The Story

…And the world was a vast proliferation of jagged, volcanic terrain. But for a small remote valley, the land was uninhabitable for our kind. Tucked away between two looming peaks, this valley provided refuge for the human tribe. There they thrived in blissful isolation, ignorant of those who dwelt above.

The origin of the Cliff Spirits is unknown. Even now, after the Illumination, they remain reticent about their ancient past. From their mountain perches, the Cliff Spirits watched the activities of the valley tribe with waxing regard. Passive interest turned to jealousy; the brash young mortals had no respect for their spiritual forerunners. The valley tribe seemed content in their lack of knowledge.

Thus, it was decided to gain the respect of the valley tribe through fear. This ushered in the Time of Sorrow. The Cliff Spirits conjured up a terrible spectre to ravage the valley. Unspeakably evil, unreservedly powerful, the spectre reigned. Each nightfall, it would descend on the village, only to return to the cliffs by sunrise.

Those who watched from the cliffs had achieved their goal of demonstrating their superiority, but the entity they had created was too powerful to control. It sought to finish the task it started by extinguishing all those in the valley. At this time, humanity lay on the brink of extinction; merely another species too feeble to survive.

The Histories of the Cliff Spirits record one known as The Conscience. He felt the very human emotion of regret for the punishment being inflicted on the valley tribe. A cynical old spirit, he was finally moved to action by the finality of the mortals’ plight. He resorted to a dusty, long-forgotten tome of lore and magic, written by outcast sages in a by-gone era acknowledged to us only in ephemeral dreams. The Conscience used the tome to conjure a spirit of his own: one of protection.

The human scribe, Lascaux, recounts in his journal of the time, that in the darkest hour, the tribe offered a simple prayer to the inexplicable new forces shaping their destiny. Lascaux wrote, “it were a plea for deliverance, spoken in desperation, given voice by the hopeless.”

The spectre sought to destroy the village in one frontal assault. To aid its cause, it forced the sun to set at noon, bathing the valley in unnatural night. The townsfolk prepared for the end.

The creation of The Conscience was a spiritual shield maiden, a Valkyrie. She was able and brave, and imbued with the power to choose her fate. Though horribly outmatched, she chose to defend the hapless tribe.

She hunted the spectre through the darkness until at last they met on the Village Green. Steel clashed with steel, but the spectre appeared to be too strong. As the deathblow rose and fell, the Tower Clock chimed midnight, and the Sun peeked above the cliffs! The Valkyrie disappeared, and the spectre was turned to stone, an eternal monument to the miracle that had transpired.

The valley tribe were in awe of the forces previously hidden from them, as were the Cliff Spirits. They were left to stare at the Sun and question their own place in this world. Was there a power greater than their own, watching them just as they watched the valley? This event became known to scholars and laymen alike as the Illumination…

Chronicles of Ash: Book 14. Author unknown.

The Music

Listen to the entire album:

  1. Prelude
  2. Fables In The Sky
  3. Light Of Day
  4. Deus Ex Machina
  5. The Summoned
  6. Nightfall Noon
  7. Eternal

Sheet Music

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