SECOND INTERLUDE – SPARK & STEEL


    Long ago, in the dawn of man’s dominion over MagnaThora, the first king of the founder tribes was anointed the Crucifire King. He came from the Wolf Tribe and his name was Phaelstrom Hightower. Under his rule, the original kingdoms lived in peace for quite some time. Unfortunately, as it is with all good things… Nothing lasts forever.


    While lesser men squabbled and plotted against him, Phaelstrom dove deeper and deeper into the magic of MagnaThora. Along with some of the most brilliant minds in all the kingdoms they created alchemy and with it, the capacity to forge miraculous tools. The trick was using dragon breath to melt their metals. King Phaelstrom was gifted a colossal dragon by the lord of the dragon kingdom. Phaelstrom grew to bond with the Dread Raphe, a flying inferno that could eclipse the Ivory Tower in its shadow. Which made things difficult since that is where they performed most of their research and experiments.


    One of Phaelstrom’s favorite inventions was the sword of fire. The epher qualities bestowed upon it gave the blade the ability to ignite on command. It became the first of the Seracheru blades and the king’s own weapon. He gave it the name the Crucifire Sword. When the sword sealed its handle to his grip, the Supreme Dichotomy sealed a covenant upon the sword and its holder to only ignite for a true king, a warrior who is worthy.


    King Phaelstrom spent too much time in his laboratory and not enough time in his court. The needs of the people were put aside and in the shadow crept a snake who whispered in the ears of the king’s allies. Slowly but surely unrest was sown into the king’s subjects. The grand orchestrator still hid in the shadows, waiting to reveal themselves. The Crucifire King would be caught off guard when the pieces began to fall but that did not make him not ready.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The First Kingdom War brought humanity to its deliverance.


    The Dread Raphe returned with the might of the Phoenix Kingdom flying behind it. The colossal dragon battled above, as its clandestine master King Phaelstrom Highcastle and his army fought against Lord Zordragon who finally called his banners against the Crucifire King. To King Phaelstrom’s dismay, the Gorilla Kingdom and the Lizard Kingdom sided with the Dragon Kingdom. A schism that split MagnaThora right down the middle. King Phaelstrom failed to fulfill the prophecy and unite all the kingdoms of humanity. His penalty was severe, both him and his house would suffer a terrible fate.


    King Phaelstrom wielded the Crucifire Sword unlit. After all that had happened, after all the Dark Lord Malohrin Zordragon had taken away from him, he still had hubris. Malohrin Zordragon threw two orbs of necrotica at King Phaelstrom’s feet. It appeared as though the dark lord had created his own magic to rival the king’ epher. It was not able to eat away at his flesh, but it kept him stuck to the floor. He tried to light the magical sword. Malohrin threw daggers of necro-blades into King Phaelstrom’s shoulders rendering his sword-swinging arm useless.


    In two strokes, Phaelstrom was already disarmed. Continuous usage of the epher had slowed the king’s reflexes. Before he could do anything Malohrin brandished a necro-blade larger than any broadsword. The Dark Lord swung the darken-sword for Phaelstrom’s head. In his last breath, King Phaelstrom put all his power into the Crucifire Sword, and it vanished from between his fingers.


    Malohrin Zordragon decapitated King Phaelstrom and took his crown along with the Summithrone at Castle Ark and ruled over all MagnaThora. Malohrin retired the Crucifire name and called himself Dragon Emperor. He enslaved all those who spoke out against him, and the wolf kingdom was almost exterminated as an example to the rest. The time of peace and quiet was over.