Pennelore and Merler
The lands lay about the lush, green kingdom with foundations rich in soil, precious elements and marked with various temples, shrines and castles. This kingdom was vast, a coast far to the East, bordering a strange enclosed town. Narrow cliffs along part of the beach actually hid a rumored pirates' hideout. Less than a fortnight away were the farm and forest regions. There were also mountains that had been hollowed out in most parts for secret, underground palaces and a dungeon or two. There were many stone masons who lived and prospered in this kingdom, but the most interesting part of this people were the villagers themselves.
There were several villages scattered throughout the lands, of course, but they were built in honor of the very people that lived therein.
These villagers were given, by birthright, words, spells and ritual melody that could shape the elements to their liking, bringing rain, snow and sun by just uttering the right combination of sound and song. They were, in a way, spellcasters. Witchcraft was their ritual, and song was their religion.
The king and protector of this majestic country had been crowned for the fact he could do negotiations, be the arbiter and keep in check all the so-called magic that was part of everyday life here. His name was Pennelore. He had come to serve and was their ruler.
Now Pennelore hadn't come into power by wars or battle or even by some previous ruler who handed down his crown...but by reason that some unforetold doom would darken the skies and they would need His Lordship in place so that the kingdom could remain and prosper. Pennelore was then chosen. He was from a faraway, foreign country and when he rode in, he had alongside him his longtime trusted friend and wizard Merler, an old, quirky scribe named Floke, who enjoyed many a late night in the various villages' taverns...and he brought several of his servants, three of which were betrothed and would be given titles of queen, patron queen and first lady of the kingdom.
When Pennelore had come to be king, Merler was given place to rule in his absence, whenever the king might travel. However, because Merler had his own servants as well, he'd opt for another to rule in his place to travel with Pennelore. Merler's host were his family (as a rule) and many of them did indeed live within his strange forest temple. A haunted place, recommended by the villagers to be avoided.
Had there been any danger that could befall any of Merler's host or Merler himself, he had his trusted LadyKnights, deadly with a sword, who could ensure their safety. These were Spari, Skeetha and Ingra. Merler enjoyed their company from time to time, by hidden waterfalls and small islands close to the East Sea...whenever the mood struck and one of them wasn't off training members of the populace to fight.
So let us bring the tale to this beginning, for there are many beginnings, and many endings...but this one, ah yes, this one's the best.
Pennelore had just been sealed to his betrothed and the festivities lasted through the night. With his three wives, he had hosted one of the most lively celebrations the kingdom had ever seen. There were fireworks and a feast, and then, when lightning was brought to enhance the need for further excitement, everyone retreated into Pennelore's castle to escape the downpour. Inside they continued laughing and singing, eating and drinking, and merrymaking all round.
"Hear! Hear!" one of the populace called, "A toast! A toast to our king and sire! May all your days be as happy as this glorious occassion!" Everyone cheered and toasted. As the several toasts and salutations came around and everyone was well into the wee hours of the night, the rain outside had ceased. The guests had started to head for their homes, huts, shrines...and trekked back through the woods and all parts of the land with singing and laughing. That night the kingdom had glowed with the happiness that all the people felt.
Many weeks had passed, the Spring was new and everywhere there was the usual everyday life. The markets were full with new wares. The animals were numerous this year and many children were born to many village families. Inside the Forest Temple, there came brave, new young warriors to be trained in fighting skills. Spari and Ingra were pleased with this. "Welcome! Right this way," Merler greeted several young men at his foyer.
"Art thou Merler? The great wizard?"
"Yes..."
"Hast thou a door keeper?"
"Yes..."
Merler continued to lead them through the main front door and then through a vast, open space that was the main hall of his temple. The boys gave each other various glances of question and intrigue. Merler lead them through to one of the courtyards, of which there was one on the right and one on the left. He chose the left one and brought them to Spari who was waiting for them. Sitting in a large wooden chair carved with a massive dragon sculpture that graced the entire chair as if a dragon had been frozen within the body of the chair itself, Spari looked in their direction, getting up to greet them.
"Greetings. Let us walk through this, for then shall thee know the true nature of battle," Spari said as she looked them over and then turned away. Merler had since seated himself in the ornate chair and watched silently. The new trainees listened and hung onto every word Spari had spoken. Without notice, Spari disappeared and the young would-be soldiers looked all around the courtyard. Without even a heartbeat passing, Spari, Ingra and Skeetha jumped from a ledge and within minutes have one young man tied to a tree branch with festive cords and a ridiculous looking hat on his head. Another was suspended from a large clock-type face as if he were the pendulum and the other two were soon placed upon the ledge itself and were fighting gravity to keep balance while trying to hold onto the two buckets full of chicken feathers that were handed to them. Merler hasn't changed expression nor moved once during all of this, and his girls approach Merler from right, left and center, to go and stand at his right and left hand sides.
"Knowest thou why there came no defense when surely there was cause?" Ingra asked, looking up at the young men struggling to get loose.
" 'Twould take time. Giveth me an envious enemy and ye need not to replace my nerve," Spari answered.
"Upon many days would I have traveled to bring such reassuring footmen," Skeetha interjected.
"Be nice, they're new. Give me back my headgear." Merler got up and walked over to the man with the hat and took it off his head.
"Grace be unto you, my lord. Thank you," he said and managed to free himself from the tree branch. "Are these not your LadyKnights, Lord Merler?"
"Yeah, they are, but they spend a lot of time doing all these other things and very little time with me. Alas, I can't even get them to dress in such festive garb."
"But Lord, surely we have a life," said Skeetha.
Merler glances in her and the other two ladies' direction . "Ouch" he said.
As Merler left the courtyard, the LadyKnights began basic defense moves for their student warriors.