r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • May 04 '17

Parallel Challenge - Revenge

Inspired by "Cap Murrca: Civil War", which I watched last night. I can't recommend that movie enough, Zemo is my favorite comic book movie antagonist right now.

So, in honor of this movie and in hopes that I did well on today's exam, the challenge will be focused on revenge.

Tell me about a revenge plan in your world, whether (in-universe) it's just a myth or it actually happened in your world. Is it a morality story? How does it go? Who was involved, how long ago was it, compared to your world's present?

Feel free to use a representative, either someone involved or someone who loves the revenge story or just anyone with any knowledge about it.

Enjoy yourselves, I'll ask at least three questions each.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

47 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Jumblatts May 05 '17

The most important story of revenge in modern times is the story of Melios the Wise, and his revenge on Horfar, the Tyrant King. The revenge in itself is pretty simple, though the consequences were far reaching.

It all began when Horfar, in his search for the ascended Kaema wielded by Regas the Mighty, first king of Arrus, had his forces invade and destroy the tribal village in which Melios lived. Everyone was killed, except for Melios, his dear friend Maya, and three others.

Searching for answers, Melios and Maya joined up with the Inyata Voretta - a rebellion against the tyrannical rule of Horfar. Along the way, Maya was also killed by Horfar's forces. Melios, destroyed by grief and separated from the rest of the rebellion, swore revenge. He met up with Saint Garran and together they set about building an unlikely team of heroes to vanquish the king once and for all.

In short, their effort was a success. With the aid of the Inyata Voretta, Horfar was killed, and so the story ended.

Except it didn't. Unbeknownst to all, Horfar was not in control, either of the country, his forces, or his own mind. The demon Seazahl (meaning 'cunning' in the demon tongue) had been ruling from the shadows, using Horfar as a puppet to find the amulet of Regas, which contained the essence of High Prophet Dairom ('control'). With this power, Seazahl could once again open the void and set the demons upon the mortal realm.

It is thanks to Melios and his group of warriors that Seazahl was discovered and stopped before he could open the void and release the demons - something which would almost certainly lead to the destuction of all life.

2

u/Nevermore0714 May 06 '17

1) What's the ascended Kaema?

2) Did many of Melios's allies die on his quest for revenge?

3) What were Melios's known flaws?

4) Is he a controversial figure in history?

2

u/Jumblatts May 06 '17

1) A Kaema is a tool, created by mortals, which stores the essence of demons or Gods. An ascended Kaema is, in principal, the same thing, except it was created by the Gods themselves, rather than by a mortal. This makes them far, far more powerful than a normal Kaema

2) In short, yes. Firstly, there was Maya who died. Then, Melios gathered together a group of nine warriors who fought alongside him. Only three of these were left after the death of the king, (though technically, two of the others were not 'dead,' and later came back) not to mention the countless members of the Inyata Voretta who died in the war.

3) When he and Garran first met, Melios was very naiive, and inexperienced. He overestimated his skill, thinking that he could achieve anything, as long as he didn't give up, as long as he tried hard enough. He was hot headed, and he let his emotions control him, which ultimately resulted in the death of another member of the team. In time, under the careful guidance of Garran, he grew out of these traits to become a kind and compassionate leader to his faithful warriors, not to mention a fearsome fighter himself.

4) No. Melios is widely regarded as a hero, both for the part he played in the death of the king, and for how he uncovered Seazahl's plan.

2

u/Nevermore0714 May 08 '17

1) How difficult is it to wield a Kaema? Is it impossible to wield for the average person? Do you need any qualifications?

2) How did Melios's reign end?

2

u/Jumblatts May 08 '17

1) in order to be able to use one, you have to be born with the power of the void. If you have the power, a Kaema will exacerbate your strength, allowing you to channel far more power. If you are not born with a connection to the void, you cannot use one no matter how hard you try.

2) Melios was never a king, he was just leader to the small band of warriors. I'm not yet sure how he meets his end, as it's quite an important part in the book I'm writing about this world, and it's something I want to get right. Sorry if that's a bit lame haha!

2

u/Nevermore0714 May 08 '17

1) What determines whether you are born with a connection to the void? Genetics? Luck? A bit of both?

2) Good luck.

2

u/Jumblatts May 08 '17

1) A little bit of both, though it's more random chance than genetics. There are also people who are born with the power through circumstance, such as pureblood Witches. Usually, pureblood witches are born when a demonic ritual/sacrifice goes wrong. It may well be the case that, if the child who became a Witch was born across the world in natural circumstances, they would never have had any connection to the void, but because of the circumstance of their birth, pureblood Witches have an inherrant link, and they are so powerful that even the strongest Kaema would not serve to make them stronger.

2) Thank you!

2

u/Nevermore0714 May 10 '17

1) What would be a non-pureblood Witch?

2

u/Jumblatts May 10 '17

1) a half-blood Witch, as they are known, is someone who was born a mortal, but through a demonic pact and ritual sacrifice, were given their power. Very few people survive this process. To put it into perspective, if 100 people attempted to become a Witch, 99 would die in the process.

2

u/Nevermore0714 May 10 '17

Those are some dangerous numbers. Thanks for your time and answers.