Arraspel. A vast land of tall grass, strong trees, and massive mountains. The continent is divided into four lands, which are tended and protected by the four equine species: Horse herds roam the great plains of Albarari, Unicorns tend the deciduous forest of Msitu, Pegasi oversee the rolling hills of Nuvola, and Alicorns live in the high, rocky peaks of the mountain range known as Thrylos.
The Unicorns and Alicorns control great magic: the power of the elements. While Unicorns are not as powerful as Alicorns, they control a very high concentration of their magic, which they use to make the forest flourish. They protect the animals within as well, but their power stops at the forest's edge. They have no control over what happens outside of their domain.
Alicorns, on the other hand, have nearly limitless power. They shape the land, change the seasons, and provide the needed resources for the other three species to live and thrive. Most alicorns work with others of their kind to create lakes, rivers, groves, caves, and anything else the animals need. They are always working for the good of the world.
Until...
The Unicorns and Alicorns control great magic: the power of the elements. While Unicorns are not as powerful as Alicorns, they control a very high concentration of their magic, which they use to make the forest flourish. They protect the animals within as well, but their power stops at the forest's edge. They have no control over what happens outside of their domain.
Alicorns, on the other hand, have nearly limitless power. They shape the land, change the seasons, and provide the needed resources for the other three species to live and thrive. Most alicorns work with others of their kind to create lakes, rivers, groves, caves, and anything else the animals need. They are always working for the good of the world.
Until...
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/1/2/111208893/kasamata_3_orig.png)
An Alicorn by the name of Kasamata stood on the mountain top, brooding over his fate once again. He was a servant... A servant to the weakest of them all. He, godlike in his power and beauty, was a slave to the needs of those who could not care for themselves. They were all so weak. So helpless. So.... vulnerable.
He flew over Arraspel, summoning those Alicorns whom he thought might be open to his plans. When he landed back on his mountain-top perch the other Alicorns awaited him. Some seemed anxious while others appeared interested. A few, he noticed, were just plain bored.
He spoke to them about his thoughts of the morning. He told them of his plans to change the way things were. He watched them all while he spoke, noting who seemed the most intrigued. There was a heavy silence after he finished. The only sound was shuffling of wings and soft hoof-falls on stone.
Suddenly they all began to speak at once. Kasamata listened to them. Protests, questions, shouts of encouragement. He answered them all with strong, persuasive words that turned their protests into silence and their encouragement into excitement.
In the end, they all followed him.
While the world of Arraspel slept wrapped in a blanket of shadow, the Alicorns that decided to follow Kasamata talked. They schemed and planned and plotted. After hours and days and weeks of talking, they worked out what they would do.
The only other magical equines in Arraspel were the Unicorns down in Msitu. The vast forest that shielded the Unicorns sprawled across the entire Western border of the continent, dividing the Plains of Albarari from the salt sea on its western side. Kasamata persuaded the other Alicorns that attacking here first would deal the most damaging blow possible. Without the Unicorns, the rest of the species were doomed.
Unfortunately, he was right. Well, mostly.
The Alicorns launched their attack late one night while the forest was asleep. There were a few nocturnal animals that saw them coming and smiled. Kasamata narrowed his eyes when he saw one deer looking up at him joyfully.
Fool...
The rising sun lit up the morning hours later, but its light fought to compete with the flames to reveal the great devastation of the Forest. A raging inferno engulfed Msitu. Very few animals escaped the fire's licking tongues. The Unicorns had fought bravely once they had been awoken by the attack. Only a small handful remained of the majestic creatures. Kasamata spared thirty or so for his own purposes. He saw a rabbit speeding away over the hills, making for the center of Albarari, where Kasamata knew his tamed brethren lived with their pathetic horse friends. One of his companions prepared to kill the creature, but Kasamata stopped her.
"No. Let him go. Let him tell them what happened here." He raised his wings and leaped into the air.
He flew over Arraspel, summoning those Alicorns whom he thought might be open to his plans. When he landed back on his mountain-top perch the other Alicorns awaited him. Some seemed anxious while others appeared interested. A few, he noticed, were just plain bored.
He spoke to them about his thoughts of the morning. He told them of his plans to change the way things were. He watched them all while he spoke, noting who seemed the most intrigued. There was a heavy silence after he finished. The only sound was shuffling of wings and soft hoof-falls on stone.
Suddenly they all began to speak at once. Kasamata listened to them. Protests, questions, shouts of encouragement. He answered them all with strong, persuasive words that turned their protests into silence and their encouragement into excitement.
In the end, they all followed him.
While the world of Arraspel slept wrapped in a blanket of shadow, the Alicorns that decided to follow Kasamata talked. They schemed and planned and plotted. After hours and days and weeks of talking, they worked out what they would do.
The only other magical equines in Arraspel were the Unicorns down in Msitu. The vast forest that shielded the Unicorns sprawled across the entire Western border of the continent, dividing the Plains of Albarari from the salt sea on its western side. Kasamata persuaded the other Alicorns that attacking here first would deal the most damaging blow possible. Without the Unicorns, the rest of the species were doomed.
Unfortunately, he was right. Well, mostly.
The Alicorns launched their attack late one night while the forest was asleep. There were a few nocturnal animals that saw them coming and smiled. Kasamata narrowed his eyes when he saw one deer looking up at him joyfully.
Fool...
The rising sun lit up the morning hours later, but its light fought to compete with the flames to reveal the great devastation of the Forest. A raging inferno engulfed Msitu. Very few animals escaped the fire's licking tongues. The Unicorns had fought bravely once they had been awoken by the attack. Only a small handful remained of the majestic creatures. Kasamata spared thirty or so for his own purposes. He saw a rabbit speeding away over the hills, making for the center of Albarari, where Kasamata knew his tamed brethren lived with their pathetic horse friends. One of his companions prepared to kill the creature, but Kasamata stopped her.
"No. Let him go. Let him tell them what happened here." He raised his wings and leaped into the air.
"Let them come."
All images and Stories © Keen 2017
Summit of Legends
Summit of Legends