Late in coming to his magical powers, Andrew de Toraline had pursued the training of a Warrior. Shortly before graduating his schooling the headaches and visions associated with magical ability begin to manifest themselves leading to the investigation of his powers by the foremost Sorcerer of the time, Gabriel.

These new powers lead him to his soulmate and eventual wife who also embraces the new methods of control dictated by the magic. Between them they begin to teach children who have the talent but who are unable to learn the old ways. Things progress rapidly with more children being added to their classes even as they learn their own paths through this new and far more powerful magical control.

SORCERER/ SORCERESS

Prologue:

Prior to the time of the War, Tranquility had been relatively peaceful. Yes, some skirmishes would occur due to disagreements of both physical and philosophical/ political nature, but on the whole Tranquility had been just that since the time it was first colonized.

During the subsequent centuries, the sciences of the three major landmasses began to diverge. The continent, now called the Shambles, developed technological sciences and attempted to improve upon Nature's ability to provide sustenance for those living there through the implementation of technology and man made chemical additives.

The Survivor, on the other hand, relied more on Nature herself for their livelihood and survival. This caused both times of plenty and times which were, shall we say, less than beneficial to all the populace. This variation year to year caused these people to become hardened and capable of surviving in periods of deep need.

The Antagonist, survived principally through trade with both the other continents. Little of their own populace produced food and much was imported in exchange for other goods and services. Science here traveled several paths. Technological marvels became prolific as well as a much different path which diverged heavily into the genetic sciences and thereby producing living products for survival, trade and, eventually, conquest. That conquest began with the continent itself which was nearly twice the size of the first two combined. Several centuries later that continent could be found to be under the domination of those who had settled there.

That is about the time when their technological sciences produced weapons which could be used to obliterate any who chose not to comply with the masters of that continent. Once the initial devastation could be wrought, then the armies of genetically developed living weapons could be unleashed to finish the task. It was inevitable that eventually War would occur. At the time of ‘The War' there were hundreds of satellites in orbit providing communication between all continents, some were military, some civilian, nearly all were destroyed and many of the ground stations as well.

Some of those satellites were power producers linked to specific ground stations to provide energy for their continents. Few of these satellite - ground station pairs survived more than a few years. The ability to control the orbiting satellites or to replace them vanished. Over a few decades following ‘The War', which some have begun to call ‘The Devastation', the individuals who had the technical expertise to maintain the ground stations slowly died off as did many others with technical expertise thus leaving a vacuum in the realm of technology.

After another five decades technology has become something of a mythology/ religion as well as a hobby for only a few. Some technology remains or is altered to permit the limited knowledge of the Technocrats to maintain it but for the most part it is the Sorcerers and Sorceresses who provide for the needs of the citizens of a now much more peaceful world known as Tranquility.

The Weeping Falls seen looking back at Andrew's Valley

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Jacket Scene information only: drawing not yet available ---- description - intended merely as aid to jacket or cover view of a small portion of this world):

Far in a distance of perhaps a kilometer and a half may be seen, slightly left of the center of this scene, that which is most certainly a very tall waterfall of maybe thirty or thirty five meters, possibly a little more and sticking up for only about a fifth of it’s height above the trees near to it. The pool beneath it cannot be seen from this distance because of those trees populating the slopes and floor of this valley, which appears narrow because of the distance, but which is actually about three to five hundred meters across when you see the cross section of it where it is closer to us. The trees are not so populous as one might expect them to be in this region, seldom touched by the humanoid races, but that is due in part to the global action and fallout of The War as well as the actions of nature in the year or two following that War. The past century has, however, granted a strong comeback.

From out of those trees and along the distant valley floor may be seen the sparkling of a rapidly moving river rushing toward the nearer mountains found at our left. That river is possibly not more than a meter deep and less than thirty meters wide, but moving at a good pace to allow for all that water spilling over those distant falls which may be seen here splashing over the rocks and flowing around the occasional very small boulder chancing to obstruct a small portion of it’s path. As it comes closer, spilling toward the shallow purple cliffs which are no more than thirty meters in height at the far left of this postcard scene, we can see the colour of those cliffs comes from the thousands of flowering plants clinging to their side. The river, as it nears the ‘L’ shaped bend in this valley, seems to suddenly take an abrupt turn toward the right of this scene. It crosses below from left to right gurgling and bubbling as if in complaint as it rushes across the landscape searching for freedom somewhere off in the distance to our right, receding into yet more distant trees without pause except for the small pool of about twenty meters across located down below this foreground overlook and seen located close to the knee of that sudden change of direction.

The pool has possibly been created due to the repeated actions of the many year’s Spring thaws upon mountains even more distant than that waterfall who’s muted roar may be faintly heard here. The Spring overflow of the river as it makes it’s turn eventually carving out that river fed pool of nearly tranquil water now populated by human children who may be seen playing and swimming in the water while other larger forms are indistinctly seen splashing their way toward shore. Yet another child comes hurtling out of a faint small shimmer of air barely seen slightly above the pool. A child who is curled as if a cannonball about to crash the surface of the water.

Found immediately across the river on the corner bank opposite that pool there is a scorched portion of land perhaps no more than five or eight meters across. Trees next to this area may be seen to have suffered a sudden fire of some sort even though their trunks and more distant portions are still healthy and living. As the scorched portion is nearly circular in appearance it is obvious that some recent calamity occurred at that particular spot but it was quickly extinguished protecting much of each of the trees immediately surrounding it if not the portions of those closest to whatever happened.

Below our viewpoint and seen standing upon the overlook gazing out over this tranquil scene of afternoon play are two young human girls of eight or ten years of age, possibly sisters, one on each side of an upright cat-like creature and each holding one of it’s paw/hands. They stand there looking out over this roughly ‘L’ shaped valley as if admiring it’s beauty. Although to the right of the ‘L’ itself and not quite above the pool which is more to the left they are still treated to a grand scene. The Feline, for that is the race that creature happens to be, is obviously a warrior of one sort or another for it has in a cross sheath at it’s back a sword and shield so placed as to be quickly available should need arise. The red battle skirt and light gray ceramic armored vest are noticeable due to their colour and the vest’s flat appearance which seems not to reflect light so much as to absorb it.

The older child on the Feline’s right is pointing with her free hand to something or someone located down near or in the pool well below as she laughs. Behind them a woman in a long dress has just arrived from out of yet another shimmer in the air and may be seen calling toward them, the younger child on the left of the Feline turning her head toward the woman smiling, just beginning to release the Feline’s paw/hand in order to run to the woman. Also just departing this shimmer is a large black cat of the size and appearance of a panther of Earth but not of that specie. An I-Cat and one from amoung those races who populate this world along with humans, Felines and a small host of other ‘intellient’ races. A world shared with hundreds if not thousands of other specie and thousands if not tens of thousands of plants many of which might be called ‘strange’ if they were to be found on Earth.

 © 2008 - 2010 by T D Aldoennetti & Rénae Dáºmas. This work may not be replicated or presented in whole or in part by any means electronic or otherwise without the express consent of the work’s Owner (copyright holder), with the exception of the private and non-commercial viewing by the reader who is also the end purchaser. ALL Rights Reserved, including but not limited to ownership of Characters, final content decision, and more. This is a work of Fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real people or incidents past, present or future is purely coincidental. Any and all images which may be shown within this work are taken through license under Corel. Sketches by be provided for the work by Terry Volkirch. No affiliations, involvement or gender assignations through the use of these or any images of the subjects contained within those posted images is to be implied, intended or inferred
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