The galaxy
The galaxy, Deagra, has been fully colonized to create an expansive space network, connecting millions of solar systems. At the center of Deagra is the massive star which serves as the primary sun that the solar system containing Rentux orbits around. The sun, named Dea, is said to be magically bright because, for all the light it gives off, anyone can look on it without discomfort. This has allowed the planets orbiting closest to Dea [Cardegon, Yonsu, and Hragit] to notice a peculiar cluster of three smaller sun-like objects bunched orbiting around it in extreme proximity. Much speculation has been made by inhabitants of Deagra as to the purpose of these newly discovered objects, but no one has ever returned from a journey to explore Dea or the cluster, known as the Finnos.
Serving as a nerve center, the massive space station Nordawn is located in the expanse between Rentux and the other four planets that revolve around Dea. Created in (approx.) 4500, this station serves as a major hub of commerce between the various races in the solar system, and one of many locations connected to other galaxies across the universe, through the network known as STAIC (Sustained Truce and Active Interstellar Communication). Through this network, peaceful communication and coordination can be achieved across several light years to ensure honest trade, exploration, and civilization. Nordawn, like other STAIC space stations, is controlled by a Board of Ensurers. This board is composed of 9 members, each being elevated members of society within the solar system. To hold this position, one must be voted in unanimously by the other members. At the start of the first book, STAIC communications have begun to mysteriously break down between the different galaxies, leaving Deagra to wonder about the implications and consequences.
Rentux, the planet on which the story will primarily take place, is found on the outer bounds of the solar system. Technically, the solar system is a binary solar system because although Rentux orbits Dea, it also more closely orbits another smaller sun known as Cha-Dea, which in turn slowly orbits the much larger Dea. The distance from Rentux to Dea is significantly far so there is not much space travel from the other planets in the solar system, leaving Rentux sorely underrepresented at Nordawn. This will be the backdrop for some of the political intrigue that will drive the story. Rentux is a world unto itself, proud to be separated from the frenzied nature of space travel and politics in order to better appreciate their scenic homeworld.
The planet
On Rentux, many Rentu still devoutly follow and worship the Ashan gods. The Ashan are depicted as sea creatures closely resembling turtles (although there are no such thing as ‘turtles’ on the planet) that vary in size. The legend goes that the Ashan created the planet and created man to protect the planet. Rentux is very small in size and contains only one continent (90 percent of the planet is covered by water). This massive ocean is known simply as The Open and is sacred to the Rentu and their religion. In the northwest corner of Rentu’s sole landmass is the area known as the Occem Realm. Serving as the primary landmark in the Occem Realm is the Occem Shrine, where the king (known as the maggra) and his family reside.
Maggras to the Occem Shrine are said to be the sole prophets to the Rentux gods, the Ashan. As Maggra, one strives to preserve the sanctity of Rentux and relates any prophecies the Ashan make. In order to hear such prophecies, the Maggra must swim out into The Open (the massive sea covering 90 percent of Rentux) and down into the heart of the planet to hear the Ashan’s prophecy. This impossibly far journey can only be achieved by one deemed worthy as Maggra. It is said that a true Rentu can never drown in The Open and only a proper Maggra can survive the descent underwater to listen to the Ashan. It is also said that the Ashan will not sing until the rightful Maggra is in control, because only then will the prophecy reach the ears across the galaxy.
When our story opens in the year 6802, tt has been thousands of years since a Maggra had to make the journey out into The Open for a prophecy, because legend states it must only be done when the Ashan sing a song heard by the whole planet. Legend passes on many stories of Ashan and the prophecies they’ve made but no one in recent times have laid eyes on the magical creatures, leading many to dispute their existence.
The characters
Calster Res - Currently serving as Maggra of the Occem Shrine. Calster Res descends from a long line of Maggras and the Res family has been in control of the Occem Realm for hundreds of years. When our story begins, Calster is 88 years of age, an old yet strong willed man. He is married to a woman from the southern Seabawn Islands named Yvonne and they have four children together. At the start of the first book, a rebellion has been ignited by Calster’s former best friend, Liis Oclen. Liis has spent his life questioning the existence of the Ashan and has spent years swimming The Open in search of proof. Since Rentu can never drown (due to their genetic make-up being the perfect mixture of organic elements and the magical element only found in the solar system near Dea known as ronydale, which give many things in the system their magic elements [the magic sea, sea gods, other planets as well]) Liis searched endlessly to no avail. He considers this grounds enough to destroy the Occem Shrine and seize power over Rentux. Calster and Liis were once inseparable friends who studied together at the Oceem Shrine in their youth. Calster, due to his family heritage, took to the Shrine and flourished in the studies all under the guarantee that he would one day become Maggra once his father perished. Liis was sent to the Shrine at a young age by his family hoping to bring meaning into the already troubled boy’s life. He and Calster bonded and challenged each other in a healthy way as they grew up together. Upon hearing the news that his father drowned after claiming to hear an Ashan song in the air, Liis Oclen became reclusive and began his slow descent of becoming an unbeliever.
Creks ‘Swimfist’ Res - Brother to Maggra Calster. Nicknamed “Swimfist” for his prowess in Open Feuding (a physical sport very popular on Rentux that involves battling in The Open). Calster and Creks maintain a great brotherly relationship and even married sisters. Calster wedded Yvonne Anoteim (a native Rentu, born in the southern region known as the Seabawn Islands) and Creks wedded her older sister Dot, named after a massive mole on her chest that changes color depending on her mood. They have one child together, a boy named Caspin who disappeared when he was 8, six years prior to the start of the first book. Creks lives near the Occem Shrine in the Occem Realm but stays out of religious concerns. Early in the first book, Creks is asked by a Nordawn diplomat named Hargus Manoch to accompany him to the space network to delve deep into the mystery surrounding the diminishing connection with other solar systems. Creks is a burly man, in stark contrast to his smaller yet older brother. Despite their differences, the two are renowned for the innate ability to work together in almost perfect unison.
Conne Res - Only daughter to Maggra Calster. She is considered beautiful by anyone who sees her and has caused many issues with the young men around the Occem Shrine. In her youth, Conne was notorious for finding herself in dramatic situations. At 14, she tricked two boys into fulfilling every command she gave them. The two were named Oyk and Nomar. Yvonne caught her daughter making the two boys do her daily duties around the Shrine and she was scolded for it. However, at 16, she continued this practice of giving the same two boys, her age now, orders. They were basically like her loyal servants except she would tease them romantically to get them to do her bidding. This went on for a year before she started developing feelings for both Oyk and Nomar. She was caught lying with both of them by a sage in the Occem Shrine and Maggra Calster wanted to kill both of them for rape. Conne pleaded for him to spare their lives but he made her choose which one would die. She eventually chose Nomar over Oyk, and Nomar was beheaded and Oyk was banished from the Occem Realm. Conne was devastated and took a vow of silence and served quietly in the Occem Shrine until she was 20. Around that time, she told her parents she was moving to Mystawn, a smaller shrine in the south that borders a weird gulf that is constantly filled with fog, in order to continue her spiritual studies. However, at the start of the first book, it’s discovered Conne lied in order to escape the brutal control of her father and plans on finding Oyk.
Hargus Manoch - Diplomat from Nordawn. He wasn’t born on Rentux but he has Rentu blood in his veins, or at least he likes to claim so. He is a tall, bald man who is considered very clever by all of his peers. He is one of the few diplomats who still deals with Rentux, because most politicians consider the small blue planet a non threat to their activities closer to Dea. Hargus’ main mission though is to bring the Swimfist to Nordawn in order to help him combat the evil brewing in that space station. His loyalty is only to himself and he bears a fond kinship with Swimfist. He seeks to expose Brimo Markshot’s plan to seize power from the council that has maintained peace between the five planets.
Dot Res - Wife of Creks. A beautiful woman who has a massive mole on her chest that changes colors, seemingly with her moods. However, she knows this not to be the case as she has very vivid dreams which give her clues as to what the colors mean, but she doesn’t share this information with anyone else She’s still very troubled by the appearance of it and usually hides it, paying no attention to its color. But, in the book, the night before Creks leaves she has a dream all in a deep shade of purple in which she foresees Liis’ attack on the shrine, which starts as the Swimfist takes off with Hargus. After this event, she knows something stronger is happening in her body than she realizes. Eventually, she goes on a search for her missing son Caspin. She’s long considered him dead, but a dream causes her to journey out. She is the key to saving the universe. Only by bringing Dot to the Finnos will the eternal fire be able to expand and reignite the universe.
Edun Res - Youngest son of Maggra Calster. A boy of 11 with an adventurous spirit, he enjoys reading the history of the Occem Shrine and prides himself of his encyclopedic knowledge of many subjects. His older brothers, Chey (20) and Crayk (15), are staunch supporters of their brother, as is the Res way due to the historic record of strong brotherly bonds within the family line. This proves difficult at times as Chey tends to be overly emotional and dramatic and Crayk tends to mimic his behavior. Edun was close friends with his cousin Caspin and was devastated when he went missing. This event ignited his introverted personality and caused the rift between him and his uncle Creks, as Edun resents the fact that his uncle has given up looking for Caspin. Edun also extends his anger toward the sport Open Feuding, claiming that The Open is a holy space and should not be played in. Edun is one of the few Rentu who don’t know how to swim. Despite this fact, Edun does spend a fair amount of his free time out on the Ashanalan, the stone pillars scattered throughout the Ashout, the bay connected to the Occem Shrine.
The history
Year Zero - Unsun Res - builder of the Occem Shrine, known as the Firstman. Legend has it that Unsun Res was born out of the water (The Open) and taught the ways of life by the Ashan during the thousand year span it took him to construct the Occem Shrine. He was married to Adina Res, known as the Firstwoman. Legend also has it that Adina sprung from underwater a few days after Unsun surfaced. The story goes that Unsun was single-handedly working under instruction of the Ashan to construct the Occem Shrine (a feat that would take one man thousand of years to complete) because it is what the planet demanded. The Ashan would sing as he worked, speeding up time and lessening the stress Unsun would have been subjected to. At five different moments during this process (the length of which is continually disputed) streaks of lightning struck areas around the shrine, causing gigantic spires of water to reach up into the sky. The spires hardened to multi-colored glass and remained touching the clouds. These spires are known as the Reachings of the Soul (all individually named for their appearance) and can be found present day in their respective locations around the Shrine.
Each of these spires have since been given a name, each named in the style of one of Unsun and Adina’s five sons, and have adapted uniquely throughout the centuries:
Hasto - color of garnet in the middle, black at the base and crimson near the tip. Known socially as the haunted spire, frequented by dark art fanatics for their rituals. The Shrine does not condone this type of activity, but don’t do much to disperse the gatherers. No one in recorded history has seen the top of the spire, so no one knows how tall it is. From space, the spire is obscured by storm clouds that never disperse.
Ryabo - color of ice white all throughout. Easily the skinniest spire, but some speculate that it used to be the biggest spire but has slowly melted over time. Recently, holes have formed in certain spots on the spire, causing it to whistle when the wind blows through it.
Berra - color of gold, swirled with blood orange and patches of amber. The spire is sticky to the touch and emits by far the best aroma on the planet. Sometimes called the Sweet Soul. Many have tasted it and the lore goes that the taste drives people to insanity, so it’s generally forbidden although people always sneak a taste and are usually unaffected. It’s the only spire that has a crooked neck and is the shortest spire. Legend has it that a man trying to land his space-ship clipped the tip and broke off the top half of the spire, but some believe that it’s always been this way.
Emse - color of ultramarine giving way to a jet black, swirled with violet. It’s base is the widest and it is the straightest spire as it is almost perfectly formed. This spire is generally used the most for gathered prayers at the Occem Shrine and is considered by some as the only Holy Spire. The saying goes that the others are temptations of the Outer Black, as legend has it that the enemy to the Ashan exist beyond the planet in outer space and are continually searching for the planet to destroy it.
Kopuji - color of brown and hunter green. Throughout the centuries, the spire has adapted more and more to resemble a tree. It is the only pillar that doesn’t look like glass, as it has taken on a bark-like texture over time. Only slightly taller than Berra, it is the easiest spire to climb as it has begun budding small branches and knobs of wood for footing. It’s the spire closest to the Shrine and a previous Maggra built a garden around it to attract youth to the shrine.
On one the nights of the storm that formed a pillars (there is disagreement on which night she was found), Adina could be heard screaming from way out in The Open. Urged by the Ashan, Unsun swam out to save her. She was miles away, out in the very center of the Open, but Unsun was able to swim amazingly swiftly and reached her just as she began to go under. He swam underwater to hold onto her, but something was pulling her further down just out of Unsun’s reach. The deeper he went, the darker it got until he reached the heart of the planet and received the first prophecy.
“You shall bear two sons. Five fires will start the universe and it will end when the five are crushed to dust. You will start existence with your sons, and they will merge into each other to start the cycle again.”
Upon hearing this, legend states that Unsun and Adina were propelled to the surface and, beleaguered, an Ashan carried them to the shore. Unsun and Adina ended up having five sons and no daughters.,
UNSUN [b. 0-1371] dies from natural causes. Buried inside the Occem Shrine as instructed by the Ashan.
ADINA [b. 1000-1140] died from suicide after the death of her son RYABU.
KOPU [b. 1001-1522] Sent southward with a land-bound Ashan, said to have created land under their feet as they walked and extended the continent. This journey lasted hundreds of years as he finely traced the exact dimensions of the coastlines, following the intense instruction of this Ashan. Once returning home, KOPU had with him NYMYS, a beautiful woman of strange stature (normal compared to Rentu at present, as UNSUN and his family were of extreme height and weight), with whom he had sixteen daughters, each one resembling more their mother than father. KOPU lived the longest of his brothers, and eventually resigned himself to silence. On the last night of his life, the everyoung NYMYS carried KOPU away, both of them never to be seen again.
RYABU [b. 1002-1139] Was obsessed with the Ashan, even more so than the usual worship. Spent almost all his time with them in the Open and they seemed to enjoy his company. After KOPU left on his adventure South, RYABU and BERRU were trained by UNSUN in the teachings he’d learned from the Ashan. RYABU was said to be able to communicate with the Ashan through telepathic means. The Ashan would always greet him with an audible squeal, that sounded like the word Maggra. It became his nickname. RYABU frequently asked the Ashan to give him a wife and they abided ten different times, producing them from the Open. Time and time again, he’d grow disinterested in them after they gave him children. He was killed when a pack of Ashan tore him to pieces outside the Shrine.
BERRU [b. 1003-1359 disappeared] Grew to be a quiet, reserved man. He never married, because unlike his brothers, he was never bestowed with a wife from the Ashan through the Open. After several centuries, BERRU became determined to find a new home, perhaps on an undiscovered island somewhere out in the Open. One day he swam away and was never seen again. Close to a year later, a meteor crashed on the planet, and the legend goes that it landed right where BERRU was headed.
EMSU [b. 1111-1498] Protected the Occem Shrine from an onslaught of sea creatures that attacked the five nights before his youngest brother HASTU was born. A full year before those night, the Ashan had abandoned the Occem Shrine. EMSU was by far the strongest and largest brother and was proven to be a skilled warrior at the young age of 25 during the onslaught. His wife appeared from the Open after the five night storm subsided once HASTU was born. Her name was EMSA. They had five sons and five daughters.
HASTU [b. 1136-1498] Born during the worst storms ever known in the planet’s history. UNSUN wondered if he was cursed with this son because the Ashan refused to support this birth and fought against the act by sending waves of chaotic creatures to attack the Shrine. Somehow, EMSU and the Res family, comprised mostly of RYABU’s sons and daughters and their offspring, were able to protect the Shrine for five consecutive nights, until the Ashan surrendered their force and their summonings dissipated. HASTU grew up very close with EMSU and eventually died the same day as his brother. HASTU married a distant descendant of RYABU. Her name was IALINA. They had many children, but a fair number of them were born with mutations or died early. Those that survived migrated south as soon as they could, never liking the Occem Realm.