Welcome, readers, to a journey back in time, to the very roots of the darkness that grips Veridia. In the essential prequel, “The Crimson Echo of Divinity,” we witness the catastrophic events and chilling prophecies that set the stage for an age of tyranny and the desperate hope for a prophesied savior.
A Kingdom on the Brink:
Veridia was not always shrouded in fear. But whispers of a prophecy began to circulate – a prophecy foretelling the rise of a “Mad High King” and the despair that would follow. These weren’t idle tales; they were warnings that even the wisest Elders, like Elara the Seer, couldn’t ignore. The Whispering Stone revealed fragmented visions: an obsidian crown, a child of starlight, and a kingdom trembling on the edge of ruin.
The Weight of a Crown:
The prophecy’s shadow falls upon King Alaric’s firstborn, Tiberius. Initially a prince of charm, a darker nature festered within him, twisted further by the prophecy itself. His encounters with the mysterious Witch of the Woods fueled his paranoia and ambition, leading him down a path of bloodshed. He systematically eliminated his own brothers, Darius and Lysander, and ultimately, his father, King Alaric, seizing the throne in a brutal coup. The crown he claimed was stained with familial blood, his reign built upon the corpses of those he should have protected.
Whispers in the Shadows:
Faced with the horrifying reality of Tiberius’s tyranny and the weight of prophecy, the ancient Elders – including figures like Lyra and Valerius – began their own clandestine machinations. They spoke of a “chosen seed,” a child of pure ancient blood, destined to restore balance. Their plan was audacious: to orchestrate a lineage capable of challenging Tiberius, a lineage that would culminate in a child hidden from the Mad King’s wrath.
A Secret Birth, A Hidden Destiny:
Amidst the growing darkness, a secret love blossomed between King Alaric and a null servant girl named Aveline. This forbidden union, part of the Elders’ intricate design, resulted in the birth of a daughter: Nyxara Astralis. To protect her from Tiberius, the Elders spirited Nyxara away, placing her with a null family in the remote village of Oakhaven in Terrawood. Her true age and heritage were concealed, her potent magic bound, all in preparation for a destiny she knew nothing about. Raised in obscurity, Nyxara was the hidden hope, the carefully planted seed waiting for the right moment to bloom against the crimson echo of Tiberius’s madness.
“The Crimson Echo of Divinity” is not just a prequel; it’s the key to understanding the deep-seated conflicts, the ancient prophecies, and the tragic beginnings that fuel “The Runebound Chronicles.” Dare to uncover the secrets that lie buried in Veridia’s shadowed past.
