And it came to pass in the year following his banishment from the Isle of Komrokolmaske of the Kingdom of Adria, land of his father Maxos, son of Gi, that Komegos the son of Griga, descendant of Gannion the Hunter, sought solace and shelter. And he gathered unto himself the portion of the house of Maxos which was his by inheritance, and his goods, and his servants, and his men of war, and whatsoever thing pertained unto his name; and he purposed in himself to depart from the land of his fathers. Thus he ventured first to the city of Varkeherkany on the isle to speak to his companion Elpher, who he loved even as a brother. And when he came unto the house of Elpher, son of Maco, he greeted him, saying, “Alas, brother, I come to thee; and it be the last mine eyes may behold of thee!” Elpher said then unto him, “Come hence, beloved, and speak to me; tell me of thy troubles.”
So Elpher received Komegos, and he stayed in his house for three days and three nights; and Komegos wept bitterly in his company. Now in those days did Maxos plot to hunt his son, for word has befallen his ears that Komegos had not left from his domain; and Komegos made all of this, his worries and his trespasses against his father and the cruel punishment he was to endure, known to Elpher. So spoke Elpher unto Komegos on the third night of his wailing: “Behold, three days and three nights hast thou dwelt in my house and amongst my children and my servants and all that is mine; will I, who has been given to thee in allowing you my estate, not provide thee with whatsoever thou hast need of? Arise then, brother, cease thy weeping and tell me what it is thou wishst of me.” And Komegos said, “I can tarry here no longer, on this Isle damned by the wrath of my father; grant me, I pray thee, men with whom I may traverse away from here unto a place far from the anger of Maxos my father: for I have no man left to whom I may seek refuge and thy house is full.”
And Elpher lifted Komegos and made ready his voyage; he sent word to Gerey, his cousin, the son of Marmelos, who dwelled in the city of Margentia of the Dodians, saying: “Precious cousin, thou knowest that mine emissaries come unto them to render tribute every due semester; behold, in a few weeks time I send them with a guest of mine I wish to entrust thee. If I have never failed thee, by Lerev the Divine Forebearer, fail thou not me now; suffer not so much as a hair on his head to fall nor a drop of blood shed from his body. Treat him as if I was in your midst.” And Elpher turned to Komegos, saying, “Behold, tell no man of what I do; for your father, magistrate of the Isle of Komrokolmaske, may have my head should word reach him of what I have set forth to do for thy sake.” And Elpher gave to Komegos a signet, symbol of the Houses of Komrokolmaske, that by it the Dodians might know of his brotherhood with him, saying, “By this sign will my cousin bid thee into the city. Go thence and ready thyself for voyage.”
And in the weeks that came did Elpher make preparations for Komegos, in shipment and provision of voyage. Thus Komegos went to the hidden place wherein he had laid his possessions and all attached to him by name, seeking to pay Elpher for his aid, not willing that he go without showing gratitude; and, behold, all but thirty men of arms and his money and jewels and certain possessions of his were gone. And one of the men came before him, saying, “Alas, my lord, what misfortune! For in the midst of night did thy father’s men come upon us unawares and encompassed us about. They sought thee and thy life, yet did we make our best effort to gate your things.” And Komegos responded, “And what of the maids and servants whom I took in my name from the house of Maxos my father?” And the men said unto him, “Alas, our lord, your servants and maids, which you hid here along with all else, were taken back to the house of your father.” And this troubled him; and Komegos was saddened.
With the thirty men of arms and his belongings returned he once more to Elpher. And when Elpher opened his gates to Komegos once more, he said unto him, “Where are the rest of what is yours, the which you brought out of your father’s house?” Komegos responded to him, “Behold, my men tell me that my father’s men descended upon the place in which they hid and restored them unto Maxos my father.” Elpher sighed and cursed the reign of Maxos: “Let every ill breath the gods let forth befall that man his house; may the sea surrounding his domain make him mad and cause him pain.” Then he turned to Komegos and said, “Come, remain with me a little longer ― you and your men ― while the preparations are still in progress. Do not fret for pay, for I myself do this deed in love for you and your blood.” And so Komegos enjoyed those days dwelling in the house of Elpher, son of Maco.
And when the ships ― forty in strength and fifty in all ― were ready and the envoys were set straight, Elpher brought Komegos and his men before the emissaries and said to them, “I make you, my men, swear an oath on the scrolls of Lerev that this man, my beloved friend, and his men shall make it from shore to shore in safety; in all that you do, treat him as my own kin.” And after they swore to their master their promise, Komegos and his thirty men of arms boarded the great ship with the tribute guarded by the other vessels.
As Komegos and his band began their voyage towards the great city, word came to Maxos, the overseer of Komrokolmaske, that Elpher of Varkeherkany provided haven to his wayward son.; and so Maxos riled up many men and stormed to the north of the isle to the city of Varkeherkany. And the women of the city, remembering the cruelty of the magistrate towards their city, refused him entry, barring the gates with bricks; many climbed the gates and made descend upon the overseer sour fruit, that he and his men may not enter. And Maxos cried out, “The people of Varkeherkany have gone mad in refusing their magistrate entry. Allow me, then, the presence of the one I seek outside your walls.” So Elpher came forth from the gate with the help of no man and presented himself before Maxos.
And Elpher said unto him, “What may I do for you, my lord Maxos?” And Maxos responded unto him, “From all the settlements around this isle of mine have word come to my ears that a servant of the governance hosts my son, who I have sought out to educate in matters of things that do not concern the common folk. Must it be that this man, who would make himself a traitor against me, be you, young Elpher?” And Elpher replied, saying, “Let it be known that my brother, your son, Komegos, son of Griga, came into my house seeking refuge and asylum and that I provided him neither. I say it before you, your horsemen, and the people of my city: I gave no support to the ways of your son in my household; for what a dishonor would I bring to my family, to my house, to my children, and to my lands if it were that I was a traitor to my lord?”
And Maxos made peace with Elpher and took his words as truth; thus he returned with his men back to Komrokolmaske City, but his heart was still hardened against Komegos, his son. So it was that along the way, in the shadow of a great tree, did Maxos make an altar to Kasdori, god of the Harsh Winds, saying in prayer, “Great force of power, who brought ruin to the desolate marauders who came here years ago, I pray now and summon your strength; be it so that wherever the boy Komegos may be, your breath blows him back towards my wrath.” And Kasdori appeared unto Maxos in that instant; and Maxos beheld him. And Kasdori spoke unto him, saying, “In the house of Maxos, be there maidens?” And Maxos answered his inquiry, “Yes, great one; so many that the eyes may never be pleased.” And Kasdori plucked a hair from the beard of the magistrate, saying: “Upon this hair of yours, and all the hairs on your head and your health, I order you to sacrifice unto me, in honor of your request, three fresh maidens of the servants which you restored unto yourself from the hand of Komegos.”
And Maxos bowed before the apparition of the deity as it returned to whence it came; in his heart, however, Maxos grieved, for he wanted not to add injury to his household. Yet he continued homeward and did according to the bidding of Kasdori; Maxos constructed, there, at the front of his estate, an altar ― equal on all sides and as one that would be seen in the temples of the gods ― and upon this altar did he sacrifice as told to him. Upon the scent of the blood of the pure bondservants, Kasdori descended and spoke once more: “I have taken pleasure in your deed. I will grant your request.”
Far from the Isle of Komrokolmaske, in the Adrian village of Plagunum, Griga, daughter of Aliilum, from Gannion the Hunter, received an emissary of Elpher who crossed the Nasav and rode through the mainland in search of her; he greeted her with a sacred kiss on the hand and a bow, saying unto her, “Great mistress, I come with word from my lord, Elpher, son of Maco, from the Isle of Komrokolmaske on the subject of your son.” And she took him into her house after he told her all that had transpired in the house of her husband and had him read the inscription to her:
“Great mistress, behold your servant, Elpher, son of Maco the Prestigious, the Honorary of Polozarhi; I will not withhold from you the secrets of the events that have transpired in the house of magistrate Maxos, son of Gi, but I will have you know that the head of your boy means much more to your husband than to you. For day and night he has sought your son, my brother Komegos, without tire to sanction him for his trespasses against him. I have sent him to the great city of Margentia, in the realm of the Dodians, for there I have many eyes; there will he escape the wrath of your husband and his father for the while being, until perhaps the gods quench his thirst for reprimand with a sweeter bile. Pray unto the gods, I beg you, for the safety of he who we both love to heart and that the waters may be with him on his journeys.”
And Griga was much distraught that it was so in her household, and wept bitterly. She cried aloud, saying, “Oh, Aralea, goddess of the travelers, queen of my mother and sister, what misery has become of me! Must I watch my son be taken by the sword of his father or by the waters of the Roclescast? Must I hear another ill thing before you descend and defend my son? Watch over him, I pray, and his journey, that in truth he may linger well in your wings.” And the prayer of Griga, beloved of the gods, befell the ears of the Gusaya, the messenger hog, who ran to the side of the goddess on her behalf.
And Komegos and his envoy continued their journey, coming first to Larivium, following the routes as established in the east of the Roclescast Sea, written out in detail in the Book of the Seas; then did they come to the Isle of Bornumia of the Hraflians, and traversing the traffic of the waters to the Isle of Vicrinium of the Relodians. And when they had made post, they settled in the city of Vicrinium for a time. In the domain of Kasdori, the god of the Harsh Winds summoned unto himself a band of his crooked men and said unto them, “Go into the city of Vicrinium, in the lands of King Qori, lord of the Relodians, to the merchants from the Isle of Komrokolmaske, and there you will find the son of the magistrate of Komrokolmaske; do all that you will to make him return to the lands of his father, for I owe to that man a favor.” And the crooks left from the midst of their lord to do his bidding.
And Aralea, mistress of travelers, in hearkening to the cries of Griga, met with Finduilye, the Lady of Resurrection, her beloved mother, to speak with her on the matters. She said unto her, “Great Mother, behold a mortal has raised their plea unto me in prayer; I could not withhold this from you, for the Spirit of the Harsh Winds has blown against her and her household. Allow me, I pray, to see the fates of this son of hers who is at the mercy of Kasdori the wicked.” And after telling all to Finduilye, the Lady of Resurrection arose and said to her, “Vex not, precious daughter, to go to the dwelling of Fortune; for I will see the will of time on your behalf.”
And so Finduilye went forth to the abode of Paha, the weaver of the Tunic of Fate, the tunic never completed, seeking answers for her distraught daughter. She said unto him, “Show unto me, Paha-Ilo, what I seek; for these matters are of great importance to the house of the gods.” And Paha replied, saying, “Great Mother, what may I bring before you?” And she said unto him, “Bring me the future of the house of Maxos, magistrate of the Isle of Komrokolmaske of the Adrians.” So Paha took the great Tunic and relayed unto Finduilye the message inscribed pertaining to Komegos: “The Rogio will sing of a great man from the east and the children of Lerev will play their kapips in honor of a brave man from far lands. All that is known will bow to the sons of the overcomer of marauders and the world will know of the kin of he who destroys the great evil in the seas.” These words befell the ears of Hamsand, Goddess of the Harvest, Muriel, Master of the Vine, and Vuphine, Lady of Magic; and these three despised the line of Maxos through Komegos. And Finduilye left from the abode of Paha and returned to her daughter, bringing to her the words of fate itself.
In the city of Vicrinium, the crooked ghouls of Kasdori descended upon the envoy of Komegos and inflicted a pestilence upon a few of the lot, one that no medicine of man could heal. And they rejoiced in their doing, saying to themselves, “Surely, our lord will grant our wishes when we return to him.” And the sailors suffered plague for five days and nights. And it was that a lady of much beauty, of radiance and bliss, appeared in the city; and the people were smitten with awe at her glow. And hearing word of the ill sailors, she descended to the ports and came in their midst, saying unto them, “To where do you sail?” And they responded, “To Margentia, the great city; for it is the time of tribute.” And from her came a radiance that healed them of their ailment; and the sailors bowed before her and revered her. And when the crooked men of Kasdori saw this, they were frightened and were angered in themselves, saying, “Who be this woman, of such strength, that our task has been undone?”
So they came again to the envoy of Komegos and stole from their tribute to Dodians. And when the men saw that their things were not in place, they were pressed with grief, saying amongst themselves, “What shall we say to our master when he hears of this?” And the ghouls rejoiced in their doing, saying to themselves, “Surely, our lord will grant our wishes when we return to him.” And the sailors groaned in distress for five days and nights. And it was that a valiant man of great courage, of strength and vigor, appeared in the city; and the people were smitten with awe at his greatness. And hearing word of the misfortune that befell the sailors, he descended to the ports and came in their midst, saying unto them, “To where do you sail?” And they responded, “To Margentia, the great city; for it is the time of tribute.” And he recovered their tribute from whence it was hidden; and the sailors bowed before him and revered him. And when the crooked men of Kasdori saw this, they were frightened and were angered in themselves, saying, “Who be this man, of such valor, that our task has been undone?”
And when their stay had been overdue, Komegos and his envoy returned to the sea on their voyage to the great city. And the wicked men of Kasdori gathered unto themselves in council, saying, “Behold, the fool escapes! Let us not allow the waters to accommodate him and his voyage, lest our master rebuke us.” And as the ships passed the Isle of the Cemians, a great storm came about them and engulfed the surrounding waters; and the winds were harsh against them, throwing them aside.
But as they turmoiled, the great maiden, the Lady of Resurrection appeared in the tempest on behalf of her daughter and turned to the foul workers of Kasdori ― who Komegos and his envoy could not see ― and said unto them, “Be gone from these waters and abandon your reckless effort to consume these vessels, lest you find yourselves under my wrath.” And the ghouls, fearing the light of the divine one, fled and the sea returned to itself. And Finduilye appeared before Komegos, declaring, “I am the one who guarded your company and their possessions at the ports, who healed them of their ailment. Fret not in your passage, for there is destiny for you to fulfil.” And Komegos paid homage to the great Mistress before him; and she took pleasure in this. And she spoke anew to him, saying, “I grant you the chance to curse those who sought your life and your dignity, whether it be your father or your other foes; I only warn you to be wise in what you do, for I grant this to you but once.” And Komegos used it not in the moment, refusing to inflict harm on his father’s household. And they journeyed on, arriving on the Isle of the Bobaens, then the Isle of Aucus of the Plarians, and at last, they had arrived in the city of Margentia.
And when they neared the ports of the city, they saw the grandeur therein: from the east, where they came, Komegos fell in awe for the beauty of the city.
In the dwelling of the gods, word spread in the Theopolis of the reading of the fates and quickly arrived at the seat of Lerev. And so he summoned the many spirits and deities unto himself to discuss the matter of the mortal world. Finduilye came forth and said before the divine court, “Behold, the fates themselves proclaim this mortal, son of Griga, servant of my daughter, a great power that will shake the mortal kingdom.” And Kasdori stood and came also before the divine court, saying, “Did the reading of the fates truly say he would be victor? If it is to be, then let it be so, lest the fabric of the Tunic of Fate unwind and all things with it.” And there was a great divide in the heavens, for Idon, God of the Land, received a hearing also for the future of the mortals, in which it was said it was one from his line that shall be victor of things; and lots were cast and the gods divided themselves over the issue of the mortals.
And when they had come into the ports of the city, the vassals of Elpher, son of Maco, were stopped by the men of labor of the docks, who said unto them, “Who be you men and from whence do you come?” And the men of Elpher said, “We hail from the city of Varkeherkany, from our lord Elpher, son of Maco, servant of Maxos, son of Gi, overseer of the Isle of Komrokolmaske; our tribute unto Gerey, son of Marmelos, is due and our semester is come.” And the men of labor watched as they dropped their load from all their fleet ― forty in strength and fifty in all; and behold, a handsome tribute it was indeed! And Komegos, who hid himself in a cloak that none may recognise him, descended, him and his men of arms, from the ship which they boarded and rose into the city with the envoy to the house of Gerey.
And Lord Gerey, son of Marmelos, greeted them warmly at the sight of the handsome tribute and hosted them for many days. And he inquired of the master of the envoy, saying, “I have word from your lord saying that there is a guest among you, one who is to be honored in my house. Go, then, and bring him to me.” And the master of the envoy brought before Gerey and his house Komegos and his men of arms. Upon the sight of the shrouded Komegos, he said, “Are you he who my cousin has sent from the far Varkeherkany?” And Komegos removed the cloak from his face and showed unto him the signet of Elpher; in this did Gerey rejoice: “Had you lost your way here, my beloved cousin would not be of good spirits.” And Komegos said unto him, “Me and my men come with tribute for your treasury also, generous Gerey. I have brought with me my wealth and possessions from my father’s house; allow me a place in this great city that I may make my life here.” And this pleased Gerey; and he allowed Komegos and his men a part of his estate to abide in. And all was well for Komegos in Margentia.
[Lost part of the story, later excavated and pieced back together: And Aralea appeared unto Griga and said unto her, “Behold, your prayers have not befallen deaf ears and I have heard your wishes. Your son dwells in the land of the Dodians, in the city of King Elwer, in safety and peace.” And Griga fell before the goddess, rejoicing. And it was was that two young maidens, Myla and Nanna by name, were visiting the village of Plagunum by way of the river Nigantioma; and Aralea guided Griga to them. And Griga asked them, “From where do you come on such exquisite leisure?” And they said unto her, “From the house of Gerey, son of Marmelos, lord of trade in the city of Margentia.” And Griga hosted the women in her own home for a time; thus Aralea appeared once more unto her and said unto her, “Write to your son and speak fondly; and when time is due, you will give the letter to the maidens you have accommodated.” And she did as it was told to her; and she said unto the two ladies, “Take this to the house of Gerey and have him read it to his household.” So Myla and Nanna did as they were told and were guided by the winds softly on return to Margentia.]
And it was that two young maiden from the house of Gerey returned to the city from whence they came and rose to the city into the household of their lord bearing a letter from Griga, mother of Komegos. And they gave the correspondence to their lord, saying, “A good woman from the east, who hosted our stay and fed us, commanded us to bring this to you.” And Gerey took the letter and read it before his house and said, “Is there among you one named Komegos?” And the servants of Gerey recognized him by name and said unto their lord, “This be the name of the guest who you received from the house of your cousin, Elpher, son of Maco, from the Isle of Komrokolmaske.” Thus Gerey summoned Komegos and his men, saying unto him, “Are you son of Griga?” And he responded, “You yourself have said it.” And Gerey said to him, “By Athrosei, god of my fathers, for the generosity of your house, I will have you seated at my side so that you lack nothing;” and so Gerey established Komegos in his household, providing for him in all things.
And it was, as tradition in those days, that Komegos and his men went up to the temple of the patron of the city, the Mother of Soft Winds, to offer homage; and the people of the city beheld the strange men, saying amongst themselves, “Who be this fellow and his entourage?” And they came to the gem of the city, the Temple of Idarae, whose pillars were lined with fine sunsax lines, the powder from the hills of the Sosians, and whose elaborate pediments were fastened with libeodor strips from the lands of the Pyrgians; and they came before the priests of Idarae with a calf for each man. And when they had entered into the courtyard, the sons of the temple came about them, observing them; and when the traditions of tribute were fulfilled, Komegos came before the great image of Idarae, prostrated before it, and cried out, saying, “Most merciful Mother, behold me and my brethren; grant us, I pray, your audience. From afar have we come to these lands in search of refuge and asylum: as we dwell in these lands foreign and strange to us, lead me so I might strengthen my resolve. I seek this, your grace, of you on both my knees, O divine overseer of the winds; strengthen me with your glorious grace. Great Goddess of soft winds, witness me and my men in my time of need. Honor me with your holy kindness and I swear upon the life given to me that I will honor your temple and your people.”
As word spread of the easterner of many riches so grew his fame amongst the people; Komegos found peace in the city. And it came, after a time, that an envoy of Conorian, the rich man of the city of Hersoma of the Duretians ― who controlled the Great Net of the Roclescast, thus controlling the wealth of the peoples of Apelyles — descended upon the shores of Margentia; and they came unto King Elwer of the Dodians, saying unto him, “Behold, oh king, what misfortune has befallen us; the guardian Conorian, who watches your city and its treasures and that of the many cities along the Roclescast, has had his walls besieged. The great cities of Stotrinch and Almesa on the Northing Islands of the Sedians, the greatest of those overseen by the great Conorian, have fallen.” And King Elwer and his court tore their vestments in distress; and the king said unto them, “Who are these that have done such a vile thing?” And the men said unto him, “Great king, the mercenaries from the west — the Children of Shelkik, servants of Exos, son of Botoros, of the city of Motegamo of the Nuqians — have taken the far coasts and come against the Morians and the vassals of the Gornians, your brethren.” And Elwer gathered the soldiers of Dodia and wrote to the Henionites, their brethren, and the Hokurians, lords of the Dodians, inciting them to rise and join him in conquest. And a great fleet of unparalleled warriors and ability went west with their kings to defend the Morians and the Gorians and their estate.
And the people of Margentia feared, for their king had gone from their midst; so the council of nobility came together and said to one another, “Behold, our king has gone to war; let us not allow unrest amongst ourselves and our people, lest the realm crumbles. Let us appoint a guarding order for the city, to watch over our gates and our cattlemen.” And they chose from the houses of the Dodians Operalon the son of Thilys, Menisus the son of Laio, Essariantis the son of Lix, Hammon the son of Gard, and Rarda the son of Tetenos as lords of the guard of the city. And Rarda was struck with illness, and the head of guard was rendered incomplete; so the council of nobles descended to the house of Gerey, the lord of the treasures of the city, and said unto him, “Come, lord Gerey, make full our joy and lead the guard.” And he resisted them, saying, “I will not bother the house of my fathers and mine own to mingle with the matters of war; but, lo, there is one, who has not failed to sacrifice at the temples in full since the king has gone and has not withheld his wealth from the treasury of the city, who has been a blessing to those without abode and those with no comfort, who has come from the east and has swelled in my house. Take him as your vote, for he comes from a house of nobles.”
And the council of nobles said amongst themselves, “Be it that he speaks of the exile, the son of Maxos, magistrate of Komrokolmaske of the Adrians? Shall we allow a son of the Adrians to watch our walls?” And they said anew amongst themselves, “Surely, has he not been a gift from the gods? For the priests adore his wealthy tribute to the gods and we have heard word of his generosity; we have heard of his fame. Who in the city and among us has done more than the fugitive from the east? Let us descend upon him and bring him to defend our city.” And they went to Komegos and cried, “Favored of the gods, hail!” And Komegos bid them entry into his home. And they laid to him their troubles and the demise of Rarda the son of Tetenos; and he said unto them, “What would you have me do?” And they said to him, “Come, revered easterner, make full our joy and lead the guard.” And he said, “I will come, lest the walls of Margentia fall in.” And he met with the other four and made fellowship with them; and the four guarded the lands of Margentia, and they grew in brotherhood.
And the fleets of the kings that went with Elwer, king of the Dodians, met the mercenaries of Exos at the frontiers of Sirorum, near Raqusium, the capital of the Morians; and there fought they for many days. And the battle laid waste to many vessels and to the coasts roundabout; and the grand fleet of Elwer were victorious against the Children of Shelkik in all their toil off the coast of Raqusium, destroying the order of the massive gathering of the mercenaries and scattering them. And the Dodians and their allies rejoiced at their triumph and entered into the city of Aerangis to celebrate; and they ate and drank lavishly, king and soldier eating at the same table, forgetting their worries in the east. But it was that two fleets of the squandered mercenaries came together near the Isle of Lurivis of the Linsisians and said among themselves, “Alas, what misery has befallen us; what shall we say to our lord, the vile son of Botoros?”
Thus spoke Ugan, who was angered upon hearing their words: “What is this I hear? Have the Dodians made of you women? Have their swords destroyed your vigor? Have their ships and their masts struck fear in your hearts? Are you not the men who circumnavigated the Northing Isles and destroyed their cities? Are you not the men who decimated the Pygrians on the Isle of Artaros and took their cities in the name of our lord Exos also, who took the coasts of the Alandaeans, the Penlandites, and the Bereans? Have you ever feared their gods? Away from me with your constant babberings of defeat; I came with men of valor, not of cowardice, and I shan’t return to the house of my lord with cowards. Who has slaughtered more men than Ugan, son of Pusumas? And whose sword has taken more heads than that of Ugan’s? And whose words have guided men to more victory than those of the son of Pusumas? Hearken unto me; the Dodians and their men lay drunk with the wine of pride and have left their sacred lands unguarded: for I will see to it as your overseer that we descend upon their land and return to our master with victory.”
And the savages cried aloud with one voice, saying, “The Dodians have slain and the followers of Ugan come to give recompense! All under the power of Exos and his servant shall be victorious!” And they rallied themselves under the command of Ugan and sailed for the land of the Dodians. And they went forth, going around the Iron Route about the coastline of the Linsisians, landing on the Isle of Sugustu, the Isle of the Movians, who gave the rebels shelter; and they waited until the sun fell below the mountains of the gods to make their sail. And when the sun receded, they sailed with the banners of Exos, son of Botoros, in the darkness until about the fifth hour of the night. And Ugan ordered arrows of fire to be sent against the city. And when the people of Margentia heard the flying of arrows and smelled the charring of fire, they arose from their slumber and raced through the streets; and the guard was assembled in defense of the city. And the men of Ugan continued releasing the arrows of fire upon the city for a time.
And once Ugan had recalled the arrows of fire he ordered his men forward; and the ships advanced toward the city. And when the soldiers of the guard saw the horizon, dread grabbed hold of them; for, behold, a grand fleet lining the darkened horizon in colors not that of the Dodians approached ever so steadily. And the five overseers of the guard awoke and gathered men to defend the shores of Margentia; and Komegos, seeing the plight and the distress of the people of the city scattering about the city, took his arms and raised his loyal thirty and descended unto the shores of Margentia. And some of the men in the city, seeing the easterner and his bravery, followed and stood with him on the shore; in all a thousand and six hundred men lined the coast, waiting for an attack. Thus spoke Komegos unto his men: “Brethren, I have grown in the house of my father awaiting destiny and glory to come to me, and behold! Shemes and Hidar have answered my prayers! Let us hold firm and defend the glory of Komrokolmaske and of Adria and of my house and the city that took you in, lest misfortune befall them all. Stand strong, and may the gods of glory keep your swords steady before the foe.”
And Ugan ordered his men to descend upon Margentia and destroy the city; and sixteen great ships surged towards the coastline and filled it with battle; and the Children of Shelkik did spill much blood on those shores. And when the five had gathered their full defense did Ugan order the great balls of fire to rain upon the city; and the devices were unhinged and they let loose upon the city twelve of these balls of fire, which imploded and burned the city. And the five defenders of the city fought valiantly before the rebels; and Komegos took his men and desired to return into the city: and, lo, the gates were torn! And when he entered he saw the men of Ugan and their swords and their fury; for they cut down many of the people of the city that day by way of the sword. And the spirit of Dhindos, god of war, came upon Komegos and he slew many men with a force unseen; and the mercenaries feared him. And Komegos came unto the Temple of Idarae with his thirty; and he saw the steps of the temple lined with the blood and bodies of priests and servants of the temple. And he wept bitterly; and he ascended into the temple and destruction laid within. For the treasures of the temple were taken and the priests were slaughtered; and he came before the statue of the great goddess, and, behold, the Oracle of Idarae laid at her feet.
And he came unto the Oracle and aided him, but the Oracle would not leave the presence of the goddess. So the Oracle uttered these words unto Komegos, saying, “Go forth, O root torn from bitter soils. Take the ash of thy father’s house: the Sea shall lift thee upon its mane, and a hand unseen shall turn thee where no mortal oar hath wisdom to go. When many peoples kneel before the thirst of one man, there shall thy wandering cease, and there shall the dust receive thy footprints as law. From thy hunger shall arise a people; thy people shall bring forth a house of bronze and from that house shall come a kingdom whose shadow crosses mountains, and whose fame shall climb above the small roof beneath which thy first tears were shed. Son of Maxos, thou didst lift thy hand against the blood that begot thee, and the heavens have counted it; and, behold, no cloak shall hide it and no prayer shall unmake it. The gods do not forget the sin of a son against his father, nor do they release the house that shelters such a deed. But the stain of your youth shall remain in the deep grain of thy house; for, behold, a distant land waits thee beyond the last gray horizon, prepared by hands stronger than thine. Thou shalt not choose it, though thou shalt call it chosen. A curse, it is, upon you: for there must you atone; there, where glory hides behind storm clouds, thy blood shall kindle a people. From thy wound shall come a lineage; from thy exile shall come walls and from thy burden shall come crowns. Their kingdoms shall endure through the ages, and their names shall outlive the stones that bear them." And the Oracle gave his last breath and returned to the house of the gods.
And the city began to collapse from without as the fires enlarged themselves; and many fled or were killed or were taken in bondage in the plight. And the men of Ugan retired from the city back to the waters after taking their spoil, the women of Margentia and its treasures. And all the temples of Idarae and of Imdione, Goddess of Knowledge, were desecrated and destroyed, their treasures robbed from within and without them; and the people mourned with a great cry. And after all flame was gone, the streets of the city were filled with the bodies of innocents and their blood seeping onto the soil, the waters at the docks and ports turned red; and so it was from this day that the men of Ugan were called the Anoitikokkinas, that is, the Red Fools: for in their madness had they smeared themselves with the blood of women and children who fell at the edge of their swords. And in all this the kings and men of the Dodian alliance knew nothing of the matter.
And Operalon, son of Thilys, sent word to the city of Podure, capital of the Podurians, saying unto them by letter, “Alas, Margentia has fallen and so have the Dodians! Return, O noble men of the Hokurians, of the Henionites, and of the Salandaeans; for the city of light has been destroyed!” And distress wore upon the hearts of the warriors at Aerangis and they swiftly rode back, each one and their king, back to their lands. And it was that the armies of Exos rolled out towards the Hokurians on the land and laid besieged them; and they were not victorious, save in slaying Elwer and bringing despair upon the people of the lands. So did Komegos meet with the four guardians of Margentia on the Isle of Plaria City of the Plarians; and they said amongst themselves, “Alas, what malice has befallen us! Our beautiful city, the city that comforted me, has been rendered to naught! Where shall we go and where shall we abide?” And Komegos arose and said unto them, “Brothers, many have fled and many more have fallen to the sword of the Anoitikokkinas; before you and Athrosei almighty do I swear that I shall not rest until the vengeance of the twenty-nine thousand has been exacted and until I hold the head of the savage who desecrated the temple of Idarae. Take now, I pray, this oath with me, that we may together rid the Roclescast of the evils of the men of Exos.”
And the five took oath that day on Plaria Island, swearing upon their blood and the blood of their descendants that they shall not sleep a king’s sleep until they exacted their vengeance. And the families of the Margentians who remained were scattered; and some came before Komegos and said unto him, “Behold, favored of the gods, your people; we bring you, in the name of the King of the Dodians and his people, a testament of our covenant with you, that you may persist in your vengeance.” And they brought to him Myla and Nanna, the daughters of Spurius Caios, commander of the great force that went against the Loriandian pirates when they came up against the Movians; and they said to him, “Take these maidens as your own and add them to your house, lest the stranger say, ‘The people of the city showed him no generosity for his valor.’”
Source: r/mythwriter · by /u/Emperor-Duke7171