Page 35

"This is your story," says Sharalinda. She doesn't put on any theatrics, hand-waving, or sound effects this time, but you still listen intently. "It is actually the story of our world, Kalryne, as much as it is of you. You see, we live in a world governed by four gods. There is Zephiro, the god of the air. There is Kuaro, the god of the water. There is Kalyro, the god of the land. And there is Vulkaro, the god of fire.

"Normally there is a balance of power between these four gods. None is stronger than the rest. If an imbalance ever does occur, the world suffers for it. For example, if Zephiro becomes too strong, violent tornadoes and hurricanes will strike the world. If it is Kuaro who gains too much strength, we'll have flooding everywhere. If Kalyro gets too strong, the ground quakes and splits and mountains are pushed up. And if Vulkaro becomes too strong...droughts, fires, volcanoes...it's been said that the end of our world will someday be caused by an overbalance in Vulkaro's power.

"Now, each of the gods watches over the entire land of Kalryne, blessing it and harming it in turn. But each god also has a special region of the world which it especially blesses. This nation of Gundal is in the region of Kalyre, watched over by the great god Kalyro. It is right on the outskirts of Kalyre, however, and most often overlooked by the rest of the world."

"This is all fascinating," you tell her, "but where do I fit into any of it?"

Sharalinda laughs. "Patience, patience," she says. "We'll get there, don't worry. Now, once in awhile, the gods become angry. It is the actions of the people that anger them. When smoke and chemicals pollute the air, Zephiro is angered. When trash is dumped into the water, it angers Kuaro. When the land's resources are abused, Kalyro gets angry. And when plant or animal life is needlessly destroyed, we suffer Vulkaro's rage.

"Every couple thousand years or so, the people grow so greedy and so impious that they continue abusing their world even after suffering destruction. When this happens, the offended god's anger becomes so overpowering that it is transformed into a demon. This demon, if unchecked, will destroy the entire world of Kalryne with its evil. The other gods will not be able to stop it. In fact, no one in this world will have the power to stop it. So one hero from another world is called to Kalryne.

"You are that hero." Sharalinda pauses a moment to let that sink in. "I am a sorceress of the four gods," she continues. "I have studied long and hard in their magical ways, and have become very powerful for a mere human. I can speak with the gods, and when they so choose, they give me information and instructions on how they wish me to guide the Kalrynian people. A short time ago they told me that one of the gods has become angry, and will soon undergo its transformation into a demon. And they told me that a hero would be summoned to combat it, and that hero would appear in the tiny Kalyran nation of Gundal. And here I've been, waiting for you, ever since."

You run your fingers through your hair, trying to absorb it all. "How did you recognize me?" you ask her.

"The medallion around your neck," she explains. "The lettering on in, though not in any language I expect you can read, revealed your identity as a branzent, one who has arrived in our world through branzentoc and must now defeat one of our gods."

"Which god is it that I have to defeat?" you wonder.

There is no smile in Sharalinda's eyes as she says, "It is Vulkaro. The most violent god of them all."

"How can I possibly defeat a god?" you ask the sorceress/fortune teller, shaking your head.

"You will need the help of all the people of the world," Sharalinda explains, "They will have to repent, for without repentance, things can never be made right. But even after they repent, and Vulkaro will be again able to peacefully reign over his own territory, the demon will exist, bent on obliterating the world, and you will have to stop it before it can wreak its destruction."

"Do I have to do that part on my own?" you ask Sharalinda.

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