Many who know me, know my story. I am Aebrin, orphan of Lel'amdor, the now lost
village of Merians; now of New Celest. Of my past I speak not of, but a story;
as is passed to me by my surrogate father from Celest, so shall I pass to you.
Learn well, for the even most fanciful fable can therein lies the powerful
message. This is a story of balance, for every rising, there must be a fall;
for every winter, shall there be a spring.

***

Balance

This is a story passed down from father to son, mother to daughter, bard to
king for many generations, and will for many generations to come. It is a story
of hope, a story of fear, a story of conquest and a story of renewal. It is the
realisation of the gift from the Divine, cast upon men. But foremost, it is a
story of balance.

There came a time when an evil emperor ruled these lands. Ruthless was he with
his powers and many fell at his hand's displeasure. He was hated by most,
treasured by men of his own heart, but most of all, feared for the power he
wields. This was a time of darkness.

Within this era, lived a small boy, his heritage forgotten with many telling,
his name forgotten; but his heart remains the same. For this boy, his mother
lost to the whims of the emperor and his father slaughtered as a conscript of
the army, an orphan. He was alone, but alone he held hope and never lost faith
of the Gods who have guided him.

He remembers a lesson which his father told him, that the Gods shall always be
there and he clung onto this as the only lifeline he possesses. As an orphan,
he was looked after by the rest of the villagers, his life was tough and at
times unpleasant, but his faith
remained just as strong as ever.

When the boy reached of age, he decided upon his faith, to take up arts as a
missionary for the Divine, spreading his faith throughout the nations, calling
them to return to the fervour of the Gods they served. He travelled widely,
telling stories of his youth and sharing his faith to many in the realm. His
travels became renowned and his arrivals were
anticipated.

One night as he camped upon a hilltop, a great gale blew over and blasted him
down the hillside. Those that searched for his remains returned with nothing,
and they gave up hope, giving the missionary up for lost.

However, he was not dead, nor even injured. He awoke in a large cave, dark and
sealed and he feared for himself. Suddenly, the cave echoed with a bell call
and a great light seared throughout and a great echoing voice sounded.

"Fear not, mortal and be blessed. For you stand before the Fates"

At the sound of three Sisters, he quickly removed his shoes and knelt down,
worshiping the Fates from wherever They may be.

"Your obeisance pleases us and We are glad. We of the Weavers have
watched you for years that have been and we are well pleased with the weave you
have made for the Tapestry of Life. Life is full of choices and this one shall
be no less binding. We offer you a choice, for should you choose one way, your
life will change."

"You, a lowly missionary, may remain so. You may continue to spread the faith
and pray; yet forever fervour, be powerless. However, you may also choose this.
We can and wish to imbue you with powers unimaginable to mere mortals, with
this, your life will be full of hardship, but your reward will be great. For
with this power, you must cast down the Emperor, who have stripped you of your
parents, and replace this worship of fear, to the love of the Divine which
guides you. Choose, mortal, and choose wisely."

He was tempted. A life of quietness has its advantages and he has never wished
more than that. However, the Fates and the Divine seemed to wish him to become
Their tool and his faith drives him on.

He chose the life of power and even before he spoke this unto them, the light
lifted him up.

"Chosen then, mortal. You shall now be known as Lakein, the hand of the Gods."

The newly named Lakein collapsed into unconsciousness as the power flowed into
him.

He awoke once more, and as before in a dark, forbidding cave. He looked around
and saw the entrance. He went to it and pushed hard against the giant rock but
it would not budge. He was afraid. Was it all just a dream? He stood up in
frustration and was about to punch the giant rock when a light burst from his
hand and struck the entrance. The rock crumbled into dust and he stepped out
into broad daylight. It was only then, it struck him, that he was able to see
in the dark.

This new power did not change his heart. He flew from village to village,
guiding the people to accept the Divine. He preached about the hope the Divine
has given and the light within the darkness. He healed the sick, helped the
weak and fed the hungry. The power which the Divine gave him was a channel of
his power of love.

It was not long until the Emperor heard about this man and was aggravated over
the presumption of this peasant. He was arrested and put into a cell. Although
he could have escaped easily, he took the opportunity to talk to the guards.
The message he brought struck like wild fire and spread across the ranks of the
army.

However the people were still afraid and no action was taken. But this
treachery was not unnoticed and the Emperor sentenced Lakein to death by the
gallows. He was tortured, whipped, and burnt. He suffered many deaths before
even approaching his doom.

With the noose around Lakein's neck, the Emperor bellows:

"See this, your great leader. See what he has brought you. Common as he to
challenge me! ME! See the end of your treachery now."

As the Emperor gave the signal, Lakein's voice echoed through the lands,

"Let your faith guide you."

Enraged, the Emperor grabbed the lever about to pull the trapdoor, the chasm of
Lakein's death. As one, the people and the army rebelled, strengthened by their
leader's call and the day were not out before the Emperor was dead and the
lands returned to the people. But all was not well, for Lakein swings gently on
the rope and hang dead upon the noose.

Many wept for the death of their martyr.

It was at dawn, when the people paid their last respect to Lakein, before
sending him into the flames. As the sun casts its light upon the body of him,
the corpse disappeared, never to be seen by mortal eyes again.

Many say that he was resurrected and still preach good, even to this day.
Others say that he was taken away by the Gods and was blessed beyond many for
the hardship he endured for the Divine. And yet others say he ascended to
become One with the Gods. However, he remains to this day, a symbol of hope. A
guiding light given to men by the Gods to show the true power of the Divine and
the power of balance between the world of good and the world of evil.