Untitled chapter
Prologue 1
At one time this land was vastly inhabited by Elves. But when man began encroaching upon them they retreated away from man. The Elves greatly treasured peace, so retreating away was all they could do. Elves live with no fear of disease or health failure. They would grow older but never feeble. Wisdom and skill grows with age. An Elf would only die of accident or tragic mishap. The Elven race diminished very slowly until man appeared. They were the cause of many hunting accidents, fires and some would say even the great earthquake. That caused the death of many, including the Elves.
Eventually the Elves were pushed to retreat into the protective custody of the Melee Midi Cross. This is where the Melee mountain range crosses the Midi mountain range. In the center of the cross stands a towering peak that reaches up into the clouds. This was to be the Elves last stand. The Elves were now divided by the cross into four kingdoms, Eldar, Entar, Elora and Eomer. Eomer had peace because on its border lived a great race of giant humans called Bardo. They were powerful fighters, but did not breach this peaceful border.
The Elves labored hard and built four tunnels into the deep heart of the cross. There they met to form a large cavern. Within the cavern, they built four thrones for the Elven Kings. In the center, they carved stairs winding upward into the rock. Many years later atop this towering mountain they built a castle in the clouds. Elven guards were posted to encircle the Elven border. They stopped intruders and encroaching fires. Often there were small battles between the guards and the humans.
In despair the Elven Kings met in the cavern. There they meditated for weeks. Finally, they came to resolve. They pooled their thoughts together. Each had great magic and wisdom. Together their thoughts, wisdoms, powers and souls became one. With this bond, they laid a powerful curse and locked onto it as one being. This one being with a single voice uttered the curse.
“The next clan of men to cross over our border shall become a Border Guard. They shall be under my power and will. I shall see through his eyes and he shall know me. When this man is killed, the assailant shall then meet the same fate, to be a Border Guard.”
As the echo faded the King slowly climbed the stairs to take his throne within the castle.
Prologue 2
The Bardo is a race of giant humans whose homes are made of massive blocks of rock. The walls, roof and floor are slabs of hand carved and smoothed rock. Bardos are about eight feet tall. They grow to an average four hundred pounds. They are roughly groomed and wear large iron bracers. They wear a massive belt that shields their belly and groin. Their strength is insurmountable. They never lost a battle.
Many years ago, a devastating earthquake split open through the Bardo Kingdom. The split was so wide and meandering it divided the Bardos into many sections. Most of the homes and buildings were toppled and destroyed. After great despair and misery the few remaining Bardos slowly roamed away to other lands, hopeless and aimless.
Today rumor has it, at times, a Bardo may be encountered, but hastily avoided!
