The Writings of Sagron
Acts I

In the beginning there was the plague upon the land. Wherever men dwelt, in the valleys and on the plains, the heel of the usurper was heavy. In this time there were the dominions of the God Set, and in his name did the northern tribes reel under the armies and cruel lords of his citadel, Python. From their purple walls, all they could survey lay under their geas, and men's souls were mere grist for their terrible spells and grim rituals, all of which served the usurper from the south.

It was in those days of the third age that Mithras, the Lord of Light, Pantokrator and Master of the Seven Ways began to seek an avatar for his works. The God's servants looked into the hearts of many folk, trying to find one who was untainted in blood or ritual, that he could forge him for the tasks ahead. And so it was that one day, a young man was worshipping at his family shrine in the mountains when the spirit of Mithras, cloaked within the form of a White Phoenix came upon him. The Phoenix looked into the heart of the man, Epimetreus. Epimetreus was filled with wonder at the sight of this creature, and also awe at its majesty and size.

"Epimetreus, son of Calan and Nashron, attend and hear the words of your Lord" it spoke.

Epimetreus fell upon his face and hid his eyes from the light that shone from the Phoenix.

"Do not slay me, oh bright one" he pled.

"Epimetreus, You are chosen to be my might and the fruits of my strength, your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies, you shall lead the peoples and kings of the valleys out of perdition and into freedom. You will walk under the sign of the seven-pointed star, and the spirit of the Lord of Light will be with you" the Phoenix said to Epimetreus.

And a portion of the knowledges of the Lord of Light flew into Epimetreus, so that his body shook and his heart trembled. Yet when this was done he arose and looked at himself in wonder, for now he was clad in white and blue, yea and the Sword Balefire was upon his thigh.

"You will strive until Set is broken from this pale, and no mercies shall be given to those who favor the blood of the serpent, and have been tainted by it. You will go to the valleys, and preach to the people there in my name. By this I shall increase and when the time is ready, we shall fall upon those Minions of Set and destroy them utterly."

"It is thy will, oh Bright Lord" said Epimetreus.

So Epimetreus went into the valleys, and he spoke to the shepherds, and the woodsmen, the heads of the tribes there and the leaders of the fathers' houses. People came in secret to hear his words, for he spoke against the Serpent, the sons of Python, and would have all men free of their debts, of their servitude, and of sacrifice to the dreadful one. As it was he grew to have many followers, until finally in the seventh month one of the valley kings sent men to seize him as he spoke amongst a town near Aleoch, for word of his deeds had sent fear into his heart. But the warriors would not touch Epimetreus, for the spirit of Mithras was upon him, and their hearts were turned away from their lord by the words of the warrior-sage. So it was that Epimetreus went to the king of that tribe, to the city of Aleoch. There he engaged in a great battle of words with the wise men of the King and of the valley tribes, and so they were taken by the spirit of Mithras too, until the King could bear no more and went to hear this man himself. King Albidar was astounded that Epimetreus was not an assassin, nor did he want his crown, despite the powers he possessed. Epimetreus took Albidar, and the power of Set was taken away from Albidar and he knew of the things he had done in his name, and now he was wroth.

"So I shall not live with this in my heart, and I will this day take my life, so that I will not be his any more" raged Albidar.

Epimetreus spoke then with the King, and told him of how Mithras would smite the God Set in his dark citadel when the time was ready, but until then patience and time would build armies for that day. So it was that Albidar took these words to himself, and called upon his people to overthrow the serpent lord's minions in Aleoch, so they turned the shrines in Aleoch to him over, and struck down his minions, visible and invisible, as Epimetreus shewed them how, and it was good.

Now Albidar sent his men to his brother Kings, that they would know of his intent, and soon there were many men there together. Epimetreus spoke to the Kings and to each he offered the words of the Lord of Light. King Chanic, King Flarin, King Artax and King Albidar conferred with Epimetreus. They knew that Set was as strong as sleep, and he would not easily forgive them. Yet they knew now of the dreadful costs of his rule, had not they seen the serpent's children? Were there not the deformed ones? Within their own kingdoms, each in his way had seen the horrors, and dreadful were the costs to expunge the minions of Set, yet so they were able to do so until they were certain.

Yet it was not always so, for there was King Tumbrelain, who was too afraid of the dread Lord, even more than of Epimetreus or Mithras. So it was that he would not consult, nor would he meld his fortunes and his armies with Epimetreus . And so Epimetreus told him that he would withhold the hand of the Lord Mithras from him for one year, and hoped that would give him time to turn his heart away from the Serpent. Yet even then Tumbrelain did not yield. So it was that Epimetreus went to the city of Tumbrelain, Hai-Burak, by the shore of the ocean, and in secret they spoke together there, for there were many spies.

Now in Aleoch did Albidar make his council, for he felt deeply the injustices there, and while he did this some scouts came upon his court, crying that a host of Python was on the plains below. Albidar took up his great spear Zatre and sent runners to his brother Kings.

So when the army of Python, which was 3000 men, camped upon the plains of Erenoch, they were beset from three sides by the Kings. King Artax attacked the camp at dawn with 2000 horsemen and began the battle. As they were pressed by the men of Python, so did King Chanic fall upon their flank with his 1000 spearmen and 2000 bowmen, yet still the battle raged and the standards of Python did not fall. So it was that the men of Python were armored leg and breast, and yet they would not die easily despite their wounds. So their mages did ensorcel the dead, so that they would rise up and fight with grievous wounds, and so the battle went poorly for the Kings.

Now Albidar rushed upon the plain, with his 5000 spearmen, each with a cap of brass and a short dagger on their breast. The flew into the fray with a great shout that was heard by King Flarin, who had came up from behind with 2500 shieldmen and 2500 warriors. The Four Kings were certain they had victory, and indeed as the day waned they overcame the dreadful foe, and indeed their darts were too much for them, so they slew the mages there, and broke open the dead and scattered them upon the plain.

Epimetreus heard the shouts, far way in the city of Hai Burak. Epimetreus was wroth, for it was not time yet, and now the dread Lord would certainly know of their plans. So he left Tumbrelain, and made his way across the rivers to Aleoch.

Here there was a great celebration, with wine and mead. The Kings were gifting their warriors, and all were much delighted when Epimetreus arrived there. Yet even so they would see he was filled with angers.

"Thy impetuousness will ever haunt this world Albidar, King of the K'Sellians. Know this, that now on this day King Xaliton will march to the plain, and there will he seek vengeance for this rash act" he said.

"Then will we greet him with dishes of steel and cushions of arrows" said Albidar.

Now Epimetreus went up into the hills, to his shrine there with some of his wisdoms, and he prayed to Mithras for guidance, and he was gone for 49 days and nights. Much magics were worked there in Mithra's name, and here it was that the Tumbrelain did send their most potent warriors for to be his warders.

On the 44th day after he was gone into the hills, so did the army of Xaliton did come upon the plain, and indeed they did disdain the Four Kings, sending no messengers or challenges. There they camped in a great circle, and there they performed rituals upon the folk that lived upon the plain. The Kings gathered their forces, this time they were ready.

"We will smite them as we did before" quoth Albidar.

"They are expecting us today" said Flarin.

"Mithras will be with us" said Artax.

"I will do as we all will, as we cannot stand apart" said Chanic..

Now with the equipages of the vanquished foe, the Four Kings went into the Valley much emboldened. They numbered 10,000s with much horse and more spears than before. Yet it was so that Xaliton did conceal his numbers well, for when the battle opened there were only 7000 men on the field. The people of Aleoch learned a bitter lesson as their city and cattle were taken. Some fled into the hills, and thence the mountains with Albidar, some stayed. Those that stayed were never seen again. And still the creatures of Python were in the fields, and they did maraud the low valleys and passes, and there was much misery.

Now it was that Mithras had spoken to Epimetreus as he lay upon the slopes of the hills. Epimetreus went to the passes and there met Albidar. What was said is not known, but they went into refuge there and the Lord of Light hid them from the eyes of the serpent folk for a time.

There in refuge did Epimetreus send forth the warders to close the shrines to Set. With his ways struck down and his minions in confusion, it was then after the lifetime of one man had passed that Epimetreus came upon the plains with his host. So it was at Kesh that the first city of Python was broken by Albidar and Epimetreus, and when the men of Python saw that they had been defeated by Epimetreus, they sent messengers and brought out the Pythonians who dwelt in the north with Shpach the commander. Schpach had sent out into the world his scouts to find the root of Epimetreus' strengths, and to spoil his efforts at overcoming their temples he called forth the guardians, fell and night-blighted creatures. And it was told that Epimetreus, he gathered all of the tribes together and crossed the Beloam, and came up to them, and drew his forces against them, And when Epimetreus set the battle in array against the Pythonians, the Lord Mithras was with him, and so they fought for the space of three days without night and did not stop. And the men of Kesh fled before Epimetreus, and he slew of them the men of 7000 chariots, and forty thousand foot soldiers, and also killed Schpach the commander of their army. And when the servants of Set saw that they were defeated by Epimetreus, they wanted peace with Epimetreus, and to become subject to him, but Epimetreus would not allow it and so they were all put to the sword there on the plain.

In the spring of the year, when Kings go to battle, then did Albidar lead out an army to the kingdom of the seven rivers, and ravaged the countryside there, and came and besieged Deleth. But Epimetreus stayed at Kesh. And Albidar smote Deleth and overthrew it, and turned out its folk there, and broke the pits and tunnels there. And Epimetreus took the crown of their king from his head, he found it weighed as much as two swords. And he brought forth the people of the city there and set them to labor with picks and axes and thus Epimetreus did to all of the seven kingdoms, and then he returned to the mountains.