Knights of the Realm: Book 1
Chapter 1
The Schism of Power
Long ago in the land of Hyrule, there existed the legend of the triforce, and all powerful relic left by the goddesses Nayru, Farore, and Din, the very goddesses who created this beautiful land.
But of all things holy in the land, nothing was more holy than the powerful force that the triforce itself radiated throughout the land. Tai-kus, as this power was called, was created by the very beings that inhabited the land. Every living thing, whether a blade of grass or the largest of trees, the water from the stream or the fish that inhabited the waters of the Hylian Ocean, each form of life contributed to Tai-kus and created a balance of justice, truth, and harmony. All things were created to maintain balance in this immaculate creation of life.
However, the goddesses were not happy with what they created, there was life yes, but there was something that was missing, and they could not agree to what end they should proceed. Finally, after much thought and consideration, it was decided that the Tai-kus would be manipulated to create higher forms of life.
Thus, came the races of this blessed land
The Hylians
The Zora
The Gorons
The Kokiri
The Gerudo
The Hylians became the first to establish order in the land. With their uncanny ability to manipulate the Tai-kus in simple ways, they created government, the hierarchy of Hyrule, and the first establishments of civilization. They lived in peace for 100 years in solitude, knowing nothing of the other races in the land. When discovered, the Hylians were shocked to see they were no longer alone. The first race to be encountered by the Hylians were the Zora, the people of the sea. Initially there was shock and fear, however, the King of Hyrule, Harkinian I, embraced the Zora, and welcomed them with open arms into friendship with the small Hylian nation. Together the two great races cultivated the waterways and began the exploration of the land.
The goddesses were pleased to see at least two civilizations cooperating peacefully, and believed that the land of Hyrule showed promise for greatness indeed. However, one race in Hyrule did not show such promise and progress.
The Gerudo were created as an all female race, and were inhabitants of the western Desert. These beings desired nothing more than to expand their numbers, as well as their power and influence on the neighboring races, but without men they could not do so. The first Gerudo women disguised themselves as harlots, and snuck their way into the Hylian towns to find men to lay with. At first this wasn't considered much of a problem, but as their numbers grew, so did the uncertainty of their intentions.
To find out more, King Harkinian wished to speak with their leader. Anon Nabooru Khalma was summoned by the king to spend a full holiday within the royal realms of Hyrule to see the way they lived and progressed. The King wished to gain an ally with the Gerudo, but Khalma would have nothing of the kind. She hated men, and only saw them as a means of bearing children, and quite blatantly made the King aware of this. The King apologized and dismissed Khalma, but she was not yet finished. Her ultimate goal was to expand her peoples power, not friendships. She told the King she would be his ally, only if he gave her a child. The king refused at first, but under the threat of attack, he had no other choice. This was the first undoing of Hylians, and the goddesses were outraged.
Nine months later, Khalma's child was born. In a complete twist of fate, the goddesses manipulated the birth so that her child…was a son. The goddess Din told the Gerudo tribe that he was to be treated as their King, and whatever he commanded, they would do. The Gerudo seemed happy they finally had a male born to them, and all seemed hopeful. Lord Damius Ijzabal Dragmire would be the first crowned King of the Gerudo race.
There was, of course, a secret agenda behind his birth. The goddesses were infuriated over King Harkinians infidelity to the powers presented to him. They agreed that both races were at fault…and that both be punished. The Gerudos punishment was loss of purity and grace, and from now on, one male would be born to them every 100 years, and he would become their King and dictator. The Hylians punishment was soon to come, something the Land of Hyrule never experienced before, something so severe and evil no one could comprehend it…war.
Twenty years after his birth, King Damius made his final preparations for war on the Hylian nation. One after another, Hylian towns crumbled under the assault of his forces, and no one could stop him. Harkinian was killed in the conflict and the Hylian nation thrown into chaos.
Scattered and leaderless, the Hylians turned on each other. Factions sprung from the dissent, and for many years they fought one another, as well as the Gerudo, for control of the land. Not all of Hyrule experienced this strife, however. A farming community in Hyrule, led by cheiftan Link Wilhs, stayed neutral during the intenal conflict. However, they were not excluded from Gerudo atrocities. The Gerudo forces invaded the small community of Taura and took everyone hostage. Chieftan Wihls told his only son, Link, to remain indoors while he dealt with the threat outside. The leader of the Gerudo forces, was Lord Dragmire himself. Chieftan Wihls pleaded to negotiate with the ruthless leader to leave his land and people in peace, but he was never given the chance to fight for his people. He was killed as young Link looked outside. Then, in an act of sheer cruelty, Lord Dragmire burned everything in the village. Young Link and two of his young friends, Josev and Kile, barely escaped the burning village with their lives. Lost and broken, the young men were at a loss and enraged because of Lord Dragmires actions. Taking their fathers blades, they found and destroyed an entire unit of Lord Dragmire's forces. Baptized in blood, they took an oath to avenge their people, their families, and their honor. The Knights of the Taura was born, and with their birth was the beginning of the end of The Schism of Power.