《(Merged into Burra: Short Stories In the Shaper Universe) Harrow》


 Chapter 1 - Origin

    The class was excited about the Xiallak visiting today. Xiallak is more a title than a name. They are well versed in the history of the Harrow and are skilled story teller. This would be the day the students get to hear the full story of how their ancestors traveled to this planet. They had, of course, heard whispers and rumors from their older siblings, but remarkably they knew only small fragments.


    The class was being held in a large auditorium, unlike regular classes. The tiered wooden seats allowed everyone to see the raised stone bench behind a beautifully carved desk made of the mana enriched Telth tree, one of the few native plants that survived the trip to this world. The desk was for the book of histories, not that the Xiallak would need it, but it was a custom.


    The class became quiet as the Xiallak arrived. Two Grand Master ranked guardians materialized by the desk at the same time using their racial skill. The presence of the guardians demonstrated how much the Harrow cherished the Xiallak since only Xiallak knew the arts to awaken a Harrow¡¯s racial ability to manipulate the domain of time. The time domain was both a powerful and difficult skill to master. The Xiallak appeared to be of middle age and of average build, dressed in worn long blue and silver robes that blended with his granite-like skin. His appearance is deceptive since his mastery of time would be even greater than the guardians that protect him. Everyone hardly breathed listening to the Xiallak¡¯s footsteps echoing throughout the hall. When he reached the bench, he gently took the book of histories from his inventory, placing it on the desk to his right.


    ¡°Greetings class! My name is Folen.¡± His voice resonated throughout the auditorium, sending a chill down their spines.


    The class was in such awe they only managed a mumbled greeting in reply. Folen chuckled, knowing full well the impact he was having on the class.


    ¡°Today we will discuss the tale of origin, but truly it is more a tale of how we came to this world. To begin we must go back a thousand years to the time we first set foot on Burra. At that time the Harrow lived on our homeworld of Talos. We shared this beautiful world with the Yikold. They were not elementals beings, but were so in tune with the Earth Domain, their bodies gradually changed to living rock as they aged. For thousands of years, our two peoples had shared the world, with the Yikold keeping mostly to the vast mountain ranges.¡±


    Folen¡¯s demeanor took on a more serious countenance as he continued. ¡°One day much like any other this changed. A Yikold arrived in the town of Hilgurth on the edge of the southern mountain ranges. He was badly injured and nearly incoherent as he told the tale of ferocious creatures that attacked several of their deep places throughout the mountains to the south. These creatures absorbed any spell cast at them. Only by using their mana to propel the earth against the creatures were they able to injure them. The Yikold died shortly after delivering the message. While there had not been a war in recorded history, there were still monsters, dungeons, and natural disasters, such that our people had established a world-spanning network of communication. This was used to spread the word about the danger as guardians and Xiallak like myself prepared to probe the south.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    He paused and sighed. ¡°Little did we know the problem was greater than we first thought. The warning from the southern mountains was a fluke. The creatures had not just attacked the mountains to the south. We found out they had attacked all the mountain chains of Talos. Later we surmised that the creatures thought the mountains would be the most defensible location, so they took them first. Most of the Yikold race had perished by the time we discovered the depth of our error. As we started to probe the south our Guardians and their Xiallak vanished. Finally, on the third attempt, one of the party remained behind to relay what happened to the group. Even then the entire party was killed in less than a minute, only lasting that long because of the Xiallak put all his power into accelerating time for himself. For a few moments, he evaded the creatures which he identified as Carnos, but on brushing against one he found his power sundered as it absorbed his power.¡±


    Folen looked up from the book of history to take in the class, which was utterly silent and still as they waited with bated breath to hear of the downfall of our home world, as Folen continued. ¡°This explained why the scouts failed to report back. Just a touch was all it took for the creatures to absorb and disrupt our control over time, rendering us helpless. Within a week the Carnos began to attack from every mountain. Our people frantically consulted the gods and even demons in our desperation as we fell by the millions. Our strategies changed to using our powers indirectly to kill the creatures, however it hardly slowed their advance. The demons knew the most about the Carnos. They were creatures that feed on mana and lifeforce. The more sentient the creature the more they gained by consuming them. In our horror, we realized that many of the fallen were not dead, but instead now existed on farms where they were kept like cattle to be fed upon.¡±


    Folen seemed to shake himself as he continued. ¡°Our greatest mages tried to open portals to other worlds hoping that some of our people might escape. Unfortunately, there was a barrier around our world preventing a gate from opening. Our greatest mage Parul found that this did not block access to demons or the gods. He theorized that since they were on a different plane of existence, it might be possible to travel to another dimension. After nearly a month of battle, the remainder of our forces retreated to a collection of time worn islands in the middle of the Eastern Ocean. The barrier of water with no mountains allowed us to hold out, but each subsequent attack became stronger.¡±

 Chapter 2 - Desperate Gamble

    ¡°Parul gathered our greatest mages with priests bolstering the group to open a gate across universes. They knew they could not keep this portal open very long. Maintaining the opening would consume the most powerful mana potions and use mana crystals like water. Since there might not be enough time to transport everyone, the travelers were chosen with careful consideration to carry on the species. They numbered ten thousand strong, though the most important to their survival went first, because the portal may collapse at any time. They carried seeds, dried food, tools, and everything else that could be carried on their bodies. Parul was not sure if their inventory space would survive the trip, as a result they could only take what they could carry. Many had tears in their eyes as they left friends and family behind to a certain death. From the moment the gate stabilized the group sprinted through the opening. The Carnos seemed to realize their prey was escaping and a vast new attack began. Everyone not maintaining the portal or in the group of travelers ran to the defense.¡±


    ¡°At this point, many of the strongest of our guardians attacked with a new weapon. Parul had created an item that harnessed our power over time to increase the yield of our most destructive device. When it exploded the mana used to generate the explosion was contained in a small sphere of accelerated time and compressed space, which consumed all of the mana in an instant. When the sphere collapsed killing the guardian, the violence of the explosion killed hundreds. Others wore devices constructed to kill the wearer if they became unconscious. All were truly desperate as they tried to hold back the tide of Carnos.¡±


    ¡°At the end, their sacrifice was not in vain. After all travelers entered the portal, Parul performed his last act. He and the few mages remaining conscious through the mana drain severed their connection with the portal and then powered a final device that caused a rupture in the portal¡¯s integrity. From this tiny rupture, a blade of immense force cut into the earth to the core of the planet as Parul teleported to the small moon that circled his world. Mana was thin here. His wards flickered and he fell to his knees, though he had enough time left to witness his world crack and then explode. As the world ruptured he felt his connection to the party members that traveled to the new universe snap. He collapsed when his wards gave out. He died with satisfaction, knowing his people lived on and were safe.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Folensaw tears in many of the student¡¯s eyes as he finished. ¡°On arrival to Burra, we found that our spells worked differently here. While there are no ley lines the ambient mana is stronger. Most importantly we discovered that our time domain skill required a Sage to awaken it, unlike in our original universe where anyone with patience could learn it. As you know we settled to the north of the Tassan empire and came to an agreement with the Empress to send Guardians to protect her using our unique skill. We built underground for safety and have thrived over the last thousand years. We will never forget the sacrifice that got us here.¡±


    Folen gently closed the book of histories. He looked up at the class and said. ¡°This is a sad tale, but also a tale of sacrifice and love. Countless Harrow gave their lives, so that we could be here today. Remember them and let this example guide your life and steel your resolve in times of trouble. We are Harrow!!¡± Folen finished with a shout that rang out through the auditorium. The class leaped to their feet, answering. ¡°WE ARE HARROW!!!¡±