by Tony Johnson
All characters and locations in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without written permission by its owner.
Printed in the United States of America.
First Edition – January 2013
Copyright © 2013 Anthony Johnson
All rights reserved.
Maps drawn by Tony Johnson
Map of Element
Map of Celestial
Dedication
Dedicated to my family: Dad, Mom, Ted, Ben, Dawn, and my dog and best friend, Rudy. To my grandparents and extended family. To all the friends I have met in my life. And to any family and friends, who I have yet to meet, awaiting me in the future. There, that covers everyone. I treasure the memories I have of each and every one of you and look forward to the future ones we will make together. I love you all.
Author’s Note
Since I started developing The Story of Evil series around the age of 12, it has been my dream to see it published. The fact that you are holding this book in your hands and reading these words means my dream has come true.
Heroes of the Siege marks the beginning of a long journey I hope you will join me on. I believe I have an amazing story to tell. Action, adventure, suspense, betrayal, mystery, horror, drama, and romance await you in this epic tale of good versus evil.
Thank you for taking the time to read this book, it means more to me than you will ever know.
Welcome to The Story of Evil…
Tony Johnson
“As long as there is darkness, there will be light to fight it.”
Prologue
Once upon a time there lived two gods. One was good; the other was evil. Nothing else existed except for them. The two gods were polar opposites, but they both agreed on one thing: they each wanted to create a world and fill it with their creations. Both gods used an equal amount of their own power to create a colorful planet crafted out of five elements: fire, wind, water, electricity, and earth. They named the world Element.
The good god inhabited Element with people who became known as the four races: Humans, Elves, Giants, and Dwarves. The four races exhibited the qualities of the good god. They were caring, compassionate, and loving. Everyone was created equally and each race respected the others. The good god gave his people intelligence, the capacity to retain knowledge, and the ability for all members of the races to communicate through a universal language.
The people found it easy to survive off the land. Building fires, using plants for food and medicine, and hunting animals were all instincts that were quickly learned. Creative inventions and ideas were spread throughout the world. Some of these included the six simple machines: lever, wheel and axle, pulley, incline plane, wedge, and screw. These tools helped the people to build more than just crude shelters to live in. They began to build houses. Houses turned into villages. Villages turned into towns. And towns turned into huge cities with castles. The four races were a civil people who lived in order and thrived together in the communities they built.
The evil god chose to populate Element with monsters. There were two types of monsters: Anthropomorphic Monsters (monsters vaguely resembling the four-limbed shape of the people of the four races) and Animal Monsters (monsters shaped like large and twisted versions of common animals). Monsters were the exact opposite of the good god’s four races. They were chaotic, wild, violent, and cared only about their own survival.
Whereas the people were all created equally, the monsters were made unequally in a pyramid caste system. Many were weak, while only a few were truly powerful. Some could speak and understand the universal language used by the four races, but all the majority of monsters could only communicate through guttural noises. Since the monsters lived in a world of survival of the fittest, many of the weaker monsters pledged their allegiance to serve a stronger monster in exchange for safety and protection. This resulted in the formation of monster clans. Opposing clans of monsters often battled for territory, food, pride, or simply for the thrill of battle. Occasionally, clans would join alliances to form an army.
While the good god’s creations were given the ability to communicate with each other and build cities, monsters were given the ability to harness the elemental powers of the planet. Anthropomorphic Monsters could turn whatever metal their body was touching into the element they possessed. Whatever weapon(s) and armor they were equipped with could be turned elemental, giving them advanced abilities in battle.
Animal Monsters and other monsters that could not wield weapons or wear armor were able to use their bodies as a conductor of their element. Some could blast their element from their mouth. Others could turn their skin, fur, or feathers into their element without causing harm to their bodies.
Most monsters could only control one of the five elements. Some of the stronger monsters had the ability to attack and defend with multiple elements. There were even a small handful of monsters that were so powerful they could command elements in their general vicinity and control them according to their will without even needing to physically touch them.
The four races and the monsters could not get along. The two sides were constantly at war. The people wanted to live safely and peacefully in their establishments, separated from the unforgiving and barbaric way of life that the monsters embraced.
The monsters believed that the good god’s creations were inferior to them and that the members of the four races should be enslaved. It would be the job of the people to build the weapons, armor, and architecture that only members of the four races could create. The idea of a monster’s perfect world was having the people harvest the crops, hunt the animals, and prepare enough food to feed everyone, while they lived safely fortified from enemy clans and armies.
With no peaceful solution, monsters constantly attacked the villages, towns, and cities while the people tried to defend themselves and their establishments. Although monsters were often successful at capturing villages and towns, the cities provided a tougher challenge. The monsters knew that controlling cities offered better protection against opposing clans rather than living in the open wild. Any city with a castle was a highly contested and targeted territory. But monsters could never get a force large enough to successfully siege a city unless two or more clans decided to join together and form an army. Even if they had the numbers, their weak strategies of attack often handicapped the success they envisioned.
No matter where a person lived, whether in a small village or a major city, at any moment they knew an attack was imminent. Even though the people outnumbered monsters 3:1 worldwide, the monsters knew they were more powerful because of their ability to harness the powers of the elements.
After countless years of struggle between the people and the monsters, one monster rose to absolute power. No army had ever come close to reaching the number of monsters under his command. He was the evil god’s largest and strongest creation – Draviakhan. Draviakhan was a five-headed dragon of immense power. Each of his five menacing dragon’s heads could shoot out blasts of one of the elements. His jet black scales mirrored the evil that was inside him. The Imperial Dragon, as he was called, had twelve wings jutting out of his back to give his four thousand pound body the ability to not only fly, but to agilely glide underwater.
Draviakhan led his massive army throughout Element and killed any monster that would not join his cause (if the monster was lucky enough to be offered the choice). But his real targe
t was the good god’s creations. Draviakhan ordered his army to kill women and children and keep men alive as slaves. The strategy ensured a limited population for the future generations of the good god’s people. They would never be able to revolt.
Tens of thousands of the members of the four races were mercilessly slaughtered as Draviakhan’s army rampaged through every establishment they encountered. A trail of mass destruction was left behind them as they pressed forward through Element.
Warriors from every race united, coming together from throughout the world to battle Draviakhan and his army. On the Pastoral Plains, “The First Great Battle” commenced. Wives and children anxiously waited for a return that never came.
Draviakhan and his forces littered the valley with the bodies of their enemies. The First Great Battle was considered the single most horrific day in history for the four races.
Soon after the crippling defeat, the once stable respect between the Humans, Elves, Giants, and Dwarves was severed from the pressure of the defeat and culmination of years of destruction.
A rift grew between the four races. Slowly, over time, they seceded from each other. Moving away from collected populations of people was the best defense against Draviakhan. If they were all spread out, they would be harder to find, which meant fewer would be killed. Humans went one way, Elves the opposite, and the Giants and Dwarves followed in similar fashion. North, south, east, and west, the good people split apart in every direction. Cities and towns were left abandoned. Only memories remained. The strategy was effective in lengthening the lives of people, but it did nothing to stop the enemy. Every day was spent in fear as the scattered races wondered how long it would take before they were found in their new locations.
One day, Draviakhan’s monsters came across a small, self-sustaining farm located at the western base of the Canyon Ridge Mountains. Every breathing creature was killed, except for one young man. He was the one person the monsters should have killed. His name was Oliver Zoran; the one who would eventually kill Draviakhan. Oliver had escaped death, but watched as his father, mother, brothers, sisters, animals, house, and land were all completely destroyed. Everything he had known and loved was gone forever. In that moment, he vowed to himself and to the good god that before he died, he would end the life of the Imperial Dragon.
Oliver traveled across the entire world with nothing more than a sword and shield, a horse, and a mysterious egg. He battled and defeated any monster that blocked him on his path to vengeance. On his journey, the good god gave him the powers of each of the five elements. The abilities that were once only wieldable by monsters now empowered his armor, sword, and shield. It was in using these new-found powers that Oliver Zoran was able to defeat and kill Draviakhan, ending hundreds of years of pain and suffering for the four races. What stood remaining of the Imperial Dragon’s army cowered in fear at the young man who had just beheaded (five times) their powerful leader.
Zoran’s quest became a widely told story that served as inspiration and motivation for people worldwide. The abandoned villages, towns, and cities began to be repopulated. New and better cities were built over the ruins of old ones.
Zoran established the Celestial City on the Pastoral Plains. The greatest city in history would be built on the place where the warriors of the four races had been so devastatingly defeated. It featured a magnificent castle; the largest one ever created. In the highest tower, the dragon slayer sat on his golden throne, underneath his golden crown with the new name of King Zoran.
King Oliver Zoran led his kingdom into a time of peace and prosperity that surpassed everything gained before Draviakhan’s arrival. But although the evil god’s darkest creation had been defeated, evil had not been completely destroyed. The time of peace was only temporary. The war was far from over. Soon, the ultimate villain would rise up and challenge King Zoran’s reign over Element.
This is The Story of Evil.
Chapter 1
The crowd roared with excitement as they cheered for their hero, Stephen Brightflame. Steve was only three points away from winning his semi-finals match in the Warriors’ Jousting Tournament. He closed the visor of his red helm and kicked his heels into the sides of his armored horse, Clyx. The hearts of thousands of collective fans beat faster and faster as the thoroughbreds raced towards each other. Steve’s blue cape whipped behind him as Clyx’s speed increased. Steve lowered his heavy red and blue lance. The colors swirled down the shaft in a dizzying spiral.
The sharp crack of splintering wood rang through the entire stadium and was quickly replaced with a chorus of cheers. Steve had landed a devastating blow on his opponent’s chest, denting his polished yellow armor.
Two more points till victory.
The Warriors’ Joust was the most popular sporting event of the year. The warriors were a well-respected class amongst the civilians in the kingdom. They served as the law enforcement in all the villages, towns, and cities on Element. Each year, every town sent their best jouster to the Celestial City to compete in the prestigious tournament.
The Celestial City was the capital of Element where King Zoran reigned over his kingdom. At some point early in its establishment, Celestial (sometimes called the Circle City) became the unofficial central point of the world. Maps always featured the grand city in their center. Just south of Celestial’s walls was the deep blue Darien Sea. It was filled with huge wooden ships; their giant, puffy, white sails canvassed the bay like clouds. Large ships from faraway places docked in the Darien Bay and then sent their smaller lifeboats upriver into the city. This was the easiest way to access merchant shops to sell, trade, and buy supplies for their own cities before taking it all back downstream to their sail ships.
North of the city was the Whitebark Woods, which transformed into dense forests before reaching Lake Azure. To the west lay the Prairie, with its rolling hills and valleys. The snowcapped Valpyrio Heights Mountain Range ominously stood to the east of Celestial. These mountains were home to Element’s only volcano, Mount Valpyrio. The melted snow and ice of Valpyrio Heights formed a large lake high in the mountains. The lake emptied out through one of the largest waterfalls in the world and became the Fluorite River. The Fluorite River flowed through the downward-sloped Evergreen Forest and Whitebark Woods and ran into Celestial - as the city’s main water source - before emptying out into the Darien Sea.
In the center of Celestial was King Zoran’s castle. It was the largest, tallest, and most beautiful castle on all of Element. Its many towers appeared to touch the heavens as its colorful red and blue flags flapped in the comforting breeze that swept east to west across the city. No matter where you were in Celestial, you could look up and see the castle. You could even be miles away outside the city’s outer wall and still be able to catch a glimpse of at least the King’s Tower. According to travelers, one of the most breathtaking sights in the world was looking down from the eastern Valpyrio Mountains and into the large valley called the Pastoral Plains that the Celestial City was built in.
Other than the amazing scenic beauty that the Circle City provided, it was also the center of culture and commerce. Many people traveled from far away to experience the city’s famous landmarks, museums, restaurants, shopping, and other attractions. The tender hospitability Celestial residents gave to visitors only added to the charm of the city. You would have to try hard to find someone who was not constantly smiling and always optimistic. Visitors always left Celestial with a heartwarming feeling. It wasn’t hard to understand why Celestial was both the most highly populated city and the most visited city on all of Element.
The best time to visit Celestial was during the Annual Warriors’ Tournaments. Thousands of people from all over the world flocked to the Circle City to watch competitions between warriors held over two days, once a year. Some of the tournaments included Warriors’ Archery, Warriors’ Combat, Warriors’ Melee, and everyone’s favorite, the Warriors’ Joust.
The weekend was not just about competition, fun, and exc
itement, it was also an opportunity to celebrate how far the four races had come since the dark days of Draviakhan’s reign. The warriors were the central focus of the festivities and rightly so, since they were the ones that risked their lives to protect civilians and prevent monster attacks.
Stephen Brightflame grew up in Celestial. He had earned the privilege and honor to proudly represent his hometown in the Warriors’ Joust. Steve removed his helm as he trotted Clyx around, playfully encouraging the crowd’s support. He couldn’t contain his excitement as he smiled to the spectators. Steve had one of those bright smiles that made people instantly like him.
“This is amazing,” Steve said out loud to himself. He knew moments like these were meant to be treasured as they would not last forever. If he won the Warriors’ Joust, he would automatically be invited to represent Celestial again for next year’s tournament. But if he lost, he would have to again go through the grueling rounds of Celestial’s qualifying matches, competing against warriors who also dreamt of being in the position he was currently in.
Steve still couldn’t believe he had been the victor of the Celestial Qualifiers. He had a shaky start, but ended up making it to the final round, called the ladder round. He started as the lowest seed, but ended up defeating everyone he challenged.
What was even harder for Steve to believe was the fact that he was currently just one match away from the Championship Joust in the actual tournament. Ever since he was a child, he dreamed of becoming the worldwide champion jouster of the warriors, but he never believed it would actually happen.
The crowd noise was deafening; even the people who lived in the houses surrounding the arena were hanging out their windows, watching the action, and adding to the cheers. Everywhere he looked Steve saw pennants of Celestial’s colors of red and blue being waved back and forth through the air. The colors matched his specially designed and perfectly fitted jousting armor. Steve was wearing all red, while Clyx was in blue. The two colors combined to form a cooperative team between man and horse.
