When the mother created the elves, she chose to gift them all a connection to both the 2 laws available to the creators: The laws of the Gods and the Laws of the Arcane. However, Zosime soon found that through twisted fate she would be the first elf born with no connection to either. When she was a toddler, her parents took her to the various healers and mystics of the town, and all they could theorise is that her connection to both laws must be damaged beyond the limits previously thought possible.
There had been past instances of an elf’s spirit being damaged, and their connection weakened, however they could still summon the most basic of powers, the weakest of the law’s intent. Zosime could do nothing.
As a child, Zosime would make herself sick attempting to imitate the other children. Once she realised, she couldn’t do what everyone else could do, Zosime pushed and pushed herself, trying to perform magic using nothing but sheer will. At the young age of 6 Zosime saw a group of children causing the grass around them to grow to the heights of their heads; she then spent the remainder of her day staring at a single blade of grass, imagining it climbing from the ground, stretching to the sky and reaching extraordinary heights. In her futile attempt to force her will on this blade of grass, she strained so hard she nearly fainted, even then she only stopped when she could feel the veins in her temple threatening to burst. She constantly pushed herself in races against the other children, they could empower themselves to speeds beyond hers, but she would run race after race, driving herself to exhaustion, still striving to be the best possible version of herself.
Eventually, Zosime turned to academia. Maybe knowledge could succeed where brute force had failed.
At first, she threw herself into magical theory. Zosime was determined to learn everything about the laws she possibly could, maybe then she could fix herself.
From her research Zosime was able to learn about how the Universe was made up. She learnt about how there were actually 4 Laws that ruled the universe - the Laws of Titans, Gods, Magic and Episteme. Not a lot is known about the Laws themselves, but Zosime was able to find out their results.
The Laws of Titans, the laws with the least available information, led to the creation of ‘Titans’. Zosime didn’t know what Titans where, and the only book that held any information was a relic from before the death of the mother. It said only that they were somehow responsible for the creation of the world, and that they have been gone for longer than any life has existed.
The Law of Episteme also had little written about it. It was said to be the law responsible for the physicality of the word. It is meant to be the law that governs weight, and keeps everything anchored to the ground, instead of floating into the abyss. How it works, no one knows, but without it, life could surely not exist.
The Laws of Magic are very self-explanatory. They allow for the manipulation of reality, the manifestation of chaos. Zosime read one researcher who theorised that the Law of magic was less a Law and more a void where no Laws existed. She found it easier to visualise what the researcher said, but it didn’t seem quite right. Magic still had its restrictions, its guidelines, otherwise surely chaos would rule over all else.
The Laws of the Gods were said to be named so as these Laws not only birthed the gods but governed them. The laws decided on their powers, their limits and how they interact with the world. They also rule over life and death, birth and growth. Whilst the gods could create life, the Laws of the gods created the rules that must be followed in said creation
The four Laws acted together, and where the laws melded together the physical planes were created. The Laws of Titans and of Gods together created the plane of souls, more commonly known as the land of the dead. This plane of existence was where a soul returned after death, and from where new souls birthed into the universe.
God and Magic created the plane of Chaos. In this plane energies of all kinds clashed and exploded. Its leaking into the world led to magical anomalies and allowed for the elves to access their power. It was this plane that all elven souls were connected too, well apparently all souls except Zosime’s. The strength and type of connection would decide on the strength and type of powers elves had.
The laws of Magic with the laws of Episteme Created the plane of creation. According to the plane walkers who existed before the death of Êathera, the plane of creation was a twisted mirror of the world, full of bizarre and wonderous entities and landmarks. There were even stories of communities of whacky creatures, villages of life so abstract that the explorers of old couldn’t find the words to describe them.
Finally, there was no information on the plane of existence created by the melding of the laws of Titans and Episteme, it didn’t even have a name. Any who had tried to visit it had never returned, leading to it becoming a mystery and taboo to those old travelers who could move between planes of existence.
Whilst interesting, Zosime learnt nothing that could explain why she was born without the natural connection to the arcane that all her kin had. She gave up her research and moved onto her next hopeful attempt.
She tried learning the ancient language of the elves. This language, whilst not necessary to perform magic, could be used to support the learning of a new skills. Those who struggled to perform a spell, would speak the ancient words that described what the spell would do in its casting. This supposedly helped the spirit understand and channel the magic used. Whilst she amazed her teachers with her ability to take in and retain knowledge, becoming fluent in the ancient language at 10 years old, she couldn’t even cause a single spark to leap from her fingers.
In her early teens, as others of her age learnt to control the animals around them in seconds or imbue their bodies with strength and speed such that they could punch through trees, Zosime tried researching plants and potions that could boost one’s connection to either of the laws. However, the potions where far more expensive than even the mayor of their town could afford, and the plants too rare, and located in deadly areas that she would not survive the journey too.
During her search for information, Zosime quickly became infatuated with the legend of the Champion of Êathera. Though the goddess had died thousands of years ago, her champion had still not made themselves clear. But the legends of the power of the champion, the hero and savior of the elves drew her in and struck something within her imagination. From this story she dreamed of using the weapons the legends said the goddess fight with. She dreamed of wielding a mythical whip that could slash continents in two, of a legendary bow whose arrows could hit a target on the other side of the world. Of an epic staff that could block the blows of titans, and crumble mountains.
When she was 16, she signed up for combat and guard training. Though she would never be accepted, due to the minimal magical talent requirements, she trained harder than the others of her age. She found she loved the trainings sessions and would practice in her spare time. When she wasn’t working for her parents, or researching solutions to her lack of magic, Zosime could be found in a clearing running through drills, and shadow sparring imaginary enemies. Her skills with her preferred weapons - the whip, staff and bow - arguably became higher than any of the other trainees, but she lost any spar or fight that allowed the use of magic.
At 20 Zosime started spending her evenings in taverns, especially whenever a traveller came to town. She wanted to hear of any potential solutions to her problem. She had long since run out of ideas but would not give up. Even a hint of a story remotely similar to her situation led her to pester the elf who had spoken. She became a familiar sight to the townsfolk fairly quickly, both a charity case for her lack of power, and a nuisance for her constant interruptions and questions anytime healing, weakness or spiritual injuries came up.
One day a travelling bard came to town. This bard claimed to have recently been in the employ of the Council of MéghHaili. Supposedly he was in the Grand temple of Êathera for a performance, when someone stumbled in. Obviously injured and weak, but with zero physical marks on him, apart from some minor scratches. The man looked filthy, as though he had worn the same clothes for days. This man was supposedly a soldier who had been scouting the borders of the forest, when he was attacked by a mysterious but powerful bandit. This bandit had the power to counter and absorb the soldier’s magic. They fought, but the stranger was so powerful the outcome of the fight was never in doubt. The soldier claimed to have seen his entire until fall one by one, and only survived because, after being stabbed directly through the centre of his chest by a sword imbued with the stranger’s own power, a charmed necklace activated, keeping him on the precipice of life.
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“The stranger” said the soldier “must’ve assumed I had been killed as he slunk back into the shadows without a second look.”
The soldier quickly realised; however, the wound delivered to him carried more than physical weight. His spirit was crippled, and his connection to the laws themselves as good as severed. After hearing the story, the bard claimed to have seen the High Priest walk towards the soldier, place his hands of the man’s chest and, as the bard described it, emitted a ‘fuck ton of warm golden light’. The soldier was supposedly fully healed of his spiritual wounds, and his connection to the laws restored, even refreshed and strengthened.
“It turns out” concluded the bard “That the High priest is rumoured to have a way to connect to our lost mother, to use her powers and channel her energy, to protect and save her children.”
Zosime knew she had found a hope. She researched into this story, specifically questioning the power of the high priest. What was the extent of the insight? How much power could he channel? She spent long hours reading accounts of those who had travelled to the capital. She asked the travelling merchants who visited for accounts and stories. She even asked the townsfolk if they had any information that could help her. With all her searching she couldn’t find anything to prove or deny the Bard’s claim. Nothing except one excerpt in a book outlining the history of Êathera and her priests;
…whilst there are many eyewitness accounts of the tragic day our mother saved us; they all claim that after giving her prophecy Êathera disappeared in a golden light. However, Alcaeus, the first high priestess of the dead goddess, claimed that after appearing directly in front of him, she gave him an artefact that would allow him to empower himself and channel her will through him. He stated:
“Though she is gone, sacrificed to save us all, our mother has not left us completely. With the artefact left to me, she will guide and protect us, as we hunt for the prophesied champion”
Whilst many believed Alcaeus was talking about the weapon of the goddess, all research claims that the rod she dropped onto the deck of the ship is in fact innate and popular theory states it will remain in an unpowered state until held by the champion of Êathera.
It would seem that the artefact of which Alcaeus spoke is separate to the innate weapon of the goddess.
Whatever the cause the High Priests have at times shown power of the Laws of Gods in its purest form, beyond which they should be capable.
An in-depth history of MéghHaili
Zosime found hope in this excerpt. Could it be that this artefact exists? Could the high priest really channel such amazing amounts of power? She could have finally found an actual solution to her problem, a way to repair water damaged connections she had that caused her to have no connection at all to the laws. She had to go and see him. Surely, he would not turn away anyone who visited on their Kleos. The cultural importance of the journey was such that it allowed for high profile religious opportunities.
It was this hope that led her to the day of her 25th birthday, in her bedroom, her possessions sprawled across the bed, packing her traveling pack and preparing to embark on the long journey. It would take weeks to arrive in the capital so she had to be picky with what she would bring, too much would weigh her down, too little and she may not be prepared for all scenarios.
Her Kleos would be the unlocking of magic. She would gain a connection to the laws available to all elves. She was determined, wanting to finally be able to compete on the level of her peers,
and though she refused to admit it to herself, to finally be normal.
Her mind wondered as she pictured what it would be like to use magic. She pictured herself running through forests, the miles speeding past her, trees blurring together, village and town flashing past her one by one. She pictured herself a hero saving helpless peoples from all kinds of beasts and monsters.
“Zosime!”
The sudden calling of her name threw Zosime out of her daydream and back to the real world.
“Zosime come downstairs, your father and I have a gift for you.”
It was her mother calling for her, there where new merchants in town, and her parents had told them they had gone to see what they could pick up to support the farm. Now that she thought about it however, they had been gone for a good few hours longer than she thought they would be.
Agathe, Zosime’s mother, was a tall woman, her days helping Zosime’s father Georgios run the farm he inherited from his late brother had ensured she was a sturdy elf, well built, with exceptionally strong arms. Georgios liked to joke that she was sturdier than the trees of the forests, and twice as stubborn. She was an elf very in tune with nature, using magic that was an equal mix of the laws of gods and magic, allowing her to nurture life, and twist reality enough to ensure a good yield, and regular harvests. Zosime still remembered being a child, her mother growing flowers out of thin air to cheer her up.
Zosime’s father, on the other hand, had a natural talent in healing magic, and a connection to the beasts of the land. His magic was heavily inclined towards the law of gods over the law of magic. With his powers he tended to the various livestock kept on the farm, soothing and nurturing them. He looked like a fairly average elf, except for white tinges in his hair and two different coloured eyes, one blue one pink, the only visible remains of the tragedy that took his brother from him.
“How was the market?” Asked Zosime as she ran down the steps of their home.
“Poor, the travelling merchants bring more reports of attacks on the road, ambushes at night and raids on villages” Replied her father, grim faced and worried.
Zosime knew that, whilst he felt bad for the deaths caused by the recent surge in banditry, his real worries where for her, and her planned journey to the capital.
“I’ll be safe father, I won’t be alone, there’s a group all traveling to the capital for their Kleos, including Cyrus. He may be a dick, but he’s a good fighter”
“Even so, all of them, especially Cyrus, won’t hesitate to run and leave you if it means their own survival, and that…
“That brings us to our gift.” Interrupted Agathe who placed a heavy looking chest onto the table next to her. “We wanted to ensure you would be able to take care of yourself on your journey, and so got you a few things.”
Agathe opened the chest, pulling out some wrapped up scrolls, and 2 daggers.
“We managed to pull in some favours throughout the town, and have gotten you these scrolls, there’s a short-range phase spell, a freeze spell a couple of mixed attack spells and some self-defence spells. Remember these are only 1 use but should get you out of emergencies” Georgios stated “The daggers have a simple enchantment, they should poison anyone stabbed by it, the strike likely won’t be lethal, but it will slow them and allow you to run. There are also a few healing potions we made for you in the chest.”
Zosime was stunned, the daggers didn’t look special at a first glance, but with a closer look she could see a thin green strip up run down the edges of both blades. The scrolls looked fresh, but what glimpses she could get, they seemed to be exceptionally well scribed, the runes marking the scrolls effects carefully planned. This must have cost more than they made all year, and all of it was for her.
“I don’t know what to say, thank you!”
“We want you to be safe and as much as we both care for you, we have to admit that your… situation puts you at more at risk than any else, so please, unless it’s an impossibility, if anything happens, anything at all, you run and hide and let the others fight.” Her father looked at Zosime directly in the eyes as he said that. She had never seen him so serious.
More solemnly, with the reminder of her ‘situation’ quenching her excitement, Zosime looked to the floor and replied “Yes father, I promise”
She knew her parents loved her, and she knew he was only saying this because he wanted her to be safe, but even the slightest reminder of her defect upset Zosime. She dreamed of being a fierce warrior, able to protect people and save cities, but the crushing reality was that she was the one who would need saving, she was weak. But not for long. This trip would work, she would get to the high priest, and she would gain her connection to the laws, and the ability to cast magic.
“Hey, don’t look so sad” her father continued “you are as stubborn as your mother. Once you get to the great temple, I know you won’t leave until you are seen by the high priest. I’m sure when you return, you’ll be more powerful than both your mother and I.”
“Now head upstairs and pack, you leave tomorrow, and we don’t want you forgetting anything” Agathe added “Once your packed come back down here, I hope you’re hungry, we managed to get some supplies for your favourite meal, and it shouldn’t take me long to cook it.”
Zosime thanked her parents again, collecting the gifts and taking them upstairs. She put the majority of the healing potions into her pack, however poured one into a small empty water skin, besides it may be needed in an emergency. The daggers she where sheathed ready to be put on her hip when she leaves. The scrolls were placed in a pouch. She decided she would keep the pouch on her belt, within easy reach in case of an emergency.
Zosime hurriedly packed the rest of what she would need for her trip, then put everything else away and ran down back to her parents. One delicious meal later, Zosime lay in bed, excitement and nerves battling each other within her head, stopping her from easily getting to sleep. Tomorrow she would leave for her Kleos.