Excelios

The swordsman walked into the relatively large town of Kear carrying his sword, his shield, and, most importantly, the magic stone Excelios. After the great battle at Genal-Fanua, the swordsman searched nearby caves and grottos in search of survivors from the battle. After eight days of searching he found the fabled magic stone Excelios. Excelios could destroy anything it’s holder wished it to do. The swordsman was not going to allow that to happen though. He was going to destroy it and forge it’s remains into a sword. As he approached the forgery he heard a strange voice rush through his mind.

"You may hold all the wealth and power in the universe," the deep powerful voice exclaimed at the swordsman. "Anything you want can be yours. Anything! Think of it young swordsman. Think of all the money you can have. All the power you can have. If you do not destroy me. If you do not destroy me. Excelios!"

The swordsman was scared. The bravest swordsman in all of the Kingdom of Anaus was scared. He ran to the forgery, but before he got there Excelios spoke again.

"You are a fool," Excelios exclaimed this time possessing the mind of the swordsman, "I order you not to destroy me! I can give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of! Everything about me having the power to destroy the world is false! What I can do is grant my holder all the power and wealth in the world! Now, whom do you believe? Those who have never seen me or me, the only Excelios?"

The swordsman stopped and looked around at the people. Nobody even noticed him and immediately he felt poor and weak. He walked away from the forgery and out of the town. He walked until dusk in hopes of reaching the Armaceel Hills where he felt possessed to go. He didn’t reach it that first day, but the next he did and when he got there Excelios spoke once more.

"All the wealth in the world is now yours," Excelios spoke softer than the first two times he did. Then a dark cloud passed over them. "You are now the wealthiest and most powerful man in the world. You are also the happiest, the poorest, and the dumbest! Oh, I forgot to say only!"

The swordsman felt his heart sank. He had been tricked by Excelios and destroyed the world. He was the wealthiest and most powerful because he was the only. The swordsman died in the Armaceel Hills and thus brought an end to man.

The faeries, dwarves, gnomes, trolls, and elves were still alive and would walk where humans walked. Unfortunately, history would repeat itself destroying race after race until all life died out. Then new life would evolve and Excelios would trick them again and again. The Excelios Cycle would always happen as old life died and new life began. It is the way life for all always has been and always will be. All empires must fall one day. Temptation is Excelios! Excelios is Temptation!