The Mask of Dawn ... Backstory

Long ago, there was a world called Nualay. In this land lived evil tyrants, and kings of four countries, Cudgel: ruled by Rockbitter, Myrel: ruled by Vixer, Aeylyn: ruled by Ragus Raeb, and Asger: ruled by Talore Dragoon. These four countries are separated into two continents called Pangaia, and Rythis. As most religions go there is a good entity and an evil one. The people of' Rythis, for the most part worshiped Curtana of the light, while Pangaia believed that following Plagueus of the Dark would bring control to the world. Long ago a battle between these to gods split the lands, and also split the people, which plunged the world into conflict.

Ragus Raeb, the tyrant of Aeylyn was the most feared, and ruthless of the four countries. His tactics earned him the name Heartless, because he beheaded his own wife for not bearing him a son to be his successor. But Ragus grew to love his daughter, and she became the most important person in his life. Over the years, Ragus overthrew his whole continent of Pangaia, after defeating Rockbitter of Cudgel. With the combined army of Cudgel and Aeylyn, Ragus' thirst for power grew. He set his sights on Rythis. Rythis was a land of beauty, and looked very mystical. Vixer of Myrel was a Monk, who did not believe in violence, and his people lived in a monastery constantly praying to Curtana to guide them. Talore on the other hand, prayed to Curtana, but to give her strength to guide her sword and army to rid the world of evil.

Unknown to Ragus and Talore, was that their children intended on a different future. They wanted to unite the lands in peace, and occasionally met to discuss overthrowing their parents. Ragus' daughter, Imanya and Talore's son Zaiden were also in love, sort of a Romeo and Juliet scenario. They planned on killing their parents because they were so overcome with thirst for power. They set a plan to poison their parents, and report it as if they died in their sleep, and take the thrones and unite the continents in peace. Imanya and Zaiden traveled to Myrel to seek the help of Vixer. Vixer told them of a potion that he could make, which would peacefully take the lives of their parents. They figured it was the best thing to do, and each took a vial.

Ragus was off one night, and was visited by a stranger in a long black cloak. Ragus was very apprehensive to the man, and had every reason not to trust him. He introduced himself under the name "shadow". He wanted to make Ragus an offer that would give him the power he needed to take over the whole world. Shadow offered him a mask. He told him that it was the face of plageus. If he wore this mask, he would have the power to live forever and demolish his foes. Ragus asked Shadow, what was the catch. He told him that if he gives the mask blood, he would have nothing to worry about. Ragus smiled and said "is that all I have to do?" and he ran shadow through with his sword. With his last breath, shadow said there is a catch, but before he could tell Ragus, he seemingly died. Ragus didn't care, he possessed the means to conquer Rythis.

Talore caught word that Ragus was preparing his army to invade her land, and tried to convince Vixer to help defend their land. He refused and said he would happily accept his death, and would not raise fist or sword because it goes against his belief. Talore was infuriated and left Myrel to it's fate.

Ragus began his invasion on Myrel knowing that there would be no resistance, and slaughtered the men, women and children there. He finally arrived at Vixer who knelt down before him, and looked up to his face, noticing the mask. Vixer knew the face, it was the face of Plageus, and said the dark one has returned, as Ragus beheaded him. The mask glowed red with power. Ragus felt it flowing through his veins. He wanted more, and more, and set his sights on Asger and Talore Dragoon.

Little did Ragus know, Talore was planning on marching on Ragus' camp to sneak attack him in the night. Imanya and Zaiden made their move. Zaiden slipped the poison into his mothers drink, and she felt sleepy, laid down, and died. Zaiden announced that his mother was taken in her sleep, and took the title as King of Asger. Imanya attempted her plot as well. She slipped the poison into her fathers drink, sat back and watched, as nothing happened. The mask and the powers that it gave him, made the poison ineffective. It also made him aware that the drink was poisoned. In total shock knowing that his own daughter, whom he loved with all of his heart, would try to kill him. He simply walked away from her, and left her to watch as he finished off the rest of the world.

Ragus launched his attack on Asger, and Zaiden was caught off guard. He believed his and Imanya's plan had worked. Ragus obliterated Asger and approached Zaiden and asked where his mother was, so he could finish her off. Zaiden told him she had died in her sleep, and he took the throne, and wanted to end things peacefully. Ragus laughed, and looked behind him as Imanya ran toward him, and they hugged. Ragus looked in shock, as his own daughter embraced the enemy. Ragus was enraged as his daughter defied him twice. Zaiden asked her what happened to their plan, and she says it didn't work. Ragus went into a rage and figured that they were in love, and planned to kill him. Ragus lunged forward to strike down Zaiden, as Imanya stepped in front of the blade, taking the blow. Ragus dropped his sword, and couldn't believe he killed his own daughter. He dropped to his knees, and as he did the mask fell from his face. Zaiden picked up Ragus' sword, and swung and beheaded Ragus.

Zaiden still possessed some of the poison which he used on his mother, and drank the last of it, and took his life. Of what remained of the land, they rebuilt, joined together, and brought the land back to peace.

As the mask laid on the ground, a shadowy figure approached, and picked it up, tucked it in his cloak, looked down to Ragus and called him a fool. Saying the only downfall to the mask, is that you have to destroy something that you hold dear to your heart, which was his daughter. The shadow figure reveals himself to be a servant of Plageus, and the mask needs the blood in order to bring him back to the land of the living, so he can plung the world back into chaos and darkness. The Shadow figure walks off laughing, and disappears into the darkness......


......Thus begins The Mask of Dawn