Heir of the New Moon

-I posted an earlier version of this before, but I found the updated edition so I deleted that post and posted this version. I'll call it v1.2 for the record.-



Brotherhood, the age old tale of
Trust, friendship, courage, and unity.
These simple things taken for granted
are named by those who know of that love.

Why is it then that two brothers
Overwhelmed with hatred could unite?
Was it their own will that they fought
With only death in their minds?

It was their tale to ease the minds of
Burdened families, to give them hope
That their children would follow
the footsteps of those described in,

The 11th Epitaph
Once said to be a fantasy, or
Rather, a final union of brothers.

In the Federation of Windurst
Was the home of a family.
Originating from Bastok, city of mines,
These Humes fled from the great war.

Tales of a great forbidden magick
That protected the city from beastmen.
A magick far greater than any known
One that harnesses the power of Gods.

Even the legendary Knights
of the Kingdom of San d’Oria,
Who are noble and courageous,
Would fall at this power.

The Hume family fled to Windurst
In hopes of receiving the protection
From the one who could call upon
The Gods themselves as his Avatars.

Karaha-Baruha, sacrificing his life,
Saved the Windurstians from their strife.
But the power of Gods was then restrained
The nature of Gods ascertained

And so the power was then sealed.
The Gods put to sleep for a time
Until awakened by the one
Who could control the God’s in Prime.

And so the family rested here
with Karaha-Baruha’s secret
Unaware their child would be
The one to awaken the sleeping Gods.
Foretold was his birth by Emila,
Fortune Teller of Mhaura,
A terrible fate that awaited him.
Only one katun he had to live.

Katun, the first born of these Humes.
His birth was praised, the only heir,
But 20 years he was doomed to live
And the family name was his alone.

Little hope was there for his life,
But still he tried to outlast this strife.
20 years was enough to find a way,
To lift the curse and change his name.

The family resented Katun’s name
And so trained Ars, the adopted
Brother, a Taru-Taru or Halfling
And was more praised for his subsisting.

And so Katun was left to die.
With only 1 year left to live
He had done nothing to his benefit
Or to his family’s approval.

One day, in the Optistery,
Katun read of Karaha-Baruha.
He wondered of the Gods
And their powers to protect.

And with that power, the city was saved.
If these Gods could save a city
Then perhaps they could save Katun
If he could make them his Avatars.

An item he did require,
Thought to be long lost
Was a mystical Ruby,
The Carbuncle’s Ruby,

The Bringer of Rainbows.

So Katun explained to his family
In hopes of gaining their help
And giving them a chance to love him
But they did not approve.

“That magic was forbidden
After Karaha-Baruha’s death.
You would bring shame to us all,
And to the Star Sybil herself!

If you join with his fate though,
We will not be saddened
For you are doomed to die
On your twentieth birthday

So your life has no meaning.
Go enjoy your play while you can
For it has a foreseeable end.
And not even the Gods can change
What fate they have planned.”

And so Katun prepared to embark
To begin a quest
That could save his life
Or hasten its end.

At Windurst’s Gate awaited Ars.
Katun’s brother not blood
His enemy at the heart.
The one was catalyst for the other.

“What are you doing?
You’ve no idea!
The troubles that await you outside,
There is no way to save your life.
20 years doomed will end short!
Save your last breath for us to enjoy.
Why give it to the wandering beasts?
Make use of yourself while you can
Try fishing for Carp, they sell well.”

Katun was stubborn as he replied,
“And leave the family name to one
As soft as you and watch from above
While your offspring crawl sickly
And grow into large maggots?
I will not stay still an idle.
The name is my burden alone.
Besides, I can save myself.
I seek an item outside these gates
That I will use to my benefit.
I will find it.”

“Then why not employ me?”
Ars replied as sly as he could,
“I’ve been all over this region
And know more than many do
how to collect rare artifacts.
Even one as weak as yourself
Could survive at my side.”

Katun’s rage grew inside him.
He left Ars behind without delay.
He would find the artifact without him,
The Carbuncle’s Ruby.

Outside the gates lay Sarutabaruta,
A vast grassland with few dangers
Yet one danger was enough
And Katun was not schooled in battle.

What little schooling he had
Was spent on the art of healing.
Though battle ready and determined,
He was only assistance in battle.

The party required a fighter.
Katun saw a lone soldier
Who, though still physically young,
Seemed a skilled Warrior.

Kreos, a Hume from Bastok,
Was brave and courageous. But
Tenaciously expressed a need to
Demonstrate his merits.

He accepted Katun’s invitation.

They traveled the grassland
While searching for the item
The rare Carbuncle’s Ruby.
A manifistation of an Avatar.

And so he and Kreos journeyed
Through the Tahrongi Canyon
Past skeletons and goblins
And the Maze of Shakhrami.

To Mhaura, where Katun’s fate
Was ultimately decided.
Of all the places to search
Here he was certain to find it.

Just outside the town, at the
Buburimu Peninsula beach,
They killed a possessed leech.
And within it lie the item.

Katun obtained the Carbuncle’s Ruby.

As he held the blood red ruby
A voice called out to him
Katun wondered if this was
An Avatar he held within the gem.

Kreos managed to fight their way
Through many possessed leeches
And hordes of Goblin Hunters
Until they reached Mhaura.

The port town of Mhaura
Was home to the trade ships
That passed between twin port towns.
Mhaura and Selbina.

Katun was reluctant to voyage
But Kreos was eager to go
To prove his strength and courage.
So they paid the fare and went.

The voyage was peaceful
Until Sea Monsters attacked!
All the passengers were killed
But Kreos and Katun fought on.

The Sea Horrors were too much
For even Kreos with Katun’s aid.
But before the final blow was struck,
Sadrith, the Black Mage, appeared.

Sadrith had a cat-like appearance,
As Mithran’s are often described.
Risk taking and gambles were her hobby.
Life was a game that she prescribed.

She could control the elements
And she was skilled in the dark magick.
With secret words and incantations
The elements began to collide.

Thunder echoed across the ship,
Fire burned within the Horrors,
And they were Stoned to death.
Katun and Kreos had been saved.

When they docked in Selbina
Sadrith joined the party,
And as she did, she heard the ruby.
Katun revealed it to her.

Then the voice came out
Not just as a call to Katun,
But as a command to them all.

“Take me to La Theine Plateau
And I shall awaken to bestow
Upon you our powers of many
You carrier of twenty.”

Katun was not afraid of this call.
He wanted to be one with them,
The Gods whose power could save
Katun’s life, deep inside the gem.

And so Keros and Sadrith
Joined along with Katun
And ventured across the sands
Of the scorching Valcrum Dunes.

The air was instense
The sand was hot
No water
So tired
Must
Stop

At an old Oasis they halted.
Katun was out of breath.
Sadrith needed hydration.
Kreos collapsed in a heap.

There was no water here.
The Palm Trees had been too greedy.
They could not continue onward.
Was this the end of the quest?

As Katun relinquished,
He saw two figures moving
Toward the broken bodies.
But who it was he couldn’t tell.

Katun fainted.

He awoke to find Ars beside him.
He quickly got red in the face.
Katun had been saved by his brother
And yet he showed no sign of thanks.

Katun suddenly noticed Ars
He was no longer a man
But dressed and clothed as a woman.
Kreos and Sadrith did not notice.

“Thank the kind woman!” they said,
“And thank her fiancee as well!”
Another appeared from behind Katun.
Now there were two Halfling Taru-Taru.

Fuma, the great pirate, was here.
He was obsessed with his Fiancee,
Doing anything she asked of him.
But did not know her true identity.

The brothers looked between each other.
Katun saw a gleam in Ars’ eye,
A plead to not be unveiled.
The tables had turned this time.

Katun was more powerful
A tattle he would be
But revenge he did desire.
Thoughts of Ars’ favoritism
From family blood not of his own
Because Katun was cursed
And his family had abandoned him.
It was Ars he hated most.
Ars was his enemy.
Katun was ready to speak against him.

But Ars then pulled him to one side
And quickly explained she was a spy.
While womanly appearance he did bear,
The benefits he gained were theirs to share!
Fuma was wealthy, as sky pirates are.
An Airship too could take them far!

And so Ars offered himself,
A master of Monster Abilities.
And Fuma the great pirate,
A legendary Corsair.

In exchange for Katun’s silence
They’re power Ars would lend
And help Katun on his quest
As far as the end.

Katun felt this was a good trade.
Ars’ hidden secret,
And Fuma’s pirate fortune,
Would be most useful in times of misfortune.

And so reluctantly Ars joined Katun.
The brother now a sister.
Siblings they remained to the others.
Rivals they were to each other.

Ars and Fuma had ventured from La Theine
And soon the party left the sandy wild
To the mountainous region
of the Elvaan sheep herders.

The La Theine Plateau was vast
And where to go was at once seen.
A beautiful rainbow arched high above.
And at one side was a circle of stone.

Katun brought the ruby to this place
And out of the Ruby came a great beast.
A myscial light filled their eyes
And Carbuncle himself did appear.

The God spoke to them, pleadingly
“Help me awaken the sleeping Gods.
A great shadow is ever drawing near
With their power we can resist
That ancient evil which was once sealed.
If you can control them all
Avatars they become, for you
And your wish they may grant
But twenty years is drawing near
And time is short for you to aquire
The Gods you so desire.
Travel to the Crystals in which they dwell
And prove yourself worthy of their power.
I will assist you,
But us alone shall go
To face the awakened beast.
The six seals of the Avatars
They are both near and far:
Ifrit of Fire, inside his cauldron,
Mount Yuhtunga.
Ramuh of Lightning, deep in Zi’Tah,
The Boyahda Tree.
Shiva of Ice, in a lost city,
Fey’Yin.
Garuda of Wind, at the worlds end,
Cape Teriggan.
Titan of Earth, beneath Altepa sand,
The Quicksand Caves.
Leviathan of Water, deep within
The Den of Rancor.
Travel to these places
And there you will find the sleeping Gods.
Call upon me during that time.”

And then Carbuncle vanished
Into the Crimson Ruby.
There was nothing more to be said.
The party began the arduous quest.

On Fuma’s airship they did fly
Travel was faster in the sky.
But was the ship’s speed enough
To get them there in time?

Mount Yuhtunga was deep in the jungle.
And Kreos’ bravery was tested.
Countless monsters he did slay
But never did they seem to stray.

They protected the Mount.
They knew the party’s goal.
But then Kreos provoked them all
And in hatred they forgot their role.

As the adventurers fled
into the volcanic abyss,
Kreos’ last cries could be heard
As he was devoured.

With Kreos’ sacrifice
They had reached the Crystal.
And Katun mourned.
But Ars consoled Katun.

Ars would not let him give up.
There was no time to waste.
There were only 6 months left
Before the prophecy was fulfilled.

Kreos’ death must not be in vain.
Katun approached the divine mass.
Ars was right, there was no time.
He must defeat the Ifrit Prime.

He grasped the crystal with both hands
And into the divine land his mind was.
Ifrit was awakened
And he challenged Katun.

Katun unveiled the rare Ruby
And Carbuncle defeated the beast.
Ifrit released himself from sleep
And gave himself to Katun.

And so Katun received his first Avatar.
Though Kreos had died
The party knew they must move on
The next trial awaited.

Deep in Zi’Tah was the ancient tree
Which housed the Cloister of the God.
The Boyahda Tree was where he dwelled
The God of Thunder awakened as well.

Ramuh of Thunder was also overcome.
Carbuncle’s light too strong for him.
He became Katun’s second Avatar.
And the party held together.

Shiva of Ice was hard to reach.
Fey’Yin had been lost for ages past.
Sadrith was one of few who knew the way

Using magick as a veil,
With Sadrith’s spell they would prevail.
A way to venture into the danger,
But along the road death was no stranger.

Too close to a beast, she tested her luck.
A great shadow knight
She probed into sight,
But did not wish to be struck.

The dark magick of Sadrith,
While she was invisible to most,
Was not strong enough to blind
The eyes of death’s great host.

It slayed her while was astray
As the party fled away.
Her cries of pain
Were quickly restained.

Now once five was three
And all three mourned her,
Ars inferred that Katun move on.
Katun agreed to Ars’ deduction.

And so with Ars’ help
Katun entered the crystal
And Carbuncle defeated Shiva Prime
Her powers she gave to Katun.

Garuda was fourth, and gave in with ease.
Seeing her fellow Gods with Katun
She eagerly agreed
And granted herself to him.

But the travel to Garuda
Took valued time
And now only two months remained
With two Primes still asleep.

Titan was deep in Altepa’s sands
Deep in Quicksand Caves was his Cloister.
His heart was hardened by a lost love
But Carbuncle eased Titan’s pain.

And with Titan Prime’s Avatar
Katun was one God away.
Though exhausted from travel
Ars kept Katun’s spirits high.

Fuma’s airship was built for speed
But with one month left
Time was short.
Katun’s breath was growing weak.

The curse was affecting his health
And the divine enounters were tough.
With one God left to face,
Katun began to disgrace.

They arrived and traveled down
Deep into the Den of Rancor.
And there was the final Crystal
Where the Leviathan awaited.

Katun was so ill he could hardly stand.
With Fuma’s and Ars’ help
Katun reached his hands out
And he entered the mystic realm.

Carbuncle confronted the Avatar.
Leviathan Prime would not give in.
The battle waged between them was great
And Carbuncle was almost lost.

But in the end Leviathan’s will broke.
He was turned and seeing the others
Katun had gathered, he too gave in.
The final Prime was attained.

And so the party rejoiced!
Katun stood in as if in a trance
While Ars did the Taru-Taru dance
And Fuma shot his rifle in joy.

Then Katun called Carbuncle to his side.
The task had been completed.
But to the party’s disgrace
This was not the case.

Carbuncle tried with all his might
But all six Avatars were not enough
To vanquish the curse from Katun.
In dispair, Katun fell to the ground

His efforts had been for nothing.
But Ars then stood up for Katun.
He challenged Carbuncle’s means.
Ars demanded another path!

“There must be another way
This cannot be the end.
I’ve read the ancient stories.
About how Karaha-Baruha
Defended the city from doom.
There is another God,
One you’ve overlooked.
Fenrir, God of the Moon,
The true power that saved our city.”

Of course Carbuncle knew
But he dared not challenge that beast.
The God of the Moon was too great a force
For even Karaha-Baruha.

But with eleven days left, they had no choice.
Carbuncle showed them the way
To Fenrir’s Moonlit Seal
Locked away deep under Windurst.

Down they traveled through ruins
And into Toraimarai Canal
Where at its end lay the seal
At the Full Moon Fountain.

This time they entered the seal together.
Fuma on his left and Ars at his right,
Katun fell through the seal
And began to face Fenrir Prime.

Katun held up the Ruby one last time.
Carbuncle appeared and began to call
Upon Katun’s six Avatars.

“Ifrit, Ramuh, Shiva!
Garuda, Titan, Leviathan!
Lend me your strength!
The final battle has come!
Make Fenrir break!”

Ars and Fuma joined the battle,
But their attacks were resisted.
Even Carbuncle, with the six Gods
Power imbued within him was no match.

Fuma used his rifle with skill.
Bullets burst through the air,
Though as magicked as the bullets were
None found their mark.

Katun watched as Fuma fell.
Fenrir unleashed his wrath upon them all.
With one howl, Fuma was killed
As he gazed into Ars’ eyes.

And Ars flintched.

“Katun, we need your help!
Carbuncle requires your strength to win!
If you are my brother
Then prove it to me now!
Even though you may die
You will always be my brother!
If not in blood, then in spirit!”

Katun realized then that
Even though Ars was his rival,
They shared something unique
That few could experience.

While Kreos lived for pride,
The need to prove strength
Not only to the world
But to himself.

And Sadrith for risk,
The urge to press onward
And elude death
Only to end in his loving arms.

And Fuma for love,
The ever conscious need
That while false on the shell
Was alive within the soul.

The unity of Brotherhood
Was Ars and Katun’s together.
Something true only to them
That no one could share.

Using the Astral Flow,
Katun then bonded with Carbuncle.
The connection between them was full
And God and Avatar were one.

Katun released Carbuncle’s restrains
Using his remaining strength
And a Searing Light tore at the Prime
As Carbuncle rose to his peak.

Fenrir was unable to withstand.
The power was too great.
And so the God of the Moon
Was finally broken.

He bowed before Katun,
Who fell to the ground.
The remaining life within
Was none but a small glimmer.

Fenrir granted Katun his power
And also his wish.
Life was restored to him,
And the curse had vanished.

Carbuncle returned to the Ruby,
And the 8 Avatars fell to sleep,
Where they would dwell
Until Katun called upon them again.

Ars and Katun then rejoiced.
They emerged from the adventure,
Instead of rivals,
Unifited Brothers.

With Katun’s life saved
From the 20 year curse
He could change his name.
But he did not,
For Katun’s name would serve
As a memory of this tale
So that he would never forget.

When they returned home to Windurst,
The family did not quarrel.
Katun was finally accepted
And the family anointed them both.
Both Katun and Ars would seed their name.

To Jeuno they traveled
They joined in the Starlight Festival.
Where all races and origins
From Bastok, San d’Oria, and Windurst
Celebrated the New Year
Honoring the dead
But always rejoicing
The living.

After the year turned,
The brothers together then ventured
Out to save the world
And in the end became
The most famous adventurers of them all.

At least to themselves.

“So, same time next weekend?”
“I’ve got to work all day.”
“I won’t be back til 5 Friday night.”
“Alright, I guess I’ll see you then.”

“{Good bye!}”

/shutdown