SYNOPSIS
There is a BLIGHT spreading across the world. It is spread by evil monsters created by
GARTH. these creatures emanate such an aura of evil and fear that all living things slowly die
in their presence. Even the bravest of warriors have great difficulty facing them. The BLIGHT
threatens the KINGDOM OF SUNHOLM.
LARN, Prince of SUNHOLM believes he knows a way to destroy GARTH and save SUNHOLM.
In his youth BERNING created the SHRINE. Legend has it that the SHRINE contains unknown weapons
of great power, able to defeat GARTH.
Enlisting the help of JON, a young friend and GENTO, the Royal Cartographer, he plans a
dangerous journey to find the SHRINE.
Later BEN is added to the party. For 15 years BEN has been the town drunk. He is the
only other man besides BERNING himself, who has stood in the presence of GARTH and lived.
The experience warped him greatly. Now BEN discovered Larns plan to seek BERNINGS SHRINE.
After consulting with LARN, JON, GENTO and HERBERT, JONS FATHER, it is decided that because
of his experience as a former soldier and scout for the KINGDOM, BEN will go with the company.
After planning and preparation LARN and his friends cross the MILA RIVER on a raft
and set out across the BLIGHT. Within the BLIGHT it is known that there are a few special
places where BERNING camped in his travels. Enough of his presence was left there to prevent
the BLIGHT from completely swallowing them. These are places of refuge for the Fellowship.
It is a dangerous journey. On the second day they encounter one of GARTHS creatures,
traveling toward SUNHOLM with two men. Never in all history have men been known to travel
with GARTHS creatures. Fortunately the company saw them first, so LARN was able to bring
down the monster with an arrow through the heart. The two men were killed by BEN and GENTO
at close quarters. Quickly covering the bodies with sand, they move on.
Two days later, JONS keen sense of smell leads them to one of BERNINGS campsites.
Here they will be safe from GARTHS creatures, who will not enter there.
Early the next morning they hear voices approaching and CARL, from THE SOUTHERN
KINGDOM, enters the camp with seven men. They are on a mission to destroy the meeting place
where men are enticed to serve GARTH with promises of wealth and power. These men are also
on a quest to find BERNINGS SHRINE. They believe it will be found in THE FIRE MOUNTAINS,
near the headwaters of the MILA RIVER. GENTO believes it will be found in the far Southeast,
so after spending a day and a night consulting, the two groups go separate ways.
In the wilderness they come across DRUCE. who has escaped from GARTH. At first it is
believed he is a criminal, but he later proves himself a hero. As the company travels to the
CAPITAL CITY they are attacked by several of GARTHS monsters and one man. DRUCE was able to
save the life of JON by attacking one of those creatures from the rear using a knife that BEN
had loaned him. DRUCE is escorted to THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF STARHOLM to face the justice of
KING JAMY. There is is decided that DRUCE will have a chance to redeem himself by joining the
fellowship.
Here he becomes acquainted with LARA, the daughter of one of KING JAMYS court.
They leave the Capitol City, and after weeks of dangerous travel and another encounter with
GARTHS creatures where LARN is wounded, they come to the edge of the BLIGHT and enter the
jungle of the PARDEE. These are small but deadly warriors. The Fellowship becomes friends
with them and takes part in a fierce battle with GARTHS monsters.
Leaving the PARDEE they come to a fertile but empty land. Here GENTO believes the
SHRINE will be found. After some days travel he is proved right.
Near the top of a mountain the SHRINE is found. The company is astonished to find not
weapons, but four ancient ARTIFACTS. These are a BEAUTIFUL WHITE FLOWER, TWO GOLDEN RINGS,
A BOOK AND A SMALL KNIFE.. These give off powerful emanations of Love, Faith and Courage.
LANGLEY, the son of BERNING walks in. He explains the origin and purpose of the
ARTIFACTS. The fellowships task is to carry these in special sealed containers into GARTHS
very throne room. There they must be removed from the containers. The ARTIFACTS are the very
anti-thesis of all that GARTH is. He cannot live in their presence. He will be banished from
this world.
LANGLEY cannot tell them how to accomplish this, only that they may meet friends on
the way. After some dangerous travel, encountering GARTH'S creatures, the Fellowship reaches
the edge of the FIRE mountains.
There they meet CARL and his men from THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. They travel together to
the canyon where GARTH has his fortress. On the lip of the canyon they battle GARTHS monsters
and JON is taken prisoner.
GEEOH, one of CARLS men is killed, and Rufus is wounded. They begin the descent
into GARTH'S canyon. Part of the way down they come upon a narrow crevice in the side of the
canyon. Here they spend the night. Upon leaving the next moring,they encounter BRITT, a soldier
of the SOUTHERN KINGDOM. He has spent 2 years hiding around GARTH'S Fortress and spying.
At the bottom of the canyon they are captured and brought into GARTHS throne room.
They had long pondered on how to enter that place. Now GARTH had solved that problem for them.
An old man is chained to the throne, nearly dead. Three containers are opened. GARTH screams
in fear but it is not enough. He mocks the company.
Now the old man raises his head. It is JON! Slowly he reaches inside his tunic and
brings out the small package containing the ANCIENT KNIFE. In moments there are only ashes
on GARTHS throne. GARTHS monsters all fall dead. The sustaining power of their Master
is gone. The men who have sold themselves to GARTH now bear a RED MARK on their foreheads.
They will be shunned or killed by decent folk everywhere. .
LANGLEY and BRITT walk in and tells them that the whole world now rejoices at their
victory. GARTHS old fortress will now become THE NEW SHRINE, permanent resting place of the
four ARTIFACTS. DRUCE will be it's builder and caretaker.They all travel back to THE SOUTHERN
KINGDOM. There is world-wide celebration. DRUCE and LARA, the daughter of MARK who is one
of KING JAMYS advisors are married.
PART TWO
THE RED MARK
BEN and CARL wish to travel to the land where the SHRINE was found and build a new
settlement. Beside a lake the town of FREEHOLM is founded. To the north it is discovered that
the people of the RED MARK have gathered. NADAK is their leader. They are bitter enemies of
all free people. Twice they attack FREEHOLM, but are defeated by the fortifications created
by CARL. LANGLEY has said that in time the RED MARK will be removed from the human race.
It takes a genuine repentance and purity of heart.
Some few of the RED MARK people flee NADAK and come to FREEHOLM. One of these is
MERIUN, NADAKS daughter. At first Bens people view them with suspicion, but soon their
RED MARKS begin to fade. In time they become full citizens of FREEHOLM. It is known that
anyone entering the NEW SHRINE and standing before THE ARTIFACTS will be healed if in their
hearts they wish to abandon the ways of GARTH.
On a visit to the PARDEE, BEN and MERIUM fall in love. They travel to THE SOUTHERN
KINGDOM to be married by KING JAMY. After much discussion it is decided to confront NADAK
with a large army from STARHOLM and SUNHOLM. NADAK and his people must agree to travel
to the NEW SHRINE or all will be killed. NADAK has already decided that his way was wrong
and agrees to go. All but nine of the RED MARK are healed. These are imprisoned for life.
PART THREE
THE CITY OF PEACE
OR
THE ELIMON
South of THE LAND OF THE SHRINE, also called EASTHOLM there is a vast desert.
ANTON has always wondered what lies beyond it. Five years after the healing of the RED MARK
he decides to find out. With three friends he makes a difficult journey across the desert.
On the other side they find a river and a jungle beyond. Some more days travel brings them
to a lake and a huge, apparently deserted city beyond it. Exploring the city, to their
astonishment they find an underground room with strange machinery in it. There is strange
writing. There are many caskets containing people who are apparently asleep. Mystified,
they travel back to STARHOLM for advice.
LANGLEY gives ANSEL the key to the writing. He explains that these sleeping people
are his ancestors. They came to this world twelve centuries ago to await an event. Part of
that event was the defeat of GARTH. They are called THE ELIMON. They are a very advanced,
space traveling race. What the world thought of as BERNINGS magical power was really the
science of the ELIMON. After much study by the scientists of this world, the ELIMON are
awakened. the first is named "Raston." He is the leader of the ELIMON.
THE CITY OF PEACE becomes a school to educate the people of this world. The young
and gifted come from all over. There are other evil creatures like GARTH in the Universe.
It is the task of the ELIMON to defeat them. The blending of the ELIMON people and the
people from BERNINGS world will benefit both races. At the end, all of the original
FELLOWSHIP OF THE SHRINE are gathered in the CITY OF PEACE. As KING JAMY rises and speaks
there is a loud roar and two ships of the ELIMON appear over the CITY OF PEACE.
THE END
by: David E Lovell
