THE AROMI UNIVERSE
⊱{ Official Lore }⊰
VERSION 1.1
created by: Aaron McLaughlin
Aromi LLC © 2024 | All Rights Reserved
- Chapter 3 -
The New Kingdom
The First Royal Procession
As the sage reached the summit of Lunar Falls, bathed in ethereal moonlight, the Lunar Tree's branches began to sway without a whisper of wind. They reached out, graceful and deliberate, as if Nature itself acknowledged the gravity of this moment. Below, in the shimmering waters of the sacred pool beneath the falls, stood the remaining 89 Moon Sages, their eyes fixed on their ascending brother. When the branches gently enveloped the sage, lifting them skyward, a collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.
In that breathtaking instant, as the sage began their ascent towards the moon, King WHITE's voice rang out, clear and strong. "My beloved people," he proclaimed, his eyes shining with reverence, "on this sacred night, the souls of all our loved ones who placed their faith in Aromi journey with our Moon Sage to their eternal Life. Rejoice, for this is the fulfillment of The Spirits' promise!"
At his words, a great shout of joy erupted from the gathered crowd. "Praise be to Aromi!" they cried, their voices carried on the night air. "We thank The Spirits for their endless goodness and mercy!"
His new bride joined him, their voices intertwining in perfect harmony as they began the sacred salvation hymn. Like a wave gaining momentum, their followers and the Moon Sages in the pool added their voices to the melody. It swelled, filling the night air with a sound so beautiful and pure that it brought tears to many eyes.
The hymn bridged the gap between earth and sky, mortal and divine. As the sage rose higher, becoming a mere speck of light against the vast canvas of stars, the music reached its crescendo. In this perfect moment, past and future, heaven and earth, mortal and immortal all converged. The 89 Moon Sages in the pool raised their hands in unison, their Moonstones glowing in resonance with their ascending brother. Every person present felt the weight of history shifting—the dawn of a new era breaking over their kingdom like the first rays of a new sun.
♫ Song - Lunar Bow Gathering
On the night of the Lunar bow
Come and see all our young and old
Gather here in this sacred place
To seal one soul and preserve our fate
Now, prepare the bride to receive her groom
Reflect the light shining from the moon
And the precious gift our radiant sun
Will manifest for everyone
Now, seal the soul that preserves our fate
Till the one foretold comes to take his/her place
King WHITE’s Four Sons
Now the king and queen were blessed with four sons; BLACK, AMBER, GRAY, and BURGUNDY.
⚫ The BLACK Prince was deeply intense, with a brooding nature that contrasted sharply with his beautiful singing voice.
🟡 The AMBER Prince exuded charisma and energy, possessing an innate ability to captivate others and compel them them to action.
⚪ The GRAY Prince, known for his wisdom, aspired to leave a lasting intellectual legacy by establishing his province as the home of the kingdom's first grand library of scrolls.
🔴 The BURGUNDY Prince governed his territory with a servant's heart, always prioritizing the needs of others and creating a sanctuary for those seeking refuge.
The WHITE King ruled supreme over all of the kingdom's land, closely governing most of the West side of the kingdom. His sons were entrusted with governing other regions: the BLACK Prince ruled the far East, while the AMBER Prince, as the youngest, lived closest to his father and was learning to govern the West alongside him. The GRAY Prince governed in the mountains to the North of the kingdom, and the BURGUNDY Prince oversaw the Southern part of the land.
At the center of the kingdom stood the brothers' tower, a majestic structure built by their father, King WHITE, to serve as living quarters for his sons. This central tower housed a grand round table where the brothers would regularly convene to discuss matters of governance for their respective domains.
Years of Prosperity
For many years thereafter, the kingdom flourished under the divine partnership of King WHITE and the Moon Sages. Their kingdom grew in strength, prosperity, wisdom, and love, surpassing all that had come before. The people, their hearts brimming with joy and gratitude, worshipped The Spirits with fervent devotion. Their lives overflowed with thanksgiving for the countless blessings bestowed upon their realm, ushering in an era of unparalleled harmony and enlightenment.
King WHITE, blessed by The Spirits with health and longevity, grew to be 107 years old. Under his benevolent rule and the guidance of the Moon Sages, the kingdom thrived. The king and the Moon people created a protective dome around their land's atmosphere, enveloping it in perpetual Spring. These perfect conditions allowed the realm to grow rapidly, and by the time the king reached his 107th year, the population had flourished to around 80,000 men, women, and children. This thriving community embodied the sacred ways taught by the Moon Sages, their lives a testament to the wisdom and benevolence of their long-lived king.
King WHITE’s Realm
Over his 77-year reign, the WHITE King and his people built a beautiful castle close to the ocean, with breathtaking views from his quarters. From the North/West side, one could gaze upon the vast expanse of the sparkling sea, waves crashing against the rocky shoreline. The South/East side offered a stunning vista of lush green forests and mountains stretching as far as the eye could see, their canopies swaying gently in the breeze.
He established his port, which welcomed ships bursting with treasures, including rich colorful paints, canvases, fabrics, and other luxuries. In the kingdom, fruits and vegetables thrived so abundantly that the people dubbed it "Strawberry Kingdom," renowned for growing the biggest, reddest strawberries in the world.
The Last 12 Moon Sages
After King WHITE's 77-year reign, only twelve Moon Sages remained on Earth, serving in the king's council. Among the last of the sages was the young and beautiful Aylin.
After years of sacred rituals and prosperity, concerns began to arise about the continuation of salvation beyond the next 12 years—when all the Moon Sages would have vanished. King WHITE, though lacking a clear answer, maintained complete faith that The Spirits of Aromi would provide a way forward, even though it was not for him to see.
Entrusting his four sons to find the way forward, King WHITE taught them to maintain a close relationship with The Spirits of Aromi. He promised his sons that just as The Spirits had been faithful in providing a way for him when there seemed to be no hope, they, too, would find their way by The Spirit's guiding light. "The Spirits of Aromi are always faithful," he would often say. "They will never leave you nor forsake you. They are always with you."
Seeds of Fear
Despite the king's unwavering faith, a feeling of unease was slowly taking root in the kingdom. As the number of remaining Moon Sages dwindled, anxiety grew among some of the people. Many were convinced that when the last Moon Sage vanished, it would surely mark the end of the world. These individuals found solace in the idea that all who had placed their faith in Aromi, living or dead, would be taken to their home in the Celestial Realm.
Others, however, held a different belief. They were gripped by fear that The Spirits would abandon them, unable to see any possible way for salvation to continue beyond the 12 years they had left with the Moon Sages. Their minds were filled with dread, contemplating a future without the sacred rituals that had brought them comfort for so long. Many were unable to imagine how their spiritual practices could continue without the guidance of the Moon Sages, and this uncertainty caused great distress among the populace.
Amidst these conflicting emotions, King WHITE's unwavering faith in The Spirits' provision remained a beacon of hope. It allowed many to focus on living virtuous lives, secure in the knowledge that their ultimate fate would be one of serenity and bliss in the Celestial Realm, regardless of how it might come to pass.
Love at First Sight
Now the BLACK Prince and Aylin, the beautiful young Moon Sage, fell deeply in love. As their bond grew stronger, so did the glow of Aylin's Moonstone, signaling her impending ascension. The intensifying light served as a constant reminder of their limited time together, filling BLACK with a growing anger towards The Spirits. They desperately longed for a way for her to stay with him on Earth, but the truth was undeniable - Aylin was destined to return to the moon on the next winter solstice.
BLACK's heart ached at the prospect of losing Aylin so soon. The impending farewell felt premature, and the prince's resentment towards The Spirits grew daily. He couldn't help but feel they were stealing her away, even though he knew it was for the greater good. Despite his inner turmoil, Aylin remained a beacon of serenity, the moon jewel on her forehead glowing ever brighter - an unmistakable symbol that she was the next sage chosen to ascend.
Their love was agonizingly bittersweet, as they cherished every moment together while facing the inevitable pain of their eventual parting. Alone one day with BLACK, Aylin sang him a song, her eyes filled with a gentle sadness:
♫ Song - Aylin’s Farewell
Someday,
I'll fly away, through the night
You won’t find me, in the daylight
But it’s okay,
Come fly away, through the night
And find me, in the Twilight
King WHITE’s Preparations
As the king aged, it became clear that one of his four sons would need to succeed him. He decided to choose the most worthy son on the sacred night of the Lunar Tree, when a sage would return to the moon. The kingdom buzzed with anticipation for the event, decorating the streets with colorful banners and flowers representing their favored prince.
As the grand preparations for the royal coronation of the king’s chosen son began, BLACK found himself consumed by a single desire: to keep the enchanting Aylin by his side on Earth. Determined to find a solution, he turned to his elder brother, GRAY, whose wisdom was renowned across the land.