The Saga of the Stones

 There was a legend, as it was told, that a great cataclysm would come, signaling the end of the world. At that time, 12 stones would appear, each unique and distinct, as a gift from the gods to the people. And for as long as all 12 stones were in the possession of different people, fire would rain from the heavens upon the land. And it was said that as the cataclysm drew near, 8 heroes empowered by the stones would arrive at a mountain, and using the sacred power bestowed upon them, they would prevent the world from being destroyed, for a time, but that eventually the process would repeat. And so it was that this legend became well known throughout the world, as a religion was established that spread this legend, and taught that all should be in prayer that the gods would not rescind their promise to provide what would be their one hope: the stones, when the end of time came.

“You will never get my stone! Even if I die, you will not have it!” The hunched over man said, as he leaned upon his staff.

“You must hand it over, and come with us, or this world is to be doomed, do you not understand?” Carol exclaimed to him.

“I will do everything I can do prevent you from taking it.” He yelled, before he began casting his magic at her. Carol did not understand why this had to be so hard, but nevertheless, she was dedicated to ensuring that she had the stones needed to prevent the end from coming.

Carol dodged his first fireball, and was thrown back when a bolt of lightning struck her short sword, sending it flying out of her hand. She landed on the ground, prone. As the hunched man raised his staff to cast one final spell to finish her off, Carol’s companion, who had been hiding just in case, struck him from behind.

“I told you that trying to negotiate would probably fail, love. Believe me now?” Ferrik said to her.

“It is not that I didn’t believe you, it was simply that I hoped it need not be so.”

“Right, so where did he keep that stone?” Ferrik stated as he searched the body of the man. After several minutes of searching, he found the stone. He touched it, and it glowed, swiftly he placed it into his pouch.

“The rain of fire has not stopped.” Carol stated, as she looked at the sky in the distance.

“This must mean that all 12 stones are still in the hands of different people. Just as the gods ordained it.”

Ferrik and Carol had been in the regrettable situation of being the first chosen by the stones to perform whatever rite was needed to save the world. They had been lucky, however, to meet before this fate had been bestowed upon them, and now were travelling companions, attempting to gather the stones or the stone bearers, to take them to the mountain they believed may hold the key to saving the world from its inevitable demise.

“Still, doesn’t the passage say that only 8 people and 8 stones are needed to prevent the cataclysm?” Ferrik asked, following up on the thought of losing one of the stones.

“Yes, and that means there are 4 more stones than needed, and 4 more bearers of those stones who may cause us trouble yet.” Carol replied. When Carol and Ferrik arrived back at the inn where they had been staying nearby, Frieda came up to them, excited.

“So, guys, did you get another stone?” She asked. They smiled, indicating that the stone was safe. "Excellent, has the rain of fire stopped?" They shook their heads, and Frieda sighed.

“Now, now, Frieda, things will improve, I promise! We will find the last bearers needed, and make our way to the mountain!” Carol said to comfort her.

“I was so excited to get a stone. I had thought ‘finally, it is my chance to do something useful!’, but so far all it’s been is walking around and occasionally talking to people who don’t do anything to help us out!” Frieda moaned. Zephyr walked down the stairs from his room.

“Come, now, Frieda. You know that we are fortunate to have already found each other. After all, by any account, there is no way we should have been able to gather over half the people we need to end these miserable days.” Zephyr said, comfortingly.

“Over half? I think you misunderstand. We only have the four of us, and only five stones! Over half means nothing if we don't have all we need.” Frieda responded. “Is that so? Because I do recall that Gordon has a stone, and could be able to assist with the quest we find ourselves upon.”

“Come now, Zephyr, let us not forget that last we spoke to him, Gordon was too concerned with how it might affect his passengers if he were to leave his ship to come with us to the mountain. We could hardly say that he is on our side. He showed no interest in coming to our aid. His concern lies only with himself.” Carol stated in exasperation.

“Trust me, I know Gordon. The only reason he is concerned about leaving his ship is because of the war going on right now on the continent. His main concerns are the people living aboard. Let us not forget that his ship has become nothing short of a refugee nation. And as usual, a nation without a leader will soon find itself overtaken by those who recognize the vacuum of power at the top.”

“I know that, but we have the fate of more than a single nation of people on our hands. Should our mission fail, we have no assurances there will be anywhere left for anyone to live, and we are quickly running out of time.”

“Please, Carol, let us not over-react here. It is true that the situation is grim, but the rain of fire has still not reached landfall. It still sizzles out before it gets low enough to the ground to harm anything.”

“Have you so quickly forgotten? The rain of fire is not the cataclysm we are trying to prevent. It is merely the omen that the time is coming.”

“Still, we should get some rest, and determine what to do, and where we should go tomorrow. We can save the fighting for when our mission is complete.” Frieda stated, attempting to break up their fight.

So the party did decide to get some rest, after a well-deserved meal.

Meanwhile, a continent away, the war raged on between the nations of Filian and Cordareux. Thousands upon thousands of men were clashing steel upon steel, spilling red in the fields and trampling fallen enemies and comrades alike to try to gain an advantage.

"Another group of refugees just came in, Captain." The second in command stated to Gordon, as he entered the bridge. "Also, it appears that we have a message that arrived for you."

"Great, just what we need: more problems. Where is the message?" Gordon asked. The second in command passed a letter to him. Gordon knew who it was from and what it would say just by the seal on the letter. "That fool, Zephyr. Probably demanding that I leave my post to help his forsaken quest to gather the stones."

Gordon opened the letter. Sure enough, it was an update from Zephyr stating they had found a fifth stone, and were only two away from being able to make the pilgrimage to the sacred mountain. Before he managed to finish reading, there was a loud scuffle outside which drew his attention away. Stepping out on his ship, Gordon saw that several of the refugees that had just arrived from Cordareux were fighting with the refugees that had already been onboard hailing from Filian. Attempting to keep the peace as the captain of a ship that is also a nation which roams the seas (because of its size), was always a difficult task, but he had plenty of experience in settling these scuffles.

"You there! If you want to fight, then get off my ship and go back to the battlefields. I'm sure the military would love to have some fresh meat to help with watering those fields in blood. But if you want to survive, then you will stop fighting on my ship, lest I kill you myself!" He yelled, angrily.

And as quickly as the fighting had started, he had ended it. Fights like these were becoming more frequent as the ship continued to accept refugees, and the tensions kept rising due to the ongoing nature of the war. Going back to the letter, Gordon finished reading it. Sure enough, there were the words he had expected. If in any way you can help us, we need you and the stone in your possession. Gordon spat in frustration. Zephyr clearly did not understand how fragile the system on his ship is. Without him around, no doubt the fighting would not stop, and then his ship would be a new battleground for the same war the refugees have been attempting to escape.

Nevermind the fools who are warring, Gordon thought. After all, anyone foolish enough to believe that fighting over the sacred mountain, instead of focusing on performing the ritual atop it to save everyone, was a good idea, clearly did not have priorities in the right place. And yet, there were two. Both Filian and Cordareux had people in charge who thought that they could leverage saving the world on the sacred mountain as a reason why they should be sovereign, and to that extent, they had fought for control of the mountain. 

Zephyr, Carol, Ferrik, and Frieda were just about to depart the inn when two people dressed oddly for the weather came inside, carrying a third who seemed to be wounded. As they entered, the stones that the party had warmed, and began to glow.

Zephyr ran to the side of the injured man. "Let me help, I have some supplies that I can use to patch him up." The man's two companions, one who was a boy in his 20s and another a woman appearing to be middle-aged, thanked Zephyr for his help.

"I'm Marco, and this is Aelia. What is your name, stranger?" Marco asked.

"I am Zephyr. And those are my travelling companions: Carol, Ferrik, and Frieda. We are looking for something important, and I believe you may know something about that."

Aelia looked away, as if she was concerned about the fact Zephyr was referring to something valuable. Zephyr knew by that look, and by the way the stones had reacted, Aelia was a bearer, and it was possible Marco was also. To ease their apprehension, he produced his stone after he finished bandaging their companion.

"I am a bearer of the stone, as are my friends. We are trying to find enough stones and bearers to stop the cataclysm that is sure to be fast approaching." Aelia seemed to relax a little.

"Marco and I are also bearers. So is our friend, Doran, but someone attacked us and stole his stone. He has been getting worse over time. I was fearful for his life, but we have no supplies or money to get a doctor." Aelia stated.

"I wonder..." Zephyr said aloud, "Ferrik! Come here a moment."

"Yes, Zephyr, what's up? That guy doesn't look so good."

"Better now than before I tended to his wounds. Say, if you still have the stone you just acquired, do you think you could lend it to me for a moment?"

"Of course I still have it. I wouldn't dare go losing something like that. Also, we're on the same team, so I have no issues with handing it over. After all, we only really need one for each of us." Ferrik handed over the stone. Zephyr immediately placed the stone in the hand of Doran, and as he did, Doran awoke.

"Whoa! Where are we, guys?" Doran immediately asked Marco and Aelia.

"Amazing! I didn't realize the stones had this kind of power." Marco exclaimed.

"I believe that the stone I just put in Doran's hand may have been the one taken from him. Doran, does that stone appear familiar."

"I would swear it is the same. But how did you come by it, and what do you know of the stones?" He responded.

"A rather unscrupulous character was in possession of this stone, or so I hear. And Marco, would you also happen to be a bearer?" Zephyr asked.

"Indeed. But I am worried that we may not be able to stop the cataclysm. Even if we were to join forces, we would be one short."

"Nonsense. We have an 8th who would help us, he just needs to know it's worthwhile." Zephyr replied.

Gordon was just returning to his cabin when he felt a jolt of energy run down his spine, and suddenly heard Zephyr as clearly as if Zephyr had been standing next to him.

"Gordon, I know you are hesitant to leave your ship, but we have found three other bearers and stones. Together we now number seven, and eight if we can count on you. We have been friends for years, Gordon, and I hope that you will be waiting for us on the sacred mountain. It may be our only hope to save not only your ship, but the entire world."

Gordon regained control of his faculties, and muttered to himself how he hates it when people use magic on him, and how inconvenient it was that he was being asked to abandon his ship in order to travel through a war zone.

As Zephyr, Aelia, Marco, Doran, Carol, Frieda, and Ferrik were on their way to the mountain, they arrived at the edge of the battlefield upon which the Filian soldiers were making their advance further into the ranks of their opposition. Knowing that there was no way around that would allow them to reach the mountain swiftly, the group ventured into the fray.

Zephyr used his haste magic to fire arrows at high speeds, dispatching soldiers that came to slice him up before they could reach him.

Carol avoided arrows and the occasional sword strike by blocking with her shield, and using her short sword, she dispatched those who barred her way, thinking her an enemy.

Ferrik did not have to make any motions to disable anyone on the battlefield, as his stealth was unparalleled, leaving enemies confused when they lost sight of him mere moments after he appeared.

Aelia and Frieda both sang magical tunes which shielded them from the blows of the people around them, although they still had to stay behind Carol to avoid being hit by the projectiles.

Marco used his hand-to-hand combat skills to disarm and disable any threats near him, and was even able to deflect projectiles using scraps on the battlefield and perfect aim.

Doran used his ring to keep him aware of his surroundings, his blade helped him fight off his enemies, and his shield blocked a portion of the things that came toward him, although not as effectively as Carol's.

After an hour of fighting their way through the battlefield, the group arrived at the base of the mountain. Though everyone was tired, they were too concerned about making sure that they stopped the cataclysm to rest.

As the party headed up the mountain, fire began raining upon them in large spheres. Each ball of fire hit with the force of a boulder hurled from a catapult. The party combined what power they had to avoid the few that they could not dodge alone, but this took even more energy.

Just as they saw the summit, an exceptionally large fireball came straight for the party. Everyone was too tired to do anything to stop it. In that one instant, each of them felt as if it was certain that the world was doomed.

Just then, Gordon jumped out of a nearby den, and fired his harpoon gun at the fireball, causing it to explode midair.

"Gordon! You came!" Carol yipped, excitedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Let's get this over with. The moment people realize I'm gone, everything is going to go to hell in a handbasket unless we stop this."

As the eight of them arrived at the summit, two others stood there, in dark and drab clothing, emitting an aura of malice, their silhouettes strong against the pure white background of the snow. Each of them held a stone, and together they began casting spells at the group.

It was a desperate battle, but after the fighting was over, somehow they had survived. The casters that had attacked them were not so fortunate. Although they survived, they were all seriously hurt and completely exhausted.

Gathering in a circle, the eight heroes said a prayer passed down by the religion, and just as their scriptures said, the rain of fire stopped, and the clouds that had enveloped the world dissipated. The last of their strength waned, and the heroes fell into the snow.

And so legend went that there were 8 heroes who stopped the cataclysm from occurring, wielding 8 stones gifted to them by the gods. It was said that whenever trouble arose, calling on the names of the heroes would cause them to lend their strength. Rumor has it, though, that somewhere, there are still two with the power of the stones, who still seek to destroy the world, waiting for the next time fire rains from above.