The Tale of AotC

In the beginning of time, The Creator created all things, including the realm of 'Erets. The Creator made many different races to abide and prosper upon the land, and He also blessed the realm with wondrous abilities and great magics. At first, the races used these powers granted to them for the pleasure of The Creator. Yet as time passed, many fell from His ways and began living to suit their own will, giving birth to evil.

As time continued, the races forgot about The Creator and evil corrupted the hearts of all. The Creator decided to test the races to find one worthy to confront the evil. He found but one, a human named Jacob. The Creator set Jacob in the middle of 'Erets, and the evil was slowly pushed back. There Jacob built a city he named Zion. As Zion prospered and grew, the evil was driven farther away--weakened but far from destroyed.

The Creator then made a covenant with Jacob, promising to someday deliver those that stood for good from the evil that lurked in the hearts of all. As a token of this promise, The Creator gave to Jacob an ark that contained the most powerful magic granted to the races. Zion grew still greater, and with the power of the ark the Zionites nearly destroyed the evil from Errets. Yet the taint of evil lingered in the hearts of all.

Then stood one that cherished the evil, a demon of immense power named di'Liykri. He brought a semblance of order to evil, and caused many to forsake the good. The evil silently grew stronger in the hearts of many, even piercing the hearts of the Zionites -- including Jacob's.

With evil dominating his heart, the power of the ark did not hearken unto Jacob when di'Liykri invaded Zion. The city was overthrown. Only Jacob and a small remnant escaped the assault, and in the confusion they left the Ark of the Covenant behind. With Zion utterly destroyed and the ark in the clutches of di'Liykri, Jacob remembered the ways of The Creator again.

In the forty years that followed the destruction of Zion, Jacob and his growing army wandered the realm. During this terrible time, Jacob's wife gave him twelve sons. His sons grew in power and valiantly fought evil wherever they journeyed, gaining the favor of The Creator and the Zionites. With Jacob's sons and the ever-growing army, hopes of withstanding di'Liykri grew. It was decided to reclaim Zion.

The people of Zion returned to the pile of rubble that remained, rebuilt the city and called it New Zion. New Zion grew strong and once again pushed back the evil, yet this time di'Liykri fought back. Without the power of the ark, the Zionites found they could barely offer safety in their own land.

Jacob then called an assembly of action to defeat the evil once and for all. Taking his own council and not the Creator's, it was decided he would challenge di'Liykri himself. The next morning, with a small remnant of valiant warriors, Jacob started their journey to seek out and kill the demon. They were never seen or heard of again.

Although no one knew the fate of Jacob, most claimed that he was victorious. di'Liykri had also vanished from the realm. Both those that stood for good and those that stood for evil were weakened with the loss of their leaders.

For many years after, neither side gave much ground. Every now and again a hero would arise, sometime for the good, sometimes for the evil. These heroes of renown would sway the balance for the season they lived on Errets. Yet they all eventually died, taking with them the hope they gave to their followers.

Then one stood for the side of good named Yeshua. Being chosen by The Creator, his heart was pure, never tasting the vile evil that lurked even in the heart's of good. Many turned towards the good, remaking the covenant that was made to Jacob and doing the will of The Creator.

The evil too grew in power, fighting back with more ferocity than in the ancient days of di'Liykri. After years of fierce battles, The Creator told Yeshua that di'Liykri had returned to the realm, with his dark powers stronger than even imaginable. The Creator opened Yeshua's eyes that he was a partial fulfillment to the promise made to Jacob.

Yeshua's power was still greater than di'Liykri's, and taking The Creator's council he chose twelve valiant men to help him seek the lost ark. Before leaving, he told the Zionites that he was a partial fulfillment of the promise given to Jacob. All rejoiced, thinking that Yeshua would deliver them at that time, but Yeshua knew he would die on this journey.

Eleven of the men that set out on the quest returned. They all told the same tale, a tragic tale, but a victorious one too. They found the ark, which was held in the darkest place of Errets. The evil that lurked in their hearts grew stronger as they drew closer, yet Yeshua's heart remained the same, as he never tasted evil.

One of the twelve could not withstand the powerful pull of the evil, and succumbed to its desire. He betrayed Yeshua and delivered him into the hands of di'Liykri. It was then found that di'Liykri had corrupted the ark, and it now served evil.

Yeshua then had his most victorious moment. He grabbed hold of the ark and absorbed the evil held within into himself, diminishing di'Liykri's power and reclaiming the ark for good. In the confusion, all the men fled the evil place, forsaking Yeshua. The Creator looked upon Yeshua, and seeing the evil upon him, turned His back on Yeshua, forsaking him too.

With Yeshua weakened and deserted, di'Liykri took him to be tortured, and in the end, executed. One of the twelve most dedicated to Yeshua returned to witness the brutal hours of torture. After numerous hours of suffering, Jushua was eventually nailed to a tree. In his last breath he victoriously shouted, "It is complete!"

Two days later the eleven rejoined and started the journey back to New Zion to bare the grave news. When they awoke the next morning, Yeshua stood before them. When they were convinced that Yeshua was truly alive, he promised that he would return some day to slay the evil from the realm completely, and gave them many prophecies to when this would be.

In his weakened state and knowing the victory had slipped forever away, di'Liykri attacked New Zion for the deeds of Yeshua. Most of the Zionites believed that Yeshua had failed, and lost their desire to fight. Some believed the tale of the eleven and did not lose hope. But even they fled before di'Liykri.

New Zion was eventually destroyed. All of the Zionites were either dead or captured and enslaved. Except for the hope that Yeshua gave them, all hope was lost.

The Zionites lived in captivity for many years after, always hoping to reclaim the land of their father Jacob. Slowly some were released, until eventually Zionites inhabited every region of Errets. In the prophecies, it was said that someday they would rejoin and reclaim Zion, and then soon after the fulfillment of the promise would be complete.

As ages passed, and with the vile whispers of di'Liykri racing through the hearts of all, the races grew to hate each other. The hatred grew to the point of battle, and the War of the Races began. Some of the Zionites that were learned in the prophecies knew that the time to reclaim the land was at hand, and they rallied the rest of the Zionites together for their victorious battle.

After years of brutal engagements with the enemy, their ancient land was reclaimed again. Even with battle from all sides, they rebuilt the city where Zion once stood, and they named it Old Zion. The walls of Old Zion held throughout the war, but outside the evil was triumphant.

In the war, di'Liykri disappeared and his evil minions separated into different clans and built cities and kingdoms around Errets. Although weakened, some good still stands in small patches around the realm, but they, like Old Zion, are trapped within their city walls.

Today, the fulfillment of the promise is awaited, and those that dwell in Old Zion fight for the good and destroy evil wherever they tread. Yet some now are pulled by the evil in their hearts, secretly causing chaos in the realms.

And the tale continues.