BANNADE’S BONES                             This is the tale of the fall of the Royal House of Jashir       The planet Jashir had always a member of the systems loyal to the Sangreal, the mystical Emperor of the six systems that made up the Empire, who had the wisdom and power of the ancient long gone Ethereals. Colonised  by the Anueth with Ethereal support millenniums ago she had grown to be the second most powerful planet, after Anueth itself, within the Empire.       Her oceans were deep and clean, the forests wide and mountains high with snow capped peaks. The cities grew up quickly and were thriving centres of culture and wealth. War no longer existed and there was eternal peace,  the King’s Peace over the planet.       For a thousand years Jashir was under the protection of the Royal House of Bannade. The house began long ago during the first Dark War when the Ethereals were destroyed along with the Dark Master Grunanor who claimed ownership of the known universe. The remains of the Order of Riannah who were apprentices of the Ethereals, each selected 5 of their members and sent them to each system to become the core of a new government. The sixth was elected Sangreal and remained in the castle of Runamore, the ancient home of the Order. The Sangreal was keeper of the wisdom of the Ethereals and was elected for life from members of the Order of Riannah. These were drawn from all quarters of the galaxy to studying the mysterious of life and furthering their wisdom for the better good of humanity and serving their people. The Sangreal was the most wisest, the most with foresight and understanding of the mystical powers left behind by the Ethereals. They were kind, just and full of love and patience for all creatures great and small. There had been many powerful Emperor’s and Empress over the thousand years. Miheal Bannade was chosen to lead Jashir and he led well and there was peace with his descendants up holding his chivalric ways and his devotion to his people. A thousand years later there was Iminus Kaw. He was a pupil of the Order and originally from Jashir. He was full of ideas and impatience for knowledge and power. His words were of parched velvet, his fake concern for those that suffer blatant and his opinions of those around him spiteful. Secretly he wished to be Sangreal but those veteran members of the Order sensed his black heart and denied him his wish, demanding of him to repent his dark thoughts. When he refused and was expelled from the order he vowed in his spitefulness to destroy the Sangreal and all the loyal systems. From Runamore and into Jashir’s forests Kaw fled and conspired in the darkness. It did not take him long to thread his plan of revenge. Soon he returned to the capital Jasmin and there found many of the outcasts and criminals who were all too eager to join him and claim him master. Kaw used words as his main weapon and where he needed quick results he used violence. Ministers, Senators and police officers were all targeted in his campaign of terror. His demands that Jashir lead the Empire and the removal of the House of Bannade spread through the planet and the web he spun caught many misguided souls. Soon he had enough to take on the government in force. It was a rainy night when his minions crept from the shadows and began attacking police stations, military bases and government buildings. Kaw himself led the attack on Parliament House and the Royal Palace. Kaw did not know then but he had been betrayed and the armies of the King were waiting. Being repulsed at the gate Kaw fled as his followers died around him. None of his plan had succeeded and his forces were scattered. Kaw himself returned to his hideout in the forest to dwell on his anger and hatred. King Tanor was troubled by Kaw and could not understand why in a galaxy were there was peace, harmony and all what you wanted in life was available to you there was a man who wanted destruction, to control, to make war. He stayed in his apartments musing over this man. He was old and did not want to leave his son Tallanora with this trouble. Still the old King believed he could find a solution but his son knew that this would not end soon, for Kaw’s dreams were of cities burning and of power and he would not stop until he got it or was killed. Kaw fumed within his cave within the forest and demanded his forces try again. With reduced numbers he flung his troops at government buildings and attempted as much destruction and death as they could. Kaw himself once again led the charge and vented his frustrations on Jasmin. Buildings burned and there were cries of terror until again his forces were beaten and he was chased back to his cave and there captured. The King believed it was finally over as the Order came to collect the criminal. But they feared him, they sensed something far darker and evil in him than simple egomania. Something had a hold over him which they could not identify. Kaw knew dark magic, he could make metal bend with his mind and great fire spewed from his mouth and his eyes seemed to see all and know all. For weeks they kept him, unsure of what fate should befall the usurper. Kill him? Imprison him for life? There was no immediate solution as there was no precedent for dealing with such a criminal mind as he and the Order debate for days over the subject. It had been a thousand years since someone so twisted and powerful as Kaw, that being Grunanor. In the meantime Kaw had not been idle, he knew some conspired to kill him. With help from the outside he escaped the prison of Branxix in Anueth. His laughing echoed through the halls of Runamore and of the valleys of Anueth as he left the planet and disappeared. Swearing that his word had not been broken and he would return. From that point on it seemed calm had returned to Jashir but for the occasional out burst from Kaw’s supporters across the galaxy, there was quiet. But there would always be that group of outcasts who knew no allegiance to King or Sangreal. As the years went on Tanor grew weaker and with satisfaction that he would leave his son a peaceful reign, he died. Tallanora took the throne and with Parliament continued to heal the damage done. He was still young and had a beautiful Queen who bore him three children, a girl May and two boys Jai and Metora. They were born into peace and calm times, they were loved by their people and all seemed well in the world. The cancer laid dormant, hiding in shadows, seeking out the easily led, the corruptible, the criminals and those who sought power. They were gathered in unknown numbers in secret. Never to come into the light but to do their evil master’s bidding veiled from those few who watched for Kaw’s return. Politicians were turned, officials corrupted by money and the naïve used to front all of the dark works. They were all blind to who controlled the strings.  For the name of Kaw was not mentioned instead it was Miseron, in ancient language it was the word for secret but in modern Jashir it was used as slang for misery. For all the Empire believed Kaw was dead and his name but a memory. In the halls of Runamore, wise members of Riannah whispered the end of days. There had always been darkness in the world and the spread of disease, petty hatred and criminal acts plus those who advocated that the time had come for the Sangreal to be abolished, claiming it to be undemocratic and unegotarian. Many suspected it was merely politicians wanting to run the Empire. All these things trouble the current Sangreal and her Order. People had become too arrogant, too proud and selfish, especially the young. Perhaps it was time the balance would be tilted. Would people have to taste bitterness so they would love their lives more and cherish the little things and little blessing in their lives before they realised they were walking down a troubled path? Too many of the Order believed their efforts to educate, lead and warn in an attempt to stem the rot in society was a lost cause and the Empire would collapse in on itself. Some believed things would work out if they continued their noble work.  Even though the wise whispered disaster none could imagine what fate had in store for them. These were the last days of a fractured peace. Now the long silence of the Dark Lord ended as he felt his time had come and emerged from his self imposed exile. Kaw led a mighty fleet of peoples from the unexplored Dark Worlds. All of them cruel, brutal and fed with a maddening blood lust for war and control of their enemies. The Gun a Gai, humanoid creatures from Gunix. Twisted, bitter and vengeful after years of neglected nuclear experiments. The Wrydluk, with their grey leathery skin and mouths full of sharp teeth who ate the bodies of the fallen after battle. The Ogrids, who lived near water and were excellent swimmers and fierce fighters. They all allied themselves completely to Kaw, proclaiming themselves the Axis, and were assembled as one and for one task. They fell onto the Empire’s outer defences gaining complete surprise. There was great fighting in space that eventually reached the planets themselves where small numbers of insurgents were attacking government defences. Kiam and Oneum fell to the onslaught then Jashir, the prize of Kaw, was attacked. Fighting rage for months and in this fight the Sangreal fell and her body eaten by the Gun a Gai. In this time the Bond of Seven Kings was announced to take on the Axis forces of Kaw. The King and is eldest son Jai took to the field of battle and met the Dark Lord himself on the open fields near the capital. In a battle that last for weeks Kaw’s forces were destroyed and driven from the planet. This was a setback for Kaw but his thoughts were not on his armies but on the strange emptiness of this Prince Jai. This boy was angry, powerful and arrogant who argued with his father over military matters. When Kaw first laid eyes on this boy he felt the heat of admiration run through his human body. Kaw smiled and laughed. During the lull Jashir had constructed mighty shields around the planet which could not be broken by firepower alone. The agents who always accompanied his army were activated to bring them down. While the armies rested and rebuilt, Kaw dwelled on Jai. While the boy slept and dreamt of mighty armies and conquest his head was filled with slippery words and with dreams of might and fury. “Do as I bid and you will have it all. You’re father is weak and you are his heir, and an heir to much more, you could nay should be King and Sangreal. Come to Tere Kaw, give yourself to the Gorgoth and I will complete your apprenticeship so you will become master of armies.”       The long burning embers of Jai’s soul suddenly burst into open flames and he finally made his pact with the devil. He had left the planet for further studying on Anueth but this was a front. Unknown to all others he had travelled to the Dark Worlds and knelt at the feet of the Dark Lord pledging his allegiance. After immersing himself in Kaw’s black school he was then sent back as a soulless being only answerable to his new master. With him went Kaw’ s most trusted minion, the Black Ash Prince.       In the morning of his arrival Jai came into the palace and began hunting down his family. He killed his mother and sister, servants, aides and guards. The news was incredible to the King when told. In moments his son had smashed his way into the throne room and fought his father who had not the will to kill his own son. The remaining child of the King, Metora, watched on as his father was murdered. Then his older brother, who he had always looked upto came for him.       There was a maddening look across Jai’s face, his eyes were pure white and his mouth salivating and he roared out like some demonic beast in passion. A great winged beast he seemed as he bounded over the marble floor towards his brother. But Metora, though only fourteen, held his ground and fought. Using his fear and anger he fought his older brother with rifle and sword.       In the battered throne room they fought until Metora grew weak and fell to the blade of Jai and was thrown through a glass window to land in a pond and left for dead. Jai continued his rampage crushing all he found, droid or human.       Metora was found by his cousin Mahen and she dragged him into hiding and there tendered his wounds. She was teary eyed and frightened. Her family had been slaughtered by a beast who looked like Jai. “It was him.” Metora whispered. “Then they are all dead.” Mahen cried. “I think we all are now.” The two little ones hid within the bushes of the garden until a surviving soldier found them. “The shield has been destroyed and Axis forces are pouring in.” Already the palace was shaking with gunfire. The soldier, Captain Leanow, took the children and hid them aboard a transport and fled to the mountains and there linked up with other retreating Jashir forces.       But the battle for Jashir was not over. Battle hardened warriors held on, though huge areas including the capital had been lost. The whole planet had not fallen. The Shiram Palace was destroyed by Kaw who then sat on Tanor’s throne and gloated on his victory. In its ruin dwelled the 13th Son of Gorgoth who now claimed it as his birthright.       While Kiam, Oneum and Jashir burned within the claw of Kaw, the new Sangreal and his Temple Knights sought to end it by travelling to Jasmin and take on the Dark Lord in his tower and destroy him. In great numbers they hurled themselves at the ruins of the former home of the House of Bannade. In a final charge the Knights were slaughtered as Kaw and the Sons of Gorgoth massed in a frenzy for the Knights made worthy opponents. None of the Sangreal’s guards survived and the last Sangreal himself fell among them. The fighting for Jashir had not ended as the Empire launched attack after attack to win it back. But losses were heavy and new Axis assaults on the remaining systems of Dana, Marmay and Anueth itself forced them onto the defensive and the survivors finally withdrawn. The people of Jashir were now slaves in the service of Kaw. In their bitterness some Jashir muttered their damnation and sought redemption from their King, Prince Metora who had grown strong and with a great tactical mind. He pronounced he would die when Jashir was free. Jashir was now hidden behind a wall, her green grasses burned, the forests destroyed and the oceans dry. In the dust lay Bannade’s Bones cracked under the hot sun and wilted by the tearing wind. So dry that no tear would wet the surface so none dreamed and none cried.