Tritan's Journey: The Challenge

By K. G. Bell

Tritans Journey is a fictional story set in the realm of imagination. It highlights the major conflicts between good and evil, expressing with profoundness the violence and debauchery that have engulfed civilizations past and present.

This book attempts to define the relationship between gods and mortals, telling the story of pride, greed and power that spark vicious wars: and shows the agony, dismay, confusion, and heroism that embrace warriors caught up in the fires of war and politics and decadence.
Tritan is a tool of the gods and the conscience of mortals, springing from the abyss of confusion in the realm to champion the cause of "right." He will dispel turmoil and bring peace to all the battlefields of the realm.

From the far kingdom of imagination, this illustrious demigod must rise up to face all challenges and erase the frailties of the realm, and take command of a mortal world, galloping high and low to keep the light of hope shining.

Tritans Journey is a grand adventure into the world of imagination, which attempts to enlarge our experiences, extend our sympathies, and deepen our understanding to make us more complete.

The plots are laden with dangers, mystery, and conflict. And the characters lead us breathlessly and surprisingly towards new questions and answers revealing many truths about life and ourselves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 7, 2001
• ISBN: 9781462830121

K. G. Bell

K.G. Bell is an educationist, US Army Veteran (Paratrooper), Writer and Poet who has explored many cultures to engage the truth and beauty expressed in the styles, substance, and passion of poetry. His inspirational insights have forced him to examine the social, historical, and spiritual behaviors of different peoples within the conditions of humanity. Mr. Bell believes that humanity should continuously strive to be better always rising to that higher realm. This belief is profoundly noted in his poetry that creatively displays a magical seriousness. His poems stir the imagination of his readers, taking them along a fantastic journey of curiosity that they may embrace diversity with peaceful hearts, and enter that divine awakening.

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Tritan’s Journey

The Challenge

K.G. Bell

Copyright © 2001 by K.G. Bell.

Library of Congress Number: 2001117503

ISBN #: Softcover 1-4010-1612-X

eBook 9781462830121

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-7-XLIBRIS

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

FOREWORD

AUTHOR’S NOTE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

This novel is dedicated to

Eutilda, Terry, Beth, Ruby, Jerry, Velma, Cleo, Sulan, Lola, Tony, J. R. Godfrey, Sam Vance, Oscar, Mike Walker, Cecil, Michelle, Nicky, Sean, Greg Marfan

Thanks to the many friends whose creative support made this work possible.

FOREWORD

The story of Tritan is set in a mixture of Greek and Viking myth, in which a son of right comes to cleanse the elements of all its evils.

Tritan, son of the great god, Zepo, lived in Tertus like all other mortals of that realm. His task was to be a fair judge, warlord-protector of Tertus, and to make all things better for The Tertans.

He would wage battles against the evil kingdoms of Sordicum to protect the freedoms of all the mortals in Tertus. He would help to secure the chosen that their spirits might cross safely over the bridge of death into Magnes—a place where Tertan heroes found eternal life.

Tritan was sent by his father Zepo to create a new age of light and hope. He was dedicated to creating an era of grand possibilities. Like Pluto, he was the giver of wealth and sustenance.

The story expresses that at intervals throughout time certain god-like personages appeared among the mortals, teaching new ideas, hoping to clean the poisons from their hearts. They were like trumpets of the gods with their voices heard far and wide. Tritan was such a personage who came to make an indelible, positive impact upon conditions in Tertus and change forever the Oblivian Realm.

This world needed a new dawn for it was in constant strife. Kingdoms raged against kingdoms and had fallen beneath the

umbrella of Evil. Sordicum treachery and sorcery threatened to engulf all of Oblivia. Tritan, with his sacred ring and sword of light was sent to bring salvation.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Tritan’s Journey is a fictional story set in the realm J. of imagination. It highlights the major conflicts between good and evil, expressing with profoundness the violence and debauchery that have engulfed civilizations past and present.

This book attempts to define the relationship between gods and mortals, telling the story of pride, greed and power that spark vicious wars: and shows the agony, dismay, confusion, and heroism that embrace warriors caught up in the fires of war and politics and decadence.

Tritan is a tool of the gods and the conscience of mortals, springing from the abyss of confusion in the realm to champion the cause of right. He will dispel turmoil and bring peace to all the battlefields of the realm.

From the far kingdom of imagination, this illustrious demigod must rise up to face all challenges and erase the frailties of the realm, and take command of a mortal world, galloping high and low to keep the light of hope shining.

Tritan’s Journey is a grand adventure into the world of imagination, which attempts to enlarge our experiences, extend our sympathies, and deepen our understanding to make us more complete.

The plots are laden with dangers, mystery, and conflict. And the characters lead us breathlessly and surprisingly towards new questions and answers revealing many truths about life and ourselves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In this book Mr. Bell attempts to merge his talents as poet, historian, and dramatist to tell a fantastic story of supernatural grandeur. The story provides pleasure, pain, and insight, staging events and actions that sometimes seem to defy logic, yet become probable and believable.

This Trinidad-born writer, teacher, ex-paratrooper: US Army, and lover of the Classical Age has designed a story with patterns and incidents that envelop his readers and bring wonder to his fantasy.

He brings vividness to this story by making his characters vibrant and convincing.

Chapter 1

T

he New Dawn

The World of Tritan, a place called Oblivia, was situated far beyond the clouds. It comprised many stars and the Great Sun. It was a place of gods, demigods, mortals, and beasts. It was a world of mountains and valleys and savannas and brooks and rivers and oceans. It was a world of the Sun Temple, of sorcery, of high priests and priestesses, of heroes, of peasants, and of greed. It was a world of dragon-worship and blood sacrifices and great suffering. It was also a world of glorious deeds, great wars, bloodshed and exultation.

This world, divided into four parts, was circular in form with the great Sun Temple at the center. From the Sun Temple, each part drew its power and energy to keep it alive. The first part of Oblivia, called Oblivium was a great, magnificent place with many shining cities. In this place lived the gods and demigods. The greatest of the gods lived in a brilliantly lit palace in a beautiful, golden city upon the Zepo Mountain. There, all the decisions concerning the lives of mortals were made.

The second part of Oblivia, called Magnes, was a place not so grand as Oblivium; yet, it was beautiful. Here lived all mortals favored by the gods. There, demigods were made of mortals favored by the gods. Demigods were made when these chosen mortals survived the testing period. In this place lived also the

Horsemen who dwelled in four great cities surrounded by great walls. These cities were off-limits to all mortals. The Horsemen were servants of the gods who represented the conscience and decisions of mortal men.

The third part, a place called Sordicum, was a dark, evil place across the great River of Doom. There dwelled all manner of evil beasts, mortals and demigods who were expelled from Oblivium. This was the world of sorcerers, tyrants, harlots, and murderers.

The fourth part was called Tertus, where mortals were born. There they lived, suffered, and died. Tertus was a kind of clearinghouse for the other three sections of Oblivia. The powerful forces of the other three sections competed for the souls of the inhabitants of Tertus to populate their respective sections or kingdoms. Tertus was a place of indecision, confusion, misery, destruction, and disease. Everything was imperfect there. The wise and powerful lived off the sweat of the foolish and the weak. Slavery was part of the natural order. Tertus was ruled by certain demigods who were sent every five hundred lunars to keep order. After their period of reign, these demigods would vacate Tertus by way of death, just like a mortal. Since the Horsemen rotated their control of Tertus every five hundred years, the manner of rule imposed upon Tertus would depend upon which Horseman was in charge at the time.

Tertus was a place of six small kingdoms; some were good, some evil, some rich, some poor. The demigods who ruled lived in constant strife with each other. They, too, were competing for the favors of the great god on Mt. Zepo. The mortals were the pawns in the conflicts of the gods. Their destinies were decided by the mischief of the gods. Some peasant mortals were enslaved in the fields to grow food, which they placed in large storehouses as food for the Oblivian gods. These peasants endured much in the hope that they would be granted the favor of living a greater life in Magnes after their Tertan death, but unfortunately, that type of fortune was only preserved for the chosen. The unchosen mortals in Tertus would be burned after their first death and their ashes scattered into the element to refuel the energy of the Sun Temple.

Life, which began in Oblivium, took on its mortal form in Tertus, its mystical form in Sordicum and its god-like form in Magnes. The lives of chosen mortals underwent two deaths before they reached Magnes. During this period, life was in a constant testing stage, being fortified and prepared for its existence on Magnes.

There was a great river, which flowed through Oblivia. It took on a different name and character as it flowed through the four sections along its cyclic watery journey.

In Oblivium, this river was called the River of Perpetuality; in Tertus, it was called the River of Life; in Sordicum, the River of Doom; and in Magnes, it was called the River of Hope.

The waters of this river sustained all manner of existence in every section of Oblivia. All mortals were free to use the water of the River of Life; however, a special section of the river named Univa was reserved for the chosen only.

Those who were granted the privilege to drink of and bathe in the waters of Univa were destined to a life of greatness and fortune. Univa was guarded by soldiers of the Horsemen who kept a detailed list of all the chosen. In Sordicum, the River of Doom willingly accepted all the rejection and waste that flowed down from the River of Life. That waste and filth was the matter upon which all the beings of Sordicum survived. What was poison in Tertus was food in Sordicum, and so the waters were purified before they reached Magnes to become the River of Hope.

In Magnes, raw materials were drawn from the river and forged into armaments and tools. The waters were then immortalized in the Sun Temple, then cast to the elements in ritual form from which the Oblivian Gods would gather what they needed, then recycle the rest into the River of Life.

All designs for palaces, temples, chariots, armaments, tools, and pottery were developed in Oblivium, then constructed by the inhabitants of Magnes for use throughout Oblivia, except Sordicum.

Since Sordicum was always denied these benefits, its warlike inhabitants would occasionally invade Tertus or Magnes to steal articles and materials for their evil purposes. Sordicum was always in rebellion with Oblivium, seeking to destroy the natural order of Oblivia.

The Great God on Mt. Zepo who had the power to destroy Sordicum allowed it to exist since it purified all the vileness that existed in Oblivian life. It was the dumping ground of Oblivia, a cesspool, the stench of which caused many mortal deaths when its winds blew over Tertus. However, this haven of doom would someday light the fires that would corrupt and inflame most of Oblivia.

The Great God knew this and sought to prevent it by developing a plan. This plan called for him to impregnate a mortal woman of chosen stock that she might bring forth a son who would rise up and destroy Sordicum after developing other means of purifying Oblivia.

The woman chosen for this task was Malta, a student priestess of the Sun Temple. She was a woman pure and clean who had the respect of both gods and mortals. She lived within the City of Fire—a city of the very wise and the most chosen. This city was circular in form and situated within a five-mile radius of the Sun Temple.

The son born from this plan would be Tritan. This son would be reared under the guidance of the Horsemen. He would live like a mortal but would be protected by the gods. His knowledge and wisdom would encompass every element of Oblivian existence. His strength would surpass that of a demigod. His youth and beauty would be everlasting. The destiny of this child was to defend the liberties of oppressed minorities, to save Oblivia from ensuing misery, disease, fear and evil, to destroy Sordicum using positive violence, and to eventually rule all the Oblivian realm except Mt. Zepo.

The City of Fire was a magnificent place of bronze and gold, beautiful men and women that all seemed to possess a sacred strength. It encompassed the most powerful personalities from the four great kingdoms of Oblivia. A great wall made of bronze and gold encircled it. Upon this wall, ten thousand torches burned perpetually, giving the City of Fire its name. Huge gates opened at sunrise and closed at sunset in the four sections of the city to allow people to go in and out. Strict order kept the city population within the borders of their own kingdoms.

People entered the City of Fire to meet and converse with others of equal status. While in the city, they could also offer sacrifices and pray to the gods for wisdom, fortune, and strength. In the marketplaces of the city, one could purchase the best food, the best clothing, the best medicine, the best furniture, the best chariots, and the best armor.

The city also contained great indoor and outdoor baths that were watered by tributaries of the great river. These baths presented a kind of pensive relaxation for the visitors. The city had its own entertainment every lunar or three hundred days. There was dancing, feasting, frolic, and theatre, with main events of athletic feats, chariot races, and gladiatorial games. Boxers, wrestlers, jugglers, and magicians also commanded large audiences at these games. Violence was absent from these games, most unlike the games in other parts of Oblivia. Huge money prizes would be awarded to the winners and performers at these games. The common money used in Oblivia was the Gliten; however, bartering was more common than money transactions.

Within the city, all the lords and ladies were dramatically dressed in the colors of their kingdoms. Both male and female were scantily dressed, since nakedness was regarded as sacred. However, the loin areas were covered with garments made of metal or animal skins. The men wore helmets of gold or bronze, with shin pads, armbands, and wrist bands of like metals. The younger men rode in richly laid chariots drawn by finely decorated horses while the older men and women were carried about in litters. The women wore metallic headbands, golden jewelry, and breast-cups. In the modern world, this type of attire would be considered as sordidly extravagant, but in the City of Fire, this was regarded as sacred, fashionable, acceptable, and respectable.

The Sun Temple, situated in the center of the City of Fire, was rectangular in shape with a splendid yard adorned with magnificent gardens. At each end of this awesomely beautiful yard were pyramids with grand stairways to their summits. Each summit had a plateau and an altar where ceremonial sacrifices were performed. There, each kingdom carried out its respective manner of worship. Only priests, priestesses, students, and certain selected mortals of noble birth were allowed into the Sun Temple.

Within the Sun Temple, plants, food, and animals would be offered to the gods. Visitors would also perform the serpent ritual and walk through the sacred flame, which burned perpetually in the center of the temple.

The serpent ritual was performed with dreadful abhorrence. The priestesses would strip themselves naked and lie in a circle upon a great marble platform, their eyes and vital nakedness looking up to the sun. Then the priests would burn incense and release deadly serpents from cages upon them. These serpents would wind their way, for hours, about the unshaken, trancelike, voluptuous bodies. Priestesses that were often bitten to death were considered as gifts to the gods. Those who survived the serpents’ aimless crawl would arise in the trance-like state and reveal omens. While the priests chanted from behind golden masks, the priestesses would fall into a lascivious ritual dance. Their suggestive movements invited the priests to take them, which they did, not for pleasure but to honor the gods. When this divine orgy was over, the high priestess would call out to the Oblivian gods saying, «Oh Gods of Oblivia, givers of life and fortune, you who nourish our strength, command fate to keep the glorious light upon us. Grant us wisdom to see our destiny.» These devoted