Kingdom of Waves

My grandmother used to tell me of the world before. Before man walked the earth, for there was no earth to walk upon. Before the seas grew restless, for stillness reigned upon the waters.

Man woke into this stillness, diving deep into the secret places of the sea. Her depths held wonders unimaginable, and for ages, man profited from her bounty. Wondrous cities rose beneath the waveless world, glowing bastions of humanity.

Until the change, when greed first conquered man.

A mighty king of the deep, seeking to claim the majesty of the seas as his own, challenged the seven champions of the sea to combat. A breastplate of silver covered his heart, a will of iron his soul. Great was the reach of his terrible spear.

Yet these did nothing to prevent his swift demise, for before the might of the sea, man is but a pebble in a pond. This lesson learned the king this day, as the first champion struck him down after a bare flurry of blows.

The Sea was infuriated at the insolence of the king. Storms raged, waves crashed, and the kingdoms of man crumbled before these new threats. The Sea, in her wrath, revoked the blessings she had granted man, until she reclaimed even their breath in her domain.

The king was reviled for the evil he dealt the Sea, in challenging her champions after the grace she had so freely granted unto them. His own people struck his name from history, until he was known only as the King of Waves, for his actions had brought the tyranny of waves upon all mankind.

No place in all the world was safe from the angry Sea, such that man was heard to cry out for mercy from their woes. The Sea would soon swallow them unless they could calm her wrath or find shelter from it.

Knowing of the Sea's great mercy in times past, the daughter of the late king petitioned the Sea for relief. "Thy wrath is justified against us," she said, "Yet the winds and titan waves shall soon mankind overthrow, except thou shouldst grant us mercy and a place to stand."

Sincere and graceful were her words, tainted neither by guile nor gilded greed, yet still the Sea with anger shook and promised never to cease the weaving of her waves. "Yet perhaps thou shalt have place beyond the waves," she offered, though the princess withheld hope as malice greened the visage of the waters, "If thou shouldst prove thy might against any of my champions, he shall cede his claim to thee."

The princess, though mighty as her father, knew not to tempt the fury of her host, as her father had. The champions held sway over kingdoms of power and majesty, far greater than any child of man. Yet spake the princess boldly, "No man can match the power of thy kin, nor endure a moment of thy wrath. That man might hope, wilt thou this meek request permit: No man shall stand, but many, against thy champion. Let a band of our finest warriors contend against thy keepers. Surely, even these be not a match for them, but herein lies our hope."

The Sea considered her proposal for a moment, then countered, "A band should be too many, for even my great children should fall before the multitude of man. I shall grant you three. Should your three champions best one of mine, humanity shall claim his keep."

The princess faltered in her plans, for many an army had fallen to the fury of the deep. Surely, three should not fare so well.

Yet the princess knew the Sea would offer aught else. With deep regret born of fading hope, she accepted the terms.

In haste, she gathered the mightiest of mankind from their places of scant refuge, to be tested by the waves. "Surely," she said, "the man who bests the ocean in her place of strength shall be of sufficient might to join the three."

So called she the contest: "The man to still the waves shall be my champion," she proclaimed. "Fame and great glory shall be his, that all the world shall know the might of man."

The first arose, hefting a mountainous sword. Before a tremendous wave, he laughed, "Behold, my glory comes! For naught can stand before my mighty blade. See how I end this torrent with a single swing."

Then he struck, and his blade passed through the waters and to the other side. So quick was his stroke that the wave parted all at once, forming two halves.

Two waves crashed down to either side, and though the warrior gloried in his might, the visage of the princess grew grim, for the crashing waves had not stilled. Turning to the side, they had fallen on the watching masses, burying many who did not rise again.

So came the second, a woman of great stature, towering above her kin. "My voice," she claimed, "will still the waves. My song has tamed the most boisterous of beasts and men; these raging waves shall fall to my music."

She stood before the raging sea and began a dark and lilting lullaby. So sweet were her tones, that the princess found herself falling to the tune. The Sea, however, cares not for the music of man.

The howling wind and roaring waves drowned her song, and soon fell upon her, too. Though the princess mourned her fall, she had not stilled the sea.

Then stood forth a man of meager countenance. He smiled at the approaching storm, "I have mastered the movements of the sea. As she moves, I follow. No wave can conquer me."

At his words, he ran forth to meet rolling waves that reached the sky. In moments, he stood upon the top of the greatest of waves. He danced upon the surface of the sea, joyful laughter echoing down to where the princess stared on in awe.

She had found her first champion. Though he had not stilled the sea, he found stillness in the storm. Such a man was surely untouchable, even before the might of the sea.

"Pray tell, fair knight," she spake to him, "by what name are ye known?"

"This humble man hath not a name," he replied, "yet would I be honored if thou wouldst so bless me."

This pleased the princess greatly. "I dub thee, Tide," she said, "For by thy will shall the waves be turned, and by slow stillness conquered."

One champion chosen, the princess sought another, but ere she caught upon the thought, a terrible maelstrom appeared before the greatest of their gates. Their walls were breached; their towers crumbled. The lives of many were lost.

Rushing forth to grant them aid, the princess found only rubble. Yet before she could shed a single tear for the fallen of her kindred, she heard a great roar, and the earth quaked. From the piled remains of homes, stones rolled free.

Another roar, another quake, and she could suddenly see the forms of men, women, and children among the scattered debris. They huddled beneath a mountain of a man, whose bloodied back heaved with the effort of holding up a fallen roof.

He roared again and, with great effort, threw his burden to the side, safely away from his charges. As the dust and debris settled, the grateful people flowed around the man, who exchanged relieved smiles with them all.

As he turned around and laid eyes on the princess, he froze and fell to a knee. Averting his gaze, he greeted her, giving his name.

Even amidst the destruction and dire circumstance, the princess could not help but smile at his earnestness. She commanded him to rise even as she hurried to his side to administer to his wounds.

The man drew back as if to refuse her ministrations, but was silenced by her greeting, "Thy might hath proved thee this day, that though we mourn this city, we mourn not all."

"Tis but my duty, nothing more," came his humble reply, then he added with a laugh, "I am only grateful my great girth hath served both me and these."

"So sayest thou, but what say they? Surely, thy service is greater than a moment's thought; thy whole life hath made thee thus a man of honor and courage, beside abundant brawn."

Astounded now, the man knew not what words to say, so continued the princess, "Now I seek three champions to stand betwixt the kingdom of man and certain annihilation. Wilt thou one such champion be, to best the champions of the Sea?"

The man pondered solemnly her earnest plea, then readily replied, "I shall thy bulwark be, until the day be won."

"Then from this day forth, ye shall be known as Coral, for thy strength shall provide sanctuary for all that lives, even as you stand defiant before the fury of the sea."

Two champions found, the princess reached a choice: to join the champions herself and venture forth as once her father did, or find a third to take her place. She was a woman of great renown, un-bested in either brains or battle, yet should she fall before the champions of the Sea, the kingdom, too, should topple.

As she thought upon her way, she came across a man fallen in her path. Bruised and bloodied, he appeared to have been robbed and left for dead. She quickly attended to his wounds, carefully lifting him up and carrying him to shelter. When he awoke, she asked what foul fate had befallen him.

"As I traveled from my home to visit kin," he said, "I was met upon the road by a band of vicious strangers. They took from me my supplies and pride, then left me with a message for our princess."

His eyes seemed to take her in for the first time, and he exclaimed, "My lady!" He attempted to sit up to pay his respects, but cried out in pain.

"Peace, my friend," she comforted, easing him back down, "I need not thine obeisance. Simply rest, and share with me this message."

"They said to seek them where deepest places meet, though I know not the meaning of the message."

Thinking but a moment, the princess responded, "There lies a place, not far from here, where two vast trenches meet. Surely, this is the place where they await my retribution."

Though she thus spake, she wondered why these bandits should so openly welcome her. Leaving her faithful subject to recover in such sanctuary as she could provide, she donned her gleaming armor and made haste to meet the wicked band.

After a brief journey, she spied a crimson banner in the distance, fluttering in the ocean currents above an expansive encampment. The camp hung over the edge of the chasm, such that there was but one approach by which to enter.

And only one escape.

The princess advanced upon the keep, swiftly realizing that the camp was made of countless bones of man and beast alike. Disgust entwined with purpose deep within her soul, and she greeted the guards at the gate with a hammer held high.

Before her blow could fall, however, the guardsmen fell to their knees before her and begged her enter in. Perplexed, the princess proceeded to a large central hall, where a woman sat upon a throne of gold and crimson jewels. Her hair was a black as deep as the chasm over which they stood, and a crooked scar marred an otherwise beautiful face.

Flexing her heavily muscled limbs, she stood and swept a mocking bow to the wary princess. "Greetings," she began, "to the protector of the kingdom of man, would-be conqueror of the seas. I gather you received my message?"

"My purpose, then, is clear to thee, but no news have I of thine. Swiftly speak thy purpose now, else I shall tear it down."

The bandit queen affected shock, yet her eyes betrayed her humor, "Methought the princess traveled far to gather champions of mankind, yet in this, my home, ye threaten me?" A flashing of her gaze betrayed a deeper plot, even ere she spoke the words: "Perhaps, if I could prove my strength to thee, thou wouldst not so readily cast thy aspersions on me."

The princess scoffed at such a thought. Said she, "Tis not mere strength that I must seek, but true nobility. It is not chance that brings me to thy grim abode, but thy message, violently delivered. There is no honor in thy banditry."

Again, the queen feigned shock, "What say you, now? Did the basest of my men mistake my charge? Alas! I merely requested they leave word for thee to gather here to me.

"Watch ye here, as I deliver judgement on their blackened hearts," she declared, and with a wave of her hand, the immense pressure of her will filled the camp. In quick succession, five explosions sounded from the camp, and panicked voices confirmed the men had died.

Disturbed, the princess warred within herself. Such cunning cruelty and overwhelming might may surpass even the champions of the Sea, but surely, she would beg too high a price.

As if the queen discerned her thoughts, she further spake, "If thou shouldst need such might as mine, I offer it both willingly and free. Only ensure that these, my men, have place among your new humanity, and I shall be thy champion."

Uncertain of the path to tread, the princess resolved to test the might of the conqueror queen. "Best me in combat, and you shall my champion be."

Emboldened, the bandit queen agreed with a smile broader than the sea. If man by her might survived the fury of the sea, they'd need to weather next the queen's vast ambitions.

A duel was set beyond the gates of the camp, the princess in her full armor with her mighty hammer and sturdy shield. The bandit queen stood against her, unarmed and unarmored, but for a covering of skins.

The princess rushed to the attack, delivering three powerful strokes before the queen responded with her own strike. Flesh met ringing steel as the bandit's single blow caved in the princess's shield. The next strike blasted the princess to the edge of the chasm. A final blow dissolved the water by the heat of its passage, yet it stopped before the face of the trembling princess.

So the cunning queen became the final champion, yet the princess did not grace her with a new name, for she found her honor lacking.

The champions chosen, the princess gathered them together and bid them prepare. Together, they trained to smoothly fight and breathe as one, and soon, they came before the princess, confident in their chance to defeat whatever champion chosen by the Sea.

Unbeknownst to the princess, though, they'd struck a dark accord: if they should succeed against a single champion, they would dare to conquer more.

So the princess called to the Sea, saying, "I have gathered champions three, now send forth the champion of the sea!"

In a swirl of water and churning salt, a leviathan emerged from the darkness of the depths. Towering above the ocean mountains, it let loose a guttural roar, then spake with a voice that beat against their hearts with the pressure of its passing, "Who challenges me, the mightiest of the children of the Sea?"

"I am Tide, who defies the fury of the waves."

"I am Coral, who shelters all who live."

"I am War, who steals peace by any means."

Astonished, the princess wondered at the name of her cunning queen, yet before the thought could finish, the battle was begun.

The beast opened forth its maw, and with a tremendous sucking, dragged the champions in. Tide rode the movement toward its head, dancing clear of its maw and striking at the eyes of the monster. Coral stood steady against the pulling of the monstrous breath and grabbed hold upon the gargantuan limbs.

War struck. Her blows tore mountains from their foundations and ripped scales and flesh alike from the great beast.

So it was that, blow by blow, the champions weathered the leviathan's attacks and delivered their own. As it bit down upon them, they broke off its teeth. As it tossed the waters into a frenzy with its frantic movements, they tore off its fins and struck it down.

When the battle was finally over, the champions of man stood victorious, their bodies untouched by the violence of the moment, though their hearts reveled in it still.

With a deep sigh of regret and grief, the Sea made true on her promise. "My champion has been bested, and according to our pact, I raise a place for man."

From around the drifting corpse of her greatest champion, the ocean gave way to land that rose from beneath to high above the surface of the water. From the body of the champion burst forth all manner of greenery and such life as walks dry land.

"Now the covenant is fulfilled," pronounced the Sea. "Leave me to my mourning."

So it is that man first came to walk upon dry land. All of humanity rejoiced for their respite from the desolation of the waves, and a great feast was called for the first time in many years.

Yet for some, it was not enough. War led her mighty band of three to conquer more and more champions of the Sea, forcing her to yield to man more and more ground. They only ceased after old age conquered what the sea could not, leaving many continents in their wake.

Because of their treachery, to this day, the Sea's anger has not abated. Ever after, whenever man should travel the sea, she would rise up to greet them with the fury of waves and storm.