The Black Flame

In the ancient days, before the desert came, there stood the empire of Kithara, where obsidian towers rose beside the lost Sea of Xis. It was a place of learning and knowledge, of lost sorcery and the wisdom of gods now forgotten. Over it all ruled the royal bloodline of the Mutarai, descended from the race of giants who brought civilization out of the sea before the memory of man.

The greatest ruler of the lost empire was Amezalan the Wise, and he had three sons. Two were born of his queen, and the third by his sorceress concubine. The eldest son was Siduh, who grew to be a man of great learning; the second was Eshuh, the warrior; and the last was Utuzan, born of a darker bloodline, and he became a worker of magic like his mother.

Then the emperor was slain, and strife tore the land apart. Utuzan rose against his brothers, and there was war in the ancient world. Armies marched, rivers flooded, and cities burned. At the end, the dark prince was cast down and bound with forgotten magics. He swore he would return to have his vengeance, but he was sealed away for all time.

Ages passed, and the empire wore away beneath the coming of the desert. The Sea of Xis withered and vanished, and the once-great cities of Kithara became ruins in a desolate wasteland. The descendants of the people went north and built a new civilization in the river-valleys and on the coastlands. A thousand years passed, and then two, and then three. Until Kithara was only a name whispered in legends, and the Dark Prince Utuzan a fable.

Peoples have risen and fallen, kingdoms been born and destroyed, and the very face of the world has changed. Now, in a dangerous time when empires clash, the Dark One will be freed from his imprisonment. Now kingdoms undreamed when he was sealed away will learn to tremble at his name. After aeons of waiting, he will have his throne, and a new world will learn to fear the power of Prince Utuzan, the Chosen of Anatu, The Black Flame.

Annnnnd here's the teaser for next year's story.  So many times in Sword & Sorcery the villain is an ancient wizard conjured up from the past to wreak havoc.  This time, I'm going to make one the hero.  I think it's going to be a good time.