Disclaimer: I do not own CABAL online.
Understanding the Present
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
~ George Santayana
Long ago, the cabal known as Prometheus cleansed the land with fury and destruction. Amidst the endless devastation, seven great masters of Force Power led the remaining survivors to reconstruction. These seven masters were the students of Saint Valentine. They were the Seven Sages; Sirius, Capella, Rigel, Procyon, Betalguese, Aldebaran and Pollux. In time, humanity prospered under the guidance of the seven sages. A great tower was built where they and their predecessors would rule and prevent a second Dire Destruction.
After the construction of the Sage Tower and reconstruction of the various cities, the Merchants Guild was established. Shortly after this, raiders began attacking trade caravans between Polis Judin and Polis Medinak. With the Great Sea of Fracia to the west and the Engreef Mountains to the southeast the only land route was through Hoddn Forrest the across the Sainteye River. To counter the constant attacks from raiders, The Polis Judin Knightage was established and soon put in charge of the regular army. However, since Polis Medinak did not have a regular army, mercenaries were hired to patrol the trade routes. Soon what was once a small band of fighters hired to guard passing traders turned into the Medinak Mercenary Group as their numbers swelled to rival the regular army of Polis Judin. Between the two forces now regularly patrolling trade routes, the raider clans were finding it harder and harder to intercept the caravans. To counter this threat, once rival clans began joining forces, thus the Thieves' Guild was born and in time spread throughout Nevareth.
During this time, Nevareth underwent an age of rediscovery as archeologists and adventurers were dispatched by the Tower of Sages. Core technology became the subject of great interest. To properly study the properties of core technology, a separate group was established to uncover the secrets of the cores and how to effectively use them. This organization became known as the Mage Guild. Through the efforts of both the Tower of Sages and the Mage Guild, core technology was not only rediscovered in Nevareth but was also advancing. For a time, it seemed humanity was beginning to piece itself together. But, although we may forget the past, the past never forgets us. Soon, strange events started to occur around Nevareth. Few knew that these events would shape the future of Nevareth.
In the continent of Midreth to the north there were strange sightings of undead beings prowling the frigid wastes. Rumors began to spread of the existence of a cult of heretics that opposed the rule of the Sage Tower. These heretics were said to have the power to raise the dead to do their will. Soon, the stench of death and decay lingered in the air and it was said that if one stared into a blizzard hard enough they could see large shapes lumbering about behind the curtain of snow and cries of anguish accompanying the howl of the wind. The many fighters sent to investigate seemed to be swallowed by the never ending blizzard, never to be heard from again.
To the west in continent Pasture mysterious disappearances stated to occur. Observation posts deep within the forest were left empty, the men stationed within gone. At first, it was taught that they were attacked by wild animals or had an accident while scouting the forest. But then, the very forest itself began to change. Animals became more aggressive and sported deadly mutations. The trees themselves became predators and would lash out at anyone who got near them. The very ground itself ran red as though it were stained with the blood of all those lost within the thick jungle.
As if spurned by recent events a coup was staged in the Thieves Guild. A much more sinister force seemed to be leading the guild as their new leader, Kashu was said to be dealing with demons. It no longer became safe to walk the streets of Polis Judin and Polis Medinak. With the Judin Knightage and Medinak Mercenary Group tied up with one another, there was little anyone could do to prevent the massacre in the streets as people were attacked by unknown creatures and found the next day with their throats ripped apart with not a drop of blood remaining in their veins. Event the town guards patrolling the streets were not spared in the onslaught. As the body count increased both cities came to a standstill. Trade ceased and every door was sealed as if to keep the demons out.
Neighbor turned on neighbor, trade routes were severed and conflicts escalated as the people demanded answers from the Sage Tower. One by one, the secrets once kept from them by their very protectors was revealed to them. It seemed humanity was once again on the brink of collapse as war loomed over the horizon and demons poured into the land.
Then a great being descended upon the land, striking down the organization which had controlled humanity for so long. In one day Prometheus, the Merchants Guild, the Thieves Guild, the Judin Knightage, the Mercenary Group, the Mages' Guild and the Tower of Sages were wiped out. Some say that it was the second coming of the Lord of Destruction, others believe it was the wrath of Saint Valentine but few will ever know the truth behind these events.
Amidst the destruction, two sages survived the collapse of the Tower of Sages; sage Capella and Procyon. It is believed that they were survived thanks to the effort of the sage Betalguese who held off the creature assaulting the tower long enough for them to escape. However the timing for their reappearance was almost too perfect which led others to speculate that they knew beforehand of the attack on the Sage Tower. Regardless, as soon as both sages reemerged people began gathering around them as both sages preached different ideals as to how humanity should advance from this point on.
Capella's ideals were based on scholarship and modernism, while negating the relics of the past such as the previously privileged Tower of Sages. Unlike previous sages, Capella actively supports research into new battle styles. To escape the shadow of the Honorable Age she believes humanity must develop. She dreams of a Nevareth where all are equal where all can reap results justified by their efforts. To do this she plans to open information previously restricted to the public, and that all people should be allowed to pursue their areas of interest. As her views reflect what the people of Nevareth desire she quickly gathered a large number of followers. If sufficient education to expand the understanding of the Force is provided and logic and reason realized, she believes that heresy will disappear as its basis on groundless theories and lies packaged under the name of the religion is revealed. Her ultimate wish if for all people to be able to freely use the Force. For this reason, education is a key facilitator for her vision. And for education equality, the privilged class must disappear. The most representative of such privileged class is the Tower of Sages. She states that the Tower of Sages should be dissolved with the various polises uniting to carry out its role instead. In this way, the efficient re-distribution and sharing of resources and wealth can be achieved. For this, there is a need for an organization. This organization would be a council of representatives from each polis selected by a popular vote.
Procyon however dreams of a Nevareth led by an exceptional ruler who reigns with an iron fist in such a way that the people will have no other worries and can simply follow along in order to live well. His basis stance is that the Tower of Sages should be taken over. However, the ideology should remain in place while a shift in the role would be inevitable. He believes that the time of chaos and uncertainty can be quelled by a single excellent and strong leader. That leader should be none other than the most outstanding Sage. As a Sage, he is also a politician and a father to the world. As for such a single Sage, he states that it can be anyone in Nevareth who has received excellent education and exhibits the most outstanding qualities. He believes that during the time that power was shared by the Seven Sages, their subtle antagonism and feuding caused Nevareth to miss opportunities for further development. In following, he is organizing a unified polis government under the lead of a single Sage. With the concentration in one domain of the previously dispersed resources, early and special education program can be efficiently instituted. And, as the talent of Nevareth expands through such systematic education, the competition to decide the successor will become more intense.
Though both Capella and Procyon emphasize the importance of education, they differ in one fundamental aspect. Capella strives for equal education that will promote synergy and subsequent development. On the contrary, Procyon emphasizes education geared toward developing a single most outstanding being. The rivalry between Procyon and Capella was so great that conflicts between the two factions seemed unavoidable and would soon would escalate to a point where war would be inevitable. With humanity thrown into disarray will the two remaining sages piece Nevareth together or tear down an already fractured world...
…the revolution has only just begun.
A.n:This story takes place after the main story quests. Creative criticism is appreciated.
