Chapter 20: The Forgotten Isles – Land of the Lost and the Silent Ones
In the farthest reaches of Restoria, beyond the storm-ravaged seas and hidden from the eyes of most, lies a group of islands known as the Forgotten Isles. These lands are shrouded in mystery and myth, thought to be cursed or abandoned by the gods themselves. Most who venture near the Forgotten Isles are never seen again, swallowed by the sea or lost to time.
The islands are said to be the home of ancient beings known as the Silent Ones—a race that predates even the earliest civilizations of Restoria. These beings, once mighty and revered, now live in isolation, cut off from the world they once knew. Over the centuries, the Forgotten Isles have become a place of silence and shadow, where even the wind seems to avoid speaking.
20.1 The Origins of the Forgotten Isles
The Forgotten Isles have long been the subject of legends. It is said that they were once a thriving civilization, home to an ancient people who were skilled in magic, art, and philosophy. These people were known as the Selenari, and their society was said to be as advanced as any that have ever existed in Restoria.
The Selenari were blessed by the gods, granted gifts of wisdom and longevity that allowed them to craft unimaginable works of art and technology. They built great cities of crystal and stone, towers that touched the sky, and libraries that contained knowledge from all corners of the world. For centuries, the Selenari thrived, their civilization a beacon of enlightenment in an otherwise dark and untamed world.
However, the Selenari's prosperity was not to last. Their obsession with knowledge and power led them to seek forbidden magic—ancient, dangerous rituals that were said to tap into the very essence of life and death. In their arrogance, they believed that by mastering these forces, they could transcend mortality itself and become eternal.
But the cost of such magic was steep. The ritual they attempted to perform backfired, and the very fabric of their reality was torn asunder. A cataclysmic event, known as the Shattering, engulfed the Forgotten Isles, shrouding them in perpetual darkness and silence. The once-vibrant cities crumbled to dust, and the Selenari were lost, their fate a mystery that has never been fully understood.
20.2 The Silent Ones – The Last of the Selenari
The Silent Ones are the descendants of the Selenari, the only survivors of the Shattering. Over the centuries, they have become a shadow of their former selves, a race that exists without speaking, without expressing emotion, and without any visible sign of the once-great culture they inherited.
These beings are described as ethereal, with pale, almost translucent skin that shimmers in the dim light of their island. They are taller than humans, with elongated limbs and delicate features. Their eyes, however, are their most striking feature—empty and soulless, as if they have seen too much and have lost the ability to feel.
The Silent Ones do not speak, for their language has long since been forgotten, and they communicate only through gestures, expressions, and the occasional hum that reverberates through the air. Their silence is said to be a result of the curse placed upon them by the gods after the Shattering—a punishment for their arrogance and their meddling with forbidden magic.
Despite their silence, the Silent Ones are not entirely without purpose. They have become the guardians of the Forgotten Isles, protecting the remnants of their ancient civilization from outsiders. Few dare to enter the islands, as the Silent Ones are known to be fiercely protective of their land and will not hesitate to defend it against intruders.
20.3 The Forgotten Isles – A Land Lost to Time
The Forgotten Isles are a place of desolation and beauty, where the passage of time seems to have no meaning. The islands themselves are covered in lush, overgrown forests, with towering trees that seem to whisper in the wind. The air is thick with the scent of ancient flowers and the sound of distant waves crashing against the jagged cliffs.
The cities that once stood proudly on the islands are now nothing more than ruins, their crystal towers shattered and their stone foundations buried under centuries of dirt and debris. The remnants of the Selenari's civilization can still be seen in the broken statues, the weathered books that lie forgotten in the ruins, and the faint echoes of a long-lost language that still lingers in the air.
In the center of the Forgotten Isles stands the Hollow Palace, a massive structure made from black stone and covered in strange, glowing runes. It is said that the palace once housed the greatest minds of the Selenari, but now it is empty, its halls silent and devoid of life. The Hollow Palace is considered the heart of the islands, and many believe that it holds the key to understanding the fate of the Selenari and the true nature of the Shattering.
20.4 The Secrets of the Forgotten Isles
The Forgotten Isles are not entirely without hope, however. Despite their isolation and the curse that has befallen them, there are those who believe that the islands hold the key to unlocking the greatest mysteries of Restoria. Ancient texts and prophecies speak of a time when the islands will once again become a beacon of knowledge, and the Silent Ones will find their voice.
Some believe that the islands contain hidden vaults of knowledge—arcane tomes, forbidden rituals, and relics of unimaginable power—that have been left undisturbed for centuries. Others claim that the Hollow Palace holds the answer to reversing the curse of the Silent Ones, allowing them to regain their lost memories and restore their once-great civilization.
Adventurers, scholars, and treasure hunters from across Restoria have sought to uncover the secrets of the Forgotten Isles, but few have returned. The islands are not only dangerous because of the Silent Ones' guardianship, but also due to the remnants of the magic that caused the Shattering. The land itself is unstable, with reality warping in unpredictable ways, and those who wander too far may find themselves lost in time, trapped in an endless loop of past and future.
20.5 The Fate of the Silent Ones and the Forgotten Isles
The future of the Silent Ones and the Forgotten Isles remains uncertain. The islands remain a land of mystery, their secrets buried beneath centuries of silence. The Silent Ones continue their watch over the ruins, existing in their eternal quiet, waiting for a time when the curse may be lifted.
Some believe that the islands will remain forever lost to time, a forgotten corner of Restoria that holds only sorrow and silence. Others hold onto the hope that one day, the islands will be restored to their former glory, and the Silent Ones will regain their voices, able to speak the truths of their past and share their knowledge with the world once again.
Until that time comes, the Forgotten Isles remain a place of legend—an enigma that continues to captivate the imagination of those brave enough to seek the answers hidden within its depths.