Contributions: Legends

[oddler]

Here, writers and their limitless imaginations shine. This is where stories are told about Eizon's past, concerning the people, places, and items of our imaginations. There are hardly any constraints on the subject matter or the way a legend can be told (as long as it holds to the forum rules). Go wild with the possibilities!

Some suggestions on information to include when submitting new legends:

Setting, how long ago the events took place, where the legend originated, etc.
Characters, who was involved in the events, NPCs, creatures, etc.
Purpose, reason the story became a legend, characters die, wars are won, treasures are lost, etc.

[Aerith's Knight]

This is where I will really flourish. :p

[Freya]

Since we did have previous Eizons I think we should have some legend how this is either the past Eizon before those ones or the future! Or some plauge wiped out almost everyone! Something along those lines! That way we can tie in Some of the old countries into the lore!

[oddler]

The legends and lore I'd like to see created would be based around the races, NPCs, and locations that we make up this time around. I totally agree with finding ways to tie in the previous Eizons, though. And I'm not saying that we should only focus on the new over the old, either. Let's make nice liasons between this one and the others. :choc2:

I do think it might be a good idea to come up with things to base legends around before we get started here.

[Loony BoB]

I think we shouldn't tie too closely with the other Eizons as they had their own history as it is, and I think we're hoping to generate a completely new one here?

[Aerith's Knight]

I'm all for completely new one.

[oddler]

Sounds good, then. I think we should do whatever most people think will be the most enjoyable.

[oddler]

The Crystal and Eizon

In a forgotten time past, the world was dominated by chaos. Emptiness and disaster flowed from the fissures in the earth’s surface. The living forms of the world desperately pleaded for order until, one day, their cries were heard. A great symbol of reverence descended upon the land and banished the unclean, anarchy-ridden remnants of what would later be known as the Ancient Realm. The symbol was blindingly white and appeared to be in the shape of a carven jewel and, as quickly as it had come, it faded into the skyline. Flits of light echoed across the point where it left the world as the inhabitants of the new era stared in august at its departure. The great symbol gained the name of The Crystal and what it left in its wake would become known by all as the World of Eizon.

[Aerith's Knight]

What would Eizon be without crystals. :p

[Jiro]

Crystals are a good building block I suppose :)

[oddler]

The Lackleaf Plant, adapted from Eizon: Rebirth.

Have you ever heard of Lackleaf plants, kupo? They're the result of "failed" experiments by my elder brother, Podgy. He was an alchemist, see, and he spent all his time in his hut mixing substances with living organisms and evaluating the results. When he poured Grim Tears onto common maple saplings, he recorded an effect that seemed to stunt the growth of every subject he tried it on! And with him being the hotheaded moogle he was, he tossed the saplings behind his hut and called them Lackleafs. Now, Podgy wasn't the observant kind so he didn't notice when his "failed" experiments rooted to his yard and began to grow. The secret to them growing was to be shunned from sunlight, kupo! Behind his hut, the lack of sunlight caused them to actually start to grow leaves. Now they're found all over the place since they spread so fast, usually in darkened areas like mountainsides and under taller trees in forests. The trunk of a Lackleaf only grows to about 5 feet above the ground with its branches sprouting horizontally along the earth. And I heard that some people have found a way to stir up a cure for blindness with the sap from those plants, too. Too bad old Podgy still doesn't know that his experiment wasn't actually a "failure"; I never let him in on the secret!


- Hodgy's Moogle Musings, pg. 4

[Aerith's Knight]

Sentinel islands

Years before the crystal collapse, the major populations of the continent of Amano and Baroke were at war for centuries. No one remembered what started it anymore, although if one were to search through the old records of its time, one would find that none were certain who struck the first blow on Amano. When the war started to affect the other continents through trade and military actions, the neutral parties came together and joined together in stopping the futile war. They put all their military force on the islands between the two warring continents and build many great defensive buildings there. Even when the hate between Amano and Baroke dwindeled and the military presence was brought down to a few companies, the buildings fell in decay. After the crystal collapse the only things left on the islands were the ruins of tall buildings, strong and impressive, the leftover of a great conflict. Nothing now remains from the knowledge of that great war, except the name that was given to the islands by the union of continents. Sentinel islands, the islands of gaurd, the islands of peace.

[oddler]

Sentinel Islands accepted.

Someone will need to cover the Crytal Collaspe as a legend also; it seems like a huge point in history. Remember that the greatest part about Eizon is being able to work off of others' ideas. Anything that you think could be expanded, take it and run with it. :choc2:

[Aerith's Knight]

What I had in mind that the first legend you wrote was the crystal collapse, but I suppose it could be something else.

[oddler]

Oh, no no. Eizon and The Crystal is a "good" legend. Also, before The Crystal came, the Ancient Realm was total chaos, I mean like overly ridiculous amounts of natural disasters. It was to the point of where even if you were to build a shelter from the weather, a random earthquake would destroy everything you worked for. There were no cities or armies, only tiny groups of survivors that stayed together. Then The Crystal descended and fixed everything and gave the world order. The Crystal Collapse sounds like something horrible. :greenie:

[Aerith's Knight]

I'll think of something else then, but I gotta work, so it'll be tonight.

[Jiro]

Oh, no no. Eizon and The Crystal is a "good" legend. Also, before The Crystal came, the Ancient Realm was total chaos, I mean like overly ridiculous amounts of natural disasters. It was to the point of where even if you were to build a shelter from the weather, a random earthquake would destroy everything you worked for. There were no cities or armies, only tiny groups of survivors that stayed together. Then The Crystal descended and fixed everything and gave the world order. The Crystal Collapse sounds like something horrible. :greenie:

It might be a good idea to have The Crystal Collapse being the shattering of the Crystal, rather then the total destruction/disappearance. That way we could say that The Crystal is still present, hence the world not being ravaged by constant disasters as was the case before The Crystal. Otherwise there's a bit of a continuity error.

/opinion

[oddler]

Good idea, Jiro. Something happens in Eizon that causes the Crystal to return and shatter, scattering itself across the world. All crystal pieces could originate from The Crystal. Also, the Crystal Collapse could be a major catalyst that started the past war between Amano and Baroke.

This is assuming a lot but if you guys want to roll with it... we can say that Humans originally lived on Amano where the Moogles do now and that they were the ones at war with the Dwarves on Baroke but were persuaded to move away from the Dwarves by the peace-keeping Moogles. :D?

[Jiro]

Psy's already covered that a bit with his post in the races thread. Perhaps he needs to pop in and leave a legend too? :)

[Aerith's Knight]

The Crystal Collapse, surviving scrolls and ancient tales

The crystal collapse, you ask? That is an old tale, if any, but sit down and I shall tell you about it.

This story is passed down by masters of lore, reading through thick parchment and dusty records, and no other remember it in these bright times. Long before the crystal renewed the world, it had always been there, broken in fragments, under earth and time, forgotten through the ages.

The dwarves were the first to find one, deep they delved in the mountains of Baroke, but their reward was the shard. It reflected light, even in dark, and brought happiness to those without it in their heart. Over time many peoples of Eizon came to visit their cities to see the crystal shard, and their economy prospered. This was perhaps the most peaceful time in the age of shards, but it did not last long.

In the center lake of Amano, out of which the river runs to the sea, the second shard was found. Joy was amongst the elves and men still living there, and it seemed as if the world was given a second wonder. Tourism faded from the mountains as people rather visit the main continent, for convenience of location if anything else. The newly established dwarven economy struck a heavy blow, and that may have been the first harm the shards caused to the world.

One night, no scrolls tells us what really happened, but the shard vanished from Amano's largest city. Despair fell among their peoples and their fury turned to arms. They immediately turned to the dwarves, whos economy had collapsed, as if it were an act of revenge. The dwarves were outraged, but the animosity was present, and it began to build. Both sides turned to the forges of war and prepared for the worst.

24 turns of the sun and moon from the missing day it took for the war to begin when rumours of a second crystal in Baroke started to spread. Anger turned to hate and mistrust, and it is said that since the missing day, the mistrust has always been present in Eizon. Swords and spears and axes met on Amano, on which the dwarven colonies had been in that time. Territory was gained and lost over the years, and the war dragged on and on.

One day, the representative cities of Dulake called the other continents together in an emergency council. The war started to affect their world and they agreed it had to end. The people had grown tired of war, but the politicians had not, and this could not go on much longer, as famine and war took lives everywhere. Thus the pact of vigilance was forged, a pact that combined forces to stop war in a destabilizing world. The sentinel islands were chosen for their convenient location, the people on the islands long gone, fled by war or worse. Now it was a place of war, long strong towers were build and constantly fought over.

The islands were overwhelmed by the sudden invasion of a superior force, but the battle was still hard. The warriors in those parts were battle-hardened, and though overwhelmed, fought as madmen. Many good men died that day, the day of blood and reckoning, and is still remembered in those parts. The islands were taken, and a truce was gained after long struggle between the three factions. This peace has lasted until now, except for minor struggles around the world.

There were many changes after the crystal collapse. The few elves left in Amano, the only warrior elven clan known to history, left the center continent and moved it's people to a location not found to this day, although it is believed to be in the west. The men drew to the other side of Amano, faced with so much destruction, began anew, and flourished. The dreary field and ruined cities were eventually taken by moogles and bangaa from the south, but one may still find a small town of hardy men of the east left in those parts, keeping to themselves.

Whether there were any other shards, or what happened to the second, still remains a mystery. It is believed that at least two more were found and kept secret, as to remain at peace. The forgery of the crystal with the shards is another tale, one I will tell before the end, but now I shall need a pipe.

[Jiro]

Nice.

[oddler]

Very nice. Excellent tale, Aerith's Knight. I'd like to know who was telling the story. :)

[Loony BoB]

Random question: Regarding the 'origins' of the people, are we having them all suddenly emerge at the time the Crystal removed chaos? Or were they there already? I kind of like the idea of having a completely different race (or possibly two, since there was chaos, and they could have been at war) that was there before the Crystal removed the chaos, and therefore every now and then ancient structures could be found - although we should ensure that they are extremely rarely, if ever, found. We could say the Crystal removed almost all of it. That way it wouldn't be too important, but just a reminder of the past. Sort of like prehistoric man's structures are extremely hard to find beyond a certain point in history.

But yeah, it'd be neat to have that if possible. :D The Shumi or something could tell of ancient tales, reflecting on them specifically as to why they never want anything to do with war, greed or chaos and instead choose to keep to themselves. This could be their personal 'reason' for the way they are.

I'm no good at writing fancy stories to back up my ideas, mind you. :(

[oddler]

The Crystal's arrival was centered on the people asking for help and safety from the chaotic world. So, I think it would make more sense to have the people there already when The Crystal banished chaos.

[Loony BoB]

Ah, okay.

[Jiro]

Doesn't mean we can't have an extinct race though, does it? Perhaps there is only one ruined city left that is found somewhere ridiculous and unvisited or something. Or even if we pass on the extinct race and have ruined cities - everyone loves a little bit of history/mystery!

[oddler]

Sure, "extinct" races and their ruins are always interesting, as are history and mystery!