The Age of Reason

Before the dawn of the New Age, Paleiasians (Pah-lay-shons) fought to preserve peace in their lands. Amongst these lands were many fierce and magical warriors. Each a tribe of different characteristics, beliefs and abilities. These abilities manifested under several synergies known as Crests. Crafted from supernovas, they empowered with many unique traits. Some of the most powerful known to exist are: Carna, O'dia, Snyrtaa, M'dotia and Olingarth. These crests are bestowed upon warriors at a young age and imprinted on the souls of its hosts but manifest at random. Some obtain them when they are born. Others may appear when they become stronger or wiser. The bearers of each ability makes a special pact, known as "Rezihul" or the "one who speaks without words", to remain in their lands and mutually war to gain others. This pact is never to be broken. To do so is to curse those lands and render its inhabitants without those inherited abilities. Without abilities, tribes would be defenseless and forced into slavery or extinguished from the Book of Time. With this knowledge, the plains were more diverse and used according to each tribe's strengths.
The Paleiasians, due to their abilities, settled in the plains of Eggrigor. Eggrigor was a very rigid terrain with various landscapes to its borders. Within it, lies rich soil and farming lands that can produce rare mana used to strengthen a warrior's crest. Since other tribes couldn't defeat them, they reign over these lands unchallenged. Beyond these borders were other tribes with unique abilities. Needless to say, the best resources were scarce as stronger tribes would frequently war to claim them. One in particular was a small, grassy plain inhabited with very strong magical beasts that could increase the strength of certain crests as well as award healing power. Some believed this was what emboldened them to fight savagely and why wars waged on. The enchanted lands were known as "Heavens' Glory" or Donarh. These were found to the North of the Paleiasians. To the south are the plains of Brennen; the Sonah tribes can be found. A proud tribe with a rich heritage and a famous warrior. This is his story. The storyteller...Meiga.

"Tell us a story, Meiga!", the children gathered about the lone warrior turned storyteller.
"Arh, you've no interest in MY stories, you little brats...", Meiga playfully teased.
The children giggled.
"Yeah, how 'bout one of those stories", Kereila interjected.
Meiga smirked at the intrusion. He stood before his people with the wisdom of the ages.
For he had been battle-tested. Truly one of the finest warriors to ever bare the crest. Alas, those days are no more.
Meiga rolls his eyes. The gentle giant kneels down and rubs the scruff on his chin.

"Fine! But just ONE story!" Meiga bellowed. Realizing that a compromise was his best option, he gives in to their whims and takes seat before them. His leathery skin was weathered and bore the tattoos of many battles. His voice was low and strong. The children quieted themselves. For what was to be told was their history...

"Do you know what this is, children?"
Meiga held up a weapon of some sort. Ground down to its core, the weapon seemed to glow with an eerie green aura. It was weighted and teetered, to and fro, in his mighty claws.

Fascinated, the children gawked at the awkward blade. Kereila had known Meiga for ages and even she never saw this rare weapon.
Before he could go on...
"How did you get this?!"
Kereila reached out for the weapon. As if to take it from him, however, Meiga snatched it up and placed it back in his magical tote.
"Sit, my friend." Smiling. Kerelia obeys and sits next to the children. Her attention steadies with anticipation. "I have much to share."
Meiga stretches his hand and touches the earth.
A great energy surges about him. A soft breeze forms as the air rises about them. The stars begin to flicker above him and gather around the small gathering. The ground,it seems, is unmoved. All are gently lifted as a strong forcefield encompasses them. An holographic image appears before them as Meiga speaks...

"Before the New Age, we fought to protect our people and our lands. These lands had been blessed with magical properties that make our way of life easier. However, such power has been sought from many different celestial beings. We made a pact with several to share our knowledge and technology. In exchange, they would show us their ways and teach us how to hone our abilities. They are the creators of several factions within our history. The Carna is synergistic energy that descends from an ancient bloodline from the very heavens. It empowers us with the fighter's spirit,Taijutsu. We are masters at hand to hand combat and psychological manipulation. Our goal is simple-to master and strengthen our abilities...to become elite warriors and preserve our way of life for those who will come after we are gone. Once, we were warriors that could summon the very heavens: like our forefathers. However, over time, our abilities became limited as well as our strengths. Our bodies, though built for combat, simply can no longer withstand the strain of such power."
Some look at his body and can see the many wounds he has suffered.
Some of the children gasp as the group is able to see the battles being fought before their very eyes. One of Meiga's strongest abilities: psychological manipulation.
"That being there, Meiga! Who is that?!", Elliah asked. A young girl that was saved from one of many battlefields. She is now a scavenger for the tribe.
"Those are the Screllians. They have the ability to shapeshift and life drain. The effect is temporary but painful. For these beings, seeing different worlds are like a hobby. They are more data collectors than an actual threat to our people."
"There's so many beings. How do we know friend from foe?" Kereila asks.
The crowd watches on as Meiga lowers his head.
He can still feel the battles and hear the screams of his people.
He reflects on his actions and remembers those he lost.
With a solemn expression, his demeanor shifts to acknowledge the question.
"Well, to be honest...we don't."
The others look about and some grieve from the images of pure carnage.
Before he can continue, a figure appears.
"Meiga!! Come quickly!" The elder scrollsman known as Geferus interrupts.
"Something's approaching!"
"Kereila! Move the children below!"
Meiga commands.
"There's an old war bunker just south of the old gazing fort. Get as many as you can inside. When they're secured come back with our best warriors!"
"And what about you?! You can't-"
Meiga turns to Kerelia. Placing his large claw on her shoulder.
"I can and I will."
Kerelia looks on in horror. The idea of fighting alone, in his condition…
Meiga brushes aside his friend and joins Geferus to engage the possible threat.
"But...what about the story?"
The children whined.
"Not now!" Kereila shouted.
As they are rushed off to the hidden, enchanted bunker, the children are still linked to Meiga's first-person holographic images.
"A little something to entertain you."
Meiga says with a smile.
"You think that's wise, Meiga?"
Kereila is fraught with worry. She knows Meiga has had many near-death battles. His body won't hold up much longer.
He turns back to address her once more.
"We'll soon find out."
He continues onward.

The dense, foggy air grows heavy. The foreshadowing clouds thicken with a deep orange hue. Something IS coming...

Her trek is only about a mile but several children lag behind.
"Hurry! Hurry!" She yells.
As tasked, she eventually get them to safety, grabs a few satchels and weapons and makes way to the group of warriors he requested.

Upon hearing the news, they race back to the ever growing clouds and suit up for battle.

"To the ready!" Shouts Exchelion.
Meiga, kneels for a moment. He watches the waves of clouds roll in as he steps between his fellow warriors. He takes off his dreija. The dreija is a magical talisman that keeps his powers in check. Once removed, Meiga can use several abilities at once.
"Meiga? Your orders?"
"Be still. I'll look ahead. See what's raging before us."
Meiga's eyes begin to glow as his body shakes violently. As the others stand near him, he raises his mighty claws. Their eyes glow yellow...their bodies start to slowly shake. Large vibrations reverberate around them. The ground becomes energized with a heavy, slow methodical movement. The area expands around them. The group is lifted several feet above the ever growing void. All are silent but are as one. A large unknown craft slowly emerges from the clouds. The air pressure drops and starts to push against the area where the warriors are. The craft opens several areas on its surface.

"As I expected, another visitor…"
Meiga uses telepathy to share his battle tactics. His best interpreter is Kerelia.
He gestures to her to try to speak to them.
Fluent in numerous alien dialects, she attempts to communicate.

"•*^^#%'"
Kereila looks at the strange hue surrounding the craft before trying again.
The others look on and wait as instructed.
Kerelia, like Elliah, are orphaned survivors. She was once a leader in her tribe. Her people are well-versed with alien technology and alien linguistics. To date, the interpreter skill belongs and is taught by the Tahchinah tribes.
After several more attempts, there's still no response...only the eerie red glow from several openings that can be seen as the vehicle attempts to cloak.


"Now..." Meiga shouts.
The energy growing beneath the warriors glows a fiery, bright blue. Several large eyes with different colors emerge slowly from the void. The kaiyalu has been summoned. The kaiyalu is an ancient ambassador for the Paleiasians. It is brought forth to address all unknown visitors. The beasts' massive body is encompassed in a thick cloud. The footsteps cause massive quakes about the land. Meiga's claws continue to raise.
"Again, Kereila...", Meiga calmly demands.

"•*^^#%'"
The unknown force seems to open up several ports about its surface. It stealthily descends over the kaiyalu. The kaiyalu broadens its stance and digs its massive claws into the ground. Immense amounts of energy swells about a dark opening where its mouth would be. The smell of burning embers and frost engulfs the large image that ascends before the warriors.

Zzzzmmmmmmmmmmm BOOOOM!!!! The craft speaks with horrific verbiage. Shaking the air as beams of energy shoot out in various directions. Locking in on the target before them.
"So be it..." Meiga sighs.
As his claws lower, the kaiyalu lowers its head. The charged energy glows brighter. The hidden image, of the beast, is now seen clearly. The children shake in horror.
The beasts' body is a combination of skeletons of the fallen, earth, grassy folds and animal membranes. Its massive body shakes violently as the energy amassed comes to a crescendo.

The stifling air falls silent; as if the oxygen itself gave in to the incredulous behemoth. The crafts' beams close in.
Exchelion's eyes become blue. The energy field about the beast is lifted around the group...bracing for impact.

Meiga eases his heartbeat. He uses a breathing method known as hiundon. (Spirit of the fallen) His shaking slowly dissipates. Meiga directs the kaiyalu's charged energy to focus on the large unknown craft.

"Once more..." Meiga urges.

"•*^^#%'"
Still silence from the being. It's presence ever looming, Meiga is left with no choice.
His body is now still... as are the others.
He drops his claws.

HrrRRRRRrrrrrrarrrraRrrrrrr!!!!
The sound is deafening. The shockwave impacts and cracks the forcefield about the warriors.
Blood slowly runs down Meiga's arms.
The blast is so large it dwarfs the incoming enemy ...the sounds of popping and bending metal can be heard from miles around. A small fire from the impact causes the vehicle to swerve...lowering its helm towards the earth. The explosions grow and eventually incinerates the unknown visitors. Only streaks of burning projectiles are left.

"Yessssssss!", the children exclaim. Still locked in to Meiga's first-person view.

The kaiyalu lets out its battlecry to scare away any that would dare threaten the lives on these lands. The ground obeys and backs away from the kaiyalu; the sky as well. None has bested the beast and heed its warning.
"Show off." Kereila pushes his hand.
"You could've given us a chance to fight, too. Ya' know?"
While distracted, Tannon senses movement around them.
"Meiga!"
Tannon has heightened senses and can feel movements up to 300ft.
However, the ground begins to collapse around them. The kaiyalu tucks its feet at the falling earth and stretches out its powerful scaly wings. On the ground are shadowy creatures jumping and running towards the group.
"Kereila!!!"
The children scream as they are sinking underneath the darkened ground. The battle has pushed them back towards the hidden bunker. The kaiyalu's attack caused a massive blow to the surrounding areas.

The protective barrier, surrounding the warriors, begins to fade as the creatures attack.
"We have to do something!!" Exchelion exclaims.
"Meiga!!!"
The storyteller lifts up his bloody right claw and places his palms on the distressed earth. His cloth around his torso disappears to expose his hidden appendages. The appendages about his rib cage are for hand to hand combat. His eyes, now blue, creates an aura that enables Meiga to tap into the Carna: l'talhu. L'talhu is the fighting style Meiga has mastered. (It's like Kempo and Capoeira simultaneously being used). His "hands" are now ten as he strikes multiple targets. His waist rotates as he raises the falling earth into attack that foot sweep and roundhouses the invaders.
Stronger beasts emerge yet Meiga is able to take them on easily.
The extra appendages strike and rips away at the multitude of enemies.
Mateilis creates several forcefields to help ward off the attackers. His ability allows him to control vibrations and make durable force shields.
As the battle ensues, a strong presence nears. It lands near Meiga.
The warriors rush toward it as it holds up its hands.
The sky becomes black as night. It seems to obey her will. The invaders, unable to gain ground, retreat back into the shadows. Her eyes glow a crimson red as the ground begins to erupt. Powerful thunderous claps causes it to collapse under the remaining attackers.
Meiga, wearily slumps over. The children are pulled out of the now solid earth.
"Who...are YOU?!" Kereila asks.