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Lekaran and Kelara are the first figures of whom legend tells. It was the time of the great thaw, the snow scapes were receding and torrential showers of black rain were clearing the sky, allowing the sun to stroke the earth once more. Lekaran and Kelara were twins, bound together through ties of blood and affection, born into one of the powerful tribes that roamed the southern terrains. Lekaran was noted in his tribe for his ferociousness in combat, and his skill earned him respect from the members of his tribe. His twin sister, Kelara, was weaker than he, but had unusual powers. It was said that she could heal with her hands, create light without fire, and fire without flint. These uncanny powers, while useful to the tribe made her suspect and an outcast. In a climate where physical weakness was a threat to the whole group, a weak member was usually at risk of being left behind. Her brother's standing in the tribe ensured that she was protected. The legend has it that Lekaran was walking with his sister when they were attacked by a Mammoth. The twins fought together, Lekaran with his axe and Kelara with fire. During the battle Kelara was wounded, but the Mammoth finally fell. As a trophy, Lekaran hacked off the beast's tusks. Kelara was exhausted, and needed rest. Lekaran treated her wounds as best as he could and found a cave where they could shelter. However, Kelara fell into a deep sleep from which Lekaran could not awaken her, and they were forced to stay away from their tribe for many months. Lekaran was also visited by dreams - in these dreams he was visited by a being who presented him with an axe, an axe of bone, and his sister with a staff. Both of these seemed to be lacking something, and every night the dream repeated itself, and every morning he would awake to a feeling of restlessness, of inactivity and incompleteness. During the hours when he watched over his sister his hands absentmindedly carved away the bone, as though guided by another. Firstly he created a handsome axe, the legendary Bone Axe of Lekaran, a weapon of considerable power. He then took the other tusk and created out of it a staff. Only when the staff was complete did his sister awake from her dreams. Lekaran was eager to return to the tribe, but his sister held him back. Leaning upon the staff he had made her, she led him to the back of the cave. Tapping with the staff upon the ground caused a rift to open up in the wall. Lekaran stepped through into the cave, to find that it was filled with blue light, a light that emanated from the walls of the cave. Once their eyes had accustomed themselves to the strange glow, they were able to distinguish the outline of two pedestals in the room - mounted on which were two shining blue stones. In amazement, Lekaran realised that these stones fit perfectly into the axe and staff. As the twins placed the stones in their rightful places they heard a voice which seemed to come from the depths of the earth - "Your love and care for one another has led to this, your reward. Humankind may indeed be ready for the power of the stones of Sistrina. I trust you will not disappoint me. Use your weapons to further peace and protect your kind, and be warned - should you turn the powers of the stones to injustice and murder you will pay the consequences - and they are dire." The voice seemed to go through their very bodies "Leave now, and never return!"
At these words the twins suddenly felt extremely cold. Bemused, they looked around to find themselves within sight of their tribe. They would have dismissed the whole thing as a dream, had it not been for the fact that they held in their hands the staff and axe. When they walked into the tribe's temporary village of tents, people came out to stare, and then to celebrate. Many of the warriors threw Lekaran's axe looks of wonder, many threw it looks of envy. Kelara was weaker than before, and while a few of those in the village came to help her, the majority stared in fear and disgust.
The atmosphere amongst the tribe was no longer the same. A group of the tribespeople grew envious and fearful of the powerful weapon - they dreamed of possessing it. The Elder of the tribe felt threatened, believing that Lekaran would attempt to overthrow him and take his place at the head of the tribe. As for Kelara . . . she was able to heal those unfortunate enough to be wounded during the hunts, but this sapped her strength enormously. For those whom she healed she was a marvel, but others grew in mistrust and jealousy, calling her a charlatan, a weakling, one who should be abandoned for slowing up the tribe. The tensions grew and grew until the tribe elder called a meeting. He demanded that Lekaran should face him in open combat or leave the group. If he fought and lost, the elder would take his axe. If he left the tribe, the elder demanded that he left behind his weapon in order for him not to be declared hunted. Lekaran knew he could not fight the tribe elder with the weapon, the voice in the cave had told him as much. He also knew that he could not leave the weapon in the elder's hands, he would only abuse it. He was surrounded by those of the tribe whose hostility towards him he could feel. There was no way out. At this point he felt Kelara by his side. "Know this, brethren," she cried "This staff and this axe have been entrusted to us, they are to be used for protection, for defence, not for furtherance of power or individual gain. They are granted us by Sistrina, and should you be ready for this power, she will find you!" Kelara struck the ground with her staff, and the two figures disappeared. As they disappeared a wind blew up forcing all those who were witness to the event to flee to the protection of their tents. From this day on, a change began to over take the tribesmen . . . some grew restless and started to travel further South, others grew fearful of the light and withdrew North, where the temperature was colder, and the nights longer. They say that those who threatened Lekaran and his sister disappeared into the caves far in the North and ceased to be human, falling under a curse, brought upon themselves through their own greed and envy.
Those who migrated to the South felt themselves guided in one direction. After two weeks of travelling they saw a blue light glowing in the distance, like a beacon. It refreshed them and drew them on. At the source of the blue light they found Lekaran and Kelara. Kelara addressed them in a voice clear and strong and those who had known her before were amazed by the strength with which she spoke. "Sistrina has shown us the way to a greener land, and land where we can settle and defend ourselves. It is time for us to leave the snow and ice behind. Now is the time of peace and plentifulness."
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