The Iris King

by Jason McCracken

Part one of the Iris Treasure Chronicles, based, of course, on the Iris Treasures of the Ancient Cave in Lufia II. Includes the preface to the Chronicles as a whole, as well.

1. Preface

Author's Notes:

I've taken a small break from the ROTS Novel to do some side ideas with some originality (to an extent). Fanfiction on the Iris Treasures. Read and let me know if you like or don't like.

Preface

Herein lies a collection of stories from an ancient time that concern themselves with what are called the Iris Treasures, the fabled armor of the Iris King of Lugh. They are told to have shone every color of the rainbow and provided those who possessed them with extraordinary powers and protection. The ten Iris Treasures were a ring, jeweled necklace, the suit of armor, helmet, tiara, sword, shield, staff, a pot, and the Ancient treasure. To this day some people believe these treasures to be housed within the mysterious Ancient Cave which is located northwest of the town of Aleyn in Northland. The rough seas and local folklore keep people from delving into this series of caves, however, which only helps the legend to grow.

This collection below will give the reader a good grasp on the most ancient and reliable sources we have for the Iris Treasure myths. I have been the first to undertake the translation of these works through the written word. There are various oral traditions of these myths that have been passed down through generations and numerous cultures, but this work goes back to the earliest extant manuscripts for its content. In so doing, you will receive the short translations of the text. Longer versions of the myths from a later period do exist, yet I have not undertaken a translation of these, opting for the most primitive forms of the tales.

The desire to share these translations has come out of writing down an account of Sir Maxim of Elcid and his friends' quest, culminating in the First Doom Island War, which is recorded in The Rise of the Sinistrals. Upon his journey he learned a bit about the legend of the Iris Treasures through a shipbuilder (ROTS, book two, chapter two) and used to tell me that he always wanted to learn more about the Iris Treasures. Although, it was Sir Guy of Tanbel and Sir Dekar of Bound Kingdom who always wanted to explore the Ancient Cave to find if the legends about it were true. My curiosity was peaked and I hope that yours was (or is) as well.

So, what follows are four written pieces concerning the Iris Treasures. First comes the story of the birth of the Iris Treasures themselves. In the second section the two prophecies, which we have in written form, concerning those treasures are shared. Third, we have what is popularly called the Legend of the Ancient Cave, involving the young king Kekoa and his greed. Lastly, we have the most popular story, which involves Erol and his search for these treasures in a time of dire need for his people.