Tale of the Five Hunters

So the tale goes that once upon a time when the sky still lay in darkness and the beasts walked the land, four hunters were far from home, out on the prowl; and a fifth one was apart, scouting the land. The hunters were of different tribes, but in these dark times Men were in decline and their numbers dwindled. Thus, joining forces was required if survival was to be ensured. The night was cold and there were no stars on the cloudy sky. Huddled around a small camp fire that gave little light or warmth against the deep Darkness, the hunters waited. Long the hours passed and they could not tell the time; should the fifth one’s return be swift, it was not known, so they could only watch the shadows, lest one of them attacked with no warning. Yet it was no shadow nor friend that appeared before the afeard hunters in the murk, but rather a stranger. He had an impression of emitting faint light about him, defying the gloom’s oppression. He walked to the hunters and they offered him the sharp end of their weapons, but he merely smiled. “Do not be frightened friends, I am no foe. Will you not let share a seat by the fire with a fellow traveller?” But the hunters were distrustful and they asked for his name and whence he came. The stranger gave no answer. Instead he asked “What threat has you all huddled together so scared?” “The beasts in the shadows, don’t you know?” they replied. He continued. “And what for are you seeking protection from a measly camp fire when a greater beacon of Light exists that promises salvation?” “We do not know of this Light you speak of”, they said. So, he beckoned, “Then follow me and I will show you”. “We can’t sir. For the path is crawling with monsters”, they objected. And he insisted, “Where I’m taking you, no beast can touch you”. “We can’t sir. For the Darkness lies heavy and we can’t tell the way”, they refused still. And he reassured, “Where I’m taking you is the power that dispels all Darkness and ends all Night”. “We can’t sir. For our friend is abroad and we can’t simply abandon him”, they informed him. But he did not relent, “Back I’ll be taking you, ere he returns. Come with me now and let’s not stay in the evil Darkness long”. And despite their initial distrust, as if enchanted, the hunters followed the man. His soothing aura urged them to believe in him and the Light he spoke of. Thus they walked for a long time and across the land, through the Eternal Night and in spite of the creeping shadows. But nothing dared approach in the light the stranger spread. Onwards they went in the path he formed and none were sure if the journey lasted hours or days or longer, but it occurred to them suddenly that they’d come over to a new land and across the mountains, though they’d never climbed any mountains. Through the wilderness, they continued and then one of them noticed where they were headed. “Say master, is it this the Pillar of Light ahead of us? Is that the Light you speak of?” she asked. “The one and only true Light”, he replied. “But master, we dare not look at the Pillar of Light and it fills our hearts with fright”, she panicked. “Does the Light frighten you more than the Shadow?” he enquired. “See master, many stories of fear are told of it and we are not eager to find out their truth or falsehood”, she explained. “You fear the Light out of ignorance and yet the Light is the bane of ignorance. Fear the Unknown of the Darkness, but love the Knowledge of the Light, for it is your saviour. I assure you no evil lies before you”, he encouraged. With that he urged the hunters to go on and their hearts were quietened. They continued their way and soon arrived in the font of the Light where amazement and wonder awaited. The Light shot from the earth to the sky and the Darkness cowered away from it, leaving a patch of open and fresh air. And thus for the first time, the hunters saw stars. “What new treachery is this and torches are alight above us? Are armies marching from above the skies?” one of them exclaimed. “Nay”, one of his companions answered. “These are the stars of legend that old tales spoke of”. “And behold, what are these creatures flying below them? New beasts?” another pointed to the shadows that obscured the dots of the stars momentarily then moved away as they circled around the Pillar. “No beast can stand the Light of Creation, for they are creatures of destruction”, the man said. “Indeed, these are no mere beasts, but dragons”, the hunter startled by stars realised. “We truly are walking among legends”. With awe striking into their hearts, the hunters and their leader kept on and came before the very Pillar of Light. Blue it was and it had an invisible aura about it much like the man’s, but a lot stronger. They gazed at it in wonder. And in that instant, they understood. It is said in that moment as they accepted the Light, the four hunters were granted knowledge and power by the Nexus. The First Hunter, much in admiration of the fierce Dragons that had just now surprised them, sought to imitate their strength to that extent that the humans could reach. And the power of Kings he was granted, a crown of the winged serpent and he was dressed in red and gold. The Second Hunter who had most feared the Light at first now regretted her previous apprehension and so in order to carry with her a light that always shows the way she asked for the power of the magicians of old, as tale told, who’d studied the stars before the Darkness. And so she crafted a wand of many colours to shine in the dark. The Third Hunter lamented her lost arm, taken long ago by a demon of the Darkness and resting in its belly. Thus she was given knowledge how to build a new one for herself, not out of flesh and bone, but metal and wire. The Fourth Hunter, however, was a little different indeed. And faced with the wisdom of the Nexus, he looked deeper into it. And so in his ear were whispered secrets of life and death and strange knowledge. Much the hunters were amazed by the great gifts they’d been granted and they thanked both Nexus and the man now revealed before them as a great Lord. Much time passed in merriment for the honouring company and the great enlightenment and yet it felt as though time was no spent at all. The Lord warned them that they needed to return soon, but they listened not for they did not want to part yet. But time was not frozen and before they knew it, the stars were gone and a new light arrived through the hole in the dark clouds. It was warm and different than the light of the stars or the Nexus. Yet, the hunters did not have leisure to take in this new wonder for this finally made them realise they were late and the fifth hunter was waiting still. For surely, he must have returned by now from his mission. Once the spell was broken, great sorrow overtook them all for they knew they had to depart from this blessed realm and return to Darkness. “Be at ease my friends”, the Lord reassured. “For now the Light is with you always and the Night will run before your march”. And with those words, they set off. The journey there had been full of fear and awe, curiosity and amazement, but the journey back was filled with a bittersweet melancholy and the hunters wished it not to end, after which they’d lose the company of the Lord. But indeed it came to an end too swiftly and soon they were back to the camp amidst Darkness where it all started. There, the fifth hunter awaited and he looked worried, but when they showed up he turned to anger. “Where have you been, o loyal companions, while I was abroad and I feared you were whisked away by a strange power? Have you no faith in your scout and you abandon your posts?” the scout demanded. “Do not anger, dear brother”, the first hunter, who was indeed the brother of the fifth spoke, “We have an important reason, for you see we were visited by this great Lord”. But the man had mysteriously disappeared once they’d reached the camp and no one had noticed till then. “I see no man. Why do you lie?” “Do not anger, eldest brother. There is no lie. For the man may be gone, but his marks are still here. Behold this crown of mine, I could not have found this in the wilderness”. Even the upset fifth hunter to admit that all his companions looked different now as if a new light came from their eyes and their physical gifts could not be ignored either. But this only stirred a different emotion within him. “And why is it that strangers come hither and reward the idle while the hard workers are left out? I risk my life for the sake of us all, but you forsake me in my absence, is that how you repay me?” “Do not anger, brave brother. Let us not quarrel. Instead here, you can have my gift. For I made this to bear the strength of the strongest and who else stronger might wield it but my older brother? As for me, I shall venture back to the land of the Light and there should the Nexus bless me, I shall craft new armour to match yours”. And then the eldest brother regretted his rush words, for despite his temper he loved his brother dearly and now he saw he was pushing him into danger. He feared that his brother would perish if he travelled in the Darkness alone. But the first hunter could not be dissuaded now no matter how his friends objected for he found this new plan to be the best. And he did not accept companions in his journey. “This new pilgrimage must be done alone. I carry the Light within me, so I’ll be safe”, he said. “Now return unto our homes and spread the Light to them, so that the Darkness will soon disperse”. So, he set off much to the concern of the others, but most of all his brother. Dejected, the remaining four came back to their homes where their people welcomed them in awe and amazement. Strange were their new powers and wondrous the gifts they brought instead of game. Much they were loved then for the feats they managed with them. And thus with the hunters at the helm, their tribes grew in spite of the Darkness and prospered anew. And in time the hunters’ power matured and their kingdoms grew further. The Second Hunter became a talented magician of all spells and witchcrafts. And with every new magic she mastered, she patched a new colour to her her garment and became a Magician of All Colours herself much like the Wand of All Colours. And even though she was wise and respected, she was called the Mosaic Jestress, for she was a merry woman, laughed and made laugh; the one who brought joy and life back to her people. The Third Hunter sought further knowledge than what she’d acquired and continued to alter her body till none of the original was left, some say. Led by her, her people took much to her fashion and explored the ways of technology. The Fourth Hunter had a stranger fate akin to his stranger power. The power to command the invalid back to life and health had he and more, so he was treated as man of medicine and miracle. His people hailed him as a doctor, but soon they came to ask the impossible. And although he was summoned, he could not save those who were already dead. “It’s a thin line between life and death”, he said “But once you’ve crossed it, you’ve crossed it forever”. And more and more the unreasonable requests came for Death ever marches on in all times. And always he answered, but never could he do anything. And then people came to fear him. He’s the one that comes when you die. The collector of souls, Death himself. But one day, the man disappeared entirely never to be seen again. Yet some say he still walks across the land and lingers in corners and the edge of your eyes. For the whispers in his head grew and Death came for him, too, but he wasn’t taken to the other side but they joined together and as one walk the realm of twilight. But for the Fifth Hunter and his people, joy was mixed in with grief. For a long time passed and there was no sign of the First Hunter and he was thought to be dead. And they felt the sorrow deeply. But with time they came to celebrate the strength the Fifth Hunter brought and he was called the Dragon King. But one day when no one was expecting him, the First Hunter returned from the shadows. Through a long journey and much hardship he’d crossed the mountains and reached the plain inside and there he’d returned to the Nexus. To it, he pleaded for a new gift so he wouldn’t be left behind his brother. And the Nexus granted him, for it recognised the sacrifice he’d made. A new power he gained and was clad in black to walk through the Night like the Night, covered in mystery, unseen by all eyes, but his shadow was unlike that of the Darkness, not evil but wholesome. Thus, it came that no eye could perceive him, not even that of the Jestress. And with this new power, he swiftly made his return. But when he appeared from the darkness, his own people feared him for they’d thought he had come back from the dead, with strange powers of Darkness. And cursed was his fate to be shunned and left alone in exchange for the gifts he bore, which became also his burden. But his brother alone welcomed him and was glad. And he laughed and said that he’d become like a bat and he dubbed him the Bat Lord. And together with the Dragon King, he served the people but he wasn’t loved. But the Dragon King, too, in the end could not draw all the power of his crown and armour, it is said. For he had not been accepted by it or chosen by the right judge. And after his death, even to this day, it is believed that the Dragon Crown awaits the rightful owner who will command the power of kings.