kingdoms sprang up and fell, to numerous to name. Some grew strong by force, and others by peaceful loving leadership. Towns, small and large, scattered across all the free lands, and the humans were most divided of all. Some hearts were swayed to evil, some remained true to their purpose, and many wandered aimlessly, unsure.

Pages of written time were copied and shared with all the kingdoms.

Within time, death came, and many fell to the promises of power and long-life. The temptations grew, and the creatures became weak, devouring one another, consumed by the demon blood that coursed through their veins.

But light remained, and purity among the elves and everlings who remained nearest to the Eternals. Many humans and some sorcerers chose sides. A war was waged among the inhabitants within time.

Spirits from the Eternals were sent, with specific purpose, to advise and encourage the inhabitants. They also warred against the unseen armies of the demons, allowing those trapped in time to war with one another. Upon completion of their purpose, they returned from whence they came.

The demon warriors were beaten back, but not defeated. They were confined to the dark places, the underworld, and the seven returned to the abyss, to await the next commands from Drolong.

But their bloodlines remained, and creatures once small and gentle grew powerful and wrathful. Horkmen morphed from the lines of humans who no longer had choice, but served only evil. And among these beasts, humans and horkmen, a new alliance and army formed.

And one human, whose bloodline flowed from all seven demons, remained human. He was granted great power and control of the armies. The Captain of the Hoards had no name, but all feared him, bowed to his control, or died. He answered only to one, the wizard Dødkulde , who fell from the line of Sorcerers to the choice of evil. Dødkulde was promised, by Drolong himself, kingship of all the land. The Captain, was promised many kingdoms by Dødkulde. All was dependent on access to the door, and the next great struggle, perhaps the final struggle, began.

The Everlands and Adomedes were engulfed in protective magic. The kingdoms of elves vanished, and the time of the humans began in earnest.

The copied pages of the Book remained with the humans, to teach them, to guide them. Some humans remained true to the purpose, filled with wisdom, they learned from the pages. New pages appeared at times, secretly passed from the Everlands by the few Everlings who dared enter the human realm.

But Drolong despised the words and wrote his own. Twisted translations and new books appeared, and humans fell prey to the lies. Soon myth, legend, tall-tales and the truth twisted and turned and few knew which to believe, so many believed none.

The Eternals kept vigil, waited, and sent light into the land, in response to the pleas for help. A small light, born to gifted humans who remained faithful to their purpose, with a promise.

Drolong saw the light flicker, and demanded that it be put out.

A decade has passed since the light shone, but with light, the things that were hidden, are revealed.