Introduction
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The story - Gears of eternity
Pre-tidal Era
(Back story)
Mak’tao is a peaceful village nestled in a secluded valley, flanked on three sides by treacherous mountains. The village is spread through the rolling valley hills, spanning from the base of the mountains to the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the ocean. The people of Mak’tao are completely self-sufficient, preferring to make very little contact with outsiders. The village is much sought after by adventures hoping to learn the secrets of It’s people, and their unfounded grasp of the power to manipulate nature. Despite the villages attempts to remain secluded from the rest of Estul, Mak’tao remains a staple in Estulian folklore.
While not unfriendly toward outsiders, the villagers go to great lengths to discourage outsiders to stay. In fact, there isn’t even so much as an inn, forcing outsiders to find less desirable means of spending the evening. The community is deep-rooted in tradition and honor, and since it remains small it is relatively close-knit. The entire village has been known to jump at the chance to defend one villager in trouble.
According to legend, many great warriors were born and trained in Mak’tao, all possessing the unique advantage of being able to manipulate the very elements the land is comprised of, and reshape them to fit their own means. The fluidity of their ability to manipulate put them generations ahead of the rest of the magic using populace, and has, in the past, inspired many pilgrimages into the treacherous mountains in search of the villages closely guarded location. Those unfortunate few that survived the harsh climate, and persisted long enough to find the village, were met with cold civility, and a refusal to surrender their secrets by any means. Due to the seclusion of the village, successful pilgrimages were rare. The Taoins’ are generally peaceful, but at best, the only guidance they would offer pilgrims were the provisions to see them back the way they came. More persistent pilgrims would be forcefully ejected.
Mak'Tao's Downfall
The tidal era began with the fall of Mak’tao and its people. There is little information concerning the truth of what happened in Mak’tao. The most that is known can be gleaned from the proclamation of one of the two sole survivors, a young pilgrim who happened to arrive at the city at the time of its destruction, and whom returned with a small Taoin boy in tow. All that can be said of the incident with any certainty is that the village was destroyed by a tremendous force. Upon the young man’s return to his home city of Bharut, the Bharutian King led a search party to survey the remains with his own eyes. Upon arrival they found the majority of the valley destroyed, leaving a crater behind that had filled with redirected glacier water. The overflow spilled from the crater and flooded the rest of the valley until it was forced over the side of the steep cliff and into the ocean. There was very little of the former village remaining. The only evidence being a few staggered stone facades.
Shortly after the king proclaimed the young man a hero, and after a short dispute relinquished custody of the Taoin boy into his care provided the two did not leave the city, and the boy attended schooling twice weekly with his very own children. As a tribute to the fallen village, and possibly a nod to the Taoin peoples own interpretation of their magic, he proclaimed the start of the Tidal Era.
Tidal era
(Present day)
Asher is the name of the Bharutian pilgrim to survive the fall of Mak'tao. Now 23 and finding himself a proclaimed hero, and the guardian of a young mute boy, he's found himself falling into a rut. His sense of obligation to the boy, and the haunting memories of the destruction of Mak'tao have destroyed any wish to pursue life as a soldier for hire, a dream he had once pursued whole-heartedly. Instead he has settled into mediocrity, and a life of tired fame. It couldn't last though. Outside forces had become aware of the existence of the surviving Taoin boy under his care. All it took was one moment of distraction and he was gone. Kidnapped by two of the most exotic looking assassins Asher had ever witnessed. Now Asher finds himself forced to live up to his ill-gotten title of hero. He must retrieve the boy, and expose the forces behind his abduction.
Pre-tidal Era
(Back story)
Mak’tao is a peaceful village nestled in a secluded valley, flanked on three sides by treacherous mountains. The village is spread through the rolling valley hills, spanning from the base of the mountains to the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the ocean. The people of Mak’tao are completely self-sufficient, preferring to make very little contact with outsiders. The village is much sought after by adventures hoping to learn the secrets of It’s people, and their unfounded grasp of the power to manipulate nature. Despite the villages attempts to remain secluded from the rest of Estul, Mak’tao remains a staple in Estulian folklore.
While not unfriendly toward outsiders, the villagers go to great lengths to discourage outsiders to stay. In fact, there isn’t even so much as an inn, forcing outsiders to find less desirable means of spending the evening. The community is deep-rooted in tradition and honor, and since it remains small it is relatively close-knit. The entire village has been known to jump at the chance to defend one villager in trouble.
According to legend, many great warriors were born and trained in Mak’tao, all possessing the unique advantage of being able to manipulate the very elements the land is comprised of, and reshape them to fit their own means. The fluidity of their ability to manipulate put them generations ahead of the rest of the magic using populace, and has, in the past, inspired many pilgrimages into the treacherous mountains in search of the villages closely guarded location. Those unfortunate few that survived the harsh climate, and persisted long enough to find the village, were met with cold civility, and a refusal to surrender their secrets by any means. Due to the seclusion of the village, successful pilgrimages were rare. The Taoins’ are generally peaceful, but at best, the only guidance they would offer pilgrims were the provisions to see them back the way they came. More persistent pilgrims would be forcefully ejected.
Mak'Tao's Downfall
The tidal era began with the fall of Mak’tao and its people. There is little information concerning the truth of what happened in Mak’tao. The most that is known can be gleaned from the proclamation of one of the two sole survivors, a young pilgrim who happened to arrive at the city at the time of its destruction, and whom returned with a small Taoin boy in tow. All that can be said of the incident with any certainty is that the village was destroyed by a tremendous force. Upon the young man’s return to his home city of Bharut, the Bharutian King led a search party to survey the remains with his own eyes. Upon arrival they found the majority of the valley destroyed, leaving a crater behind that had filled with redirected glacier water. The overflow spilled from the crater and flooded the rest of the valley until it was forced over the side of the steep cliff and into the ocean. There was very little of the former village remaining. The only evidence being a few staggered stone facades.
Shortly after the king proclaimed the young man a hero, and after a short dispute relinquished custody of the Taoin boy into his care provided the two did not leave the city, and the boy attended schooling twice weekly with his very own children. As a tribute to the fallen village, and possibly a nod to the Taoin peoples own interpretation of their magic, he proclaimed the start of the Tidal Era.
Tidal era
(Present day)
Asher is the name of the Bharutian pilgrim to survive the fall of Mak'tao. Now 23 and finding himself a proclaimed hero, and the guardian of a young mute boy, he's found himself falling into a rut. His sense of obligation to the boy, and the haunting memories of the destruction of Mak'tao have destroyed any wish to pursue life as a soldier for hire, a dream he had once pursued whole-heartedly. Instead he has settled into mediocrity, and a life of tired fame. It couldn't last though. Outside forces had become aware of the existence of the surviving Taoin boy under his care. All it took was one moment of distraction and he was gone. Kidnapped by two of the most exotic looking assassins Asher had ever witnessed. Now Asher finds himself forced to live up to his ill-gotten title of hero. He must retrieve the boy, and expose the forces behind his abduction.
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