Chapter One
A Call to Arms
For hundreds of years Mysteria has reigned beneath a banner of peace established by the Moon Spirit herself. The banner is a white winged wolf sitting proudly upon a silver crescent moon. Also know as the Queen, she administers alongside the High Council consisting of four mighty but wise beasts: Leo the lion, Draco the dragon, Cygnus the swan, and Pegasus the flying unicorn. With these five in power the vast planet has flourished.
The story begins on a dark misty night, where all conflict breaks loose. Lana the Queen was on her way to see her brother Mace for some urgent business. However upon reaching his private chamber Lana had caught a scent of death and darkness lingering inside. She hurried inside only to discover Mace lying dead on the floor with a look of utter terror on his face. Standing over his body drenched in his fresh blood was Lana’s most trusted servant and high priestess Reoka. The Queen could barely believe her eyes.
Without questioning Reoka, Lana rushed to her dead brother’s side and quickly examined him; she found multiple stab wounds in his chest, one going straight through his heart. A moment later Queen Lana passed her hand over Mace’s eyes closing them gently in the process. Rising to her feet Lana faced Reoka expressionless, lifted her hand and summoned a charm that bound Reoka’s wrists and fettered her ankles. As this occurred a golden cobra headed staff smacked to the floor, its base was covered in blood.
Two soldiers having heard the commotion trotted into the chamber. “My lady is everything all right?” one started to say when he noticed Mace’s lifeless form. “COR BLIMEY!!” he exclaimed in horror. The second soldier could not even move a muscle. “Gentlemen please escort my former priestess to the dungeon.” Lana commanded softly. They followed her instructions with some difficulty but managed in the end.
The very next evening Reoka stood trial, facing the most severe murder charges in the history of Mysteria. Both the High Council and the Queen interrogated her. “Ex-priestess, what was your purpose for Mace’s death?” Leo inquired. Reoka kept silent. “Answer the question.” Draco thundered. Reoka raised her violet red eyes to the four council members. “Mace was plotting to k-kill Her Majesty,” she replied quietly. Lana leant forward a little in her throne. “Do you have proof?” Leo asked sternly. “I read his thoughts one day. At first I could not believe it myself but those thoughts of his were as hard as steel,” Reoka answered. “So that gave you the right to kill Mace?” Draco cried out. “Look the Queen’s life was in danger and I was not going to sit back and let her brother assassinate her so he would have the whole planet at his disposal,” the former high priestess snapped.
After hearing a few witnesses testify their cases against Reoka’s the High Council and Lana put their heads together to decide a sentence. It was nearly half an hour later when they finally reached a verdict. “We find the defendant, Reoka Silverwinds, guilty for spilling the innocent blood of Her Majesty’s brother Mace,” Pegasus announced to those present in the royal courtroom. “As punishment, Reoka, you will receive a lifetime sentence in prison along with hard labor,” Draco added scornfully. “This is outrageous! I saved the Queen’s life I tell you!” Reoka roared in fury. Lana nodded to her guards and they led the ex- priestess out of the courtroom. Before the three could cross the threshold Reoka looked Lana square in the eye. “One of these days you will all see that I was telling the truth about Mace. And when you do it will be too late for forgiveness because Death’s bell will toll for you all!” The soldiers had to force Reoka out of the courtroom so the Queen or any of the High Council would not hear her death threats.
Weeks passed since the trial occurred. The former high priestess was imprisoned in the most secured fortress prison Mysteria could ever offer, Fort Hardshell. However just two months following her arrival Reoka made her brilliant escape. An orc-soldier on duty discovered Reoka’s empty jail cell while delivering food to the prisoners one evening. The one thing that left the orc scratching his head about the matter was that the cell and its surrounding walls were in tact. No signs of forced entry upon the barred windows and no one had been seen by any other watchorc.
Ever since her escape from the prison the High Council and Queen had been receiving numerous reports of mass destruction from all across the planet. Once beautiful cities were reduced to heaps of smoking debris in Aquarius. Innocent travelers were slaughtered and left to rot in their own pool of blood along the forest trails of Coppice. Not even Wintra’s impenetrable army numbering over ten thousand drow soldiers could cease this growing darkness.
They had not marched far from Wintra’s capital when one drow came to an abrupt halt. The general, Minotuarus, was riding horseback when he noticed something was amiss so he went to investigate. “What is going on Grazon? I did not permit you to stop and gaze at the sky.” The soldier didn’t reply he just stood perfectly still gazing upwards. “Quit gawking at the clouds and get your hide into gear.” Minotuarus barked. Grazon still wouldn’t obey. “What in the name of the Queen are you staring at?” Minotuarus turned his gaze to a now gray stormy sky.
Hovering high above the army was the former priestess to Lana, Reoka only something was different about her. She still had long shiny black hair that cascaded down her back. Her beautiful violet red eyes flashed like a serpent’s when he has caught his prey. Reoka was wrapped in a flowing gown and mantle of poisonous green. The once kindhearted priestess curved her red wine lips into a devilish smirk. “Well boys looks like you found me,” she hissed evilly.
By this time the entire drow army were frozen as statues and stared at Reoka practically drooling all over themselves. Reoka thrusted the same golden cobra headed staff used to murder Mace into the grey clouds. She stirred the clouds until they were funnel shaped. Purple flashes of lightning could be seen among them. Seeing the lightning must have been like a counter curse for the drows snapped out of their trance. The incredible lightning storm struck the ground with such a powerful shock it paralyzed every single soldier including the mounted general. Reoka then summoned an orb of darkness; dark purple clouds swirled angrily inside like a raging storm at sea. Desperately the soldiers tried to escape but they were still paralyzed by Reoka’s last attack. The orb was unleashed upon the doomed drow army and smashed into the earth. When the dust cleared a horrible witch’s cackling broke the eerie silence. All that remained were the thousand piles of ashes soon to be swept away by the foreboding winds.
It seemed that Mysteria’s days were numbered. Everywhere one looked disaster struck. The sun barely shined. Droughts and famines followed. Due to the lack of rain plants wilted away and crumbled into nothingness in the dry earth. The people suffered great losses and implored the Queen Lana and her High Council for aid. Hopefully their prayers will be heard.
A moon bigger than Luna herself orbits Mysteria. This moon is the home of the High Council also known as Cosmic Moon Temple. Inside the main council chamber the celestial beasts discuss the matter regarding Reoka’s recent attack upon Wintra’s not so invincible army. “My friends this is indeed a dark hour for us all,” Leo proclaimed grimly. “We must create a plan of action to capture the witch.” The others nodded in agreement. “Any suggestions?” Leo asked. No one spoke until Draco excitedly shouted out: “We form an immense military then attack her with all we have.” Cygnus remarked. “And have them suffer the same fate as King’s Acen’s troops did?” Seeing the swan’s point of view, Draco didn’t utter another word. “I propose we summon the Guardians of Nature,” Pegasus said at once.
Draco leapt to his feet at once and cried, “Good heavens Pegasus are you mad? The Guardian’s are not powerful enough to take on that psycho ex-priestess!” Pegasus glanced at Draco dumbfounded. “I believe they will be more than a match against Reoka if Her Majesty will fight with them.” Draco scoffed. “Sending the Queen into battle like that is no better as if you were killing her yourself!” Pegasus snorted angrily at Draco’s last remark. “Oh and sending an entire army to their death is all fine and dandy?” the winged unicorn asked sarcastically. Cygnus rolled his eyes as the argument became more heated by the second. Both voices rose louder and louder until they were snout-to-snout and growling menacingly at each other. Finally Leo had had enough of the childish squabble between the two.
“That is quite enough Pegasus and Draco!” Leo shouted his voice more thunderous. His booming tone caused the pillars supporting the roof to tremble violently. Leo growled warningly at them both. “Now please Draco do not scorn Pegasus for he is just as intelligent as you. He may have a good point.” Leo commanded settling down. Draco stared at the lion in great astonishment. “You cannot be serious M’lord,” he said in disbelief. “I am serious Draco and I am sure the Queen would agree this an excellent idea in summoning the Guardians and joining them in battle,” Leo explained calmly. Draco sighed in defeat. “Fine we’ll send for the Guardians of Nature but if they perish along with Lana I will never let you hear the end of it.” Leo only chuckled. “I am sure you won’t Draco.”
So messages were carried to the far reaches of the planet by the swiftest of eagles explaining the situation. The first letter was delivered to the Grim Reaper who took residence in the Underworld. While the messenger eagle was on its way Grim sat on his dark throne playing chess with his recently betrothed wife Persephone. Thinking he had won, Grim moved his bishop before Persephone’s queen and said, “Check.” However the lovely nymph of the green earth only chuckled and slid her knight before Grim’s king. “Checkmate,” she said giggling over her win. Apparently Grim thought that his fiancée had cheated and had begun to protest. Suddenly they both heard a sharp tap on a window above. It was a messenger eagle sent by the High Council.
“How’d he get in the Underworld? Cerberus must be sleeping on the job again that cursed dog of mine,” the Grim Reaper grumbled to himself opening the window with a wave of his bony hand. The eagle soared inside, landed gracefully upon the chess table and extended its talons out holding a scroll of parchment towards Grim. He grabbed the parchment, carefully unrolled it, and then read the following to himself.
Fondest Greetings,
You may have noticed the sudden increase of souls arriving at your gates. It is because of the recent betrayal of the Queen’s former high priestess, Reoka. She has gone on a rampage destroying all that is good with dark magic. Anyways, the High Council needs you to bring forth the other Guardians of Nature and challenge her. If you do not partake this task all hopes of defeating Reoka will be futile. So please aid us.
Sincerely, Leo
Head of the Council
Grim stared at the message in disbelief. No one had ever implored him for help before let alone the very beasts that serve directly under Queen Lana herself. After a moment that seemed like hours of thinking the reaper decided to contact the wielder of ice, King Acen. He went to the river Styx and channeled his energy all the way to Wintra’s royal castle.
Acen was the crowned king of Wintra and heir to a great legacy his father left behind after his death. He had drowish blood coursing through his veins. Because of this Acen had long silvery white hair hang at his back. Eyes of the purest gold could intimidate the fiercest of monsters. Usually grave and mysterious the drow king seldom speaks a word.
Acen was seated in his secret garden playing his ocarina when unexpectedly an image of Grim appeared on the magic mirror before him. The young king glanced at his mirror severely for he did not like being disturbed during his quiet time. “Hello Acen long time no see.” “Greetings Grim,” he said in frustration. “Have you received a letter from the High Council?” Grim inquired. Acen nodded. “Everyone including me has decided to help. How about you?” Grim smiled his deathly grin. “Reoka is going down!” he cried excitedly.
