Red World

A queen in peril. An outsider priest. A young girl who dreams of adventure.The land of Hybron, once the cultural center of the Red Planet, has fallen into an abyss of political and religious strife that have kept it embroiled in conflict. It has floundered in a dark age for centuries, the former grand kingdom falling into a collection of city-states. An ancient prophecy has reappeared, a prophecy that promises to deliver them from the corruption and increasing violence that permeates the land. However, there are those who have their own plans and "savior prophecies" only get in the way of the more pragmatic concerns of acquiring power.The ancient capital, Assenna, has been in ruins for many ages and the line of kings that ruled from it are nearly forgotten. The very words, Red Kings, have become a curse and it is forbidden to even speak of them but it is precisely the blood of this kingly line, it was foretold, that would rule Hybron again and raise it up to its former glory. The Ainash priesthood, a powerful and ruthless faction in Jhis have fallen in power after a barbarian warrior has overrun the city-states, making himself king of the land. Under his rule Hybron has once again been reunited under one power. Is he, a wild tribesman of the desert, the future Red King of prophecy? As the kingdom remains embroiled in corruption and violence it does not seem so and his queen, a devout woman of the Aishanna-La has borne him no heirs. She has her own schemes that put her at odds with everyone at court: the priesthood, who seek to regain power and the king, who plans to carve out a great name for himself in the world. The queen becomes embroiled in a controversy that will have long-reaching effects on the fate of the kingdom and her own.Ilim, one of the Ainash, is thrown out of the Golden Temple. Afterward, he has a prophetic dream with a commission to tell a dire message that most people do not want to hear, least of all the Ainash priesthood. His new spiritual path leads him back into the desert among the tribal peoples. He believes it will lead him to the answer that will save the kingdom from ruin but, disappointingly, it leads him, not to a great warrior and a holy army but to a little girl at the fortress city of Gamina.Visions are never straight forward, paths are perilous and the grand purpose of prophecy seems impossible, yet many are now seeking it; some strive mightily to make it come about while others are working just as powerfully against it and there are those who seek to insert themselves in it. All are caught in the river of Destiny and Purpose. Some will rise and others will drown. Who will triumph?

The serpent queen reigns and has held the people of Hybron under thrall through promises of prosperity, deceptive words and fear. She has brought great prosperity to the land - for a deadly price. Some grow weary of that high price and seek a way to overthrow her through rebellion or alliances with her enemies. Yet this very price drives the queen, who has a terrible plan most do not dream of, a plan that would threaten not only the realm but the whole world and she is fast approaching the day when she will have ultimate power. But there are those of her own blood who stand in the way of her ultimate plan. These must be destroyed.Rapheth, a youth being groomed for greatness is unsure of his destiny and his past is shrouded in mystery to protect him. Raised in the center of Hybronian high culture, seemingly a world away from the poisonous court of the queen, there are many things and ideas that beckon to him and he spends his days living a sheltered, enjoyable existence learning from the prophet Ilim or making mischief with his friends. Suddenly, Ilim is called away to another holy mission and another man comes to instruct him and he is not the only new teacher for Rapheth. These new men come with new and possibly dangerous ideas. Rapheth learns of forbidden things and hidden underneath these things one may find the long arm of the queen, who searches to destroy all those who stand in her way.Spies are everywhere, spies for the Ainash priesthood, spies for the queen, double spies and threats of war from the east and the south. Queen Taliat's uncle and vassal, Lord-Chieftain Teraht of Egi, has his own plans for power and his own ultimate plan to achieve it. Every tongue makes promises of revealing secrets, promises of the coming of great and wondrous things; prophecies that speak of kings, wars and momentous changes but which changes will come about? Which are true and which are false? Which is deception and which is truth? Which tongues are imparting the sayings of life and peace and which will lead the realm to doom?

Rapheth is a prince in exile. His closest friends have fled with him out to lands unknown to them. And in these places unknown dangers await them. Especially one very well known danger birthed in Egi that has spread far and wide.They meet a family of alchemists in Pallinona who are delighted to help them discover the secrets of the thaumaturgical device Parso has brought. But foes strike again and they find themselves fleeing to the vast dark forests of the Great Ridge where they met an unexpected ally and come across a man with knowledge that will change the course of history. After the standoff with Abgaron, Rapheth finds himself growing dangerously far away from the spiritual help he needs to endure the challenges ahead. He struggles with taking on the burden of kingship and with doubt in prophecy, as his future looks bleaker and his soul becomes mysteriously darker the farther away they travel from Hybron. He is forced to deal with an external struggle that will forever change his friendships.The young prince must battle foes within and without and retake what is rightfully his. Rapheth must travel not only a physical journey but a spiritual one before he is ready for the mantle of kingship. A part of this vast undertaking are his supporters at home; the prophet Ilim and the desert prophetess Anet and others throughout the land who must continually prepare the way in Hybron for the return of the the Red King, all the while dodging escalated attacks from his enemies, the primary one being the Black King.