Thread: Portal - The Rise of a Mage (Black_Out/Iridel)

The continent of Libbadore had seen it's share of war and strife over the past hundred years. Religious zealots and their armies had been entrenched in a ruthless exchange with other sides of a pantheon of god's that had spiraled out of control that seemed destined to have no end. The clashing of the faiths had spread bloodshed and sent countless amounts of people to an early grave. What no one expected was the rise of the Empire who had taken the disillusioned members of the lands and united them under what they claimed to be the one true god, Merasheel. He was a young entity in relation to the seven other deities that had held so much sway and influence upon the lands, and largely dismissed as he stood alone as a separate faith that bore no relation to the larger pantheon of the All Father. His teachings and principles were focused on the archaic, his lessons steeped in magic and science. Over the past several decades those who were tired of the constant bickering and slaughter that permeated the culture of the All Father's pantheon had turned to Merasheel's teachings. They flocked to his banner, schools arose and preached the tenets of his faith while churning out new generations of bright and dedicated students. Neighboring cities that had long been at odds over which aspects of the All Fathers pantheon they supported turned away from those gods and founded alliances under the prompting of Merasheels growing influence. They grew mighty, unified in their disgust of the old ways as their borders were held from the invasion of the crusades by a host of skilled knights, archers, magi, and their machines of war that few in the lands could even boast of having, let alone defeat. Only a matter of months ago things had shifted drastically upon the war torn continent of Libbadore. With the unveiling of the Portal the Empire formed an army the lands had never seen the likes of before and began their march of conquest. Most troubling of all though was the silence of the gods that preceded the birth of the Portal and the forces that surrounded and protected it. The All Father and his family of gods had one day just disappeared, no longer answering the prayers or supplying the divine powers that their clergies used to invoke their will. Turmoil overtook many of the cities that had relied upon one aspect or another of the All Fathers guiding hand, and their power and sway diminished immediately. The chaos that followed made the effort of standing against the coming of the Empire all the more impossible to withstand, and cities and their governing bodies quickly submitted after being faced with the Empires ultimatum. Word was beginning to spread, rumors were being carried from town to town, but the facts of it all were obscure and conflicting in those early days. No one knew exactly what the coming of the Portal would bring to their homes, though all knew it to be a cleansing that threatened to wash away the olden ways and establish a new age upon the land of Libbadore. Almeta had a right to be worried, the few rumors that had reached her small and humble shop had spoken of Merasheel's Fingers leading a persecution by a band of Inquisitors that sought to stamp out the use of unsanctioned magic and unify the practice of the arts under the guidance of Merasheel's faith. The dinging of the small copper welcoming bell that hung from the doorway of her simple and well kept shop alerted her to the rarity of a customer entering the store. It was Rand, an infrequent customer that lived in a cloistered and secluded monastery a days travel to the east. He wore his typical modest tan robes and sported his usual freshly shaved head. His youthful and pleasant, if not some what tempered demeanor seemed different to what Almeta was accustomed to. His light brown eyes darted about and settled upon her as he swiftly moved through the store towards her. Almeta. He spoke her name in a hushed tone. The Portal, the Empire, they came to my monastery, they're coming here, to Tikal next. He took a deep and steadying breath as he gave the young strawberry haired herbalist an uneasy look. There is nowhere to go, they've surrounded the outskirts of the city. His gaze snapped back over his head towards the door and stared towards it a moment. Their Inquisition should be here, by night fall.