After the Dawn {Jack} Open

"Awaken my child, Fear not for your wounds are healed, and you are mortal once more." Said a voice it  boomed all around Jack.

Jack awoke with a sigh. "Which god seeks to torment me even in death?" asked Jack not at all happy about not arriving at his promised location. "Which of you is stupidly not holding up your part of the deal. What excuse should you offer me. That i failed in my duty as a guardian?" He said as he tried to sit up, but then he realized he was already standing... well more like floating amongst the stars.

"I am Ao, Lord of All. And it is not often that I'm spoken to in such a manner." Lord Ao said with a chuckle, "Its a welcome relief, And I apologize for my lesser charges mettleing in your life."

"Lord Ao?!?," Jack said shocked, "I thought you were a myth, stories told at the palpate to get children to behave?" This brought a chuckle from the Over-God. "As you well know most myths have some truth to them. In this case they are all true. Oh and manticore's exist too. Be well to remember i am a god and try not to use such language its rude, Jack"

Jack's eyes grew wide, he had forgotten Gods liked to read minds. "My apologies Lord Ao, for my internal outburst, but you too should know its rude to be snooping around in peoples minds. At any rate what is it this time you command of me."

"Nothing." Said Lord Ao, "You have served the Realms well, far better than any of the Lesser Gods have. You being a vampire of considerable strength and evil past. This is a surprise to me. A few moments before i brought you here, the lesser gods were punished for their as you put it stupidity." Lord Ao spoke a slight hint of controlled rage in his voice.

The space around Jack began to flow and fold and soon he was standing on eternia, as a great battle raged between his troops and the Dark Lord known as Azuth. He watched his fall from the heavens and his death as he removed his necklace. "How?" asked Jack and Lord Ao held up a hand to silence him.

"After you fell, your companions also fell. Atnem  was blasted amongst time itself. Perhaps it was a mistake of mine to give him such a power but I feel without him, I would not of heard the cries of your planet. For you see Jack, I preside at the beginning and end of all things I am time itself. An entity apart from this universe. My eyes where elsewhere during this war between gods, I again apologize for my lateness." Ao said with sadness in his eyes.

"I rewrote history, not an easy thing to do. You yourself should know. Eternia was not destroyed, badly damaged many cities fell and a great cataclysm befell the area of Lanatha, these things remained as I deemed it nessicary for mortals to learn too from this experience. I banished the gods back to the heavens binding their powers to that of which is based upon how many charges praise them. Only allowing them to perform miracles I deem fit. No longer shall they have to power they had in the past." Continued Ao he sensed Jacks astonishment at this.

"But why? werent they acting upon your will? And what of the Dark Lord?" Asked Jack as he began to walk around the plains.

"Azuth is no more, forever destroyed, but you should know I must maintain a balance newer gods of death and strife are in the pantheon. Forever on must the battle between good and evil exist or chaos will descend and the universe would unravel. But worry not the gods were not acting in my will. They failed to maintain the balance and you were cursed. You held the Heart of Chaos for a very long time, by your strength alone tipped the scales enough to bring back the universe from its destruction. A task that should be rewarded." Ao said with a smile.

"Oh no!?" Said Jack shocked. "I've been rewarded by you gods before and it destroyed me remember." Jack took a step away from Ao shocked.

"Fear not, I will restore your humanity, and you will be mortal once more. Also your memory of your wife and the pain of her death will be wiped from your memories." Ao said, "WHAT?!" yelled Jack and Ao silenced him again. "You didnt let me finish. Your truest desires of your heart will be granted for i see no harm coming from them.  this is your hearts desire to forget her and move on. You shall take up the mantle as a gatherer of knowledge. A charge I'm certain you will enjoy. As i know your love of old things." Ao said with a smile. And reached into his pocket. "I feel you should have this." And he handed Jack the sunstone.

"But aren't I mortal, i wont have any use for it."Inquired Jack, as he took the medallion. "If you so choose, You know free will and all. Once you put on that medallion you will forget all the events that happened while you carried the heart of darkness. Either way I ensure you will not be haunted by them. Keep the experiences you shared and seek out your companions for they too have been reborn. Or forget them entirely, tis your choice." Said Ao,

"Where will I go?" asked Jack. "My home and city were destroyed. I have no where to go now. Would you send me back as a beggar on the streets?"

"No hero of the realms shall fear for hunger or shelter." Ao promised as he lifted his hands. "My disciples ones who would chronicle the cataclysm have founded a new city, while still fledgling and much work to be done. A temple in my honor exists there. You shall find all the help you will need in the coming years. Go forth and live my Captain of the Guard. For you have served long enough and now is a time for peace. Should you welcome me into your heart as your God, that would make me happy, if not... well I understand." A great flash filled Jacks eyes and he was blinded momentarily.

Once the blindness subsided Jack found himself in a strange town. made more of tents than anything but in the center stood a temple, aged by the years.

"Welcome Jack, Lord Ao told me to expect your arrival." Said a small man sitting on a bench. "The year is 1672AC, and its been five years since the cataclysm I welcome you to Havenhome. Come I shall show you to your room, we have much to talk about." he said with a smile.

***** Narrative****
Ten years has past since our hero Jack arrived at Havenhome, for many years he worked with the monks from the temple of Ao. After the completion of the town Jack rebuilt his home at the outskirts of Havenhome, And founded the Library of the Guardians. A safe haven and home to all those seeking knowledge of old and those seeking to learn.


***** 1682AC****

The wind blew through his hair as he stood on the balcony of the Library. His breath condensating in the cold autumn air. He had forgotten how much he enjoyed the fresh air, after all being a vampire he never had the need to breath. Jack was enjoying being mortal, he was enjoying a simple life. Monster attacks to the city had been few the past years and now he no longer commanded the guard. Giving way to him to create one of his own dreams, A library.

"Do you think its strange over the past ten years I've helped you Father Abel that I dont age?" Asked Jack, "Clearly I am mortal, as I can be killed and I bleed, but I dont age."

"Well, perhaps the All-giver has blessed you even further, or may-hap's has something planned for you that requires you strong and virile." Father Abel slapped jack on the shoulder. "At any rate, monks of Ao are known for their longevity, After all I'm ninety years old and I don't look a day past forty. Worry not." Abel looked over the city as twilight fell.

"Are you ready to open these doors to the public? Are you sure we can trust all those enter to use the knowledge wisely?" Asked Abel with a sigh. Jack laughed " Are you forgetting your own tenats, father? We maintain the balance its up to the world to weed out the evil. Knowledge is to be given freely."

"You know for a Godless heathen you sure do know your books." Abel said pointily with a laugh. "I'm not one without faith, I of all people know gods exist, I merely refrain from dealing with them is all."Jack laughed as he turned to walk into the library. "Come friend, let us go back to the fire and warm ourselves, I think i have a barrel of fire whiskey aged enough for a taste."

Abel shook his head, "I've never known of a library that has its own brewery in the basement." he laughed as he followed Jack.