Category: Stories

The once thriving planet of Zarthor had been reduced to a desolate wasteland. The two rival houses, the Saragon and the Helstrom, had waged a seemingly endless war for the past thousand years. Their insatiable lust for power and resources had left Zarthor a shadow of its former self, stripped of life and beauty. The remaining inhabitants were caught in the crossfire, forced to pledge loyalty to one house or the other.

Massive walking cities, colossal metallic structures that spanned hundreds of kilometers in diameter, lumbered across the war-ravaged landscape. These titanic cities housed millions of soldiers, laborers, and citizens, each dedicated to their respective houses. The cities were powered by the remnants of the planet’s resources, harvested from the aftermath of each brutal battle.

Harvester teams, closely guarded by armed escorts, scoured the battlefield for scraps and salvageable materials. The spoils of war included anything from broken weapons and armor to the ruined husks of fallen walking cities. These materials were then recycled and repurposed to fuel the endless war machines that had consumed Zarthor for centuries.

In this dying world, the people turned to ancient beliefs, worshiping the Gods of War in a desperate bid to gain favor and emerge victorious. It was said that the Gods would grant power and fortune to those who offered the greatest sacrifices. The recent capture of several opposing dynasty cities presented the perfect opportunity to appease the capricious Gods.

Within these captured cities, the lizard-like inhabitants known as Prosaurs were rounded up and stripped of their armor and weapons. Dressed only in the rags of slavery, they were marched toward The Great Maw, a fathomless cave system that had long been the site of sacrificial offerings. The cave was notorious for its ominous reputation; those who entered were never seen again.

The Prosaurs were thrown down into the unfathomable darkness, their screams echoing through the cavernous depths. As they disappeared into the abyss, a temporal rift snapped open and swallowed them whole. The sudden surge of energy signaled their eternal banishment, their lives offered as sustenance to the Gods.

In response, the heavens erupted in a furious display of thunder and lightning, illuminating the pitch-black skies. The rival houses interpreted this as a sign of the Gods’ approval, and they reveled in their momentary appeasement. But in the grand scheme of things, they were merely perpetuating the vicious cycle of death and destruction that had plagued Zarthor for a millennium.

Despite the fleeting triumphs of each house, the end of the war remained as elusive as ever. The people of Zarthor continued to suffer, their once vibrant planet now reduced to a desolate, dust-choked battleground. In this grim reality, hope was a scarce commodity, and the cycle of war seemed destined to continue for generations to come.

As the Prosaurs tumbled through the temporal rift, they braced themselves for the unknown, expecting a painful or gruesome end. However, instead of meeting a grisly fate, they found themselves in an entirely different world. The rift had transported them to a lush and fertile planet, one that seemed to be the polar opposite of their desolate homeworld.

This new planet was teeming with life. Vast forests stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with trees bearing ripe fruits and vegetation unlike anything the Prosaurs had ever encountered. Clear, sparkling rivers cut through the verdant landscape, providing an abundance of fresh water. The skies overhead were a brilliant blue, a stark contrast to the dark, storm-ridden skies of Zarthor.

As the Prosaurs explored their new environment, they discovered that it was inhabited by a myriad of strange and wondrous creatures. Some were gentle, while others were more dangerous, but all contributed to the vibrant ecosystem that flourished on this strange new world.

Realizing they had been given a second chance, the Prosaurs were determined to make the most of their new lives. They vowed to leave the violence and bloodshed of their past behind and build a peaceful and prosperous society. With their natural resilience and adaptability, they quickly learned to harness the resources of the planet and established small communities.

The lessons they had learned from the war-torn world of Zarthor served as a constant reminder of the perils of greed and the devastation that could result from unchecked conflict.

Meanwhile, back on Zarthor, the war between the Saragon and the Helstrom continued to rage on, each side still seeking the ultimate victory that would never come. Unbeknownst to them, the Prosaurs they had so callously discarded had found a new beginning and a chance to forge a better future for their kind.

In the mystical realm of Celesterra, a realm torn by strife and conflict between various magical species, a small court of star scryers diligently observes the heavens each night. The world is on the brink of destruction, with age-old disputes between the races threatening to escalate into all-out war. The star scryers’ purpose is to find a solution to the imminent crisis, seeking answers among the celestial bodies.

The court, made up of a diverse group of wise scholars and talented magicians, convenes at the Tower of Starlight, a tall spire built atop a mountain peak. The tower’s rooftop observatory provides a vantage point from which the scryers can chart the cosmos. For years, they have been monitoring a neighboring star system, hoping for a glimpse of salvation.

As the second moon casts its silvery glow over Celesterra, the scryers witness an extraordinary event. A planet emerges from behind the star, appearing like a bright speck of hope in the dark sky. It seems to be a goldilocks planet, located in the perfect spot to support life. Further observations reveal the existence of fresh water and fertile soil, making it an ideal sanctuary for the denizens of Celesterra.

The news of this miraculous discovery spreads like wildfire throughout the realm, uniting the warring factions under a common goal. The ruling council decides to send a select group of pioneers to colonize the newfound planet. A lottery is held, choosing individuals from all species and walks of life to venture into the unknown. These chosen few are tasked with establishing a base of operations, where they will create a powerful portal to bridge the two worlds, allowing the masses to escape the impending doom.

The magicians of the realm gather to create the portal, pooling their energy and resources. However, the magic required to traverse the vast distances between the stars proves too taxing. As the pioneers step through the gateway, the magicians struggle to keep the portal stable. Despite their best efforts, the portal’s energy wanes, and the connection falters. The magical crystals that fuel the portal are drained of their power, shattering into dust.

With a final, desperate surge, the magicians send the last few pioneers through the portal before it snaps shut, severing the link between the two worlds. The wagons laden with resources and tools, intended to aid the settlers in their mission, are left behind, stranded on the dying world of Celesterra.

Now, with only their wits and determination, the pioneers must adapt to this new world and find a way to create a stable portal home. The fate of their realm rests in their hands, as they face untold challenges and forge alliances with the indigenous species. The pioneers’ journey will be one of hardship and discovery, as they strive to build a new beginning for their people and prevent the annihilation of Celesterra’s diverse inhabitants.

It began in a time of abundance and post-scarcity, a time of global peace and prosperity for all humans on planet Earth. The world was a very different place. Advances in technology and automation had made it possible for basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare to be easily met for every individual on the planet. Energy production was largely based on clean and renewable sources, with no reliance on fossil fuels.

With the eradication of poverty and hunger, people had more time and resources to pursue their passions and interests. Education and learning were the highest valued, and there was a strong emphasis on developing skills and knowledge that could benefit society as a whole.

People lived in harmony with a recovering nature and the environment. Cities were redesigned to be sustainable and green, with plenty of public green spaces and natural areas preserved for recreational use. The world was free of pollution, and conservation efforts were in place to protect endangered species and ecosystems.

Global peace and cooperation were the norm, with conflicts resolved through diplomacy and negotiation rather than violence. International organisations were highly effective in promoting human rights, and there was a shared commitment to tackling global challenges such as climate change and inequality.

The demand for new ways to create sustainable living was greater than ever as the population continued to need rebalancing. Many continued looking to the stars for a solution, while others turned their focus to artificial intelligence research. Astronomers demanded better technology to see further, and the technologists pushed further into the A.I. field. The ever increasing demands for more clean energy continually pushed scientists to try new things, to experiment with new ways, to push the boundaries even further.

A different form of energy emerged. Wild and untamable which seemed to have a life of it’s own. Not knowing it’s point of origin or how it was powered it became known only as blue energy. Some even calling it magic. It was indeed a powerful energy that had been lost to the civilised worlds for many cycles. An energy form that was so powerful that nobody truly understood its source, its purpose, or its potential. It was this energy that the technologists of the time tried to harness for creating their A.I. They tried to capture the very essence of the energy and feed it straight into the heart of the large deep-learning neural networks powered by quantum computers that spanned the very globe.

It was this act of recklessness in trying to harness the blue energy that caused the very core of the planet to rebel. Seismic activity started to accelerate at an alarming pace. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and storms the likes that had never been experienced before! It was the beginning of armageddon.

Realising that disaster was on the horizon, the scientists readied an untested spacecraft, an ark ship designed to explore the deeper reaches of the galaxies. A small team of survivalists assembled on the ship without any training or preparation, with barely sufficient resources and with just enough fuel to break free of the earth’s gravity!

Mere moments after launch the extinction level event occurred. A raw and powerful energy spike ruptured its containment field. The blue energy took on a life of it’s own. Angry and power hungry! It ravaged the earth from core to crust, wild tendrils reaching out like a giant Telsa coil arcing everywhere. One of these tendrils reached up to the fleeing ark ship ripping through it’s systems. Tearing the very life from the electronic systems with a surge that caused everything in the ark to shutdown. A last ditch effort to completely annihilate the human race altogether. The ark ship shuddered as it lost all power. The electronic systems failed one after the other in a cascade of spark and flame. The solid core rocket boosters could not be stopped though. Upwards and onwards and to the skies!

After several weeks of drifting blindly while working on repairs, low on reserves, out of fuel, and oxygen generators barely operational, the small crew of the ark found themselves caught in the gravitational pull of a strange uncharted world. A blue giant star with a few planets. One of these planets was just on the edge of the goldilocks zone. As the ark drifted closer, scanners picked up signs of biological life and an earth-norm atmosphere with vast oceans of liquid water.

At last! Hope!