4 Horsemen

ANCIENT ACCOUNT Ying and Yang’s constant struggle rages and subdues for a time unknown. Their cycle of destruction and rebirth turns over, always the same and never ending. To break the pattern they bring forth three beings in their image Creation, Existence and Death to end this cycle and give themselves meaning. Mortality is attained and the triangle of life begins. Prophets were created to watch over mortal life and document all findings along with Clerics and Harbingers who preserved balance in the days of light and shadow. Yin and Yang were content with this new phase and both went into a slumber creating whole moons with their armour, blades and bodies. Creation, Existence and Death relished in what they had accomplished and withdrew from their seats of power allowing Clerics and Harbingers to take charge of all that was under the ever watchful eyes of the Prophets. Over time religion came to fruition some following the light of day and becoming Monks whilst others choosing to follow into shadow and becoming Acolytes. This upset the balance that the Clerics and Harbingers were meant to preserve yet they enjoyed the influence they had over mortals and slowly becoming deities was a power they refused to relinquish. In response Creation, Existence and Death brought forth less powerful beings in their image to quell this uprising, these individuals became Welders and later some were collectively known as Knights. These different types of Welders overthrew the Clerics and Harbingers through force and numbers but not before Creation, Existence and Death met their ultimate fate through different cataclysmic events and the curse of Apocalypse condemned the suns themselves to a new demise. Now all wait for The Horsemen to be born to see what fate they may bring. SPECULATED HISTORY AND LORE . . Let the beast slumber do not let it stir, for once it is awake the worlds it will break, and none shall exist anymore… (Taken from A Child’s lullaby - a book of rhymes) The Shroud was conjured by Witches under the supervision of Clerics and Harbingers to preserve and protect the lives of mortals. Within it a small moon was cultivated with the aid of Druids, Keepers and Witches as a place of refuge so they may hide from the eyes of Prophets who could not enter into The Shroud and thus allowed them to formulate their plans. Monks were followers of Clerics and Acolytes followers of Harbingers respectively. On introduction to their chosen path they are given The Memory to uphold religion and obey those they followed by a process named Blind Faith. The Harbingers and their Acolytes deceived the Clerics and with the aid of Witches set in motion the bloodline of The Four Horsemen in their own image rather than two from each faction as was intended. The Harbingers created The Beast with the help of Keepers which would be the catalyst to The Apocalypse. In response the Clerics cast light onto the shadowed mind of The Beast which left it in a state of slumber and converted seven Welders in to Heralds who would maintain balance so The Beast would not wake and start the chain of events to bring about their end, a ritual still in practice in modern times though the existence of The Beast is inconclusive and none but Heralds know any of this to hold truth: and they are not forthcoming. With their collective dying breath all Harbingers looked upon the second silver sun making it become more than what was intended. The Clerics along with their Monks saw the error in what they wrought and helped to defeat Harbingers before committing mass suicide leaving behind one usable blade, Excalibur, to defeat The Beast, if it were ever to wake, and intended to take all of their light so they may not return. All twelve Churches were abandoned and remain derelict to this day, religion was abolished as it was seen as a way for the few to control the many and a new order was formed on Thea with the three Realms being independently governed by a monarch with their own laws and traditions and the Free lands where independent cities over seen by the Pharaoh and protected by a coalition of some Welders now under the collective name Knights. The essence of Creation, Existence and Death were harnessed into gems and given to three brothers who were powerful Knights in their own right to care for. They remain in this care today until an individual will rise and take all three gems and with a crown upon their brow rule over all as part of the Clerics and Harbingers original plan.