It has been five-hundred years since the Pulse bathed the earth in a brilliant flash, instantly ending the Golden Age of humanity. At the speed of light, it destroyed modern technology all over the planet, ushering in the Great Collapse, and the conclusion of ten-thousand years of civilization. There had been no time to prepare, for the end came without warning. The cause of the cataclysm remained a mystery however, until one night people looked to the skies during the time of the Great Collapse, and found a new, beautiful, heavenly light there. Scientists soon uncovered the painful truth behind the fantastic lights; the Pulse was not alone when it struck the earth. The appearance of the powerful electromagnetic pulse had coincided with the arrival of a significant coronal mass ejection from the sun, trapping the power of the Pulse in the earth’s magnetic field, creating a brilliant, nightly light show, similar to the aurora borealis in appearance, which came to be known as The Effect.
The terrible consequence of the Effect kept the people of the Golden Age from re-building the most advanced civilization in human history. Gradually, over the course of time, more and more of the accumulated knowledge that existed during the Golden Age began to fade from human memory. The abrupt loss of all modern technology had been a shock to the world’s collective system, a catastrophe from which it was unable to recover. The subsequent descent into the darkness that began during the Great Collapse continued well into the period known as the Dark Age. After several hundred years, the rapid decline of civilization eventually leveled off, leaving humanity at a level of technology comparable to life during the Middle Ages, a time when illiteracy was the rule instead of the exception, and the world was ruled by the sword, and by the bow.
The Holy Christian Church, which has existed since the time of Christ, has now survived two dark ages. The unified Church has been the only light of hope for the people of the Dark Age, maintaining a continual presence in Rome, which serves as the nerve center of the Church, and a beacon of hope to Christian pilgrims from all over the world.
The Warrior Clan, founded during The Great Collapse by a group of ex-soldiers and civilians, maintains enclaves scattered throughout the Outlands. Shunning contact with the outside world since its inception, members of the Warrior Clan are disciplined fighters, constantly striving to perfect their martial skill. They are recognized and feared throughout the known lands as fierce and accomplished warriors.
Urbas inhabit the crumbling meros, all that remains of the great urban metropolises that once dotted the surface of the Earth. Living together in packs of twenty or more, they are the descendants of the few men and women that remained in the great cities during the Great Collapse. They survive by preying on outsiders and on each other, with allegiance to no one other than their pack, and themselves. The balance of humanity clusters in small, scattered villages, working mostly as farmers.
The Dark Age is a harsh and unforgiving time. The Golden Age and the Ancients are now largely remembered only in bedtime stories for small children. Just as the light always burns brightest in the darkness however, hope remains as some cling stubbornly to their faith, praying that one day the light of civilization will return. For among the many stories passed down from generation to generation over the centuries there exists an ancient prophecy, dating from the time of the Great Collapse. The prophecy holds that one day a sign would appear from God, announcing to believers that the time had come to find and activate the Great Oracle of Knowledge, giving the world the opportunity to emerge from the great darkness, into a glorious new Golden Age.
Chapter 1
Pilgrims
Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"
Ferrell made his way through the dilapidated ruins of the once great metropolitan area, mindful of the many dangerous inhabitants that now called it home. He scanned the ruins as he walked down the wide ancient road, which passed through the middle of a number of tall, crumbling buildings, overgrown with ivy and rust. Outside two of the larger buildings, where the grass that sprouted through the concrete was the tallest, he saw something that worried him. A hundred yards in front of them stood a small herd of whitetail deer, that had stopped to feed on some of the poison ivy and poison sumac that grew out of the cracks in the road. Ferrell hesitated because he knew what it meant…trouble. The deer were a favorite food source for the large predators that roamed the overgrown ruins in the mero. It was only a matter of time now.
He was preparing to turn the group back the way they came in an effort to try to find a way around the herd when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The movement was subtle yet familiar. Crouching low in the grass, their massive sinews tensing as they prepared to attack the herd, was a pride of lions, emerging from the edge of a dark alley between the two buildings to his right. Ferrell turned to face the people with him, pointing toward the big cats. “Slowly,” he whispered, “everyone back away, slowly, no quick movements.”
The three lions launched their attack with lightning speed, quickly moving to flank and encircle the herd. Two of the male lions, a mature, large cat, and a much younger, smaller one, chased after a part of the herd that had split off from the rest and was now running in their direction. The remnant of the herd separated, some to Ferrell’s left and some to his right, but this time the lions did not follow the deer. Instead, they were now racing toward him and his companions. They had encountered human beings before, Ferrell surmised, and had probably discovered that people made for an easier meal than the much swifter and more agile whitetail deer. Two of the men travelling with him panicked and ran before Ferrell was able to stop them. I told them to stay close to me! How can I protect them unless they stay together? With a solitary movement, he drew his sword from its scabbard, sliced at the neck of the smaller beast, and then watched as it dropped lifeless to the ground. The second lion circled him for several moments, letting out a ferocious growl as it charged. The cat lunged at his throat with its massive claws outstretched, and its enormous canines positioned to close around Ferrell’s neck. Just as the beast sunk its claws into his sides, Ferrell buried his katana sword into its chest, though the momentum of the now dead animal's carcass knocked him to the ground. He withdrew the blade from the animal and turned his attention back to the rest of the pride, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw the remaining lions devouring one of the deer that had been unfortunate enough to be at the rear of the herd.
Leading the group away from the feast and down a different path, he took a moment to catch his breath and check himself out as soon as they were clear. There were several puncture marks followed by deep scores where the big cat had nearly ended his life. Were it not for the thick and incredibly tough armor that he wore, the lion would surely have torn him apart with its powerful claws alone. Ferrell looked up briefly to survey their position. He soon regained his bearings and led the group around the ferocious animals.
Permitting himself to relax for a moment now that the immediate danger had passed, he paused to take in his surroundings. The crumbling structures on all sides reminded him of why he disliked the mero so much, regardless of how often he brought pilgrims through it. The ominous ruins of the ancient city stood as cold and foreboding relics of a strange and long-dead civilization. There was something unnatural about the place that made his skin crawl, and despite his regular treks through the long-deserted metropolitan area, he never could get used to it. The endless rows of buildings, clearly built to accommodate a vast number of people, now stood empty and desolate. As the travelers passed through the section of the mero where some of the tallest and most exotic structures stood, Ferrell tried to imagine what the city might have looked like when it was still in its prime, during the height of the Golden Age. Traveling through the mero alone so frequently had given him plenty of time to reflect on the disparity between what had once been, and what now was. Clearly the Ancients had achieved an incredibly advanced civilization, while the peoples of The Dark Age lived in such a primitive, feudal manner. It left him longing for something better for humanity. Perhaps, one day, we will tear down this graveyard, build a new civilization, and bring about an end to the Dark Age, as well as the death and decay all around us!
If the lion ruled the mero, then his four-legged subjects were the rat, the deer, and the dog, along with the many other descendants of zoo animals who, like the lions, had escaped their confinement hundreds of years earlier during the time of the Great Collapse.
It has been five-hundred years since the Pulse bathed the earth in a brilliant flash, instantly ending the Golden Age of humanity. At the speed of light, it destroyed modern technology all over the planet, ushering in the Great Collapse, and the conclusion of ten-thousand years of civilization. There had been no time to prepare, for the end came without warning. The cause of the cataclysm remained a mystery however, until one night people looked to the skies during the time of the Great Collapse, and found a new, beautiful, heavenly light there. Scientists soon uncovered the painful truth behind the fantastic lights; the Pulse was not alone when it struck the earth. The appearance of the powerful electromagnetic pulse had coincided with the arrival of a significant coronal mass ejection from the sun, trapping the power of the Pulse in the earth’s magnetic field, creating a brilliant, nightly light show, similar to the aurora borealis in appearance, which came to be known as The Effect.
The terrible consequence of the Effect kept the people of the Golden Age from re-building the most advanced civilization in human history. Gradually, over the course of time, more and more of the accumulated knowledge that existed during the Golden Age began to fade from human memory. The abrupt loss of all modern technology had been a shock to the world’s collective system, a catastrophe from which it was unable to recover. The subsequent descent into the darkness that began during the Great Collapse continued well into the period known as the Dark Age. After several hundred years, the rapid decline of civilization eventually leveled off, leaving humanity at a level of technology comparable to life during the Middle Ages, a time when illiteracy was the rule instead of the exception, and the world was ruled by the sword, and by the bow.
The Holy Christian Church, which has existed since the time of Christ, has now survived two dark ages. The unified Church has been the only light of hope for the people of the Dark Age, maintaining a continual presence in Rome, which serves as the nerve center of the Church, and a beacon of hope to Christian pilgrims from all over the world.
The Warrior Clan, founded during The Great Collapse by a group of ex-soldiers and civilians, maintains enclaves scattered throughout the Outlands. Shunning contact with the outside world since its inception, members of the Warrior Clan are disciplined fighters, constantly striving to perfect their martial skill. They are recognized and feared throughout the known lands as fierce and accomplished warriors.
Urbas inhabit the crumbling meros, all that remains of the great urban metropolises that once dotted the surface of the Earth. Living together in packs of twenty or more, they are the descendants of the few men and women that remained in the great cities during the Great Collapse. They survive by preying on outsiders and on each other, with allegiance to no one other than their pack, and themselves. The balance of humanity clusters in small, scattered villages, working mostly as farmers.
The Dark Age is a harsh and unforgiving time. The Golden Age and the Ancients are now largely remembered only in bedtime stories for small children. Just as the light always burns brightest in the darkness however, hope remains as some cling stubbornly to their faith, praying that one day the light of civilization will return. For among the many stories passed down from generation to generation over the centuries there exists an ancient prophecy, dating from the time of the Great Collapse. The prophecy holds that one day a sign would appear from God, announcing to believers that the time had come to find and activate the Great Oracle of Knowledge, giving the world the opportunity to emerge from the great darkness, into a glorious new Golden Age.
Chapter 1
Pilgrims
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"
Ferrell made his way through the dilapidated ruins of the once great metropolitan area, mindful of the many dangerous inhabitants that now called it home. He scanned the ruins as he walked down the wide ancient road, which passed through the middle of a number of tall, crumbling buildings, overgrown with ivy and rust. Outside two of the larger buildings, where the grass that sprouted through the concrete was the tallest, he saw something that worried him. A hundred yards in front of them stood a small herd of whitetail deer, that had stopped to feed on some of the poison ivy and poison sumac that grew out of the cracks in the road. Ferrell hesitated because he knew what it meant…trouble. The deer were a favorite food source for the large predators that roamed the overgrown ruins in the mero. It was only a matter of time now.
He was preparing to turn the group back the way they came in an effort to try to find a way around the herd when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The movement was subtle yet familiar. Crouching low in the grass, their massive sinews tensing as they prepared to attack the herd, was a pride of lions, emerging from the edge of a dark alley between the two buildings to his right. Ferrell turned to face the people with him, pointing toward the big cats. “Slowly,” he whispered, “everyone back away, slowly, no quick movements.”
The three lions launched their attack with lightning speed, quickly moving to flank and encircle the herd. Two of the male lions, a mature, large cat, and a much younger, smaller one, chased after a part of the herd that had split off from the rest and was now running in their direction. The remnant of the herd separated, some to Ferrell’s left and some to his right, but this time the lions did not follow the deer. Instead, they were now racing toward him and his companions. They had encountered human beings before, Ferrell surmised, and had probably discovered that people made for an easier meal than the much swifter and more agile whitetail deer. Two of the men travelling with him panicked and ran before Ferrell was able to stop them. I told them to stay close to me! How can I protect them unless they stay together? With a solitary movement, he drew his sword from its scabbard, sliced at the neck of the smaller beast, and then watched as it dropped lifeless to the ground. The second lion circled him for several moments, letting out a ferocious growl as it charged. The cat lunged at his throat with its massive claws outstretched, and its enormous canines positioned to close around Ferrell’s neck. Just as the beast sunk its claws into his sides, Ferrell buried his katana sword into its chest, though the momentum of the now dead animal's carcass knocked him to the ground. He withdrew the blade from the animal and turned his attention back to the rest of the pride, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw the remaining lions devouring one of the deer that had been unfortunate enough to be at the rear of the herd.
Leading the group away from the feast and down a different path, he took a moment to catch his breath and check himself out as soon as they were clear. There were several puncture marks followed by deep scores where the big cat had nearly ended his life. Were it not for the thick and incredibly tough armor that he wore, the lion would surely have torn him apart with its powerful claws alone. Ferrell looked up briefly to survey their position. He soon regained his bearings and led the group around the ferocious animals.
Permitting himself to relax for a moment now that the immediate danger had passed, he paused to take in his surroundings. The crumbling structures on all sides reminded him of why he disliked the mero so much, regardless of how often he brought pilgrims through it. The ominous ruins of the ancient city stood as cold and foreboding relics of a strange and long-dead civilization. There was something unnatural about the place that made his skin crawl, and despite his regular treks through the long-deserted metropolitan area, he never could get used to it. The endless rows of buildings, clearly built to accommodate a vast number of people, now stood empty and desolate. As the travelers passed through the section of the mero where some of the tallest and most exotic structures stood, Ferrell tried to imagine what the city might have looked like when it was still in its prime, during the height of the Golden Age. Traveling through the mero alone so frequently had given him plenty of time to reflect on the disparity between what had once been, and what now was. Clearly the Ancients had achieved an incredibly advanced civilization, while the peoples of The Dark Age lived in such a primitive, feudal manner. It left him longing for something better for humanity. Perhaps, one day, we will tear down this graveyard, build a new civilization, and bring about an end to the Dark Age, as well as the death and decay all around us!
If the lion ruled the mero, then his four-legged subjects were the rat, the deer, and the dog, along with the many other descendants of zoo animals who, like the lions, had escaped their confinement hundreds of years earlier during the time of the Great Collapse.