Blayze
12-14-2007, 10:38 PM
I suppose explanation is in order. Roughly a year ago, I had my first book, Estra, published. It was a fantasy novel, but I tried to keep things interesting with actual rules for magic, nothing overpowering (Especially not the protagonists, who at that point were fairly weak), and small bits of humour I tried to slot in from time to time.
I'm not rich yet, so I thought I'd try this writing thing again. ;)
I had big plans for Estra. Big, big plans. Plans that involved continuing the stories of the various protagonists (Most of whom were merely secondary characters in the first book), until the end that I had envisaged. Then I had another idea, and then another, until my "Story Ideas" folder looked like a bomb had hit it, it was that disorganised.
Then a little idea came along, that I like to call "Sien", after the character it appears this idea will be about. I needed a world. What a coincidence! I had a world already written. Below, in the Spoiler tags, is my attempt at continuing the story of Estra beyond the end I had previously thought of for it.
The Internet has barely even *heard* of me, so of course you'd have little idea of what it's going on about. I'll see if I can scrounge up some of my scattered notes sometime. For now, however, please enjoy some of the rubbish I find myself typing when I have nothing better to do at work.
---
It began with a calamity.
The University of Magic lay in ruins, the Council as dead as its members. Once the largest home of learning across the land, it was now a crypt. The great libraries within its walls had been plundered, their secrets stolen or destroyed. The corpses of those who studied the magical arts littered the rooms and the corridors. But worst of all, the rift that had been a continuous source of mana for the world... was no more. Those responsible for the slaughter were never found, never brought to justice.
And now, their actions may have damned an entire planet to anarchy.
---
A World Without Magic
Part of the Estra Saga
---
---
The Beginning
---
Whenever a power vacuums appears, there are those who wish to fill it. This is a fact of life, and one that cannon be disputed. Those motivated by greed or ambition are the ones drawn to such a situation more than others. The current situation was no different. Fuelled by grief, rage and a desire for revenge, those who had survived the magical destruction of the merchant city Giji had set out on a mission. Storming the University of Magic, home of the enigmatic and mysterious Council of Magic, they put to the sword everyone who attempted to stop them.
In the inner sanctum of Fiona von Parfu, whose over-exposure to mana at the moment of its introduction to the world had forever altered not only her body, but also that of her unborn son, the remaining survivors of Giji attempted to kill her. As her own son, Zack, better known to fans of the annual Hero Tournament as the Jackal, took her on in a head-on collision of power, his might against her magic, those he had come to know as allies supported him in his struggle.
Silrana, the tracker and ex-agent of Giji's first Thieves Guild, whose impenetrable body and resistance to magic allowed her to easily handle the seemingly endless waves of reinforcements who were attempting to outflank them. Elemi, whose powers of shape-shifting and druidic magic allowed her the flexibility she needed to help keep Fiona on her toes and distracted. And Teganor, whose rediscovery of his memory had brought with it two lives worth of hatred and rage towards the woman who now stood before them.
The four of them stood against Fiona, seeking payment for the crimes that had been committed either by her or in her name, most notably for the immense ball of pure mana with which she had levelled Giji and killed thousands, but also for the way she had manipulated the authorities and criminal groups within the town and played them off against each other, just for the sake of creating and maintaining a black market that could be exploited for monetary gain. She, along with the rest of the group that had called itself the Council, had tried to control the use of magic.
They had taken the law into their own hands and attempted to regulate it. They had started out innocently enough, teaching people to control the new abilities they might otherwise tap into, in order to prevent anybody from coming to harm. Of course, it was only natural that they decided to use this new opportunity to turn a profit. After all, there was no way that they could have passed up a chance like that. At first, only the richest could afford to learn how to use mana.
To begin with, it was viewed as a mere toy, a curiosity. After King Ranfal of Theb accidentally set fire to his court jester, however, word quickly began to spread that this new toy had more practical uses. Rulers and hopefuls alike began to seek this new ability, not only for themselves, but also to augment their military might. Almost overnight, it was no longer considered to be the plaything of the rich, but deemed a useful tool.
As more and more people learned how to use magic, the Council's influence grew and grew, and with it, their wealth increased. Three hundred years later, and the original members of the Council were all long dead... save one. Fiona's over-exposure to mana at the moment it intruded upon the world had indeed caused changes within her body, but it had been several years before she began to notice something strange...
Nothing had changed. Not a single grey hair or wrinkle. Her body, her face, they looked exactly the same as they had done at the very instant the mana had flooded out of the rift. Truly, this was eternal youth at its finest. Had she been a normal person, watching her friends and family die one by one may have upset her somewhat, to think that she would leave behind all those she cared for. But Fiona was no ordinary person... at least, not any more.
Nobody is immune to temptation, but when you're immortal? When your body is eternally at its prime? When you have absolute power at your command? When your wealth is truly a sight to behold? Well, things change. The rules change. It was not immediate, but over time... Over time, her perspective began to change. Things that she had considered so important previously, no longer mattered as much. She could dedicate years of study to a single subject, for example. She had the time, after all.
Around her, the Council changed. New members were initiated as others died, and it did not take long before it was full of unfamiliar faces to her. She was a figurehead of sorts, proof positive of the power of magic, and she grew accustomed to that position. Magic was not a plaything. It was not something to mess around with. When the Mage War erupted and the renegade spellcaster Tiax attempted to bring devastation to the four Aspects of the Elemental School, it had been Fiona who had ultimately laid down the law and reformed the Aspects of that shattered School.
She had personally disbanded the Transmutation Aspect of the Arcane School, removing the hidden cancer that ate away at its inside. She had been the first to see the fatal danger of the Curses Aspect's Wrath spell, ordering it split off into its own Aspect for those who truly wanted to learn how to use it. But for every good, there was at least one bad. The slow process of protecting her own power by making illegal spells that might be used to harm her.
The criminalisation of almost the entire Summoning Aspect. The manipulation of Giji's various factions against one another, just to set up a black market to supply her with illegal goods. And, of course, the utter annihilation of Giji with a massive ball of raw mana. Those who stood against her had personal scores to settle as well, however. They had friends and allies to avenge, people whose deaths were the cause of her actions, either directly or indirectly.
Luja, the ex-thief and illusionist who had fought alongside Elemi and Teganor, and Huin, the cloaked assassin who had together been two parts of a five-man team, back when Teganor knew himself as Janan. Ii, the man who had inflicted upon himself a form of undeath in case of death, and Yatsu, the overweight tracker who had fought against their own employers alongside Silrana. Facnu, the aged soldier and Hanba, the whirling dervish of a warrior, who had joined Zack and the rebellion he helped kick-start. There were countless others, but those six were the ones whose memories inspired the four the most.
Eventually, after a long and arduous battle, Fiona was defeated. She fell before the combined might of the four who dared to oppose her, as an impromptu tactical manoeuvre and a strategic use of a variety of spells led to her being shoved through the rift and into the mysterious and uncharted void that lay beyond. Alas, Zack gave his life to ensure that she stayed there, for it had been he who had supplied the brute strength necessary to keep the wily spellcaster from escaping, throwing himself into the rift along with her.
But such is a story for another time. What is of concern is what happened afterwards.
---
The Aftermath
---
Mere moments after Zack and Fiona had disappeared through the rift, it started shrinking. Slowly, it became smaller and smaller, until it had completely vanished. Nobody knows for sure why or how it happened, although everybody who cares has their theories. Some are inane and stupid. Some are intelligent and well-reasoned. Some are... strange. Whatever the answer to the "how" and the "why", however, nobody can deny that certain events that were to follow are most likely linked to the disappearance of the rift. To understand, however, a basic understanding of mana is required.
---
Blarg, stupid character limit on posts. Can't even get a good ramble going! Will post second half (If the forum allows all of it in a single post) when the hour isn't stupid.
I'm not rich yet, so I thought I'd try this writing thing again. ;)
I had big plans for Estra. Big, big plans. Plans that involved continuing the stories of the various protagonists (Most of whom were merely secondary characters in the first book), until the end that I had envisaged. Then I had another idea, and then another, until my "Story Ideas" folder looked like a bomb had hit it, it was that disorganised.
Then a little idea came along, that I like to call "Sien", after the character it appears this idea will be about. I needed a world. What a coincidence! I had a world already written. Below, in the Spoiler tags, is my attempt at continuing the story of Estra beyond the end I had previously thought of for it.
The Internet has barely even *heard* of me, so of course you'd have little idea of what it's going on about. I'll see if I can scrounge up some of my scattered notes sometime. For now, however, please enjoy some of the rubbish I find myself typing when I have nothing better to do at work.
---
It began with a calamity.
The University of Magic lay in ruins, the Council as dead as its members. Once the largest home of learning across the land, it was now a crypt. The great libraries within its walls had been plundered, their secrets stolen or destroyed. The corpses of those who studied the magical arts littered the rooms and the corridors. But worst of all, the rift that had been a continuous source of mana for the world... was no more. Those responsible for the slaughter were never found, never brought to justice.
And now, their actions may have damned an entire planet to anarchy.
---
A World Without Magic
Part of the Estra Saga
---
---
The Beginning
---
Whenever a power vacuums appears, there are those who wish to fill it. This is a fact of life, and one that cannon be disputed. Those motivated by greed or ambition are the ones drawn to such a situation more than others. The current situation was no different. Fuelled by grief, rage and a desire for revenge, those who had survived the magical destruction of the merchant city Giji had set out on a mission. Storming the University of Magic, home of the enigmatic and mysterious Council of Magic, they put to the sword everyone who attempted to stop them.
In the inner sanctum of Fiona von Parfu, whose over-exposure to mana at the moment of its introduction to the world had forever altered not only her body, but also that of her unborn son, the remaining survivors of Giji attempted to kill her. As her own son, Zack, better known to fans of the annual Hero Tournament as the Jackal, took her on in a head-on collision of power, his might against her magic, those he had come to know as allies supported him in his struggle.
Silrana, the tracker and ex-agent of Giji's first Thieves Guild, whose impenetrable body and resistance to magic allowed her to easily handle the seemingly endless waves of reinforcements who were attempting to outflank them. Elemi, whose powers of shape-shifting and druidic magic allowed her the flexibility she needed to help keep Fiona on her toes and distracted. And Teganor, whose rediscovery of his memory had brought with it two lives worth of hatred and rage towards the woman who now stood before them.
The four of them stood against Fiona, seeking payment for the crimes that had been committed either by her or in her name, most notably for the immense ball of pure mana with which she had levelled Giji and killed thousands, but also for the way she had manipulated the authorities and criminal groups within the town and played them off against each other, just for the sake of creating and maintaining a black market that could be exploited for monetary gain. She, along with the rest of the group that had called itself the Council, had tried to control the use of magic.
They had taken the law into their own hands and attempted to regulate it. They had started out innocently enough, teaching people to control the new abilities they might otherwise tap into, in order to prevent anybody from coming to harm. Of course, it was only natural that they decided to use this new opportunity to turn a profit. After all, there was no way that they could have passed up a chance like that. At first, only the richest could afford to learn how to use mana.
To begin with, it was viewed as a mere toy, a curiosity. After King Ranfal of Theb accidentally set fire to his court jester, however, word quickly began to spread that this new toy had more practical uses. Rulers and hopefuls alike began to seek this new ability, not only for themselves, but also to augment their military might. Almost overnight, it was no longer considered to be the plaything of the rich, but deemed a useful tool.
As more and more people learned how to use magic, the Council's influence grew and grew, and with it, their wealth increased. Three hundred years later, and the original members of the Council were all long dead... save one. Fiona's over-exposure to mana at the moment it intruded upon the world had indeed caused changes within her body, but it had been several years before she began to notice something strange...
Nothing had changed. Not a single grey hair or wrinkle. Her body, her face, they looked exactly the same as they had done at the very instant the mana had flooded out of the rift. Truly, this was eternal youth at its finest. Had she been a normal person, watching her friends and family die one by one may have upset her somewhat, to think that she would leave behind all those she cared for. But Fiona was no ordinary person... at least, not any more.
Nobody is immune to temptation, but when you're immortal? When your body is eternally at its prime? When you have absolute power at your command? When your wealth is truly a sight to behold? Well, things change. The rules change. It was not immediate, but over time... Over time, her perspective began to change. Things that she had considered so important previously, no longer mattered as much. She could dedicate years of study to a single subject, for example. She had the time, after all.
Around her, the Council changed. New members were initiated as others died, and it did not take long before it was full of unfamiliar faces to her. She was a figurehead of sorts, proof positive of the power of magic, and she grew accustomed to that position. Magic was not a plaything. It was not something to mess around with. When the Mage War erupted and the renegade spellcaster Tiax attempted to bring devastation to the four Aspects of the Elemental School, it had been Fiona who had ultimately laid down the law and reformed the Aspects of that shattered School.
She had personally disbanded the Transmutation Aspect of the Arcane School, removing the hidden cancer that ate away at its inside. She had been the first to see the fatal danger of the Curses Aspect's Wrath spell, ordering it split off into its own Aspect for those who truly wanted to learn how to use it. But for every good, there was at least one bad. The slow process of protecting her own power by making illegal spells that might be used to harm her.
The criminalisation of almost the entire Summoning Aspect. The manipulation of Giji's various factions against one another, just to set up a black market to supply her with illegal goods. And, of course, the utter annihilation of Giji with a massive ball of raw mana. Those who stood against her had personal scores to settle as well, however. They had friends and allies to avenge, people whose deaths were the cause of her actions, either directly or indirectly.
Luja, the ex-thief and illusionist who had fought alongside Elemi and Teganor, and Huin, the cloaked assassin who had together been two parts of a five-man team, back when Teganor knew himself as Janan. Ii, the man who had inflicted upon himself a form of undeath in case of death, and Yatsu, the overweight tracker who had fought against their own employers alongside Silrana. Facnu, the aged soldier and Hanba, the whirling dervish of a warrior, who had joined Zack and the rebellion he helped kick-start. There were countless others, but those six were the ones whose memories inspired the four the most.
Eventually, after a long and arduous battle, Fiona was defeated. She fell before the combined might of the four who dared to oppose her, as an impromptu tactical manoeuvre and a strategic use of a variety of spells led to her being shoved through the rift and into the mysterious and uncharted void that lay beyond. Alas, Zack gave his life to ensure that she stayed there, for it had been he who had supplied the brute strength necessary to keep the wily spellcaster from escaping, throwing himself into the rift along with her.
But such is a story for another time. What is of concern is what happened afterwards.
---
The Aftermath
---
Mere moments after Zack and Fiona had disappeared through the rift, it started shrinking. Slowly, it became smaller and smaller, until it had completely vanished. Nobody knows for sure why or how it happened, although everybody who cares has their theories. Some are inane and stupid. Some are intelligent and well-reasoned. Some are... strange. Whatever the answer to the "how" and the "why", however, nobody can deny that certain events that were to follow are most likely linked to the disappearance of the rift. To understand, however, a basic understanding of mana is required.
---
Blarg, stupid character limit on posts. Can't even get a good ramble going! Will post second half (If the forum allows all of it in a single post) when the hour isn't stupid.