Emanation is a fantastic saga where humans and other life forms coexist with larger prehistoric and mystical creatures like dragons, dinosaurs and griffins. In this modern, but bio-technologically driven world, emotions are the basis of real power. Disciplines have evolved around love, hate, life and death that give their practitioners great power in the physical world and make them potent adversaries in combat. Apprentices from many different races study, train and develop their abilities in one of these four disciplines; striving to reach the achievement of becoming a mystic. Among their many talents, mystics have the emotional power to heal, shape-shift into other forms, destroy whole battalions with words, raise undead armies and defend against formidable opponents.
In this first book of the series, the story unfolds in a post-war era where a legendary mystic defeated an ancient kingdom. This primeval, parasitic creature was commonly known as the Shadow Knight. His conquest over the ancient kingdom caused the loss of the world's greatest mystics, artisans and leaders. One of the last of his kind, the Shadow Knight's struggle to keep his race alive has led him to abandon all sense of restraint with his narrow victory coming at the price of losing most of his army.
From the destruction, came a mass exodus to neutral kingdoms, leaving only smugglers, thieves, would-be craftsmen and self-proclaimed mystics left to rebuild their world. The two kingdoms became the new world's center of trade, growing under the shroud of the Shadow Knight's influence; unaware of the great power growing in the North. The Shadow Knight watches the two new kingdoms squabble, giving his battered army time to rebuild and gain new strength while he reveled in anticipation of what was to come.
From each kingdom, a prince is born to rise in opposition of the Shadow Knight and fulfillment of the prophecies. Each must question his values and his duty in the face of what honor appears to demand. Each will learn what it means to lose someone on whom they depend for their deepest guidance. In the end, one will rise to a level beyond leadership to a spiritual mastery that makes him a beacon to all who encounter him and inspires even his enemies to reconsider their prejudices. He must chose who will live and who will die and he prays that his love for his subjects and anger at his enemies has not influenced his choices too much.
advertisement