10 years ago, the moon lands was a wild place with barely any humans living there. It darkness gave people from Lomea Major a feeling of insecurity, not even bandits dared to enter the moon lands. Other than the house of Amaya, there were only few native humans there. The largest settlement ten years ago only had 40 inhabitants, mostly consisting of moonlandian tribal hunters who occasionally sold furs to those from the outside.

With the beginning of the purge and the rediscovery of the goddess Aia, more and more people sought refuge in the moon lands. Amaya and the Moonlandians welcomed the refugees as it was against the culture of the Moonlandians to be distant or hostile towards outsiders. Myths say, those with good intentions who come to the moon lands are protected by Aia herself.

The priestess of Aia, Amaya offered the refugees to build on the land and she will protect them until they are strong enough to defend themselves. Over the years, a city grew forth. Amaya governs the moon lands as its protector, though her not aging may seem suspicious.


The story begins in the city of Aianaten, the very city that grew over the past decade. Tens of thousands live here surrounded by three protective walls, one for each district further out. In the middle of the city lies the temple of Aia and Amayas fortified house.

Sitting on the steps of the temple that overlooked the city, Amaya watched the bustling town. A group of young defender recruits came up the steps. The temple had 1200 steps with a flat surface after every twenty. For those not willing to go up all the steps, there was already a shrine to Aia after 40 steps. The lift was still in construction. As the recruits came past Amaya, each nodded in respect to her.

"Tomorrow is your big day. You will be admitted into the defensive force and will be given the essence of Aia. It is unbelieveable what we had achieved in the past 10 years. I remember when this temple was in decay. But now it stands glory with its light grey marble with an appearance like it was new. But I sense a danger coming our way. In case of dire need, Aia will personally come and protect us." Amaya said.

"We will pray that we will have the strength to oppose the dangers that threaten our people." The defender captain said.

Another man came by, he was old and part of the council formed around Amaya. "I heard about your foresight and I am for that we march with our legions to Lomea Major and have the followers of Jonar beg for Aia's mercy. Then they will notice that their god is a false one." He said.

Amaya then answered: "I do not want to hear such bigotry from you. Our forces will not take a step into Lomea Major. Their duty is to protect our land and our people. Not to kill and pillage those of Jonar. You should talk about Jonar as a false god either. If you want to see yourself as a scholar, you should study the scriptures better. Aia and Jonar were once lovers, but Jonar had become distant and weak. The corruption of his people weakened him. The priests of Jonar had erased Aias presence from the scriptures and now only few can hear Jonars voice. If the people of Jonar need to do anything, then they need to learn to follow their heart and be hospitable. Then Jonar could have the power to avert the corruption of his priests."

"Hear the voice of Jonar? I cannot even hear the voice of Aia! I thought only prophets and clergy can hear the voices of gods." The councilman said.

"Aia is very near. You just need patience and sometime you will know the voice of Aia. Maybe you have already heard her voice and haven't recognized it. Just keep calm. Stay friendly and cheer up." Amaya said as she stood up. "If you cheer up, then I will talk to Aia and she might present you with a gift or reveal her voice to you, Darius Moran." Amaya then headed up the stairs.

The councilman that said to himself: "Today, is my first day. I haven't even introduced myself. Maybe someone already told her of my coming as councilman. Anyways, that young woman is a mystery to me. She has the burden of thousands of citizens on her back, yet she seems to be carefree. Now I know why the others speak so highly of her." He snickered and a light smile came onto his face. He continued up the steps. For his 60 years of age, the steps gave him the exercise to keep him healthy.

At the border of the Moon Lands Jon stood he felt a sick feeling in his gut the priests of Jonar sent him to go into the moon lands and destroy Aia's temples as well as kill her worshipers. He heard Jonar speak to him in a warm and fatherly manner Ignore the priests orders your true quest is to find the Priestess of Aia and I want you to raise and help command h Aia's army so my past sins can be corrected. Jon nodded he knew going against the Priest will lead to his death as well as the fact that Aia's people will kill him in fear of their own safety but the young paladin knew that Jonar will protect and guild him to his goal. Without further pause Jon walked into the Moon Lands and followed the road to Aianaten.

Adion was just coming out of one of the few remaining ruined temples of Aia. When he first started, there was much to learn and it was easy to find. Finding a ruined temple of Aia that has been untouched was next to unheard of now, but Adion had gotten lucky. Though he found no new scriptures or writings, he did get to see the ways the temple looked before all of them had been restored. What was unique about this temple was the fact that it not only depicted Aia on the wall drawings, it also depicted Jonar and the symbols that stood for balance, peace, and prosperity. This was why Adion liked the temples that border the Moon Lands and Lomea Major. These temples showed a worship of neither deity, but a worship of both and the balance that they bring only when they are together.

He soon came out to see the world, and a paladin of Jonar. Without thought he quickly formed the shadows of him and the paladin into warriors that stood in a defensive stance. "Who are you and why are you here?" Adion quickly questioned Jon.

Jon barely crossed the border into the Moon Land when a man approached him with shadows that were ready to attack him in a defensive reaction he drew his sword and ax his sword started to glow brightly. He answered the question "I am Jon Vold Paladin of Jonar I am here to find the priestess of Aia." Jon didn't tell the man anymore for he feared that this man could be a spy for the priest's. Even though his true quest was peaceful he didn't want the truth to reach the priests yet.

"There are four things you can serve. The Priest's, Jonar, Aia, or the balance. Now comes the most important question." Adion said with the sound of curiosity. "Guessing by your blades glow, Aia is out of the picture. Your aura is off to Jonar's side, so you must not serve the balance. So, who is it that you serve? The priests? Or Jonar himself?" As Adion spoke, one of his shadow minions stepped across the border to Lomea Major, it turned from solid shadow to solid light, glowing yellow like the sun and giving off heat rather than cooling the area around it. "As you can see I serve the balance." Adion pointed to his now light minion.

Jon saw this and sheathed his sword "I hear Jonar my god myself and I question the teachings of the priests I believe that the teachings need to be adjusted to this new world. As Jonar has told me." it was hard to hear his real voice with his helmet over his head so his words echoed. Jon still had his ax in his hand he didn't want to be completely vulnerable especially to a balance worshiper. He wanted to move on he need to find the priestess as soon as he can and this person was in his way "Now I would like to move on for I do not have much time."

Amidst the indistinguishable shapes and swirling darkness two objects showed themselves clearly; one a simple, but elegant axe, and the other a sword that radiated light so white and pure. The wielder of these weapons remained shrouded, there image cloaked by a mass of swirling light. Walking next to the figure was another, and for a moment he was able to catch a glimpse; a pale, tall, young lad, then suddenly they too were shrouded, but in both light and dark. Together the two walked down a path, while far away a dark figure garbed in white robes of deception watched, enraged by what he saw. With the raising of a hand numerous shadowy figures began to emerge from the ground and surroundings, slowly they took a form recognizable as human and they too were grabbed in white robes of deception. Armed and filled with bloodlust these human figures went forth, their master watching with eager eyes.

Ahead lay Aianaten, what a marvelous city, only a decade old and yet already it was poised to become so much, or at first that’s what it seemed as suddenly the city burst into flames as countless horrors cloaked in white slaughtered all those in the city. Granted a visage, he saw Amaya, surrounded by several figures shrouded in darkness, all around were the horrors in white, with all their might they fought. But in the end the horrors prevailed and Aia and the others lay motionless. Then suddenly he was taken back to the two from before. Behind them came the figures in white, but between them there was a swirling mass in darkness and in it a simple oak staff with ruin carvings.

Falling from his seated position, Ororot lay hunched over the ground, shaking violently as sweat dripped from his brow and he gasped for breath. What had only taken minutes had seemed like hours. From what he could already tell, clearly someone or something had it out for the two walking down the path and for Aianaten and Amaya. And the swirling mass of darkness with the staff was obviously him. He was between the two and the ones robed in white. This could mean only one thing; he was to intervene.

Amaya stood there amidst the council as the new councilmember walked in. "I present you the new councilmember. Darius, it is time for you to introduce yourself." Amaya said. Darius went up to a podium and said: "I am Darius Moran. I am sixty years of age and came here eight years ago with my family. We came here due to the discrimination we faced. Only three years after, we had hear of the purge and saw ourselves lucky to leave before any harm could have been done to us. Only two days ago, I had found a letter slid through the crack under my door with no name to have written it. May I know who have delivered it and how the priestess had become aware of my name. Did anyone tell her of it? Only few know my name though."

A young man giggled and said: "Your name is new to the council. Though we had asked ourselves the same question on our first day here. You will be surprise about some of the capabilities of the priestess. She had read my mind once which had terrified me but she comforted me as the only thing that would anger her would be betrayal. Anyways, we as the council only decide on public matters while the priestess rather holds the power over the moon lands. As a councilman you will not have the privilege to command the defense forces, you only can make suggestions such as stationing more soldiers in an endangered settlement. Are you ready to take responsibility and decide based on the principles of Aia?"

"Yes I am." Darius said while nodding.

"Then we welcome you and todays session will commence shortly after noon." An old councilman said.

Amaya then said: "I will see you later." She then disappeared in the shadows and traveled at such a speed in the shadows that covered the ground. She came to a halt at the door of her home. Stepping in, she went up the stairs to a litten room. "Did your breakfast taste well?" Amaya said to an unknown bedridden figure. Then figure then said: "Yes. But I feel like I am a bird in a cage. I am sometimes in this bed for days and when you bring me remedies, I may be able to explore the city but I cannot leave it as I may die without your care. It is somehow strange that the high priestess of Aia cares for a priest of Jonar. Even though I have been here since your home stood alone next to a gigantic ruined temple. I feel bad for you since I must be a burden to you. But it seems ironic as Aia had cared for Jonar. Each were opposites but they went well together. I wonder what had become of Jonar. He has become distant since my illness and rarely ever speaks to me. I feel that he had left me."

"Don't not doubt your god. He like you has become ill. You on one hand have contracted a rare and hard to heal disease. Jonar had lost much of his power as corruption of his followers makes him ill. Though gods don't die, things that their followers do can make them sick. The power of a god can rise depending on how many follow him. Take a look at Aia for example. At a time where only the native moonlandians believed in her, she only had little influence and only could bless or strengthen the natives. Now Aia is strong enough to actively protect them no matter where they are since so many believe in her and the fewest of them are corrupt. Anyways, Jallharn, you should rest until the next remedy is ready. Then we may go on a walk together through the city." Amaya said encouraging him. Her smile seemed to have more of a warming effect on Jallharn that the warm breeze through the window or the crystal lights in the room.

Seeing the paladin lower his blade and him admitting that the aura about him was from Jonar himself calmed the balance worshiper. Adion then downed his solid guardians. "As you know, the only real thing that the balance values is truth and the words of gods. Today you have shown me truth, even through fear. This was the last temple along the border I had left to explore." Adion then points to the entrance of the ruined temple, which out front stood a statue of Jonar and a statue of a female that has been desecrated. "Now I think I should see the main temple to Aia. I can accompany you to Aianaten. This might help you to not get shot by the city archers." Adion spoke with a calm and collected sound to his voice.

Jon nodded "Yes company would be nice including the fact that your presence will keep the people of these lands from needlessly attacking me. I want to do this without having to spill blood of innocence's." Jon put his ax back to it's resting place on to the small of his back. He needed a way to Aianaten without having to kill others and this was the best way to do so. Jon started to walk on the road expecting that the neutral priest will follow as he walked into the Moon Lands he felt his powers become weaker. He had a feeling this would happen hopefully he could still cast spells in these lands if not then Jon will have to depend on his traveling companion with magic.

Adion took no pause to begin following the paladin. Just as the paladin had turned around, Adion pulled out his journal of studies. As he was following Jon, just a couple of steps behind, he was writing about both the man's aura changes and his physical state. This was a unique opportunity because not only was Adion getting a chance to study a god speaker, but a god speaker out of his element. 'This is going to be a good time from a scholarly standpoint.' Thought Adion as he followed Jon to the capital of the Moon Lands.

Ororot wasted little time gathering his few “essentials” and other various knickknacks and doohickeys. Then he was off, emerging from a brush covered hill and into a dense part of the forest. From there he headed west, towards the nearest road. It just so happened that this road was also the only road that ran directly to Aianaten from the boarder without bisecting through any towns or villages. In his vision he saw the one shrouded in light and the one shrouded in both light and dark walking down a path. Nothing blocked their path, and then his vision showed him Aianaten. It wasn't much, but he took it as if it had meant this road. And if not, may Aia help him.

As for the part of his vision where Aianaten was burning… well he wouldn't wish for harm to come to the commoners, for they are helpless, seeking protection from the only good soul willing to offer it; Amaya. But for those of the council that would deny his divinity as prophet… Aia, save them, because he sure didn't intend to. Ever since the first council had banished and denounced him he had harbored an ill will towards them. As for Amaya, he held no grudge against her, for, sadly that day she wasn't in attendance and therefore couldn't voice her opinion.

In a nearby village, a group of men from Lomea Major was nearing. They were some of the champions sent out but rather had the character of bandits or outlaws. The broke into a house pulling a woman out with the intention to have their way with her. She didn't have a chance against their strength.

"You shouldn't treat my citizens in such a way. I do not tolerate harm to them and you will pay with your life for following such a devious way." Amaya said leaning against a wall behind them. Her greatsword was on her back.

"Another lass to have fun with! Hehehe." One of the men said with a rasply voice and started to approach Amaya. To his shock, Amaya disappeared in a black cloud. "That must be the priestess! Find her!" The man said.

A pitch black circle formed under him and suddenly the greatsword came out of the circle cutting the man down the middle.

"Use your light trinkets!" Another man said. Amaya's giggle echoed around them and she then said: "Do you think that your petty trinkets will weaken the power of Aia? Light magic cannot replace sunlight."

Another pitch black circle formed beneath another guy. This time he was pulled in. In a black grime, the man was spit back out. "It burns! I am blind! Help!" Then the man fell silent. As the grime faded away, only a skeleton was left. The remaining two were afraid.

"How can such thugs call themselves champions of Jonar? Jonar is suffering because of the likes of you." Amaya said again. In a flash, one mans head was lopped off. The other began to run. The black greatsword then came out of the ground and turned towards the fleeing man. "Don't be such a coward and face your death like a warrior should!" Amaya said. The greatsword started to move across the dark ground on that night. Slowly Amaya emerged from the ground holding the sword. She turned the sword and hit the man with the hilt. With the contact of the hilt to his head, Amaya saw the emotions of the man and his background. "You haven't killed yet and feel insecure about what is right and what is wrong. Those men would have forced you to do things, you prefer not to do." Then everything seemed like a dream to the man. "Let me purify your soul and let Aia give you the emotional security you lack."

When the man opened his eyes, he wasn't dead. He felt relief and didn't feel a burden he had before. He dropped his weapon. "I cannot go back home now. I feel that if I go back home, I would be a marked traitor. Please protect me and give me shelter." The man said. "I thank you for sparing my life priestess of Aia. I feel the belief in Aia but I am not able to let go of Jonar."

"Do not worry. You can believe in both. But forget the humbug your priests taught you. If you desire the original scriptures then all you need to do is request them. Many here believe in the god and the goddess." Amaya said and took his hand. "You are welcome to stay as you have not done wrong by your own will. I shall now take you to a town where you can settle. You can contact me for the next week by calling Aia."

Both of them then disappeared.

Jon was walking on this road he didn't know why but everything was darker to him as if the light was gone. He squinted to see ahead instead of keeping his eyes wide open as usual he never encountered this problem before even though he always wore his helmet it never got dark enough to where he had trouble seeing. He didn't like this crippling affect this land had on him. He knew that the distance to Aianaten wasn't far off according to the maps. For the first time in the last few hours Jon spoke to his companion "Do you see Aianaten ahead. I can't see that far in this place its dark to me." Jon had a feeling his connection to Jonar and light magic took apart in his dimming of vision.

"We still have a small ways to go. We should be hitting the forest section of the path in a few minutes. That, at the pace we are currently walking, will take around half an hour and then another hour to get to Aianaten." Adion knew the path to the border region like the back of his head. He traveled it often to go to the border temples and to return translated scriptures to the main temple in Aianaten. He could see a magic aura near the forest, but it was scattered and random. Like, instead of surrounding its user, it was being used by the forest or collected by someone. "By the way, it looks like there is something in the forest that wields magic. From what I can tell, it could be anything from a prophet to a troll." As Adion spoke, it was obvious that whatever was in the forest scared him none.

Jon only looked ahead "Very well." he wasn't concerned about this either even in his state he could fight the mundane way. He picked up his pace of walk his speed fueled by determination and faith in his mind what ever comes ahead for him is planned for him to overcome. He didn't exactly hear Jonar but he could feel his influence giving him courage and strength to overcome he darkened vision. Jon moved into the forest without hesitation he was going to reach his goal today and without stopping for rest or food there will be time for that later.

Amaya dropped the new refugee in a town of 5000 off, putting him under supervision of locals who could help with a new home and find a job for him. Nearby outside of town, she could make out two odd figures. They interested her, so she headed over to them rather disguised as a normal commoner under a fake name. "Maya should be fine." She thought.

Approaching them the side, she said: "Where are you two folks off to? Are you maybe going towards Aianaten? You two seem to not be the average Moonlandians or are you just visiting? If so, then welcome to the moon lands. I was just here getting herbs to make medicine." She tried to suppress her magical aura to that of maybe an adept mage to not awaken any suspicion if one of the may be able to recognize auras.

"Anyways, I am Maya, a pharmacist and alchemist from Aianaten. And you are?" She said.

Jon was in the forest when a commoner approached him he wasn't one to hide things when it came to things like this "I am Jon Vold a true paladin of Jonar. I am looking for the high priestess of Aia I have important business with her that can be only conversed with her. So if you don't mind I would like to try to get there as soon as possible if you would like you can accompany me and my companion to Aianaten." he didn't see much of this lady besides her basic shape and what kind of clothes she is wearing but skin color and other defining thing were unnoticeable.

"I am Adion." Said Adion, observing the commoner's heavy aura. She was obviously trying to hide it, but she was doing it well enough that he could not see her full power. "You have a mighty strong aura for just a alchemist. I would guess that, judging by your job and your powerful aura, you have quite strong healing or growth magic. Yes?" Adion questioned the woman. His suspicions were not that she was a threat, but that she was hiding her aura for fear of being called a wussy mage.

"Well I have some skill in healing but I am not a doctor though. I am specialized in potions and remedies. By the way, if you are a paladin of Jonar, you must watch out. We have so called paladins of Jonar come here and try to kill people, but luckily the priestess got rid of those who truly intended to do harm in these lands. The priestess of Aia rules the moon lands with benevolence, though she wouldn't rest until those who do harm are dealt with. But anyways, Aianaten is just about a half hour walk away from here." Amaya said.

Jon nodded "I know this those 'paladins' are not true trained paladins they are thief's,murders,and rapists who the priest gave them the option to either be hanged or to carry the title paladin and kill whoever the priests demands to have killed." Jon had a disgusting taste in his mouth from even thinking about them "They are a insult to my faction and worse a taint to Jonar's name. I was sent here to carry the priest orders but Jonar instructed me to find the priestess to reestablish the lost connection the two divines had. I am here to guide the Aia's army against the corrupted priest so that Jonar can become strong and pure again. Now I must reach Aianaten quickly but before I leave I must ask to you have a cure to the shadow that fills my world. When I entered the Moon Lands my eyes have become increasingly darkened and I was hoping that you might know what cures this."

What would have taken a young man half an hour took Ororot nearly a full hour to walk. It was one of the many “joys” of getting old, extremely old considering the average person didn’t live to see their fifties. But in the end he had made it to the boarder of the forest, and something was telling him he had arrived in the right spot. Facing north, he waited, and eventually several figures, garbed in white could be seen approaching. They wore little armor and carried only the basics he saw as they ran ever closer. Soon he could clearly see their faces and they slowed, cautiously watching the strange old man standing the in the middle of the road.

“Move aside, we don’t have the time for the likes of you!” The biggest, burliest of them said.

“But I’ve been expecting you.” Ororot calmly stated as his lips began to curl. “You seek the one shrouded in light, the one that carries both an axe and a sword of light. You mean to kill him, then what? Peace?... No… That’s what I thought.”

The men slowly became enraged, drawing their swords. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re dead!” The leader shouted as he charged.

“You’re right; you don’t know who I am. If you did, you would be running away, your tail between your legs… Now perish!” With the simple, inaudible chant and the raising of his staff the spell was cast. First it hit the leader, knocking him back, then the others. With the air knocked out of them, they lay there on the ground, frightened as they try to gasp for breath but can’t. Quickly their fear turned to desperation as they looked to Ororot with pity in their eyes. “I am the prophet, Ororot.” He told them before turning and heading towards Aianaten, leaving the men to die.

(OOC: I will post tomorrow.)

"Well its sorry to hear that." Amaya said. "If a priest of Aia was like that, the high priestess would free them of their duties. Be weary though. If you cause any harm here, the priestess will likely be the last person you will see in your lifetime. She protects us from those who wont leave us alone because of their prejudice." Within no time they were at the gates of Aianaten. The city wall was large and well built since some of the royal architects from Lomea Major fled to the moon lands in fear for their life. The towering temple of Aia was obvious. It looked as if it almost reached the clouds. The guard looked and noticed Amaya. Amaya winked, which meant something. The guard played dumb as if he didn't know that it was Amaya. "Open the gates for these commoners!" He said. Then the gates opened.

Jon stopped "Thank you miss your advice and guide to this city is not without my thanks. He reached into his bag and pulled out his bag of coins that was fatter than a priest in Lomea Major. He gave the whole bag to her "As thanks for your kindness and not calling the guards on me I promise you that I will do everything in my power to right the wrong the priest's of my god have committed." he gave the healer a hug and started to walk to the tower. There he will find the priestess and hopefully convince her to allow him to train and command her army in order to overthrow the priests. He gave the healer enough coin to build a hospital with a full staff. He had more gold in his bag but that was for the priestess to build an army formidable enough to go against Lomea Major. Before he knew it he reached the tower he pushed open the doors and entered the tower.