Chapter I: Genesis

In many worlds and histories we are told of different cultures and tribal divides that are friend or foe, ally or enemy. Our knowledge of our history and customs often get told by a Patriarch around a fireside and often in tradition as a part of a winter's tale.

In The Beginning, long ago, far away there was a fantastical magical realm known as... Muzeek.    Our story is set in during the Muzeek year twenty- three ninety-four R E M (Realm Existence of Muzeek), during a time where magic users were greatly feared with the fear of them growing stronger. Regular Humans didn't really trust or understand them but over time found they had little choice but to tolerate and interact with them just to get on with their lives. One day there was a vile Serpent of a man, a nasty, evil, cruel man known as the Conqueror. He would come stampeding across the land destroying homes, slaughtering innocent villagers in his path whilst he'd be riding his huge Dire Wolf, Wharge that had a deep scar down the left hand side of its face which reduced its vision but made it more savage and aggressive. It would be very unwise to approach this one eyed hound. 

In the village of Roxtopia, our hero, a deaf mute, who was called Limbo. He was in hiding and saw all the bloodshed through his window. His little sister, Dusk was missing she got taken from her bed as an innocent ten year old, screaming and helpless with her legs kicking to break free from the Conquerors' Classishe Barbaric soldiers strong grip. All this happened roughly five years ago, Limbo who is now eighteen, and a strong farmer and wood cutter, who provides for the poor remaining villagers of Roxtopia. Ever since Dusk was taken Limbo's been thinking of the day he could turn his sadness and misery to happiness again, waiting for the triumphant day when the sour turns to sweet. Dusk and Limbo's mother and father before they were murdered. Loonur and Sowlah would call Limbo their Silent Sun. Limbo could lip-read just fine and was very clever despite his lack of speech and ability to hear. He stood around six foot and about fifteen stone of a tight hard, well formed muscular young man. The young women were always eyeing him up for him to pick one of them to be his bride to sire them a full house of children. There was one elderly wise old man, a sort of prophet, wizard or soothsayer that Limbo would go to for comfort and wisdom. He was called Janna-Sees, he was the only man in the village of Roxtopia that could communicate effortlessly with Limbo. He had created a form of sign language but he also had a certain level of telepathy which is how he was able to create the language with Limbo by communicating through their minds in order to create the hand gestures of the sign language.  Janna-Sees showed Limbo an ancient scroll of a map of all the land, Roxtopia was the village where they lived, further north was the capital city of Rox-En-Rollov, west of there is the mining and trading zone called Oresonalloys, down south is forests of Jassicia which is just before the Blooz Mountains. Over the seas as you head further East is a destructive evil Island of Classishe and Castle Aseed.  Janna-Sees went over to his bookshelf where he kept all his books of spells, incantations and potions and guides to the entire realm. He pulled out a large leather bound book of spells. Pointing to the book he told Limbo "This has everything you will need to know all what I know and so much more, I'm not long before I will depart to the creator of all things" Limbo looked worried and signed "You can't die, you are so wise and powerful I need to learn so much more from you and you have been like a father to Dusk and me for so many years"  Janna-Sees put his hands to his temples closed his eyes and focused his thoughts and tried to ask Limbo what he wanted to do with the ancient map.  

Janna-Sees groaned "You are looking for someone?"  "I can see a huge White Mountain and on top of it is an active volcano and around the other side in the distance is Castle Aseed." Janna-Sees sighed  "Are you sure you are ready to go on such a perilous journey?" Limbo grabbed Janna-Sees right arm and tugged it twice to give him the hint that he wanted to use their hand gesturing sign language. He then quickly signed that he was not afraid to go and get his sister and bring her home where she belongs so that Limbo & Dusk can have a place to call their own.  Janna-Sees  faced Limbo and Limbo signed and mouthed what he wanted once Dusk was safe home "A place to call my own"  Janna-Sees firmly places his hands on Limbo's strong shoulders looked him straight in the face and mouthed and said clearly "I will do everything I can to see you are the victor of this quest"  Janna-Sees signed back with a heavy concerned warning "Don't forget the Conqueror has a mighty Ogre called Stagnation who oozes unholy odours and putrid puss and toxins." Janna-Sees hobbled over to his dusty old wooden trunk of enchanted amulets and weapons. "I'll give you the knife of justice, it'll protect you and give you the positive outcome you most desire just as long as it's in your possession so don't lose it or allow the Conqueror or his evil minions to get hold of it or they'll get their victory."

That evening Limbo ate well and packed his sack with the map, spell book and various necessary items; a blanket, a flask of water, a loaf of bread, two apples, some cheese and some salt pork. Janna-Sees sat with him and told him to meet up with a travelling Minstrel and story teller known to all who meet him as Harold the Barrel because of his full belly. He goes everywhere with his musical box. Janna-Sees signed him where to meet his guide "He'll be at the tavern called (The Fountain of Salmacis), when you meet him to let him know who you are write on a piece of paper a song request (The Return Of The Giant Hogweed)".  Limbo responded with sheer puzzlement frantically waving his hands around  "I won't be able to hear his song" Janna-Sees reassured Limbo "Don't worry all of his requests are asked verbally so if you write it down it'll be a big clue plus this song is a song he personally hates so he'll know you are his client to go on a journey with"

The following morning Limbo set off through the village with his sack over one shoulder, the enchanted Knife of justice in a sheaf attached to his belt and a pouch of money , not a lot mind around fifty beatz, twenty cordz, ten medz, five rifz and one trak. Just to get you up to speed on the value of the monies beatz are the lowest value a small copper coin, cordz are slightly more a bit larger made of bronze, medz are the same size but made of silver, riftz are also silver but larger than medz and a thick coin approximately one inch thick and two inches wide of solid gold is a trak. On foot from the beginning of his journey to the quayside would be about a week on foot. Limbo was to meet Harold in the Fountain of Salmacis on the other side of the village just before the road connects to the city of Rox-En-Rollov where they are to see if the other worldly and magnificent monarch and spiritual matriarch of all, will grant them safe passage and possibly her blessing of their quest to travel to Castle Aseed and rescue Limbo's sister Dusk. Whilst Limbo wandered through his place where he grew up, smells engulfed his path some pleasant and many not so pleasant. The pig pen stank something rotten of swill, rotten fruit and vegetables with peelings and the animal droppings. He raised his free arm to attempt to shield his nose and mouth from the overpowering stench. Just slightly opposite to where Limbo was, Banony the Blacksmith lived and run his smithy with Lilith, his attractive affectionate twenty two year old daughter. Around the side of the smithy they kept three large healthy cows.  Lilith saw Limbo across the way as she came out of the milking shed where she so often worked with Cordie, Blossom and Aura the dairy cows. Lilith had always tried to win Limbo's love and get him to make her his bride, she tried so hard so that the other girls wouldn't get him before her. Her tunic wasn't the most supportive of garments and it often slipped down exposing a little bit too much of her generous bosom. This used to bother her and she found it very embarrassing and frustrating until today. You see word had travelled around the village of Roxtopia that Limbo was going to be going on his dangerous quest to save Dusk and Lilith was not going to let this be the possible last time to see Limbo without letting him know how much she wanted him in her life with a deep passion.  Lilith waved to Limbo as she came bounding up to him with her face a glow. She flung her arms around him squeezing him to her and locking her soft, warm, strawberry lips on to his. Limbo's eyes popped wide open as his naive knowledge didn't allow him to be aware of her deep long term devoted love for him. As they parted, Lilith noticed that her kiss had a very distinctive positive effect on Limbo, he had a huge firm smile clearly displayed from side to side on his face.  So as he carried on his journey past Hachen the tailors cottage, where most people would get their clothes, next door was Gabter the carpenter who made most of the furniture. Ruthael the huntsman and his brother Collip were both insistent on going with Limbo on his quest as they were older, larger, stronger and more travelled compared to young Limbo plus Collip had made it pretty obvious that he wanted to marry Dusk if she'd have him. Ruthael and Collip had provided Limbo with a fine chestnut Mare to ride on whilst they had steeds of their own a Black seasoned Stallion and a slightly younger Bay Mare that was raised with the Chestnut Mare. Fortunately for the two brothers Limbo had learnt to ride over the years. Which is one of the past times he and young Dusk did growing up and up to the time she was tragically kidnapped by the Conqueror's soldiers.