1 The Kali

People in the kingdom of Pharshena remembered the summer when the crystal fortress first mysteriously appeared. There was a thundering storm, and winds beat heavy against wooden shutters. Rain and hail pelted the fields, and lighting tore the skies with blinding flashes of light. The storm lasted several days, and when it quieted, and the warm sun once again came out to shine upon the many stretching green valleys, ringed by the Tehati Mountains, the people who lived there beheld the sparkling fortress high up, close to the eastern pass. Sunlight reflected peculiarly through it, as though it was made of glass or opaque crystal.

Some curious adventurers then made their way up across treacherous terrain, thinking mostly of finding treasure. They found several dozen demons, instead.

The king of the land heard out the frightening reports and immediately turned to the royal scholars, the priests of the Kanur Order, ordering them to consult their archives. They returned to the king with a grim conclusion.

"The creatures of the crystal castle are doubtlessly the Kali, the shadow demons from the nether world." The high priest of the council declared to the common gasp in the royal court, for everyone knew these legends, and heard in childhood the terrifying tales of things done in times long past.

Once, long ago, when the Sky Rivers bathed the lands of Pharshena with their cool fire, great gaping holes opened into the dark void of the netherworld and disgorged forth swarms of powerful demons. Their only hateful purpose was to destroy all life. Enraged, they killed every living thing in their path. They devoured the human worlds and left behind scorched, poisoned earth where none could draw breath. The only creatures strong enough to oppose them were the immortal star-herders, Guardians of Worlds, who dwelled in the vast oceans of fire between the stars - beings akin to the Kali, but gentle in heart and obedient to the will of the Creators, who charged them with tending the stars and the forming young worlds beneath.

The legends said that the Guardians heard the outcry of the innocents slaughtered by the demons. They drew close to the human worlds. And once they saw the evil done by the Kali, they fought a long and terrible war against them. In the end, they defeated the Kali, and henceforth became known as the Enkali, because they chose to protect the humans and opposed the demons. They condemned the vanquished demons to live imprisoned within the dead worlds from which they once came and set impenetrable barriers around them. The Guardians proved to be more powerful, but the demons were sly. Some of them hid from the Guardians deep in the human worlds.

"It is known from the archives that those demons yet roam our worlds in various guises. Bitter and desiring revenge, they cause discord and chaos wherever they go. They will destroy our kingdom if we do nothing to stop them." The high priest warned. The hearts of the people quaked in the hushed court-hall.

"The Guardians had not been seen since the ancient times. And mere people could do nothing against such threat. So what can we do to stop them? How can we fight them?" The king questioned.

"There is good news." The elderly high priest offered. "The ancient archives state that the Kali and the Enkali both must draw their power from the rivers of fire. Before the Enkali left, they shifted those rivers away from our lands and close to the sun, to protect us."

The priest pointed his finger to the sky outside the court hall windows. Many eyes followed his gesture to the faint bands of light crossing the blue depths above and bending around the bright, late summer sun.

"Without a source of power, the demons will be unable to abide here in their true form, and will take on others, weaker than their own. Thus, at the moment, liquid fire and holy relics should prevail against them."

"Should?" The king noted gravely.

"Honorable king, we must try to use whichever means we have at hand to destroy these demons while we still can. The archives warn that the Kali will seek to undo the barriers set in place by the Guardians, and attempt to shift the Sky Rivers back to earth, so they can regain their terrible power. Once they do this, we won't be able to defeat them. Thus, with every moment that passes the danger grows greater. You must act, king Laoden, and soon."

The entire courtroom remained silent. The king surveyed darkly the frightened faces of his lords and ladies, council-members, and priests, who breathlessly waited for him to make his decision. Then he stood up and his face was grim.

"Assemble the knights of the war council." He declared firmly and the people breathed with relief. "Send word that in a week's time, we must ride to the crystal castle and end this evil threat."