The Enchantment of Rowan
The Enchantment of Rowan
An Ancient, Artisan, Knightly Tale
Shane R. Brown
Table of Contents
Preface:
A brief history of the origin of the
Twin Bell Towers of The Kingdom of Rowan
Chapter I
The Twin Bell Towers
Chapter II
The King’s Fair
Chapter III
A Distant Cry
Chapter IV
An Unexpected Treasure
Preface:
A brief history of the origin
of the Twin Bell Towers of The Kingdom of Rowan
These historic Twin Bell Towers of Rowan, have most profound meaning for almost every citizen of the Kingdom of Rowan. They who deeply appreciate their heritage from their forefathers, have long since revered this innovative landmark of great renown, for its magnificent beginnings, its uniting symbol of righteousness, its prestigious design, and its momentous usefulness in keeping and governing the time in this prosperous land.
Its bells have faithfully rung on every given hour, from 7am to 7pm, since the day of its dedication and inauguration, precisely 100 years ago, in the year 965 yF. They did so faithfully every year, until one frightful night, when an event took place in the kingdom of Rowan, exactly 40 years ago from this very day, the day of the King’s Fair, which fair takes place every year on the date of the anniversary of the Twin Bell Towers.
This unexpected event, which would inevitably change the lives of the people of the Kingdom of Rowan forever, by opening a door to a hidden knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, which had been known by the noble ancients of long ago, but which had been slowly lost, because of wickedness among the people of the earth. This ancient, and powerful knowledge, had the potential, to remarkably, and tremendously bless and better the lives of the peoples of the Kingdom of Rowan, and all others if used rightly, forever. Thus, brightening and unifying the land, through providing hidden treasures of knowledge, and unparalleled marvelous opportunities, to enhance their future, in bright, and stunning ways.
On the North face of the West Bell Tower of Rowan, inscribed in metal, on a granite memorial placard, is written a brief, yet compelling history of how these beautiful twin towers came to be. The inscription reads as follows:
These Twin Bell Towers of Rowan, having been constructed as a gift from the great King Rama of the Kingdom of Rahue, from the Western region, on this the continent of Jain-Mercedes, for the great King Gordan and his people of the Kingdom of Rowan, of the Central region, signify that these two kingdoms are friends, kindred, and peaceful allies.
This because of the glorious deeds performed by the King, Prince and people of Rowan from the Central Region, for the king, whose name is King Rama, his son Prince Gilbert, and their kingdom and people of Rahue to the West.
This, for as King Rama’s Western Kingdom was surrounded under the siege of attack, by the hands of a numerous clan of ferocious neighboring bandits, he sent out his son Prince Gilbert, with command of their superior knights, to thwart off their attack, and help restore peace and unity to his kingdom. Prince Gilbert did so, and having succeeded, he drove them out, pushing them far away into the East, even into the borders of Rowan, where no small surprise came.
To Prince Gilbert’s awful realization, as he was in the very pursuit of victory, his forces were unmercifully ambushed by another organized entity, the Mandricks, who were a deadly barbaric tribal force. These tribes, festered and brooded in the wilderness, ever planning and plotting new ways to gain more power unto themselves over others, through gain and intrigue, devising organized attacks, to offset their enemy’s main thrust, and thus bring the balance of the fight into their own favor. These attacks were always successful, and raised the proper fear, to accomplish their designs.
Furthering his fear, and to Prince Gilbert’s utter dismay, these two dangerous opponents, the bandits and the Mandricks, did join forces, and combined their imposing attack.
Prince Gilbert’s weary residue of surviving soldiers, having suffered much from their long march, and grueling battles, bravely geared up to face this newest enemy, and to their credit, they fought bravely. However, as bold as they may have been, in fighting nobly this wearying battle, nothing could have prepared them for what was to come.
In utter shock, horror, and deflating bewilderment, they beheld yet another adversary, in the form of the largest tyrannous group on the Monocratic continent, known as the Shizors.
Now, collectively, the Mandricks, who had secretly and subserviently joined allegiance with the Shizors, who were known abroad in the land for their laying siege to entire kingdoms, and conquering status, continually rampaging to expand their own powers of unrighteous dominion, and together, under the design of the Shizors, the Mandricks, and the new allegiance of the unquenched bandits, all combined their strength and numbers, to march onward, and seize the entire Kingdom of Rahue to the West. This to lay waste to their goodly land, reap the spoils, and confidently gain a military stronghold, fit for a bloodthirsty brotherhood.
All to Prince Gilbert’s sinking fear and desperate despair, his troops were about to relinquish, and when all hope was about trodden under the foot of heavy march, Prince Gilbert was then met with a glorious surprise and favor. For while in dire need, in this their time of uttermost trial, Prince Gilbert in amazement, realized hope!
For, from the darkest abyss to the most wondrous of ways, his astounding rescue in relief came.
The citizens of Rowan, who were in their farmlands on the outskirts of their kingdom, harvesting their crops in their fields, witnessed some of these battling, struggling, wounded, and desperate knights of Rahue in great need of aid, and mercifully, bravely, and boldly, undertook to their assistance, in haste.
The people of Rowen rushed onward, upon their fastest steeds, to inform their king, King Rama, and his beloved son, Prince Gordan, that this unjust travestied was taking place.
Having made themselves aware of the Mandricks’, Shizors’ and bandit clan’s divergent plans to conquer the Kingdom of Rahue, through stratagem and scrutiny, they quickly launched into action, for some of these went on to inform their King, while the rest interceded, by pleasingly posing as neutral and naïve friends, hoping to keep the peace with these enemies.
Through stratagem, they offered a peace drink offering to all the tyrant leaders, who, not wanting to pass up such a proposition, but with no intention of honoring their part of the truce, they freely partook. These drinks were prepared in their strength, to achieve the desired taste, and outcome, were administered to with a portion of plant herb known as hamactin.
This herb, used by many homestead physicians to remove infectious fungus on feet, was not fit for consumption, and incapacitated their leader’s speech, making it slurred unrecognizably. It also created a measure of lethargy, which made it easier to destroy them down through their ranks.
Having thus wrought upon the enemy’s leaders, resulting in a lack of battle commands and confusion, as well as fatigue, the Mandricks, Shizors and deadly bandit clan, slowly began to fall, and were beaten back.
Further, in the assistance given by King Gordan of Rowan, whom having received word from his watchful farmers, that the enemies were coming, provided great help, in sending out his son Prince Germain, with all his noble knights and warriors.
With the added strength given from these allies, and their glorious intercession, the three tyrannous groups, whom alone were known as the most deadly of forces and foes, slowly began to fall, as the valiant knights dispersed by King Rama, successfully achieved in turning back the heavy tide of the battle line.
Finally, the bandits, Mandricks, and a significant number of the Shizors were slain, and outfought, for they had sent the largest portion of their army onward, to continue their planned invasion and attack on the Kingdom of Rahue to the West, thinking they could still take it, for they left the rest of their diminished forces behind, with which they had hoped to end the conflict, but soon this was not so.
While the forces of Prince Gilbert of Rahue and Prince Germain of Rowan were still conquering, the king of Rowan, King Gordan, was standing upon his watch tower, gathering intelligence to help serve in the battle, and from this vantage point, he saw the split off group of the Shizors’ marching in movement to the West.
He then perceived their plans of departure, and hurriedly sent word to his son Prince Gordan, to head them off, and thwart their planned invasion on Rahue. He also sent a hurried embassy to forewarn King Rama by way of messenger scouts, that the Shizors’, who were already preparing to engage in embattlement, were on their way forth to attack.
Making things even worse for the oncoming Shizors, King Rama of Rahue, had just received new recruits to his army, who when they were met in their front by the new forces of King Rama, and at their rear by Prince Gordan’s forces, the Shizors ultimately met with a tragic end.
For on Rahue’s own soil, King Rama’s fresh and well prepared army, as well as Prince Gordan, with his knights and nobles, dominated over their enemies so powerfully and victoriously, that the Shizors finally fell, and great was the fall thereof!
Their numbers having been drastically reduced through embattlement, the Shizors were considered conquered, along with the Mandricks and bandits, and with this huge feat accomplished in the land, it gave way to hope for many other righteous kingdoms in the land, to spread forth their goodly reign and rule, without the fear of tyranny.
To ever after give an appreciation to the King and people of Rowan, for their heroic?acts of liberating?dominance, as well as their?beloved bravery,?I, King Rama, anointed under the hand of my father King Royel, do now signify on this fine granite and silver-plated memorial placard, that these two great kingdoms, symbolized by these two magnificent bell towers, Rahue in the West, and Rowan to the East, are seminal, kindred, and?choicest?of friends.
I King Rama, hereby do humbly dedicate these lofty?twin bell towers, built and hallowed by the craftsmanship and gentlemen of Rahue, for the people and kingdom of Rowan. Hereupon the establishment of our union of beloved fellowship, harmony?and trade.
To further the appreciation of King Gordan and Rowan’s people, a clock has been built and established in the Eastern tower, facing the East, to live as a legacy of friendship, and to help govern the affairs of this people in this part of the land.
Furthermore, to help ever remind its people, of the bravery and honorable deeds of their forbearers, and to inspire them to do likewise.
KING ROLAND RAMA
Of the Kingdom of Rahue
Upon the 1st year
Of freedom from
The fear of Tyranny
(In the year 965 yF)
Chapter I
The Twin Bell Towers
The people of the Kingdom of Rowan were all amazed! Their twin bell towers had been ringing all morning! From 6am until the current time, it now being 7:10am. At the time of this new excitement, Shrad, the town’s Bell Towers’ trustee, had enlisted the help of his youngest son Heroum, a lad of fifteen, to help examine the cause of this tumult.
“Heroum, we must do something about this constant dreadful ringing!” he stoutly shouted above the bewildering noise, “It’s up to us!”
“Yes father, it’s upsetting all the town’s people! Let’s go and put a stop to this!”
Shrad had been at the towers all last evening, finishing the installation of some new equipment, and realigning the gears and mechanisms, to work without losing any of the clockwork’s timing in-between. As the privileged and respected trustee of the towers, Shrad, a father of four, feared that the new equipment had either been faulty, or incorrectly installed.
Because the tower’s trusteeship ran through family line, Shrad, along with his three sons, were the only ones given the responsibilities for maintaining the functionality and cleanliness of the bells and towers inside and out. Shrad, due to the ethics code he had been brought up under, and the obligation to then teach and train his sons in all the ways of the towers, the same way he was taught and trained by his own father, and he by his grandfather, brought along his youngest son Heroum. This was so, that when they were of age, one of them could take the mantle, and covenant responsibility of the towers.
As Shrad and Heroum embarked to discover the cause of the ringing, the two knew this was not going to be an easy fix. After having been taught many things about the towers, from previous trustees, including discovering hidden secrets, they felt certain they could make things work.
“Father, this ringing is so loud, it’s hurting my ears!” Shouted Heroum over the piercing powerful echoing noise.
“Yes, and it will make it difficult for us to thoroughly inspect the gears,” Shrad cried, “but we must do our best. The people of Rowan are counting on us!”
The twin bell towers of Rowan were built to last, made of brick, and stone, cemented and set forth, fortified in the structure in which the bricks were laid, making them exceedingly strong.
Each tower was identical in formation, but not in design, for the inner workings, as well as parts of the outside appearance, had special significant markings, of ancient design. While only the East tower bore a clock, known across the land for its grand and meticulous design, both towers were laden with bells. Their acoustic design, as well as the surrounding landscape, caused a resonation which could be heard by much of the outreaching lands and kingdoms.
Shrad and Heroum, confidently climbed the steep steps of the towers’ lower edifice, carefully inspecting all the gear work along the way. Higher and higher they each climbed, insuring that every little mechanism was properly in sync. When they reached the upper most platforms within the towers, having found no success, they half crazily came storming down the stairwells, desperate to find relief from the intense ringing.
“The bells are making it too unbearable to continue,” said Shrad, “but something has to be done!”
The people of Rowan were looking to Shrad and his son for help. Some were highly troubled, even staring accusingly at Shrad and Heroum, as if asking them why the problem had not yet been resolved. Others, were already trying to go on, as if accustomed to the loud sounding bells, but strangely and honestly, somewhere deep inside, each citizen, mysteriously felt, that something much more than these bells was awry.
“Son, do you know what this means?” asked Shrad, above the blaring of the towers’ bells.
“Yes Dad, the switch.”
“That’s right Heroum! We must pull the secret lever switch.”
The lever switch was first discovered by Shrad’s father Naham, who upon examination, was able to deduce its ability to allow the clock gears to manually reset, which would then allow them to realign them, and thus, as they had hoped in this case, reset the bells, to stop their incessant ringing.
Shrad and Heroum had no other alternative. With this disruption of the town’s people’s lives, he knew he must pull the towers’ secret lever, which by Shrad’s knowledge, had never been pulled before.
Having been taught many secrets of the towers by his own father and grandfather, Shrad now had the opportunity to teach these things to his sons. The mystery and secrets of these towers is clearly taught and known by the Griffin family trustee line, but what Shrad and his forbearers did not know, was what caused these few unexplained phenomena which had taken place. So strange had these actions and certain outcomes of the towers and their inner workings at different times been, that Shrad had almost believed, that the towers had a life of their own.
Shrad and his sons were the only ones who knew of the lever’s existence, and with the towers’ secret lever pulled, in minutes the bells did finally stop ringing, and Shrad, and Heroum, discovered, that once they had manually reset the gears, according to the family’s tower’s known specifications, and the lever repositioned back into its functional position, the clock and its gears worked fine, and were back on track.
This was such a huge relief for the kingdom of Rowan, and especially so, since today’s events all centered on the people’s gathering together for participating in, and celebrating in the King’s own Fair.
At the success of the silencing of the bells, Shrad said to his son Heroum, “I hope now we won’t have to worry about these towers ringing in this way ever again.”
“Me too, but at least we know what to do if they do.” slighted Heroum.
“Indeed, but I still want to investigate more, and see if I can find out what might have been the cause of this havoc in the first place.” Shrad said.
Shrad and his family, along with the entire Kingdom of Rowan, were highly relieved at the silencing of the bells, yet to their uneasiness, it still seemed as though an eerie echo of warning still remained.
Although things had resumed to routine, the citizens could only sense that the end of this mystery was far from over, and as they would soon find out, there was something more precious and valuable to these towers, than they could have ever possibly imagined. For in it, they would discover a secret that would transform their whole world, their understanding of life, and the way they would then live it.
Chapter II
The King’s Fair
This very day was to be the towers’ one-hundredth year anniversary, and was to be celebrated with a special king’s fair in the land, with festivities, food, and the appearance of the Queen’s court. All of this excitement was to begin promptly at 10am, and go until dark.
With this unusual start to their day, the people of Rowan were grateful, and excited with anticipation, to begin their celebration.
On this wondrous day of their tower’s anniversary, which happened every five years, Heroum had long since made a deal with himself, that he was going to enter into the gauntlet contest, which if he won, he would have the opportunity to dance with Princess Lorena, at the Royal Ball, and have his name written in the King’s Book of Times.
This achievement was the highest honor one could receive as a lad in Rowan. Each person who won this competition, was also then granted the opportunity to improve his classmen-ship, through education, opportunity, and a royal apprenticeship training, personally provided by the king’s court.
Because Heroum had risen so early to the sound of the ringing bells, which began their noise at 6:00am, instead of their 7am normal chiming, he had extra time before the festivities to do his chores, and then practice once again for the gauntlet contest, as he had done so many times before. In preparation for this great opportunity, Heroum had used a large portion of his young free time, to run the rigors of the course, and utilize his opportunities in the off seasons, to practice winning, until he became of age.
His great excitement in celebrating the kingdom’s grand fair, came from the prospect, that now that he was old enough to participate in the gauntlet contest, he also might win it.
As he had practiced all year ‘round, and prepared with growing confidence, he felt ready and able, that he might truly win. He also desired to have the dance with Princess Lorena, and besides this, if he could win this honor, he could guarantee himself that the assignment of the tower’s trustee would go on to one of his brothers.
Once things got back on track, and into gear, the kingdom resumed preparations and readiness for the fair, and everyone was in a spirit of joyful communion, ablaze with excitement, and mutual appreciation for their many blessings. The atmosphere was electric, and kinship among the people of Rowan at this most wonderful time was always unprecedented.
Chapter III
A Distant Cry
Forty years ago, a young merchant had once been attracted to Rowan, because of reputable mention among buyers there. Upon his arrival, it was the Kings Fair, and as he set up his wares. he began to have covetous desires in his head, for all the other wares being sold. After he had begun to deal treacherously with the community, and had stolen some of the town’s people’s commodities, as well as their trust he was seized upon.
At this point, the citizens of Rowan rallied to bring him to justice, and he was exacted of his crimes, and sentenced to be held captive until the first new moon of the year, upon which day was 30 days after the 60th year anniversary of the Twin Bell Towers. When the day of his liberty came, he left the kingdom, having lost his fear of justice, never to return, and as he did so, the West bell tower bells rang once, and then did not ring again on their appointed times, until finally newer equipment was put in, and the gears realigned.
Now, every five years, on the day of each new succeeding fifth year anniversary, the town’s towers’ trustee replaces and installs newer essential equipment, realigns the gears, mechanisms, and timers as needed, and does a thorough cleaning, to ensure that the bells and clock never break down, as they did that fateful year, forty years ago.
The towers were to be kept ever functional and bright, by each succeeding trustee, and because the kingdom truly respected the Griffin family line, they were chosen for this stewardship.
It had originally been assigned to them because of Heroum’s great grandfather, Marksit, who had fought in the original war against the Shizors, in that same great and legendary battle against the trio of tyrants, by the kingdoms of Rahue and Rowan. His great grandfather was by trade, both a brick mason, and a clock maker, and was noted for his epic original designs. So it was he, who in the making of the towers, the people of the Kingdom of Rahue, had utilized him and his special profession, in the involvement of much of the consultation for the making of the original plans of the towers.
It was because of this, that he was readily chosen by the people to be the Trustee, and he was anointed under the hands of King Gordan, to be so.
These famous twin bell towers are not without magnificent reputation however, and even legends about this glorious landmark have begun to be attached.
Chapter IV
An Unexpected Treasure
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