Legend of Four Masters
The Fall of Wrethilin
Long ago, there was the City of Wrethilin. It was built on the slopes of a fiery mountain in the middle of the sunken lands. It was the Imperial city of Vefaria, where the Nameless Empress lived. This empress disrespected the gods, and even outlawed their worship. Even as the seas rose around the city, they continued to ignore the gods. They built the city ever further up the mountain.
The gods finally grew tired of the nonsense and sent their power into the mountain. On the day that a great statue was built in the image of the Empress, a statue that was to be worshipped for all time, the boiling mountain erupted, destroying the city, killing nearly everyone. This eruption spread across all of the sunken lands, washing away islands and cities and forever altering the lands.
Volcanoes are a way of life in Vefaria. After an eruption, things return to normal after a few months. The Regalti change their ways to please the gods, and things go back to normal. That did not happen this time. Over a year had passed after clouds covered the skies and it was over a year since anyone had last seen the lights of Vala and Sevi.
A great darkness was now spread across the land. The Sun disappeared, the grass grew brown, and the rivers turned to sludge. Crops wouldn't grow and the fish wouldn't bite. Unless someone could find the sun and moon, the world would die.
The gods finally grew tired of the nonsense and sent their power into the mountain. On the day that a great statue was built in the image of the Empress, a statue that was to be worshipped for all time, the boiling mountain erupted, destroying the city, killing nearly everyone. This eruption spread across all of the sunken lands, washing away islands and cities and forever altering the lands.
Volcanoes are a way of life in Vefaria. After an eruption, things return to normal after a few months. The Regalti change their ways to please the gods, and things go back to normal. That did not happen this time. Over a year had passed after clouds covered the skies and it was over a year since anyone had last seen the lights of Vala and Sevi.
A great darkness was now spread across the land. The Sun disappeared, the grass grew brown, and the rivers turned to sludge. Crops wouldn't grow and the fish wouldn't bite. Unless someone could find the sun and moon, the world would die.
Nadia of the Blue
Nadia was a shrine priestess that grew up in a village as the edge of a great blue lagoon. When worship of the gods was outlawed, her father's temple was converted into a school for the military, training people in the way of the staff. She was outside in the waters, training on the say the sun disappeared. She says she saw it go into the mountains to the west, into the ancestral lands, on the day everyone heard a loud explosion in the distance.
The sun always goes into the mountains, then rises from the ocean in the east, but the next day, the sun did not rise. A few days later, a thick rain of ash covered the land and sea, covering everything with a thickened sludge. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, everyone in Nadia's village grew hungry and desperate. They switch from their colorful robes to dull rags, they kneeled in the water, praying for Vala to shine her light on the world again, but she did not answer. Nadia had a thought that maybe she could not answer.
One day, which grew harder to tell apart as the world grew darker and people lost track of time, Nadia thought she saw a flicker of light, rising out of the mountains in the west. While the rest of the village was praying in the sludge, Nadia took her staff, the Water Weaver, and set out to find the sun.
The sun always goes into the mountains, then rises from the ocean in the east, but the next day, the sun did not rise. A few days later, a thick rain of ash covered the land and sea, covering everything with a thickened sludge. As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, everyone in Nadia's village grew hungry and desperate. They switch from their colorful robes to dull rags, they kneeled in the water, praying for Vala to shine her light on the world again, but she did not answer. Nadia had a thought that maybe she could not answer.
One day, which grew harder to tell apart as the world grew darker and people lost track of time, Nadia thought she saw a flicker of light, rising out of the mountains in the west. While the rest of the village was praying in the sludge, Nadia took her staff, the Water Weaver, and set out to find the sun.
Yord of the Gentle Breeze
Nadia was attacked on the road by a pack of dogs. They lacked any feathers and were covered in ash and sludge. They were rabid and desperate as Nadia was the first licing thing that willingly walked in their path in such a long time. Nadia's raised her staff and the dogs started cackling. The leader of the pack, still had the final vestiges of feathers left on his head, had stepped forward. Nadia raised her staff in defense but it was ripped out of her hands.
Before the leader lunged at Nadia, a man stepped forward, and swith a single motion of his sword, the Grass Cutter, killed the leader. The other dogs were frightened at first but didn't want to lose this chance at two pieces of meat. They all lunged at the man at once, but the man was able to kill most of them with a single attack of his sword. The surviving dogs ran way.
The man then helped Nadia up and introduced himself as Yord. He said there was a nearby camp that had food and supplies. He then threw two of the dead dogs on his shoulders then started walking off the path into the dead forest. Nadia retrieved her staff, then followed Yord in the darkness.
Before the leader lunged at Nadia, a man stepped forward, and swith a single motion of his sword, the Grass Cutter, killed the leader. The other dogs were frightened at first but didn't want to lose this chance at two pieces of meat. They all lunged at the man at once, but the man was able to kill most of them with a single attack of his sword. The surviving dogs ran way.
The man then helped Nadia up and introduced himself as Yord. He said there was a nearby camp that had food and supplies. He then threw two of the dead dogs on his shoulders then started walking off the path into the dead forest. Nadia retrieved her staff, then followed Yord in the darkness.
Rua the Storyteller
When Nadia got to the camp, there were several dozen monks of the Ateni order, huddled around several fires for warmth. They were kneeling with their heads pressed against the ground, chanting and praying. Around one fire was a woman sitting alone, playing an instrument. Nadia sat with her and asked her what song she was playing.
The woman asked Nadia if she was familiar with the legend of the five suns? Nadia was not. The woman explained that the five suns story is about a aeons long fued between the toxic god Baultar and the light goddess Vala. Since the begining of everything, Baultar sucessfully put out Vala's light four separate times. Rua feared this may be the fifth time.
Nadia explained that she was on a journey to find the sun, telling of how she saw the sun fall behind the mountains in the ancestral lands. Rua called Yord to her, and told him to travel with Nadia, to see if her story was true. If Vala has fallen, then no amount of praying to the gods will fix the world. Yord refused at first, for he had sword an oath to Rua. Rua told him when the sun rises again, to find her in the a city looking away from the sea. She will be there for him.
The woman asked Nadia if she was familiar with the legend of the five suns? Nadia was not. The woman explained that the five suns story is about a aeons long fued between the toxic god Baultar and the light goddess Vala. Since the begining of everything, Baultar sucessfully put out Vala's light four separate times. Rua feared this may be the fifth time.
Nadia explained that she was on a journey to find the sun, telling of how she saw the sun fall behind the mountains in the ancestral lands. Rua called Yord to her, and told him to travel with Nadia, to see if her story was true. If Vala has fallen, then no amount of praying to the gods will fix the world. Yord refused at first, for he had sword an oath to Rua. Rua told him when the sun rises again, to find her in the a city looking away from the sea. She will be there for him.
Tami the Violet Flame
At the edge of the mountains, Nadia and Yord came across an old tavern. The signs pointed to hot springs, which were one of the only sources of clean water in these times. Nadia and Yord went inside to spend the night. There they were met with a girl with ash colored skin and brightly glowing violet hair. She told them to go away.
Nadia and Yord said they were on a quest to find the sun and wanted to spend the night out of the cold. The girl laughed at them, saying that Vala abandoned them. It is every regalti for themselves. The girl explained that she was at Wrethilin the day the boiling mountain exploded. She says she saw the sun leave the sky, never to return. this was the day she took a burning ash cloud to her face, burning her skin away, punishing her for her own arrogance. The gods will never return for what the regalti did on that mountain... The girl picked up her clubs and said there is no kindness or any emotion left in her.
Nadia then asked the girl if they wanted to help them find the sun? Their goal is on the other side of the mountains. The girl said that she was a colorless shade, who would travel with her? Nadia said that they would. The girl felt humbled and defeated before any weapon was sung. She then introduced herself as Tami, and allowed Nadia and Yord to spend the night.
Nadia and Yord said they were on a quest to find the sun and wanted to spend the night out of the cold. The girl laughed at them, saying that Vala abandoned them. It is every regalti for themselves. The girl explained that she was at Wrethilin the day the boiling mountain exploded. She says she saw the sun leave the sky, never to return. this was the day she took a burning ash cloud to her face, burning her skin away, punishing her for her own arrogance. The gods will never return for what the regalti did on that mountain... The girl picked up her clubs and said there is no kindness or any emotion left in her.
Nadia then asked the girl if they wanted to help them find the sun? Their goal is on the other side of the mountains. The girl said that she was a colorless shade, who would travel with her? Nadia said that they would. The girl felt humbled and defeated before any weapon was sung. She then introduced herself as Tami, and allowed Nadia and Yord to spend the night.
Halkas of the Mountain
Nadia, Yord, and Tami spent several weeks traveling in the mountains, not seeing a single other living thing. It was dark, and everything was dead. They followed the path but it didn't seem to end, and no one was sure they were even heading west on most days. They occasionally heard a loud sound echo across the mountains, as if someone was hitting something very hard, but they couldn't locate the noise.
As the dark days went on, the sound grew louder until they found the source of the noise. Then the three found themselves in front of a giant of a Regalti. He was carrying a colossal sword. Every swing he made put a crack in the side of the mountain. Then he made a mighty swing, shattering his sword on the rock, creating an even larger crack.
The entire mountain then began to crumble. Yord picked up Nadia and started jumping from rock to rock, trying to stay above the avalanche of stone. Tami had climbed a tree, but the rushing rock was starting to knock the tree over. She was saved by the giant man, who had her stand behind him. The giant man stood there, and no amount of force could move him. Yord and Nadia also fled behind him.
when the mountain had finished falling apart, the man explained that he too had seen the sun disapeared several years ago. He saw the sun go into the ancestral lands, the forbidden lands the gods raised mountains around. Mountains that were impossible to climb. The man stated that if he couldn't climb the mountain, he was going to destroy it.
He introduced himself as Halkas and asked the three if they were on a journey to find the sun as well? They said they were. Halkas said he was going to join them then. As they started walking on the path where there was once a mountain, Halkas ripped a tree out of the ground, and with a knife started to carve a new sword.
As the dark days went on, the sound grew louder until they found the source of the noise. Then the three found themselves in front of a giant of a Regalti. He was carrying a colossal sword. Every swing he made put a crack in the side of the mountain. Then he made a mighty swing, shattering his sword on the rock, creating an even larger crack.
The entire mountain then began to crumble. Yord picked up Nadia and started jumping from rock to rock, trying to stay above the avalanche of stone. Tami had climbed a tree, but the rushing rock was starting to knock the tree over. She was saved by the giant man, who had her stand behind him. The giant man stood there, and no amount of force could move him. Yord and Nadia also fled behind him.
when the mountain had finished falling apart, the man explained that he too had seen the sun disapeared several years ago. He saw the sun go into the ancestral lands, the forbidden lands the gods raised mountains around. Mountains that were impossible to climb. The man stated that if he couldn't climb the mountain, he was going to destroy it.
He introduced himself as Halkas and asked the three if they were on a journey to find the sun as well? They said they were. Halkas said he was going to join them then. As they started walking on the path where there was once a mountain, Halkas ripped a tree out of the ground, and with a knife started to carve a new sword.
Valley of the Sun
Once they crossed the mountain path, the four were blinded by something they had not seen in over a year. Once their eyes adjusted, they could see a light on the horizon, sitting in the middle of a verdant desert. There were also shadows, ash colored beings that hated the light. Once the four were seen, the shadows raised the alarm and dozens of them were now in front of the four, ready to take them down.
Yord rushed forward with the grass cutter, and with a single slash, killed a dozen shadows. Halkas took his mighty tree sword and beat the ground with it, sending dozens of shadows off balance before they were crushed. Tami rushed out with her clubs, seemingly creating a fire wherever she ran, burning everything in her path. Nadia too fought with her staff, creating a spray of water at whatever she hit, dissolving the shadows away before they had a chance to strike.
Once all the shadows were gone, the four went further into the valley in the direction of the light. Over the next several days, the lights grew dimmer and dimmer. Then they finally reached their goal. What they found horrified them...
Yord rushed forward with the grass cutter, and with a single slash, killed a dozen shadows. Halkas took his mighty tree sword and beat the ground with it, sending dozens of shadows off balance before they were crushed. Tami rushed out with her clubs, seemingly creating a fire wherever she ran, burning everything in her path. Nadia too fought with her staff, creating a spray of water at whatever she hit, dissolving the shadows away before they had a chance to strike.
Once all the shadows were gone, the four went further into the valley in the direction of the light. Over the next several days, the lights grew dimmer and dimmer. Then they finally reached their goal. What they found horrified them...
The Twin Goddesses and the God Baultar
Nadia, Tami, Yord, and Halkas saw two women in chains in front of them. One had golden hair and the other silver. They gave off light in such a way they had never seen before or since. They were said to be Vala and Sevi, the twin goddesses of the Sun and Moon. Standing over them was a man wearing dark armor, giving off an aura that made all of them feel hopeless. This was said to be the toxic god Baultar
Baultar welcomed the four. He then said that Vala was right, someone would eventually come for them, but it was too late. The sisters were poisoned and nearly depleted of their light, and soon he would be starting a new, an age without a sun or moon, the age of twilight.
Halkas raised his mighty greatsword and rushed in to take down Baultar. Baultar raised a hand and Halka's sword burst into thousands of pieces. He then grabbed Halkas by the neck and slammed him into the ground, shaking all of the ancestral lands.
Tami then rushed forward. using her clubs she struck a great fire and sent it in the direction of Baultar. Baultar laughed as he was the embodiment of light now. He took a deep breath, which made Tami's fire disappear. Light started to disappear from the valley, and even Tami's glowing violet hair started to dim. Baultar then exhaled, creating a great firestorm.
It nearly swallowed Tami, but Yord and Nadia were there. Nadia struck her staff into the ground, creating a wall of water, stopping the fire. Yord created a great twister with his sword and sent it in the direction of Baultar. Yord then helped Halkas up. Baultar had to admit he was a little impressed with these mortals, but he was a god. Yord told Nadia to free the goddesses, then he rushed at Baultar with Tami and Halkas.
Nadia ran to the chained goddesses, but could not free them of their chains. She asked the goddesses if there was anything she could do? Sevi said there was. She said that she was born partly of the void and this corruption has little effect on her, but her sister...Vala needs someone to absorb her part of the darkness. Sevi told Nadia that if she absorbed the darkness, then Vala's light will shine bright enough to break these chains, and they would be free to defeat Baultar.
Nadia said that she will do anything to bring light back to the land, even if it means she will no longer be embraced by it. Sevi had Nadia place a hand on Vala. Then Sevi grabbed Nadia's other hand. Nadia then felt darkness creep into her. It felt as if all her emotions had left her body.
Baultar welcomed the four. He then said that Vala was right, someone would eventually come for them, but it was too late. The sisters were poisoned and nearly depleted of their light, and soon he would be starting a new, an age without a sun or moon, the age of twilight.
Halkas raised his mighty greatsword and rushed in to take down Baultar. Baultar raised a hand and Halka's sword burst into thousands of pieces. He then grabbed Halkas by the neck and slammed him into the ground, shaking all of the ancestral lands.
Tami then rushed forward. using her clubs she struck a great fire and sent it in the direction of Baultar. Baultar laughed as he was the embodiment of light now. He took a deep breath, which made Tami's fire disappear. Light started to disappear from the valley, and even Tami's glowing violet hair started to dim. Baultar then exhaled, creating a great firestorm.
It nearly swallowed Tami, but Yord and Nadia were there. Nadia struck her staff into the ground, creating a wall of water, stopping the fire. Yord created a great twister with his sword and sent it in the direction of Baultar. Yord then helped Halkas up. Baultar had to admit he was a little impressed with these mortals, but he was a god. Yord told Nadia to free the goddesses, then he rushed at Baultar with Tami and Halkas.
Nadia ran to the chained goddesses, but could not free them of their chains. She asked the goddesses if there was anything she could do? Sevi said there was. She said that she was born partly of the void and this corruption has little effect on her, but her sister...Vala needs someone to absorb her part of the darkness. Sevi told Nadia that if she absorbed the darkness, then Vala's light will shine bright enough to break these chains, and they would be free to defeat Baultar.
Nadia said that she will do anything to bring light back to the land, even if it means she will no longer be embraced by it. Sevi had Nadia place a hand on Vala. Then Sevi grabbed Nadia's other hand. Nadia then felt darkness creep into her. It felt as if all her emotions had left her body.
Nadia of the Void
Nadia said that she will do anything to bring light back to the land, even if it means she will no longer be embraced by it. Sevi had Nadia place a hand on Vala. Then Sevi grabbed Nadia's other hand. Nadia then felt darkness creep into her. It felt as if all her emotions had left her body. As this happened, Vala's light returned to her. She shined brighter and brighter, melting the chains that held her and her sister.
They shot up into the sky, and shined brightly, burning away the clouds that covered the lands. Then they crashed back into Kellentar, dragging Baultar underground with them. The entire world was said to have shaken from this impact. The land and skies temporarily grew dark and all that could be seen were the stars in the sky. Moments later, the Sun and Moon rose from the west for the first and only time before being set on their normal path. The sun was dim for now, but she would eventually return to her normal self.
Nadia on the other hand did not. Her hair turned black and her eyes glowed a pale blue. She was forever changed when she absorbed the darkness of Vala. All emotions left her body. She was not a colorless Regalti like Tami, but her skin forever stayed pale with the slightest hints of color, unable to change. Now a being of both light and dark, It is said that she was now blessed by Sevi the moon goddess.
They shot up into the sky, and shined brightly, burning away the clouds that covered the lands. Then they crashed back into Kellentar, dragging Baultar underground with them. The entire world was said to have shaken from this impact. The land and skies temporarily grew dark and all that could be seen were the stars in the sky. Moments later, the Sun and Moon rose from the west for the first and only time before being set on their normal path. The sun was dim for now, but she would eventually return to her normal self.
Nadia on the other hand did not. Her hair turned black and her eyes glowed a pale blue. She was forever changed when she absorbed the darkness of Vala. All emotions left her body. She was not a colorless Regalti like Tami, but her skin forever stayed pale with the slightest hints of color, unable to change. Now a being of both light and dark, It is said that she was now blessed by Sevi the moon goddess.
Separate Ways
After their task was done, everyone went their separate ways. News of their journey spread across the land, and many wanted to learn from them, to know how they were able to fight darkness and fight a god.
Halkas stayed in the ancestral lands. It is said that he built a great temple that was to mark the location of Baultar's prison. He then flooded the area with a great lake. This lake grew poisonous over time due to the dark influence of the toxic god. People from across the land came to Halkas to learn from his great strength.
Tami traveled the lands, challenging anyone who would dare fight her. It is said that she defeated over a hundred so-called "weapon masters" in her lifetime. She rarely took on any students, telling them to just pick up two sticks and learn to fight themselves.
Yord went to the imperial city of Barun-Deth, a city that faced away from the ocean. There he found Rua. He told Rua of what happened, of how they freed the sun and moon. then he continued to serve as Rua's bodyguard. Yord started a school in the city since so many asked him to teach them.
Nadia returned to her village. The sludge covering the waters were gone, but the lagoon was forever blackened and was no longer blue. Nadia inherited her father's school, which she converted back into a temple, dedicated to the twin goddesses. She continued to practice with a staff and taught other priests of the temple.
Halkas stayed in the ancestral lands. It is said that he built a great temple that was to mark the location of Baultar's prison. He then flooded the area with a great lake. This lake grew poisonous over time due to the dark influence of the toxic god. People from across the land came to Halkas to learn from his great strength.
Tami traveled the lands, challenging anyone who would dare fight her. It is said that she defeated over a hundred so-called "weapon masters" in her lifetime. She rarely took on any students, telling them to just pick up two sticks and learn to fight themselves.
Yord went to the imperial city of Barun-Deth, a city that faced away from the ocean. There he found Rua. He told Rua of what happened, of how they freed the sun and moon. then he continued to serve as Rua's bodyguard. Yord started a school in the city since so many asked him to teach them.
Nadia returned to her village. The sludge covering the waters were gone, but the lagoon was forever blackened and was no longer blue. Nadia inherited her father's school, which she converted back into a temple, dedicated to the twin goddesses. She continued to practice with a staff and taught other priests of the temple.
Extras
"I kind of feel like there's things the story doesn't explain. Like, do they bend the elements when they use their weapons? Why is Rua the Wandering Saint even mentioned at all? She plays no part in this story? Also, the story is from Nadia's point of view, but it kind of feels like there's some context that needs answering, especially concerning Tami. Also, also, do all of them have named weapons? The Grass Cutter sounds familiar..."
- Sarah
"There's a million versions of this story. All of them put in extra things here and there, and leave out other details. Don't you have like six versions of some myths on Earth?"
- Elya
"What I'm really asking is, what does this myth have to do with them being the original weapon masters of your Sefadel - Regalti Martial Arts? Is it like an origin story, or..."
- Sarah
"..." (are all humans like this?)
- Elya
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