Beyond
Elias stood on the parapet wall which safeguarded Engaddi from the brutality of the Romans, the fools in the Sanhedrin, and the bitter old men who made up the contingency of ancient Pharisees. He watched the dust raised by the caravan spiral into the air. It grew smaller with each footfall of the camels carrying cargo to distant lands.
He was confident King Herod would not send his armies after a caravan belonging to the most powerful merchant in Egypt. Amon Khepri was a confidant of Pharaoh and Herod’s paranoia would keep him from antagonizing a Pharaoh of Egypt who had the largest standing army in this part of the world. Even Herod was not that insane.
What did worry him was the Sons of Drago, a cult of evil men who practiced the black arts and were known to have the ability to snuff out the life force of people who did not obey them and influence their minds to commit unspeakable acts of violence. These dark, shadowy figures were determined to keep the One to Come from bringing a message of hope to the downtrodden Judeans who suffered under the yoke of Rome. The Dark Brothers enslaved other humans and caused them to suffer.
Junk
It was an enormous ship. Unlike anything any of the desert dwellers had ever seen. Riding high out of the water, with a flat bottom and sails that slid up and down tall masts. There was no need to send men aloft to unfurl the sails. Everyone stood on the bank and stared at the ship in wonder.
Posing as an unassuming Buddhist monk, Cong Hao guides the caravan deep into the mysterious country of Chin. In reality, he is a High Lama, chosen to lead the people in the caravan to the sea, where they will board the junk and return to Judea by sailing around the desert lands of the Midian.
Temple of the Crescent Lake
The Crescent Temple was discovered by Alexander the Great when he conquered vast tracts of Asia. It was a Buddhist monastery hidden between the tall sand dunes of the Takla Makan desert. The monastery was built by monks when they found a crescent shaped lake which was continuously fed by a mysterious spring. Alexander left thousands of documents he looted from other temples and and libraries in his quest for world domination. Because the monastary was unknown to the outside world, he reasoned these priceless relics of history would be safe. It is thought he intended to return some day but died in Babylon before he could make the trip back to what is known as the Temple of the Crescent Lake.
Cave of the Dark Brotherhood
Evil Lord Seth has called his army together to cast a spell over the caravan, its animals, and people. While in this dark spell, they kidnap Amariah and Takhaet, hoping to put an end to their powers.
Amariah and Takhaet are trained Therapeuts. They prepare special teas to mitigate the effects of many ailments.
Dark Lord Seth
Seth was rumored to be the grandson of Adam, but he had taken a completely different path. The red dragon who flung one third of the hosts of heaven into the abyss was Seth, who was the lord and master of the dark arts. He and his followers were the Sons of Darkness, and they opposed the Sons of Light at every turn. Seth was determined to wipe out all traces of the One to Come and those who followed him.
A High Priest of Zoraster, Ardashir has searched Judea and Egypt trying to locate the One to Come, whose birth was identified by constellations and stars as they traversed the sign of Virgo in their elliptical orbits.
Salt collected by the Essenes at Engaddi, is cut into small blocks from islands such as these salt deposits which collect on the shore. Essene salt was highly prized for its purity. Roman soldiers were often paid in blocks of salt because it had more value than gold.
Traveling through the range of pyroclastic flow towers left behind by an ancient volcano, the Dark Brothers lay in wait for the caravan, hoping a surprise attack will wipe everyone out. Takhaet’s psychic powers warn the caravan master an attack is imminent and they prepare to do battle with the Dark Brothers again.
Seth rubbed his hands together and lightning issued forth. The bolt stair-stepped down from the sky and struck the trunks of trees to which the bridge was secured. The bridge fell in the freezing water below, taking Amariah, soldiers, and her massive war dog with it.
A mysterious Wise Woman sent to earth by the star people with a special message for Amariah about the boy who will assume the responsibilities of the One to Come.
Another prophet joins the caravan. A blind beggar on a mission from the star people, tests Amariah’s empathy and compassion. Because she defends the blind beggar and begs Balthazar to allow him to stay with the caravan for his safety and wellbeing, Arkar tells her she has passed the test of character the star people wanted answered.
These camels are different from their Arabian cousins. Thick, shaggy coats protect them from harsh winters. In summer the hair sloughs off and is collected to make into sleeping mats, tents, harnesses, and other necessities of a caravan that is always on the move.
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