Prelude - The Bell Tower - Guardia Kingdom - 1000 AD
By the time the sun had fully risen the man had reached the bell tower. In the darkness of the tower stairwell he detached a large key chain from his belt, and rifled through to find the key to open the tower door. The tower had fallen into degradation in recent years. "When will the King direct some of his efforts toward restoration of this sanctimonious place?" the man thought. Probably no time soon as the King was busy coordinating efforts for the Millennium Fair celebrations. The academics of the time disagreed, but the townsfolk rumored that the stones used to construct the upper portion of the tower were cloaked in a protective magic. They were specifically used by the ancient builders to guard the sacred bell. Today however, the man thought they just looked worn and smelled of mold, rot, and water. The man counted 10 keys as he had done for some many days and years before. When he reached the 11th key he stopped and slid the key into the lock. The lock bolts sounded and felt heavy as he turned the key, but soon gave way and the man entered the circular room.
The room was empty except for a large window that did little to hinder the elements, and the ancient Bell. Tendrils of sunlight steamed through the broken window and made the bell seem almost luminescent today. He carefully reached over the chasm for the worn bell rope. There were stories in the man's Order that one of his predecessors had become too inebriated and fallen to his death while trying to reach for the rope. The story was never fully founded in fact, but always crept into the back of the man's mind when he reach out for the rope over the nothingness of the abyss.
Today began like a normal run-of-the-mill day. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, birds were chirping, the farmers had put their cows and horses in the fields to graze. The long winter had ended a few weeks prior and now the trees and spring flowers were in full bloom. He could smell the fresh bread that was being made at the bakery in town, and saw the peddlers headed for the town square to begin their set up. "There will be a large turn-out for the fair", the man thought as he pulled the rope toward him. On a day like today, the bell could be heard for miles, the sound waves reaching far past the perimeter of the Guardia Kingdom. He drew a deep breath and gave the rope a big heave. The 3 mallets of the bell swung to the side and the result was a cacophonistic and harmonious 3 toned blast of sound. The ritual designated by the man's Order stated the bell must be rung 3 successive times, and the man performed this act.
Once the 3rd strike had sounded the man turned, left the room, locked the door, and descended the stairs to get some breakfast lest his brothers would lick the serving plates clean. The man went on to live a full and happy life, never knowing that by ringing the bell on that day, he had started a series of events, like a nuclear chain reaction, which would lead to the salvation of the world, or it's destruction.
