Khari's Tale

By Kieran Brannan

Legacy of Bronze and Bone Book 2.
With the help of his eclectic group of companions Khari has followed the prophesies of his seer and discovered the doom spoken of seems to be connected to refugees who have fled their own world in order to seek shelter in Kisar. However, is the doom spoken of in prophesy the strange beings the people fled from, or the refugees themselves? Whoever they are, their words of peace only serve to heighten Khari's suspicion of them. Khari also guards his own secrets; secrets which, if revealed, could destroy his relationship with his new found companions. He must walk a fine line between his new friendships and his duty to his own people.

This series is set in the stone-age fantasy world of Kisar, which found its origin in the SAGE tabletop roleplaying system. It is a story of high adventure and magic. The story follows a group of travellers whom fate has placed in the path of a global event which promises to break the world. Above all else it is a story about people, and the journey of self discovery that life takes them on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kieran Brannan
• Release date: Dec 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310152924

Kieran Brannan

Kieran Brannan lives the life of a hermit in an insignificant town in an insignificant part of Australia. He is a devout misanthrope whose only real contact with the world is through his writing and via the internet. He takes inspiration from years spent among fringe communities, such as various esoteric organisations and creative hobbyists, learning about strange arts and belief systems.Kieran is a nerd at heart, spending idle time playing both online and table top games. His true passion is in Role-playing, a hobby he started in school, where he endured persecution from religions who at the time demonized the hobby. He has created many worlds and written for a number of blogs and gaming publications, usually under a pseudonym.He always has a lot of works in progress, primary among those at the moment are a series of books set in one of his gaming worlds, as well as a free Creative Commons campaign world for classic Dungeons & Dragons.

Book preview

Acknowledgements

This novel is set in the world of Kisar, one of the worlds I have created for my tabletop roleplaying. Many thanks to Bob Matic and Paul Siljac for the part they had to play in the formation of this world. Without their input into our regular gaming sessions this world would not have the same level of life and depth.

Special thanks to Ryllandra Rose, my editor and very dear friend. Without her patience and support it is unlikely this book would ever have made it to publication.

Goals

Ninil hands the silver circlet back to the blond man who reeks of rotting vegetation. She looks unhappy as she sits with us in our cage of metal and wood. Rania remains in the cage corner, her body leaning against the bars as she stares out at the brightly clad people erecting homes of stone and wood. With her mastery of elemental earth magic I wonder why she doesn’t shatter the bars and sneak out at night. Yet since her song was answered by the blond rot-man she hasn’t said a word nor sung a tune. She seems to have entered a state of serious depression. I wish she’d get over it, we might really need her soon.

Her irritated tone reflected on her face, Ninil says, They want us to appear before some gathering of elders or something. They’ll decide if we will be allowed our freedom.

Musa’s knuckles pale as he clenches his fist tightly. We’re going to have to fight our way out, he declares angrily. It’s been many days now and still they talk and talk but nothing changes.

I agree with Musa in principle, but then we’d learn nothing of these people. I didn’t travel half the world just to return and report nothing of value. I need to discover more.

Khari? Ninil calls to get my attention, What do you think?

I take a deep breath, trying to suppress my own rage and frustration before I reply. So far they have stolen our weapons, given us no meat, stolen our freedom and treated us like animals. Yet they speak of peace, friendship and working together. These things make no sense. I think we must know more.

Musa glares at one of the nearby guards saying, There’s a lot of them, but if the tribes ban together we can crush them. We need to get to the tribes and warn them of the danger.

Ninil shakes her head. I’m not so sure there is a danger. I think we need to know more about what they are running from, because the real danger is probably there.

He said no more about that then? I ask.

Besides saying it was an internal corruption he won’t say any more about it. I think he’s afraid to. He did say that if we speak to this council they are permitted to answer any questions we might have.

So how is the language thing going to work? I ask. I am happy for you to keep speaking for us, but I have a few difficult questions I want answered before we trust them.

Ninil frowns as she says, They are going to make some magic circle that will allow us all to speak with their council at once. It will work just like the talking circle we have been using, but bigger.

That would mean they are all in our head, I don’t like the sound of that. I still don’t know how much those circles allow them to read from our thoughts, but if it’s more than the words, then I’m concerned that my true nature might be given away. Still, what choice do I have if I wish to learn more?

I’m worried about Rania, Ninil says with compassion as she looks over at the woman. The idea of being at someone else’s mercy must terrify her.

We should decide now as a group what sort of information we want from this council, I say. What do we want from them?

Weapons, says Musa, taking no time to think about it, and our freedom. If they won’t give us both those things then they cannot be trusted and we should escape as soon as possible.

I’m not sure we’ll get our weapons back, suggests Ninil. With the exception of their soldiers, none of their people carry weapons other than utility tools.

She makes a good point. The people toiling away on the creation of housing and the transport of goods all seem like docile deer. Not one of them carried more than a knife. The warriors in their bronze armour are all exceptionally well armed with armour, shield, long spear and one or two secondary weapons. Finally, there were the ones wearing impractical bright cloth.

Through her communications with the blond man called Radu, Ninil has discovered they are called Potrivere, which translates as Harmoniser from what Ninil can determine. These Harmonisers seem to have a leadership role, and most if not all seem to be well gifted in magic. Even now, I can see one in the distance who has woven some sort of spell over a section of wooden slab, making it light enough for two men to lift and place in position forming the entire wall of a house.

I agree with Musa, I say. If we are to be friends, then a friend would trust another friend to carry weapons.

Okay, says Ninil. What else is important for us?

We’re not going to help them kill our own people, Musa firmly states. I don’t care what they offer us, I will not be a hunting dog for them to hunt our own people from this land, or any land.

Ninil’s tone is neutral as she responds, Radu says they want to make peace with the tribes and learn to work together. They will share their knowledge with the tribes in trade for what the tribes know.

You believe them? I ask.

Ninil shrugs. I’m not sure. I think I believe Radu, but I know he doesn’t speak for his entire people. From what I can understand, this council they want us to talk with does represent all the people. He spoke of someone called the Rajeena, or something like that. She’s the main leader of these people and the ultimate authority on what choices are made.

Then she’s the one we capture to get out, says Musa with a grin.

His overconfidence has brought him near to death enough times already that I had hoped he had learnt better.

Ninil ignores Musa’s comment. I think one of our biggest concerns is what they are running from. I’m not sure these people are the threat the many seers have predicted, I think that threat still follows them.

Does Radu still claim to know nothing of the damage their magic did to these lands? I ask.

Ninil shakes her head. He says he knows nothing of it. He says there was a massive working of magic which opened the Rainbow Bridge. It only took a day or so on their side, so he claims that what I tell him of the effects on our world are unlikely to be connected to the bridge made by his people.

Even though everything goes back to normal once they get here, snarls Musa.

Did you ask him again about the creatures created? I ask Ninil.

Yes, I described each of the ones we’ve seen and he claims they are not native to his realm. He has never heard of their type before, not even in stories. He also says there is no way they are connected to the events which drove them from their world.

We must know what they are running from, I say. If they will not share with us all they know about the threat that forced them to jump worlds, then they cannot be trusted. If they are not the threat prophesied, then they are its harbingers. They are one or the other. We must know everything about both or we cannot treat them as friends.

Agreed, echoes both Musa and Ninil.

We stop talking as a group of people draw near. It’s a crowd of about twenty children, chaperoned by two tall adults, one male, one female. We glare at the laughing chattering children as they point fingers at us and talk excitedly among each other.

So now we are a sightseeing attraction, growls Ninil.

For all her passive nature the giantess is roused to anger by the most intriguing things. As she stands, the children squeal and back off, but are held firm by the gentle coaxing of the adults. There is something strange about the children which I cannot quite place. Their excitement is natural, as you would expect from any child upon seeing a strange new animal. Yet still, there is something.

I study the faces, trying to identify what keeps niggling at the back of my mind. The adults seem to be of the Harmoniser caste, their faces serene with etched on smiles. The children are all clean, pink faced and exactly what you would expect from these pale skinned people. They all seem well behaved, and all equally normal. So what is it?

I creep forward, sniffing the air. They all reek of rot, as all these people do, but Ninil often smells like that as well. That just indicates their diet is strictly vegetarian so that is not odd in itself. The children talk excitedly among each other as I pace the front of the cage, scenting the air and glaring at them. In their minds I must look every bit the wild beast they want to see me as. They all smell alike.

Give them a scare Khari, Musa urges with amusement.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I look up into the face of Ninil. Steady Khari, they are just children, she urges.

Realising I’d lost myself for a moment in my investigation, I stop and grunt once to let her know I have heard and understood. I turn away and re-join Musa on the floor of the cage.

Ninil joins us as well and we sit quietly until the group moves on.

Ninil is first to resume our conversation. We have to get out of here. What are our options if this talk doesn’t go well?

Musa suggests, On the way back to the cage we grab weapons and run. If they get in our way we kill them fast and keep moving. Rania still has her stones so maybe she’ll help us as well.

I shrug. As good a plan as any.

Okay then, Ninil says as she stands. Let’s hope this meeting goes well, but if it doesn’t, let’s never come back to this cage.

I stand as well, looking out at the town being raised around us. In the seven days since these people have arrived they have pulled apart their sky huts to create buildings. Atop the hill where the lone tree once stood, there now stands a grand structure made from stone and tall white spires. From what I can tell it was pulled up from the earth by powerful elemental magic. What people would make a living structure purely out of magic? It made no sense to me. Using magic to aid in the physical construction of something makes sense, but you cannot manifest something purely out of magic and expect it to last. The moment the spell is broken the structure would disappear.

I don’t agree with Ninil. I don’t think the real threat is yet to arrive, I think these people are the real threat. I just need to work out how and why, then I can return and report my findings.

Diplomacy

Surrounded by a bristling ring of pikes we are herded through the streets between wooden buildings and other areas of construction. Gawking onlookers are cautioned by Radu to stay clear as he leads us, strutting like a peacock. Our journey is a short one, ending at a stepped stone basin ringed by twisting white stone pillars which seem to serve no purpose other than decorative. The entire basin is without a roof and open to the air.

We are led down the stepped sides of the basin to stand upon the floor. Directly opposite us is a grand chair made of the same white stone which has veins of gold, grey and pink running through it. Upon the throne sits a fine featured woman with golden hair and high cheek bones. I cannot judge the relative attractiveness of humans but I think this one would rate highly by Agharian standards if it were not for her skin which is such a pale white that it is almost translucent. She wears a loose fitting robe made of bright white fine cloth woven so thin that if it were held to the light you could see through it. Over that she wears a mantle of pale blue.

Surrounding the bleached bone woman are four warriors clad in metal armour and bearing shields. Their helms are plumed with pale blue hair and similar blue cloth drapes from points on their armour. They stand stoically unmoving, but I can see by the way their eyes assess every movement they are not simply for show. To one side of the woman is an old thin man with a moustache and long wispy beard on the point of his chin.

Arrayed around the circle and lounging upon the steps of stone are seven other women. All are garbed in fine cloth each of a differing colour, with variations of pale gold being the most common. Each is attended by one or two others who, judging by their manner and the way they either offer refreshments to their women or sit still trying not to draw notice, are obviously subservient. On the higher tiers is an audience from the Harmoniser caste. About a dozen warriors in full armour stand guard at the highest level. Outside the ring is a collection of common folk dotted with knots of more Harmonisers.

In the centre of the basin there is a design drawn in chalk. The design features many circles marked with solid dots. Some circles are traced with what I’m guessing to be text given the style of it, but if it is text the characters are alien to me, consisting primarily of lines and dots. From the central circle, lines radiate out to each of the eight women including the one upon the throne and the seven others on the lowest tier. They each sit within smaller sub-circles surrounded by more text. The attendants to the women seem to be carefully placed outside the sub-circles. There is another little satellite circle closer to the main circle, which is the position Radu has moved near to, so I assume he will be included.

Radu steps forward into his smaller circle and projects his voice, directing a small speech to all those present. In response to an answer from the woman on the throne, Radu directs us to enter the larger array of circles in the centre. Feeling more like herded animals than I am comfortable with, we move to comply.

Ninil enters the circle first, followed by me, then Musa. I don’t feel any magic at work, nor can I understand the conversation outside. Rania however stops. Noticing her hesitation Ninil urges her forward, but Rania signals ‘no’ with her fingers then drops her head forward, a veil of hair dropping to conceal her face.

One of the guards steps up to give Rania a gentle push towards the circle and Rania drops to her knees and sits upon her heels, refusing to move forward.

Leave her be, snarls Ninil at the guard who looks quite confused by this turn of events. Radu says something calmly to the guard and he steps back, leaving Rania where she is, just outside the circles. I cannot help but grin. Rania is such a delightful balance between passive and deadly. My people would be proud of her.

With all of us positioned, the old man beside the throne steps forward. Holding up a large piece of cut clear gemstone he begins to incant a spell, his voice a singsong of complex tones and inflections. My stomach lurches and I feel myself grow dizzy. It isn’t until I feel Ninil’s hand tightly grip my shoulder that I realise I am about to pass out.

You okay? asks Ninil with concern.

I steady myself. I didn’t take into account how powerful this translation spell was going to be and I can feel its power clashing with the magic I already have wrapped around me. I’ve placed myself on dangerous ground, and now I’’m even more at risk of revealing my true nature. I focus, trying to hold myself together.

I take a few steady breaths before I speak. I’m okay Ninil. Just caught me off guard I guess. I do my best to give her a reassuring smile which she seems to believe as she lets me go and returns her attention to the larger situation.

Radu begins to speak in his clear commanding voice. Each word he speaks evokes a flurry of images. It takes me a little time to piece it together, but I can recognise the meaning of each word by the associated images. As he introduces Ninil, I see Ninil’s image enter my mind. Then I see my own scarred mask at the mention of my name. By the time he has done with introductions I have learnt to relax and not try to over interpret each image. By letting the images flow through my mind I find I can more easily draw meaning by simply accepting the initial interpretation. Unfortunately by the time I have the hang of the process, the introductions are done. Given Radu introduced his own people first, I really have no idea who they are.

The woman upon the throne speaks. Welcome. I have been looking forward to this first contact with the people of this new land. Her fine bones and lyrical voice reminds me of a songbird.

Ninil steps forward saying, Thank you Amirã-mar Marilena. I’m glad we can finally talk as civilised people.

I notice the slight barb in Ninil’s voice when she says ‘civilised’, but if it is noticed by the others I cannot read it in them. I can tell by the images in my head that ‘Amirã-mar’ is a title of sorts. ‘Amirã’ summons visions of elders or teachers, while ‘Mar’ elevates the images to particular people that were exceptional guides in my life. For now I keep silent and focus on keeping my thoughts on the words as I observe the others.

I’m sorry for the treatment you have received so far, says Marilena. There has been much chaos, as I’m sure you understand. You have not been treated well and I promise this maltreatment stops today.

Musa snarls, So if we don’t say the right things now you have us killed. That what you saying?

A few of the others look stricken, but the woman upon the throne smiles gently saying, No, I’m sorry you have gained that impression from your treatment so far. It is my hope we might find some common ground between us today, and in so doing help both our people. If you choose not to work with us, then as of today you will be escorted to the edge of our encampment and allowed to go your own way. Unless you pose some immediate threat that offers no alternative, I can assure you you will not be put to death.

Thank you, says Ninil. I do hope we can be friends, but there are questions we need answered before we can have any trust between us and our captors.

I understand, says Marilena. We have questions of our own. However, before we get to that I just want to offer you my most sincere thanks. I have been told you aided people wounded when one of our contrarândunică crashed.

The word contrarândunică summons up images of the sky huts we saw descend the Rainbow Bridge, yet the images include references to the coracles I’d seen used by the people on the Lake of the Moon. It suggested to me the sky huts were craft made for travelling the sky like a coracle might travel the water.

Marilena continues, Without your aid many others would have died. As reward for your services you have been treated terribly. You must think us monstrous people for the injustice we have inflicted upon you so far.

Much to my surprise Ninil’s only answer is a firm, Yes.

The woman’s warm smile does not falter, though Ninil’s response does seem to send a ripple of disapproval through the watching crowd.

In the least I owe you a boon, says the woman. But before we get to that, let’s share with each other some things about ourselves.

You first, says Ninil, her tone still firm.

Of course. We are refugees. Our people were under threat from an outside power and in order to save my people I approved the opening of a bridge to another world. Your world. We come here seeking peace and a place to live without fear. We want only enough land to build houses and to farm. In return for this space we will trade fairly with the current residents."

What makes you think you have anything worth trading? asks Musa in a confrontational tone.

That is something I was hoping you could help us with. We know nothing of what your people do and do not like, however I have heard we might have certain technologies which may be of benefit to your people. We believe all wisdom should be shared, so we will freely share our knowledge with any people willing to share with us.

What happens with those who are not willing to share, asks Ninil.

Marilena saddens a little at the suggestion, but her smile remains. Your people are the rightful settlers of these lands. We will not seek trouble with anyone who does not trouble us. If we are unwelcome, we will simply move on until we find lands where we can create a safe home.

That’s sounds very reasonable, suggests Ninil, however your presence has already caused a great deal of discord and driven many people from their ancestral homes.

Marilena finally loses the smile and her eyes show concern as she sits forward a little more on her throne. I had heard there were troubles. Please, tell me what you know.

Your bridge caused a rip in the magic of this land, Ninil begins. Your bridge caused considerable instability which led to the summoning of violent creatures and the shattering of the natural order of things. Many tribes fled, trying to distance themselves from the magical tempest your bridge created.

For how long did this happen? asks Marilena.

We did not get here immediately, so I cannot be sure. But I think it has been at least three or four complete changes of the moon.

Which moon? Her question draws an immediate response from the old man in purple. Oh, I see, says Marilena. My Steaolector suggests a full turning of your moon is around 22 days. Is that correct? The term Steaolector seems to conjure images of a watcher of stars to mind.

Ninil gives it some thought. Yes, that would be about right.

What’s that mean? asks Musa. Being innumerate he wouldn’t have understood the references to numbers.

Ninil tries to explain. She’s trying to work out how many days their magic threatened people here.

Musa grunts then remains silent. I think he’s feeling somewhat out of his depth.

With concern Marilena says, We created the bridge swiftly, as an act of last minute desperation. The ritual took less than a day. I don’t understand how it can have affected your people for so long.

The old man begins to speak. He’s saying a lot, but as he isn’t within one of the satellite circles his words are meaningless to me. Whatever is being said, it’s also causing a buzz in the onlookers who seem to be growing anxious. Ninil seems equally perplexed by being left out. To Radu she says, Radu, translation please.

Radu looks first to Marilena, but at a subtle nod from her he speaks. Steaolector Stelian is suggesting that your world is of a lower vibrational state, and thus the magic might have had a more drastic effect here than we could have anticipated. He is suggesting that if his theory is correct, it could result in a loss of power in the magical conditions we are accustomed to.

One of the women on the lower tier speaks. If Stelian is correct, that might mean the construction of the palace needs to be adjusted to compensate for the deficiency.

Marilena holds up a hand and everyone falls silent, including the audience. We shall investigate the issue further and make the necessary adjustments. If we are responsible for visiting harm upon the people of this world we will make restitution where we can. Let us focus more on what we can deal with immediately.

Such as explaining what it is you were running from, says Ninil in a matter of fact tone.

Marilena looks uncomfortable. It is a great shame to us, but there was a rot developing in our people. We had welcomed another people to join us, but their teachings proved incompatible with the society we had established. It began to cause a great deal of chaos and strife, which led to a resurgence in a concept we had not experienced for centuries; war. Do you know what I mean by war?

It might be an obscure concept to these people, but for my companions and I, the definition of the word immediately summoned clear images to mind. We all nod so she continues.

I could not allow the people of Lyra to fall back into chaos. Gathering those whose minds were still free, we formed a defensive barrier spell, then mobilised to flee our lands. We are the remnants of the seven cities we were able to save.

How many could not be saved? asks Ninil.

Marilena looks heartbroken as she answers, and I suspect she is near to tears. Countless. There were twenty-two city states in all, and we are maybe ten percent of the seven we were able to save. We come here broken but pure. Each of us devoted to maintaining the peace and serenity which forms the foundation of our culture.

It

Reviews for Khari's Tale

[Kaly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story continues from where the first book left off but it's a novel idea to tell the story through another character's eyes. I didn't like Khari that much from the first book, but after this book I have a much deeper appreciation for him. You could say this book is really about cultural issues, which at times is a little dry, but it all adds up to a complex and engaging plot. There are some shocking surprises which are really well written. Knowing the style of the author now, I'm really looking forward to the third book as Rania is one of my favorite characters.