Prologue

1000 years ago, in the land of Eselia, the ruling class of greater men called the Ringmen ordered for a Lady of the people of Fate to bare the head of the Craftsmen Fraternity, called Craftsmaster, four sons. They married, as was tradition, and left for the lands west of the capital. When the Craftsmaster found a valley to his liking he built the Shadow forge, so that he could continue his life's work.

Eventually, the lady did have the first son. When he was born the Craftsmaster called him Izodir. The Craftsmaster and the lady both loved him and cherished his life. In his youth, Izodir took after his father, and dedicated his life to learning everything about the blade, both how to wield and work the steel. The second son came four years after Izodir. They named him Magirim, because he was born on the Centennial of the last wizard's defeat. Naturally, Magirim found his talents in magic. He could move great stones, command water, and even speak fire. Magirim was known as the Lady's favorite son, and he took after her compassionate ways. The third son was born two years after Magirim. He refused his name after he learned what it meant, and later in his youth he took on the title of General. True to his name, the General devoted his time to the tactics and leadership found in wartime. He was not favored by either parents but was given respect and admiration by his brothers. Ten years after the General was born came Eloki. Eloki spent his days pestering his older brothers, and sneaking around all of the time. Intelligent and sharp witted, he always knew the news before anybody else, and was always too quite.

The family was happy in their days and stayed together for some time, until the Lady and the Craftsmaster were laid to rest. The brothers agreed to abandon the Shadow forge and go their own ways to have their own adventures. Izodir went to the south to start his own forge. Through his life he brought peace and advice to the people of that land, and taught them how to smith great weapons. For a time they prospered with him. Magirim's adventures took him to the great northern mountains. At the end of his travels he rescued a village from bandit attacks and raids. To honor him they built his Mages tower and there he stayed and lived. The General went were ever there was war; which was constantly in the barbaric regions of Sadoc Min. There he established himself as a warlord and brought order to the confusion of their battle. Eloki went to the cities in the east. There he did what he did best, amusing himself with sneaking and stealing from the richest and highest, only to give it to the people in the lows.

The brothers lived their lives as they set out to do, but when they felt the end of their time coming they set out for the shadow forge. When the brothers reunited they agreed to set their lives knowledge into a single great weapon, each responsible for their own piece. What they forged was a mighty blade they named the Steel of Greater Fate. On the eve of their death the Ringmen were assassinated, and the great Capitol was razed to the ground. The Craftsmen disappeared when the empire asked for help and the People of Fate fled to back to their origin, where none could find them. This night was remembered in history as the Dread Night.

The Steel of Greater Fate could not have come a better time, but alas, it was never found. Many men searched for the master sword, and all lived their lives in failure of their endeavors. 100 years later a new nation was born of the people of Moc Arden. Governed by the Valen Council, an Academy was built to train the army, officers, smiths, and politicians that would keep the Dread Night from happening again. And for a time it was good.

For a time.

Book 1 Ashes

Prologue

"How do I know you are who you say you are? Hmm? Your people are forgotten even by our scholars, and historians. Your race hasn't been seen in nine centuries! How do you a peasant girl know of these things?" Chancellor Kanen could keep his cool under any circumstances; he was after all, a politician. But what this girl had just demanded smacked of disrespect and disregard for his office, and he could never tolerate this kind of nonsense.