The New Champions: of Legacies and Challenges

"Excuse me?" said Willian.

"The Catastrophe destroyed reality as you know it," explained 179. "And it recreated it as well. This 'place' in which I have found you is no 'place' at all. It exists in the mind of an eight-year-old girl who happens to be sleeping. When she awakes this will be no more."

"You mean I'm a dream?!!?"

"No," continued 179. "You are a Champion, but this blackened planet and the starless space about it is. Now, let us go." And so they did. Strange and arcane the ways of Rules and Champions. Not normal, not normal at all. When their traveling was finished Willian found himself on a cliff overlooking an ocean and a well-built city.

"Where are we?" asked Willian.

"On the only planet that truly exists now. It has many names -Ert, Gaieu, Therr, Tierra- for the peoples of this planet have many languages. The city you see below, look at its stone and wooden beams, its roads and homes and establishments."

"It is grand indeed," commented Willian. "A proud accomplishment so soon after the Destruction."

"You forget, Champion, from their point of view there was no Catastrophe, only from ours. This is the City of Saxton, an important part of the small princedom of Laria. Laria is a sea-faring land, well-respected in the family of nations, but its wealth is coveted as well. Their ruler is Prince Mokad and he resides in the capitol of Whitehawk farther north of here."

"Why are we here?"

"Willian, you need to find a man by the name of Constantine Stokes. He is a merchant, a man who trades in nails and such. He is somewhere in the city below, and it is he who will lead you, if you ask the right questions and pay the right dues, on the next step of your journey."

"What? What journey, the one to find the new Champions? Why not lead me yourself? Is this man Constantine a fledgling Champion?"

"All in good time, Willian. The Offices are low, as to the Rules -we are few. You are one. Take your time in this land, there is no hurry. Explore, discover, learn. That, perhaps, is the greatest challenge you will have." Rule 179 then ceased speaking and abruptly disappeared.

"Wait!" yelled Willian. "What am I supposed to do once I find this man?" But there was no reply. He was alone...again.

1. Finding Stokes

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