The Past always has something to say.
Stories, fables and tales often carry echoes of heroic deeds or tragic misfortunes, preserving the legacy of an ancestry, lineage or bloodline.
Hilal gathered the people of Gairo under the night sky, the stars shimmering above, to speak to them about their ancestral lineage. This was a tradition among the "Red Men." A week after a new leader was enskinned, he would gather the members around a bonfire and recount the origins of their race and events which led to their current state. The tradition was done to assert and underpin the leader's rightful authority, reinforced by his knowledge about their past.
He spoke...
There was once a time when a select few among the abundant humans were revered asabove all.The lesser humans at the time referred to them as "Red Men," due to the deep redness of their skin. They were giants—not just in stature, but in power. Their physical, mental, ocular, and energy-based manipulation were unmatched.
At one point, they were just strong giants, formidable yet not extraordinary. Everything changed when one of them, Dowager, while farming, discovered an unfamiliar liquid flowing from the northern part of his farm. It glowed bright yellow. Curious, and fortunate to have a container nearby, he filled it up, sealed it and brought it home.
For a while, Dowager forgot about it. He didn't really think about it much—for old age gnawed at his memories. He left it at home and went about his normal day-to-day activities.
One day, his son, Gawian, while his mother was attending to the laundry outside, he picked the bottle up. Mistaking it for one of the exotic juices his father usually brought home, he drank a quarter of it before realising it was something different. Startled by its unfamiliar taste, he corked it and set it aside—unaware of the transformation taking place inside him.
A month later, he began to exhibit overwhelming physical prowess—greater than any of the giants before him. With a blow, he could crack mountains, carve paths through forests and split the earth beneath his feet. But even those weren't the mesmerizing things.
His eyes changed.
He awakened the Dominion Eye—an ocular prowess that granted him control over anything within his line of sight. To sum it all up, his actions were unfathomable at the time.
As Hilal continued, the people leaned in. What had started as history began to sound like a tale. A fine story. A forgotten truth. Something which was once reality.
For a brief moment, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"He was so lucky..." someone murmured. "No—he was chosen," another replied, a hint of awe in his eyes.
"I wish it was me."
"I bet he got all the ladies." Some laughed.
Laughter stirred, light and fleeting, until a voice cut through the crowd.
"I will find it."
Everyone paused. Heads turned toward the speaker. Then came laughter—louder than before, mocking.
"You won't find anything."
"It's just a tale now."
"You? Don't kid yourself."
But the boy didn't pull back. He met their scorn with quiet resolve. Hilal's gaze rested on him, noting the fire in his eyes. A determined boy.
He smiled, a thought stirring within: there are those who will still believe.
The fire crackled. Their shadows danced across the ground.
Hilal resumed.
Neither his father nor mother knew about his growing power. In truth, neither did he.
Months turned into years. Years into decades. Slowly, the original giant race began mutating.
They became something more—pure bloods. As to why purebloods? Well, that was because the new race saw themselves as the embodiment of what the giant race should symbolise. Each one with enhanced abilities, though rarely were any two abilities identical. Their appearance began to vary as well, in terms of being gigantic.
But with power came fear. To the lesser humans, the Red Men weren't protectors, or quiet travelers, they were a looming threat. Though they also had abilities which they were born with, it paled in comparison. In the end, they submitted to the Red Men's rule.
There is a saying which goes "Power attracts power."
The arrogance of the Red Men and their sheer force—called forth the wrath of the celestials.
Their unchecked power threatened the balance of creation. Imagine being so strong that it draws the attention of those who forged not just this world—but countless others beyond.
"Wow!"
The world was thrown into chaos. Some also say it was the Red Men who challenged the celestials of their own accord.
Irrespective of how it began, a clash erupted. One which would go as far as to reshape the world. Due to celestial presence in the human realm, their abilities and energies also improved.
In the end, despite their might, the Red Men were crushed. Scattered. Broken. A few purebloods who survived the onslaught retreated and relocated. As time passed, the purebloods also intermarried among the lesser humans, creating a new lineage—diluted bloods.
Though still strong, they were but a shadow of the purebloods. Their strength continued to fade with each generation. But it reached a balance at some point.
The humans, still bitter from their former subjugation, began to hunt the Red Men. They were persecuted. Driven into hiding.
Hilal exhaled. "We who are here today... we are the descendants of those mighty ancestors. This land, Gairo, is where most our ancestors who lacked the power at the time to face the humans who had grown stronger, retreated to.
The balance of power shifted again and again over decades. Sometimes the Red Men were stronger. Other times, the humans. But now, all that belongs to the past. It is even referred to as the "Forgotten Era" in the history books and among the lesser humans.
In the current era, Gairo is a major trading center close to the northern coast of the Qwelqia Empire, known for it's richness in gold and salt. Though it thrives commercially, surrounded by mountains and forests, it remains isolated. No villages or towns lie nearby. Too many Red Men live here. And even though they show no hostility, fear keeps others away.
Still, humans live in Gairo. Merchants, travelers, and those bound by marriage. It was always bustling and lively.
Until...