p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpFirst"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEven though our experiences change us, we still must act, or those changes will evaporate, and we will fall into our old ways./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"December 10th, 708 PG/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA thick layer of snow covered the ground, crunching underfoot as I made my way toward Lumbridge. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had spent the day killing goblins in the swamp, and I felt it in every muscle in my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe guards who patrolled the southern border of the Duchy of Lumbridge gave me an apathetic look as I passed, I knew them of course, Lumbridge was not a big community./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEveryone knew what I wanted to do, and called me crazy for wanting style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA strong wind blew through the street, cutting straight through my coat, and making me shiver, the dampness of my under layers only worsened the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHome, however, was in sight, and I made my way across the main square, right in front of the gates of Lumbridge style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA few dogs barked in the distance, and several patrolling guards clattered along on the other side of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs the wind howled I opened the door to my house, and stepped inside, shutting it behind me, my family was lucky to have a solid brick house, most of the farmers around Lumbridge lived in board homes, well constructed mind you, but terrible at insulting heat, and prone to catching fire./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAt the center of the main room was a table, where my family ate most dinners, not hugely fancy, but sturdy and well worn, my father was sitting at it when I stepped style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs I unfastened my sword belt and hung it on the rack next to the door, he looked up at me with melancholy blue eyes, a small box in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe turned the box over in his left hand, while he smoothed out his blonde hair with his right, seemingly lost in contemplation./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Is something wrong?" I asked as I undid my coat, and walked over to the fireplace to hang it./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""No, no, nothing is wrong..." He replied, he seemed strained, as though he didn't want to tell me something./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Ok, if nothing is wrong, why do you look like you just got back from a funeral?" I replied, sitting down on the chair across from him./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""I suppose I have to tell you eventually." He finally resigned, placing the box on the table./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was an ornate box, gold in colour, with intricate Al-Kharidian designs covering its surface, and a large smooth sapphire in the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile I guessed it was a container of some sort, I could see no obvious locking mechanism or style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter studying it for a moment, I looked up at my father./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""This belonged to mom, didn't it?" I said, understanding why he seemed mournful./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Yes, but more accurately, it belonged to the old Al-Kharidian royal family, your mother fled with it when she came to Lumbridge."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe paused for a moment, "It technically belongs to you now."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Why did mom have something from the Al-Kharidian royal family?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked, suspecting that the statement had already answered my question./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I suppose she never did tell you…"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy father trailed off for a moment./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Dad!" I exclaimed, pulling him back to reality as tears began forming in his eyes./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"Taking a deep breath, he answered in a shaky voice, "She was a member of the Al-Kharidian royal family."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI sat, without speaking for a moment, unsure of how to react to the new information, then came a knock at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs my father stood to answer the door, I took the box he had set on the table in my hands and turned over a few times, getting a feel for its weight and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe opened the door, revealing the wealthiest man in Lumbridge, Lord style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStanding there, his rich, red cloak blew in the cold breeze, and his expression was hard to read, neutral behind his dark glasses, which obscured his eyes style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis grey beard and hair were well trimmed and kempt, and he carried a blue cane in his right hand, topped with a massive red gemstone./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Good evening, may I come in?" He asked./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Yes sir, come right in, I'll fetch some tea." My father answered, and a slight bow, before rushing over to the kitchen./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanLord Roddeck stepped inside, unbuttoned his cloak and hung it on the same rack as my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter securing his cloak, he took two long strides, the tip of his cane tapping the floor as he moved over to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith his free hand he pulled out a chair and sat, lightly, as though he weighed very style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe leaned the cane against his inner left thigh, then steepled his hands, elbows resting on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis gaze was fixed squarely upon me, and the box in my hand./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEmbarrassed, I began to rise to stow the box away from style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe raised a hand to stop me./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""My dear boy, please, place the box on the table."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe said, gesturing to the empty table./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanObeying his request, I placed the ornate box back on the table, and sat back down, perplexed./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""I imagine you have many questions right now."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe said, reaching into an inner pocket of his jacket, "I can answer many of them."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe produced a short pipe, and some tobacco./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWith swift, practiced movements, he filled the pipe, then used a short burst of fire magic to light it./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""Why would you be able to answer my questions?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked him, sounding far too contemptuous./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe took a long drag on his pipe, then style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe raised his right hand (the hand not holding the pipe), and removed his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis eyes were completely red, except for a dark pentagram in the middle, I started for a moment, then felt my body freeze./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""I must apologize for startling you, but our conversation must take place where no time may pass."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe spoke, his voice emanating style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI felt my body unfreeze, and I fell into my chair./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Y-your eyes!"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI exclaimed./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""A gift from an ancient being." Lord Roddeck replied, taking another drag on his pipe./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanTaking another moment to absorb this new information, I sat agape./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We must move onto more important topics than appearance, I'm afraid."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck said, leaning over the table and extending his free hand./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanExtending only his index and middle fingers, Lord Roddeck drew a shape in the air, which crackled with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe shape resembled a cross with a loop at the top but surrounded by two overlapping style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOnce he was satisfied that the shape was correct, he pointed at the box, and the shape moved over and wrapped around it, before vanishing in an effect resembling the look and sound of shattering glass./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What did you do to it?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked, in a tone closer to demanding./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I undid the seal, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPlease pick up the box."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck replied./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;"Before asking anymore questions, I picked up the box from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanImmediately the sapphire on the top of the box began to glow, warming the object, and slowly increasing in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanGradually the writing began to light up as style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA moment later the box began elongating, the only part not changing being the large style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt continued changing, lengthening, and curving, until I held a sword in my hand./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt had a hilt that easily fit both my hands, and where the hilt met the blade, the large sapphire sat, the hilt seeming to terminate into it, and the blade sprouting from style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe blade was about five feet in length, going straight from the hilt for about a foot, before curving upward with the hooked tip forming an imaginary line with the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe blade was covered in the same writing that had been on the box, the hilt seemed to be wrapped in a reddish-brown style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDespite its size, it felt light in my hand, or at least not any heavier than the sword I usually wielded./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle""What is this?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked, wistfully./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That, dear boy, is the sword of Kharid, which was wielded by the leader of the rebellion that overthrew the Menaphic Empire and drove the Menaphites deep into the desert during the last age."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck answered, gazing at the sword with a venerable expression, "The blade was coated in gold and enchanted by the now extinct mystics who once dwelled on the land where Al-Kharid now style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt will never break or grow dull so long as a member of his bloodline still lives."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;""Then Al-Kharid is named after him, and the royal family were his descendants?"/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The royal family ARE his descendants."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck said, looking me in the eyes with a serious expression upon his face, "Kharid's bloodline is not extinct."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe room seemed to spin around me, if what Lord Roddeck had said was true, I was a member of a royal style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI placed the sword down on the table, and leaned over onto the rough surface myself, trying to steady my head, and absorb everything he had style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt both made sense and didn't at the same time./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If my mother was royalty, then why did she marry my father?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"After the revolution in Al-Kharid, and the expulsion of the royal family, your maternal grandfather, the last Oryx of Al-Kharid thought it would be best if they resided among the citizenry of Lumbridge in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYour mother eventually fell in love and married the son of a poor farming family, much to the chagrin of her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis house originally belonged to your maternal grandfather, gifted to him by the Duke of Lumbridge so that he could live comfortably and in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter he died, its ownership fell to your mother."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck said, before taking a long drag on his pipe, which he exhaled through his nose./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, does that make me the heir to the throne or something?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI jokingly asked./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd it is a throne you must reclaim."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck replied, his tone of voice devoid of any humour./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe weight of the situation and the revelations hung heavy upon me, my whole world had just shifted, for the second time in as many style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEverything Roddeck had said, seemed to imply that a plan had already been devised to see the reinstatement of the Al-Kharidian monarchy, and which placed me at its style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnyone else would have leapt at the opportunity to become a king, but it felt crushing to me, like a destiny whose fulfilment would rob me of any other destiny or choice./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can't do that."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI finally said, breaking the silence./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There are forces greater than you at play in this world, boy, and you have a role to play in maintaining the balance between them."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLord Roddeck replied, "I'm afraid until the matter is settled you don't have a choice in the matter."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI turned over what he said for a moment in my mind for a while before style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI lacked the complete picture, but what I knew was that the monarchy in Al-Kharid had been overthrown, meaning that they had done something that the people didn't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was also evident that Roddeck, and possibly the Duke of Lumbridge and the kings of the neighbouring Kingdoms, wanted to reinstate the Al-Khardian royal family, seemingly against the wishes of the Al-Kharidian people./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My mother told me that it was the people of Al-Kharid who overthrew the monarchy, not some outside style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat right do I have to go there and say that I'm going to reinstate it?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked, staring Roddeck straight in the eyes./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy statement seemed to surprise style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe leaned back in his chair, and cracked a smile, before bursting into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis reaction irritated me greatly./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I must apologize, I had not realized just how intelligent you were, your mother had said you had a great mind, but evidently I misjudged just how great."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe took a moment to collect himself before continuing, "Your mother never had the full story regarding the importance of the Al-Kharidian style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe chose to forgo it, in favour of building a life here in Lumbridge, a decision that those of us who know of the ancient powers disagreed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNevertheless, we respected her decision, your grandfather and I, but if your willing, I would like you to know the truth, and before you make any final decisions on the matter of assisting us."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI considered what he said before answering, "Alright, tell me."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Dear boy I will do more than just tell you, allow me to show you."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck's eyes began glowing and the room slowly melted away from around us./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanSuddenly below us was a bird's eye view of the Royal City of Al-Kharid, showing people milling about their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe seemed to be standing on nothing, but we didn't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck stood beside me, his cane in hand, he looked down upon the city with a great style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanTurning to me, he began to speak, "fifteen hundred years ago, during the age of the God Wars, the Menaphic Empire formed under the auspices of a cult of Zaros worshippers, controlled the entirety of the deserts of Gielinor, and a stretch of territory extending just east of the modern city of Varrock."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image below us zoomed out, and the entirety of the vast territory became visible./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"They administered this entire territory from their capital in the city of Uzer."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck gestured with his cane./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image shifted back to the desert and raced east over the dunes until a sprawling city made of sandstone along the shore of an ocean came into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt appeared to have a thriving port, and great fountains sprouted from the ground making the whole settlement an style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThousands of people walked the streets, and all seemed happy, and content./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The city was only possibly due to the magics that the priests learned from their deity, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey created water from nothing and made great fountains across the city and empire."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck almost seemed nostalgic looking the image of the ancient city./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why do I get the idea that it wasn't paradise for everyone who lived there?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI asked./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Because it wasn't, the only regions to which the priests gave water, were regions populated by ethnic style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey considered the rest to be beneath their notice."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image shifted to a desert settlement half swallowed by the sand, "Those in the cities they conquered had their wells evaporated and were left to suffer under the heel of the empire."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, a rebellion started."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI speculated./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Indeed, but, it was led by one of the Menaphites style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHis name was Kharid Hassan, the son of Menaphic merchants, he was conscripted into the Menaphic Legion and witnessed the horror of war."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOnce again, the image shifted, moving north, and zooming into an area that looked to be just east of Lumbridge, only, instead of the desert that bordered modern Lumbridges eastern border, the temperate climate of Lumbridge extended all the way to the River Salve, on the other side of modern-day Al-Kharid./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Wait this can't be right."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI said aloud without realising./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are keen to have noticed."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck replied, stopping the shifting image with a tap of his cane, "The deserts of Al-Kharid once only existed south of the Shantay Pass, but we will discuss that in a moment."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoddeck tapped his cane again, and the image zoomed in on a column of marching style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were dressed in leather armour and carried spears and a long shield like a rectangle with half circles at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanstrapped to there belts were swords similar in shape to the golden one that had sprung from my mother's box, except they were not ornamental in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOn their shields was a design with a purple cross with equal lengths in its four directions superimposed onto a similarly coloured style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBeneath that was an emblem I didn't recognize, a sort of cobra but with a crown on its head./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe soldiers looked weary and battered./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"At the time, the Menaphites were at war with several of their neighbours, in particular the Morytanian Empire to the east, the Kingdoms of Mist and Halin to the west, the Empire of Corbinith to the northwest, and the Daemonheim Tribe from the northeast."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image shifted north, and an image of a raging battle appeared, then zoomed onto a single soldier, "Kharid was an average warrior, but he had an intelligent mind, and could use a very minute amount of magic."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe soldier's weapons had been knocked from his grip, and a massive brute wielding a large cudgel was bearing down on style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe soldier raised his hand and a column of flame shot forth and struck the oncoming man, causing him to reel backward in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe soldier seemed to breath a of relief, but also appeared to be in pain./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"At this battle, the Battle of Canifis, Kharid's legion was cut off in their retreat by a surprise attack from the Kingdom of Halin and most of his peers were style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat saved him however, was the keen eye of a Halinian mystic, who had witnessed him use his limited magic abilities."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe time in the image seemed to speed up, and a woman dressed in a dark blue robe and wearing a bone white chest plate, helmet, and greaves, "She prevent his execution and had him brought to her tower, on an island just south of Halin."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The mages tower." I breathed./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The very same."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image shifted south westward, arriving at a small tower sitting on an otherwise barren island, a pier and a small sailboat the only indication that it was connected to anything, "Kharid at first was hostile to his saviour, not trusting one who he still considered his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut, over time, he began to warm to her generosity."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image shifted to an interior view of the tower, where Kharid was now dressed in the same dark blue robe as the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe stood at the centre of the tower, weaving magic all around himself, under the instruction of the woman from earlier./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Haedde/em, taught him that the Menaphic ideology of superiority was wrong, and that true strength came from the unification of different groups of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs well, she refined his magical abilities, making him a seasoned style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKharid stayed there for ten years, while the war between his homeland and its neighbours continued."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTime seemed to pass in the image, and Kharid appeared older, and now wore the same bone white armour that Headde had been wearing during the battle, "He decided to journey back to his homeland."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image shifted outward, showing Kharid leaving the island on the boat, then sailing to a dock on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had pulled up his hood, obscuring his olive coloured skin, and amber eyes which identified him as a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen he began walking, the image seemed to represent the passage of time, which I instinctively knew to be months./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"When he arrived, he found that his homeland had not been pushed back from the north, but that riots had gripped many parts of the empire."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image shifted to the city of Uzer, where a group of soldiers barred the path of a mob of people in ragged clothes, "The subjugated population had been secretly supplied and spurred on by the enemies of the Menaphites, to sow chaos within the Menaphic style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis is what Kharid returned to, and with the knew perspective that he had cultivated in Halin, he became angry at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUsing his magic, he blasted down the gates and Uzer and incinerated the guards along its walls, allowing the mob to pour into the city style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat followed was a massacre."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIn the image Kharid seemed to float above the crowd, and then a blast of pure energy shot forth from his outstretched hands, smashing into the gates of the city, and reducing them to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWidening his gesture, multiple columns of fire shot forth and struck the guards as they tried to stop the mob from entering the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith guards and the gate gone, the disgruntled people entered the city and began attacking any Menaphites they could see./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Almost the entire Menaphite population of the city was killed, and the mob pressed in on the palace where the Emperor of Menaphos style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThere, they were stopped by the Imperial Guard, and the battle reached a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen Kharid intervened again, he used his magic to teleport inside the palace, and confront the emperor directly."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image zoomed into the palace, "He told the emperor that he could guarantee safe passage for him out of the city so long as he agreed to stop persecuting style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe emperor, but only to get out of the city, once he was out, he prayed to his god Zaros, and begged him to bring retribution upon the people who had taken his capital city."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image shifted out of the castle and to the gates of the city, where the emperor and his family and personnel stood next to Kharid outside the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Kharid was happy with what he thought was a swift resolution to a potentially bloody conflict, but it was not to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanZaros brought godly fury down upon the city and reduced it to smoking style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe people in it were reduced to charred corpses, and the emperor attempted to kill Kharid in the confusion."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA pillar of light descended upon the image of the city and incarnated it./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe emperor reached out and took a golden scimitar from one of his guards, the weapon appeared to have some ornamental or ceremonial style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanUsing the khopesh, which looked exactly like the one that had emerged from Acelian's mother's box, the emperor plunged it into Kharid's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt stuck out the other side, and he dropped to his knees./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The emperor then fled south to the holy city Menaphos to establish a new capital."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe image showed the emperor and his entourage leaving the smoking ruins of his old capital, and the still shuddering body of Kharid, "Kharid's life was saved by people who had been hiding among the dunes as the mob took the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey took him to a secret altar, dedicated to the god Saradomin, and begged the deity to help the man who had breached the Menaphites style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe god obliged."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image shifted to a dark room, with an altar topped with a four-pointed star, sprawled before it, and the sword that had stabbed through his stomach next to him, was Kharid, his breathing appeared shallow, and he was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBefore him, all bowing to the shrine were a group of people dressed in simple brown style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen the altar glowed blue, and blue light enveloped Kharid, and the sword./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The god healed Kharid and bound his blood to the sword which had tried to take his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSaradomin blessed the sword to never dull or break so long as Kharid's blood still flowed."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIn the image, the blue light faded, and Kharid stood, then picked up the sword, and raised it above his head, "The sword became a symbol, and united the various factions of dissidents across the entirety of the Menaphites style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKharid then lead them on a long march, battling the Menaphites Legions, and pushing them further south toward their holy city of Menaphos."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image changed, showing a raging battle at the edge of a temperate forest filled with oak and birch trees, and a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKharid fought with a combination of magic, and swordplay, repulsing whole companies of Menaphite style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBehind him, a force comprised of men and women in ragged clothes clashed with the uniformed soldiers of Menaphos./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"At the battle of Shantay's Pass, the Kharidians, as they had come to call themselves, defeated and shattered Menaphos's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith certain victory within their grasp, the rebels were very hopeful, then Zaros struck again."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA flash of light struck the forward ranks of the Kharidian's army, "Though all seemed lost, another god intervened and saved them."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA blue flash suddenly rose up from the sword wielded by Kharid and formed a barrier against the encroaching power of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs the light faded, two figures floating in the air became style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOne had blue skin, and was wrapped in delicate looking white robes, and bore a neatly trimmed white style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAtop his head he wore a crown with a four-pointed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe other wore dark purple robes under bronze coloured armour that was shaped to look like it had hands gripping the edges of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had a purple hood and wore a circular mask with triangular shapes arraigned in a cirle, creating the effect of a deep indentation./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Zaros and Saradomin themselves manifested before the Khardians and the Menaphites."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe two figures suddenly lunged at each other, clashing in spectular displays of power, "They fought, as they had done for centuries before, and in the process, reduced the once lush lands that existed in the region to a barren desert."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe image flashed, and the battle seemed to be over, Saradomin still floated, his clothes torn, and his crown style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAll that remained of Zaros was a glowing purple sphere, the armies of Menaphos fled before the terribly powerful style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Kharidians rushed past Kharid who stood staring at Saradomin in awe./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Saradomin gave Kharid the essence of Zaros, which would come to be known as the Eye of Despair, in order that be safeguarded against those who would use it's power for evil."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe whole image was covered in a blinding white flash then suddenly we were back in my house, sitting at the table as if nothing had style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe sat in silence, myself trying to regain my bearings, Lord Roddeck's because he looked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFinally, after a moment I looked up at him, considering everything that he had said, and everything I had just style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI could feel sweat dripping from my forehead./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Acelian, you are an intelligent young man, why do you think the Al-Kharidian monarchy was overthrown?"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck asked, leaning forward over the table./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It was the Menaphites." I gasped, the whole experience had taxed me greatly./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Indeed, it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter the Battle of Shantay's Pass, the Menaphites were severely reduced in number, most of the survivors fled to their holy city of Menaphos and sealed its walls, hoping to preserve what little territory they still had style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKharid used the Eye of Despair to create an impassable sandstorm around the city, so that no one could find it, much less leave or enter it." Roddeck took a deep breath and sighed heavily, "After the sealing of Menaphos, the entire region was renamed Al-Kharid by the people who Kharid had led to victory over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanZaros worship was outlawed, and Kharid became the first Oryx of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter order had been restored, he used a simple spell to transform the golden sword he had wielded in the war, into the box, or more accurately, brick, that then passed down the royal line to you."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"But that wasn't the end of the Menaphites was it?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd this sword has more significance than just being the one he wielded doesn't it?"/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Right on both style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe survivors of the legions that had been shattered at Shantay's Pass were trapped outside of Menaphos when it was sealed and went into hiding deep in the Kharidian Desert, raiding caravans and plotting their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHowever, they never had the power or numbers to affect a coup d'état, until about thirty years ago./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thirty years ago, they learned how Menaphos had been style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe seal utilized the nascent power of Zaros himself from the Eye of Despair and generated the intense winds that sealed the city of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, they launched an attack, and managed to kill most of the royal family, safe for your maternal grandfather who was the last Oryx, and your mother."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck took a drag on his pipe./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And the sword?" I asked impatiently./p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"While sealed in its box form, it is the key to the chamber nestled deep below the palace of Al-Kharid, where the Eye of Despair is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf the Eye of Despair is taken from the chamber, it would be possible to use it to cut through the sandstorms surrounding Menaphos."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck stared at me with hard eyes, "Luckily for us, your grandfather took the box when he fled Al-Kharid, so that the chamber would remain style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut the chamber is old and was not created using the power of a god, so its enchantments have faded significantly over the last fifteen hundred style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt is a miracle it has not yet been breached yet."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Then why would I bring the key back to Al-Kharid, wouldn't it be safer to send it away somewhere?"/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Because the box is also the Sword of Kharid, and thus has the power to unite the clans of Al-Kharid who have grown apart in the wake of the collapse of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIf one who can wield the Sword of Kharid comes to Al-Kharid, they will follow him, because the legends they worship say that only one of Kharid's blood can wield the sword, and they are bound to follow Kharid's bloodline."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRoddeck reached over to touch the sword, but his hand was struck by a jolt of power, "Acelian, you are the only person who can wield that sword and unite the clans of Al-Kharid against the return of the Menaphites."/p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpMiddle" /p
p class="MsoNoSpacingCxSpLast"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs Roddeck finished his speech, he replaced his glasses, and my father entered carrying a platter with a teapot and three cups./p