The Chronicles of Availian

A wrathful blizzard scoured the surface of the Earth in nature's call for retaliation. Not a single inch was spared from nature's wrath. There was too much corruption and darkness roaming in a world meant for balance and life. The humans who dwelt there refused to take notice of the warnings as they vied for power and dominance. They sucked the planet dry of its resources to empower themselves, and then they focused on war. Turning their cruelty onto their own kind. Soaking the world in innocent blood. It was the poor who suffered the onslaught of the rich and powerful. There was no compassion or remorse for those who called themselves the world powers. They only thought of themselves and their comforts as they ravaged their own lands and then forged on to ravage the lands of others. Their greed and lust for power made them want what others had, and they forced their way into the ranks of neighbors. Bending the people to their will so that they could call themselves superior in their domination over life. Soon, rights were revoked, medical care denied, starvation took root, and the homeless outnumbered those who could afford homes.

Children wept with dirty faces and growling stomachs. Parents felt helpless and dispirited. Violence against the innocent erupted, and innocence was lost. Only the powerful and rich were spared the suffering as they continued their winding paths of corruption, not sparing a thought for those who suffered from their bloodlust and power-hungry ways.

The people rose up, losing their hope and light, replacing it with desperation and resentment towards those who took and took but never gave back. Those who forced their imposing views upon the people, in whatever way they felt like doing it. All this resulted in more bloodshed, and the earth was being choked out by the cruelty and disregard for the gift and resources it had so selflessly given. Now, Nature was angry and destructive as it punished its children for their selfishness and disrespect.

None would survive the extinction event that Nature's wrath now brought. The ring of fire had been triggered, changing the tides of the ocean in deadly ways. Ash and smoke filled the atmosphere, blocking out the sun and bringing forth the new ice age. The acts of Earth's children were beyond forgiveness; they had thrown the chance away by ignoring the obvious and pursuing the path of destruction. All the technology in the world combined could not quell the Earth's vengeful wrath.

They had made their choices, and now they would reap what they had sown. Nature's rage hit like a flash of lightning. None would be spared, all would perish, and then Earth would slumber deep to heal and renew itself, then it would have a clean slate and bring forth new life cycles of evolutionary proportions.

The howling winds of the blizzard that turned and toiled in every section of the planet grew darker and colder by the second. Freezing life where it stood in statues of frozen remembrance. All that was once held in high regards now lost in the Icey depths of the raging storm. Buildings crumbled from the weight of the heavy snow, ice, and sleet. The air became toxic and acidic. Even those who hid underground found their doom as the titanic plates shifted and reclaimed all that was once theirs.

The Earth crushed it all, taking in the minerals that had once been taken from it to create so many things. It devoured all plant life and animal life to nourish itself. With one exception, a walnut sapling that was just beginning its life cycle. By some miracle, the Earth rose up and sheltered it from the growing storm. Placing it in a state of hibernation, in which it would evolve and survive.

It would continue to grow in its sleep. Despite the deepening snow and ice that surrounded it, covering its very existence, the tree would still become the very foundation of something new.

Thus begins 'The Chronicles of Availian'.

Beginning of world Renewal

The Ash settled and the atmosphere clean, the warm rays of the life-giving sun were able to gently break through the cloud cover that once blocked its access to the planet Earth. Slowly, it began to melt away the top layers of snow and bring its gifts to the surface. The world blanketed in white was silent and once again peaceful. No corruption lingered, and all traces of past existence were wiped away to never be found again.

Billions of years had passed as the world was deemed uninhabitable by beings that may have traveled through the space around the small planet. The entire solar system was forgotten in time, never visited or charted by other planetary existences. Down on the silent surface, the first leaves of the walnut tree were beginning to show through the icy surface, and a gentle golden glow outlined the heart-shaped growth. The now sentient tree began to stir from its frozen slumber, with the first kiss of warmth upon its thawing leaves.

A divine energy began to seep through its fibers. It could feel the very essence of its existence shifting into something new and exciting. Soothed by the feeling of being cherished and loved, it drifted back into its slumber, easing the passing of time. Hundreds of years passed before it once again awakened from its slumber.

The top branches were now basking in the warmth of the sun and beginning to grow evolved walnuts that would one day be ready to drop to the cushion of snow to begin their life cycles. Until then, the tree would hold its children safely cradled in its branches. Patience was necessary for the perfect evolutionary changes that would be needed to survive in the harsh terrain. Its children would need to be able to adapt and flourish in their life journeys. Content, the walnut tree drifted back into its slumber. The ancient knowledge fades from its cell memory, leaving only free space for memories to start anew.

Years passed, and the mighty walnut tree was once again awakened. This time, it felt warmer, and the walnuts that had grown were nearly ready to be released. It felt their longing to surrender to the gravitational pull that would land them in the soft cushion of powder that shimmered below. It also felt the fear that edged its offspring's longing. Fear of the unknown, and they weren't quite ready to take that step just yet. They will be soon. With that thought, the tree drifted back to sleep once again. When it awakened again, its children vibrated with eager anticipation.

It's heart shaped leaves showered water droplets into the snow from the activity. The time had come for a gentle nudge to free its hesitant children from its branches. Giving a little shake of it's sun kissed branches, it freed the ripe walnuts from their stems, allowing them to drop harmlessly into the white powder that still encased most of its being. Realizing they were now free to stretch their roots, they began to crack their shells open, and their roots became legs that would carry them away from their birth tree. They traveled a good distance before they sank their roots into the snow and began their cycles. feeding off the minerals of the ice and snow, they soon became saplings eager to have children of their own one day.

The saplings adapted, flourished, and took on unique qualities of their own that they would pass down to their creations. Some grew white like the snow, developing fur for bark, their leaves of velvet texture blended into their surroundings. Some favored the ice and grew crystalline in nature. Their leaves are like silver satin, their trunks like ice with threads of fibers pulsing through them. Others sent their roots even deeper until they reached the ash and soot the snow had cleansed from the atmosphere. Those would take years to show signs of growth as they adapted and became unique in their own right. Sensing that all its saplings had found a place to call their own, the eternal walnut tree once again drifted off to sleep, with a vision of what it would wake up to find, which was the direct result of its saplings' creations.

When it was awakened again, another section of its branches had been freed of the icy covering that once held them secure and resting. Shaking the water droplets off its mighty leaves, it sent the next batch of walnuts happily bouncing into the snow that still blanketed the world. Extending its roots further to see what its children had brought into the world, it found fur-covered animals roaming around free of unnecessary fears outside the natural selection that came with the circle of life. Once again, life was beginning to flourish on a world ravaged by darkness, and light was ever present.

Birds sang as they fluttered past its higher branches. Rabbits found nourishment from the food given by the trees they had come from. There were several other animals without fur; those had thick hides that kept them warm, and they thrived just the same. All had a purpose, and none made a move wasted in their life cycles. Balance was being returned to the planet the tree so loved. Pleased the tree allowed itself to rest once again, eager to see what the next generation of her saplings would bring into the world that complemented the creations of their elder siblings. Connected to all, the tree watched the passing of time in peaceful silence as the new life grew and evolved into something more.

It could feel its own evolution that was taking place within the flow of time, and grew more aware of all things around it. Branches that once held walnuts were now beginning to blossom with fruit that bore the energy of humanoid beings, similar yet different from the human species of old. Their life energy was vibrant and verily beginning to form. It would be a long time before they were ready to be set free upon the world created by the saplings that came before them. The tree would take careful care in nurturing and guiding these new forms of growth, and hopefully, history would not repeat itself when these new beings inherited the earth.

When the tree awakened again, it shook free the last of its walnut children that had been evolving while they waited to be freed from its branches. The world was shaping up to be a beautiful place once again. Many marvelous changes had taken place, and all kept the balance intact. Standing a little taller, the tree felt the clouds seep through its top branches and the sun warming the first section of its trunk, its leaves shimmered with the rainbow energy of life, all taking on various colors. A golden light of divine blessing radiated from every fiber that could be seen.

The mighty, proud, strong, and loyal walnut tree could now be seen from far and wide, as its leaves became the new northern lights. Enchanted and revered, all life respected the ancient walnut tree that had seen more than any tree could. It was left un-pillaged and untouched. The space around it held the peaceful energy of a divine sanctuary where the old would return to at the end of their days. There they would die and become nutrients for the mighty tree that once birthed them, completing the circle of life. It didn't awaken again until it was time to release the fruit that clung to its branches. Then it would wait to grow anything else until the time came to once again bring change to the world known as Earth.

The first blades of green grass and flowers were spreading across the ever-growing landscape. The sun had been hard at work melting the icy tundra yet maintaining seasonal flow. New snows were light and kept the air clean of contaminants. Trees spanned as far as possible, bringing forth new life in their original capacity. Evolution was now complete, and their burden was simple once again.

Earth had returned to its original glory, beauty, and purpose. The oceans brimmed with fish of all kinds. Now was the time for birthing the final touch to life on Earth. The mighty tree shook its branches, shedding the fruit it had carried for an immeasurable amount of time. Thus brought forth the first humanoids archived in the 'Chronicles of Availian'. Then once again the tree slumbered.

Chronicle Archive I

Origins

After sitting in the sun for several days, the people contained in the fruit had eaten their way out, in waves. Each fruit had two lives within, and they were brought to maturity inside the fruity shell, surviving on the meat and juices that surrounded them. Once they broke free, they instinctively knew all they needed to travel away from the sacred tree. Only the elderly who were living their last days could remain under its protective branches.

Since there was none among them yet, none could stay in the area. They would have to learn how to survive in the world just like those life forms born before them. Those who emerged within minutes of each other clustered together and left as a tribe.

They were given the basic knowledge needed to function and reproduce the moment they left the barrier of sacred energy. They were given free will and human-like consciousness. Instinctively, they knew right from wrong, but would have to teach these things to their offspring. Since they were the first, the sentient walnut tree taught them; now they must pass it on. When they looked back, all they found behind them was the shimmering lights in the sky, their beloved mother tree hidden from sight until it was time for them to return.

Facing the unknown, they huddled close to each other as they proceeded with alert eyes and senses. The tallest of them was a male who stood two feet tall and soon became viewed as their leader. His confidence was their strength, and his fearless nature directed them forward. There were fifty altogether, all with unique appearances and personalities. They came up with random names that they wished to be called. Among them was Ophelia Lionherd, a rather spirited young woman. She had become known for a keen ability to gather supplies needed for the survival of the group.

They had traveled for several shifts between the warming sun and the silent moon. The nights were crisp and still quite chilly. A light dusting of snow remained on the Earth's surface, causing their bare feet to become frozen and chapped. They often focused on warming them as they huddled tightly together beneath bushes outcropping tree roots.

"We need to find a way to shield ourselves against the brunt of the ever-shifting elements." Tollen Windstalker was the first to use the words they all knew but hadn't thought of using.

He was what seemed to be the average height of the males, which was one foot and ten inches. His hair was a pale green, and his eyes were a vibrant orange. His skin was tanned, and his build was slender. The tallest female matched that height. She was a robust girl with fiery red hair and pale blue eyes; the average female mostly remained around one foot and eight inches. All of them knew that they were eighteen years of age; they didn't know what their life span would end up being. All they knew was what the tree had given them, while they were incubated in the very fruit they had broken out of. They didn't even know who had been born of the same fruit. They were all different and were biologically unrelated—something the tree had purposely done to give them a fighting chance to grow and survive.

"We can get some of those big leaves and make coverings out of them, to help keep us warm. But, our biggest concern needs to be to find somewhere we can stay through the coming winter." Ophelia responded; she had been thinking about it for some time now.

Their feet couldn't handle much more travel without protection. They would never survive the winter just wandering around. That meant they wouldn't have much time to build or fashion something to stay in. Then there would be the gathering of supplies they would need to stay alive and able to continue traveling come the spring.

The animals were huge and far too dangerous to hunt, at least as far as she was concerned. Some of their people thought otherwise and began discussing ways to hunt the rabbits that were big enough to actually ride. Some even offered up the suggestion of riding rabbits instead of walking. Neither option was all that appealing to Ophelia.

After several hours of heated debate, the final decision and plan to move forward was left to their chosen leader. The final decision and plan to move forward was left to their chosen leader, and he decided to take the night to think about it.

A few hours before dawn, Ophelia crept out from the cluster of people and went in search of leaves that hung low enough for her to collect. Spotting some that looked to be close to the top of a snow drift, she carefully began the treacherous climb. The snow crunched beneath her hands and feet, which quickly grew numb from the freezing temperatures. When she reached the top, the leaves remained just out of her reach, and she was forced to build up the snow a little more.

Just as dawn broke, she managed to tug a stack free and begin her slide back down to where she left her people waiting. She ducked under the hanging branches of the bush they had taken shelter in to find a mournful face standing over one of their own. A female had frozen in the night, and their numbers decreased by one. She lowered her head, letting the short, wavy, dusty pink hair on her head hang near her cheeks. An hour of mourning was permitted before the strongest of the remaining people were tasked with the unwanted job of digging a grave in the frozen Earth. Only after their dead were buried, would they begin discussing the plans for moving forward. They stayed one more night where they were and used the leaves to provide covering for their feet. The following morning, as the first rays of sunlight began to shine on the horizon, they set out once again.

Their leader had decided that they would travel for seven more days, and then they would settle wherever they ended up. There, they would build and prepare for the future. They would adapt and begin the process of thriving in their surroundings. Until then, they still needed to search for supplies to keep them going. Before those seven days were over, they had lost five more people to the elements and the hungry beast that roamed the world. Four men and one woman gone from their ranks in addition to the first female who had been lost.

At the end of the seven days, they found themselves in the middle of a valley full of crystalline plant life and the promise of potential. Since it was just creeping into the night, they found a burrow beneath a tree and huddled in close for the night. Their priority was to build a long house where they could all live for the time being. They would survive the winter inside of it and then expand to individual housing once they had fully acclimated to their surrounding terrain.

Weeks passed, and the long house was almost complete. Their people were clothed in the fibers pulled from the leaves and grasses, held together with the threading of crystal spiders that frequented the area. Hunting weapons were being made along with traps. The leader had claimed a life partner, and she now showed signs of pregnancy. The child was due to arrive in the days of spring, but its survival until then was not guaranteed. There was no way to tell if the baby would been born alive or not, so they dared not hold out hope.

Most of the people worked on securing the roof and walls of their shelter, blocking out as much of the elements as they could. It was built into the frozen land under the roots of the largest tree known to be in the area. They had learned to adapt their eating habits to include spider and the meat of field mice, since that seemed to be most prevalent in the region. They used the leather from the mice to line the inside of their dwelling and provide better protection for their feet.

“Now that the house is complete, we must focus on gaining more fur to keep us through the winter.” Their leader, Malvex Spidersbane, declared as they celebrated the completion of their shelter with berry juice and joyous laughter. “The elevation of the floor and beds will help with that, but we still need blankets and covers for when we venture out to hunt.”

“We don’t know the hibernation habits of the mice, so we’ll have to act quickly,” Tollen added, addressing the people. “Those who have practiced with the new weapons will lead the hunt.”

“Shouldn’t we show caution in this venture, since there is still unknown factors and inhabitants of this region. We haven’t had the chance to explore it enough to get an idea of what threats we may be forced to face.” Ophelia spoke up.

Her blunt tone drew attention that wasn’t quite pleasant. The mentality of the people was that only those who were called upon by Malvex were allowed to speak up without permission in group meetings. None dared act against her, though, since she was the one who was in charge of supply gathering, and her rebellious nature may cause her to strike out on her own. If she done that, they would be left with no idea how to organize and distribute supplies among them. Not to mention, they couldn’t really afford to lose more of their people. They needed every single person they had to increase in numbers and strength. Which was essential at the moment and would ensure their ultimate survival as a whole. They just couldn’t risk her being reckless and leaving because they scolded her for her bold behavior.

“Ophelia, stay to your station and let my council handle the unknown threats we may face.” Malvex calmly told her, his voice carrying the weight of leadership in its very essence. “You are a woman, and you mustn't worry about what we do not know. The stress may slow down and perhaps prevent the possibility of reproduction. This can not happen anywhere else; this must be followed. While I remain your chosen leader, women will be protected so that they may live without fear, and the men will protect that sanctity. Perhaps someday that will change, but for now it is essential to our survival.”

“Well, as far as I can tell, they haven’t really been doing a good job of that, since on more than one occasion, we, the women of the tribe, have had to fight back spider infestations and hungry mice. The people have remained safe mainly due to our efforts, while the men who were meant to protect us were too busy playing with their new hunting toys.” She challenged.

“We are all new to this and trying to adapt to survive; some things may work while others do not; it is a learning process. Let us not remind you that you had your chance to become our leader's life mate, but you turned it down uninterested. In doing that, you forfeited the given chance to be the voice of our female counterparts.” Tollen bluntly reminded her. “Now you must sit back and bring your concerns to her ladyship, who will in turn voice them to our leader.”

“Don’t push me, Tollen, without me, you will find survival a lot harder than you find it now, and I will be fine on my own. Remember that when you speak to me without my permission.” Ophelia darkly warned; she had quickly grown to dislike the man who stood before her, spouting out what he perceived as the law of survival.

“I understand your discontent, but you must remember it was the women who pushed for things to be this way. They wanted to feel safe and secure, so they could bring forth the future of our people in relative confidence. Hence, they gave the job of protection, hunting, and fighting off threats to the men. Since people can survive with one man and several women. But it could not survive with only one woman and several men. As you have proven, not everyone can be kept happy, but this is how it must be for now.” Malvex tried once again to talk sense into her.

“Fine, but when you die from not listening to my warnings of caution, I will not mourn your deaths, nor will I dig your graves. All you will get from me is an ‘I told you so’, nothing more.” She really didn’t have ground to stand on because what he said was true. Most of the females that were with them were too fearful and gentle to want it any other way. They were happy gathering harmless foods and doing chores that built their shelter, while the men handled the danger and unknown variations of it.

“Fair enough.” Malvex remained calm and unreadable, although her words did hit a nerve deep down inside of him. He had to put the good of the whole above the good of one. He had been chosen to lead these people by these people, and he couldn’t let them down so early in their journey of survival. His partner slid her small hand into the crook of his arm and gave him a supportive smile, before returning her attention to the celebration that had been taking place, before discussions occurred.

Ophelia shook her head in disappointment and left the celebrations to sit on the edge of the area. Staring out over the snow-dusted terrain, she wondered if perhaps there was something more out there for her. It hadn’t even been a year, and she knew that there had been other fruit that hadn’t yielded its people yet when they had first left. Perhaps someday she may find them, and they would see things more clearly. Until then, she had to remain with her people and live by their rules, whether she liked it or not.

Time will tell what the best path to survival will prove to be, and hopefully by that time, they will not be down to numbers so low that rebuilding will be beyond their abilities. Sighing, she stood up and went into the building to rest. Tomorrow will bring them all face-to-face with the reality of their situation. She, for one, wanted to be ready.

Since they were still learning how to create light and warmth, the long house was quiet and dark. She could already feel the difference in the temperature on the inside vs. the temperature on the outside. She found a section in the rear of the building and claimed it for her own. It took some coaxing, but her eyes slowly drifted shut, and sleep claimed her.