Today I tell you a tale of the once mighty city of Ungor and it’s illustrious walls that were the legend of the world long before recorded history. The walls were said to have been built long before the first city of man was created. The elders of the city were said to be young children when the walls were yet thousands of years old. The walls were said to keep out an ancient evil from the land of Nog but others said that was just a superstition.
Every day the people of Ungor would go to the river of Daneim and there would make the plaster that was said to hold up the walls of Ungor. This tradition was passed down from father to son and mother to daughter in the city of Ungor. Every day was the plaster made and every day was it applied to the ancient walls of Ungor.
The elders watched over the people ensuring that the plaster was put on the walls each day. For the elders said that should the plaster ever not be applied then the wall would collapse and the ancient evils it kept out would devour the people. Only four times per year were the people allowed to rest from their daily toil.
However the elders also said that as long as the walls held up the land would be filled with full rivers, fertile land, and abundant harvests. And so the people of Ungor did not question their task nor did they complain about it for they had full bellies and lived in a peaceful land.
No one ever dared to scale the mountains on either side of the wall to find a way over for they were told stories of the horrors beyond the wall since childhood. A few brave or foolish souls did dare every now and then but they were never seen again. The people said that the horrors beyond the wall had surely devoured them, while a few small others said that the elders had taken care of them. What happened for sure no one could say.
One day a wandering wizard came to the city of Ungor and had an audience with the king. The wizard impressed the king with his wisdom and knowledge of the worlds beyond and asked the king if he could stay in the city of Ungor with its mighty walls. The king granted the wizard his request.
Each day the wizard would go to the hill overlooking the river Daneim and watch the people work making the plaster for the walls of Ungor. He would go with them as they applied it to the walls as the elders watched from the rampart above.
One day the wizard who was named Sephar descended the hill to mingle with the workers and talk to the leader of the workers, the man called Elu.
“Elu, how goes work on the plaster for the mighty walls of the great city of Ungor”
“Good, wise wizard” replied Elu rising up from his work covered from the mud of the river.
“Elu I wish to bestow a great honor and you and five of your finest workers”
“Of course wise wizard, whatever you wish”
“I would ask that you and five of your sharpest and strongest workers dine with me this night, after the plaster has been applied to the walls and the work of the day done”
“Of course great wizard, thank you for this honor that we do not deserve” with that Elu knelt down in the mud and bowed deeply to the wizard.
That night Elu and five of his smartest, strongest, and most distinguished workers made their way up to the wizard’s grand home close to the palace of the king. They were greeted by a mute servant who led them into the wizard’s chamber where a feast unlike any they had ever seen before was lain out for them.
At the head of the table sat the wizard who greeted them and beckoned for them to sit and eat. Elu and his workers sat around the table and were served.
Before eating Elu turned to the wizard and bowed again “Mighty wizard, I thank you for this great gift that we do not deserve what could we ever do to repay one such as you?”
Sephar shook his head “Call me Sephar and for now just eat and be merry. You have worked long and hard to keep the people of Ungor safe and deserve the best the city has to offer”
Elu nodded smiling widely and dug into the many foods before him. After their main course they were brought delicious desserts and a glass of wine unlike any they had ever tasted before. After finishing these they sat back fuller and more satisfied then any of them had been in their entire lives.
They all turned to Sephar thanking the wizard profusely. Sephar held up his hand and shook his head “No need to thank me, as I have said you keep the people of Ungor safe and deserve this thanks. While the hunters hunt and the farmers farm it is the workers of the river who truly bring peace and prosperity to the city of Ungor. Do you not think?”
The workers all looked at on another and Elu answered “We do that which we are required and we do so with a humble heart O mighty wizard”
“Of course” replied the wizard smiling. “Now though I have traveled far and wide I must admit that I am still trying to understand this great land of Ungor. Though I have seen many horrors and unspeakable things of the night I have never seen what is behind these great walls of Ungor. What is it that your plaster keeps out?”
“We do not know sir, the walls were ancient when our forefathers were young. We have made the plaster and applied it for as long as our people have been. The mysteries of the wall are only known to the high elders, even the king does not know what is behind the walls. All we know is that it is an unspeakable evil.” said Elu.
“These elders have never told you why you toil so?” asked Sephar.
“It is not for us to know, we are to work and honor the ancient ways” replied Elu.
Sephar nodded “Of course…but have you ever wondered?”
Elu looked at the other workers who all glanced at one another nervously.
“O great and wise wizard, we are not to think such thoughts” said Elu.
“And why not?” asked the wizard.
“For the elders know what is best…” Elu’s voice sank to a whisper “to say otherwise is blasphemy”
Again Sephar nodded “Of course, I do not dispute that, rather as a man of magic and mysticism you can understand my interest”
“Yes O mighty wizard, but this is a matter that you should speak to the elders of, for we are but lowly workers.”
“Yet you are at the walls every day. With the elders looking down from those high ramparts that block out the view of what lies over. When applying the plaster to the top most parts of the wall have you ever tried to peek over?”
This time the youngest of the workers with Elu, Dungi answered. “Of course we have wondered and there are times I have thought of scaling the parapet above the rampart and seeing what lies over but the elders with their soldiers keep such close watch over us when we are on the rampart applying the plaster, so we never get the chance.”
“This is not matter we are to speak of Dungi” said Elu.
Sephar held up his hand “I apologize if I pried too far. Thank you for your response Dungi, but we do not have to talk of the matter further. It is about time for me to retire, my servant will see you to the door. I enjoy our talk and look forward to doing this sometime again in the future.”
A week later Sephar was down watching the workers when he spotted Dungi and motioned him over.
“How may I serve you mighty and wise wizard, favored of the king” Dungi bowed low as he knelt.
“Rise Dungi, I would like to invite you to dine again tonight at my home”
“Just me?”
“Just you” replied Sephar.
That night Dungi made his way to the wizards great home and was again led in by the mute servant and sat before a great feast at the wizard’s table. Again he ate the dessert and wine and sat back groggy and satisfied.
“I could tell you were different Dungi” said the wizard.
“Different?” asked Dungi.
“You have the spark of intelligence in you”
“Thank you…”
Sephar raised up his hand “It’s not a compliment, simply a statement of fact. Dungi I have important work I wish to discuss with you?”
“Of course” replied Dungi.
“What if I told you I knew what was behind the walls?”
Dungi’s eyes widened “You know of the horrors behind the wall?”
“Ha, they are not horrors”
“They are not horrors?”
“No but rather misunderstood entities of great power. A power that could be used to bring great honor to Ungor and free it from work forever”
“Free it from work?”
“Instead of spending your days covered in mud how would you like to live the life of a king, a king with great power?”
Dungi looked nervously around the room “These are things I cannot speak of”
“Then do not speak of them, merely think of them. For the truth is…” with this Sephar leaned in closer to Dungi who also leaned in “the truth is that the elders fear what lies beyond the wall because they wish to keep the people under their heels and know that what lies beyond the wall would free the people from work and suffering.”
“But the land of Ungor has been blessed filled with meat and free from disease and war for many a year under the elders”
“Yet not only would you have this but you would also be free from work and toil. You would live as the elders and more with the power of the beings beyond the wall. The others are too set in their ways to understand such things, such happens to old minds. But you, I see a spark of something more in you, you could rule with me and be kings of the new age of Ungor”
Dungi say back his eyes wide his mind racing “How could this happen?”
“It’s simple and it all has to do with that plaster”
“The plaster?”
“Yes, from what I understand there is a certain mix to it that has to be followed, correct?”
“Yes”
“And that contained in this mix is a mineral found only in the river Daneim. The blue sand as it is called”
“Yes”
“All that needs to be done is have the blue sand replaced with a replica. Come with me” Sephar stood up and led Dungi down into the basement of the great home. There he pointed to bags lined up against the wall containing a blue sand of sorts.
“If we replace the blue sand found in certain parts of the River Daneim with this sand here the plaster will lose its effect and the walls will crumble and they will be able to enter the city and bring freedom to the people of Ungor” said Sephar.
Dungi looked at the bags and nodded “But how can I do this alone. The storehouse of the blue sand is kept under guard and there are many bags there, that I cannot get rid of myself”
“Here is what you must do. Go to the young workers and tell them of the things that I have told you. Find ones that wish for a new age of prosperity and wish to be kings of this new age. When you have found ten youths as such, come tell me. And should you say anything to anyone else of this plan I will deny it and have the king execute you” said Sephar.
Dungi bowed low “Of course great wizard, I will do as you say”
Two weeks later Dungi had rounded up twenty youths to do the bidding of Sephar. All were tired of the elders control and wished to be kings in the new age. The plot was carried out at night. Sephar cast a spell on the guard lulling him to sleep and the bags of blue sand from the river Daneim were dumped back into the river to float away in the current. The new bags were placed in the storehouse.
A few days later the wizard had the youths all at his home to celebrate. He fed them the most lavish feast yet and gave them whatever their hearts desired.
“I have brought you all here to celebrate your courage, wisdom, and intellect. For you have seen beyond the lies of the elders and will usher in an age of enlightenment on the city of Ungor. You will reign as its new kings free from labor and toil”
With that the workers gave a cheer and celebrated more.
A week after the blue sand had been changed out the elders began to grow worried as the stability of the wall seemed to be fading. They met in secret to determine what could be the cause.
The leader of the elders Rinki called the meeting to order. “Dark times are upon us for the walls are starting to break apart even with the plaster of the river Daneim applied daily”
Another elder Hishi offered a solution “Perhaps the magic of the river has grown weak”
Rinki shook his head “Impossible, the ancient texts say that as long as the plaster is applied to the walls on all but the four days of rest that the wall will forever more hold and the darkness beyond the wall be kept out. Thus keeping the land of Ungor safe and sound forever more”
“But something has changed” replied Hishi “and if it is not the river than it is something else”
“What of the wizard who lives among us” said one of the elders.
“What of him? He is wise and favored by the king” replied Rinki.
“I do not trust him” said Hishi.
The other elders murmured in agreement with this.
“I have no doubt he has something to do with this” continued Hishi.
“Unless you have proof there is nothing that we can do, for he has great favor with the king”
“What of the guard that said a spell was cast on him a few days ago?” said one of the elders.
“A lazy guard is hardly proof of a grand conspiracy” replied Rinki.
“But it is something” said Hishi.
“I will bring this matter up with the king in our next meeting” said Rinki.
“The king is smitten by the wizard, he will not believe a word you say” said Hishi.
“We will see”
A week later as the walls began to fall apart more and more Rinki finally met with the king.
“O great king it is your humble servant Rinki” said the elder bowing as he entered the throne room.
“Enter wise Rinki and tell me what it is that is destroying my walls”
“My king we have reason to believe that it may be the work of the wizard Sephar”
“Sephar! The good and wise wizard and my friend?” spat the king “what proof do you have of this?”
“We have reports of a guardsman who looked over the blue sand of the river Daneim saying that a spell was cast on him right before the wall began decaying. He said he thought he saw Sephar walking along the river bank and next thing he knew he was asleep and did not wake until morning”
“Enough, who is this guardsman? I shall have his head for trying to spread such lies about my good friend”
“My king surely this is something that bears investigation at the least”
“I’ve heard enough of this. Sephar warned me about you elders. You are relics of the past who wish to keep us under you ancient boot. But no more, Sephar has shown me the way. I have issued a royal decree, the elders shall all be put in chains until the wall is fixed!” with this guards entered from behind Rinki and seized him.
“You violate ancient law good king. Please see wisdom before it is too late”
“And now he threatens the king, see what I told you?” from behind the throne stepped the wizard Sephar.
“You were right wise friend, the elders seek to dispose of you because you speak the truth of their devious ways.” said the King.
Rinki was hauled off to jail and eventually brought to the public stockade. There many people protested the treatment of the elders and tempers flared between those that followed the wizard and those that followed the elders.
The king came out to speak to the gathered crowd. Before he could speak Elu raced to the front of the crowd and hurled a rock at the king shouting “False king!”. The guards set upon him and struck him down with spears. This caused a reaction in the crowd who surged forward overwhelming the guards beating them to death.
The city soon erupted in pandemonium as a civil war broke out. The forces of the king and wizard fought with the forces of the elders and blood flowed throughout the city. With the aid of the youth led by Dungi the forces of the elders were overwhelmed and driven back to the river Daneim.
It was there that Dungi and his men slew the elders and the last of their followers and cast them into the river and victory for the wizard and king was attained.
They all began to celebrate when a great sound was heard coming from the walls. A section of the wall was falling away. Dungi began shouting and cheering which was picked up by all those around him.
“Get ready for the dawning of a new age” shouted Sephar.
A great low rumble sounded from the gap in the gates and then a black miasma poured forth from the forgotten land of Nog.
“Is that our savior?” asked Dungi turning to Sephar but the wizard did not answer. His eyes were wide a a smile spread across his lips. The miasma poured forth crashing over the men gathered by the river. The vapor tore the flesh from the bone of the gathered men.
Dungi fell the the ground in intense pain the droning of the dark miasma drowning out the screams of those around him. The last thing he heard before being stripped of life was the maniacal laughing of Sephar’s fallen and bloody form in front of him.
