The Legacy of the Phoenix

The world of Avern has been Abandoned by the gods. At least, that’s what the people believe. There is a truth they cannot see, and it has not gone unnoticed. Descending to the world, the Dark Phoenix, the Mother of the Gods, is determined to find out what has happened to her children at the Maker’s behest. A piece of the Eternal Phoenix, that which brought life to Avern, the Dark Phoenix is born within the body of the crown princess of Lineria, Keiara. When her sister attempts to usurp the throne after committing regicide, she tries to kill her only sister, and her only opponent. The strike is true, but instead of killing the young princess, the old sword pierces the barrier between Keiara and the sleeping Dark Phoenix, uniting them in one body in the flames of rebirth.

Once released, the Dark Phoenix must locate those that will dedicate themselves to her, those that will give everything to save the world of Avern. These individuals, though, have more to them than they realize, as there is a reason they find themselves drawn to Keiara and the power she possesses. They know not what power they themselves possess.

Gaining allies of humans, elves, dwarves, vampires, demi-gods, shifters, and demons, Keiara quickly surrounds herself with a powerful party. Time is limited, though, as they have a mere year to find the gods and release them, and to do that, first the Keepers must be released. Two parties are formed, and as they part ways, they each set off on different missions. Along the way, new allies are found, and new enemies are discovered. There is little to do but continue on their path, even when the steps grow difficult.

In the darkness, a force moves the pieces of the world of Avern like a game. This force will see the world destroyed and recreated in their own image, and if Keiara and her allies do not succeed, the world of Avern will be forever changed.

Dark and the Sword

The world of Avern has moved on. It’s been nearly a millennium since the day when the whole pantheon vanished, a day no one will ever forget. Since the Abandonment, the mortals have learned to live without gods and goddesses. The world became mundane, with little magic and even less hope. Tyrants have emerged, while those possessing magic hold immense power. Forces surge in the darkness, threatening to topple the already fragile world. However, Avern’s world plight is not unknown, and distant watchers will intervene. The mortals are sleeping, however, unknowing that two great powers will soon vie for control.

Then something happens that changes things. A young princess makes a bid for power by murdering her father. She then attempts to murder her sister, the crown princess of Lineria, Keiara. Despite a true strike aided by dark powers, Keiara doesn’t die. Instead, the strike pierces the barrier between her human soul and the soul sleeping within her, the soul of the Dark Phoenix. More than a goddess, the Dark Phoenix is the legendary mother of the gods. She is a part of the Eternal Phoenix that brought life to their world eons ago, one of the primal forces of the cosmos.

Book One

Air and the Crown

Even though the world of Avern has moved on, changes have been set in motion. It has been almost a thousand years since the Abandonment and disappearance of the gods and goddesses of the world, but the Eternal Phoenix has begun awakening. The first, Keiara, the Dark Phoenix, has gathered two groups of adventurers to release the first of the divine powers: the Keepers. Dark forces have imprisoned the Keepers of Life, Death, Magic, and Nature in the darkest corners of Avern. The secret to their release is unknown, yet they hope that finding them will lead them to those answers. The Mother of Gods has gathered and split her followers into two groups, each setting in a different direction to search for the imprisoned Keepers.

Sanna leads her group north, taking Jovan, Miira, Syera, and Elmlock. Together, they are on a mission to find the Crown of Life, the artifact they believe will free the Keeper of Life from captivity. To do so, though, they must first cross the frozen lands of Phomean and find someone to take them across the Pass of Solace to the home of the water-kin elves, Zeri T’ves. The water-kin elves may not welcome them, and they must take their chances with who they can trust among the Pirates of Pass. Of course, along the way, they will make new friends and perhaps new foes.

Book Two

Water and the Cloak

Even though the world of Avern has moved on, changes have been set in motion. It has been almost a thousand years since the Abandonment and disappearance of the gods and goddesses of the world, but the Eternal Phoenix has begun awakening. The first, Keiara, the Dark Phoenix, has gathered two groups of adventurers to release the first of the divine powers: the Keepers. Dark forces have imprisoned the Keepers of Life, Death, Magic, and Nature in the darkest corners of Avern. The secret to their release is unknown, yet they hope that finding them will lead them to those answers. The Mother of Gods has gathered and split her followers into two groups, each setting in a different direction to search for the imprisoned Keepers.

Kieara and her group head north to Darna, where there is rumored to be a dethroned princess who has a magic cloak. They hope the cloak is what they’re looking for because they’re back to the beginning if it isn’t. Lena struggles with her identity and where she fits in the whole scheme of the world. She knows she’s the Seer in Darkness, but is that all she is? Encounters test the group’s cohesion, and someone is out to ensure they don’t find the cloak and release the Keeper of Death.

Book Three

Fire and the Ring

With the release of the Keeper of Life and the Keeper of Death, both groups who follow the Mother of Gods continue forward. Two more have awakened the Phoenix of Air and the Phoenix of Water. Keiara is unsure if the others will awaken to the call, but she has hopes. Loosely in contact with each other, the two groups move toward new destinations and new trials. They are stepping ever closer to understanding what has happened in Avern. As they learn more about the mysterious foes they face, they begin to see how the world interconnects beyond even their own existence.

On the heels of their recent success, Sanna is ready to tackle their next mission, which they believe is in the desert of the San T’shi. From what the group learns as they travel south through the continent, the Fire-kin elves are even less friendly to strangers than the Water-kin elves. Jovan wrestles with what he should do about his own homeland, and he continues to grow in affection for both Sanna and Essex. They are unsure what they will find in the desert, but when a strange person who is a member of a desert race known as the “Wraiths” comes to their aid when they are attacked, they find their mission may be more complex than they ever imagined.

Book Four

Earth and the Staff

Even though the world of Avern has moved on, changes have been set in motion. It has been almost a thousand years since the Abandonment and disappearance of the gods and goddesses of the world, but the Eternal Phoenix has begun awakening. The first, Keiara, the Dark Phoenix, has gathered two groups of adventurers to release the first of the divine powers, the Keepers. Forces have imprisoned the Keeper of Life, Death, Magic, and in the dark. The Dark Phoenix, the Mother of Gods, has come to the world of Avern to release her children. Those she gathered split into two groups, each set out in a different direction to search for the imprisoned Keepers.

Reeling from their losses, the group still moves on. They know that the only way is forward, and having partially succeeded in the mission, they need to find the Staff of Life. Hoping that Sanna’s group is fairing well, Keiara doubts her own decisions, which are proved wrong when things she prepared for come to be. They make their way through Avern to the Seran jungle, where the ever-growing staff is supposed to be present. Myrstand learns a few staunch lessons in piety when presented with near-impossible decisions along the way. Keiara assures him that his faith is not shaken by the truths revealed to them.

Book Five

Light and the Litany

Together again, Keiara and the others celebrate their victories in a nearby town, unaware of the real danger creeping ever closer. They have met success and had great losses along the way. Five parts of the Eternal Phoenix have been awakened, bringing them great advantages against those they fight. They know they are not finished, but the entire group is exhausted. They desperately need a break. Avari has an incredible vision that rocks her to the very core, which she does not reveal to the others yet. Her partners worry over her in the aftermath when she is bedridden for several days. Keiara worries, knowing what has to have happened, but leaves it at that.

Meanwhile, the forces of the dark move on them, decimating the town, burning the entire place, and killing nearly everyone in the night. The group can do nothing to save most of them, as they are locked in battle with equally powerful foes that threaten to end their next mission to find the Litany. Myrstand feels something is coming, and though he does not know what, he accepts that his fate may be coming to meet him soon.

Book Six

Shadow and the Phoenix

Avari knows the future, and she fears what she knows will come. Even Lena cannot tell what is yet to be for them. Avari stands before perhaps the most critical decision in all of Avern and does not know what to do. She cannot confide in the others, for if they know what she knows, they will change their actions and may doom the entire world of Avern. She knows that the truth lies in something that does not exist: the Shadow Phoenix.

Keiara and Sanna plan where to go next, sure that together they can defeat any foe the dark throws at them with all six parts of the phoenix holding power. Keiara believes that to defeat the forces they face in the dark, they must be proactive and go after them before they choose to attack. The stronghold known as the Forge is their destination, and they believe it holds the answers to the questions that remain. Avari watches them plan, already knowing what will come of it. It is what has to be, and she knows it, yet she still has to make the decision that will decide all their fates.

Book Seven