There is a man. He lives in a city nestled in the sky (Zephyria). The people of the city (Skylings) have developed an unhealthy religion involving the eventual transformation of the Judeo-Christian god into an almost Egyptian-esque Sun God. Light brings all things. The sun can bring warmth, fire, life, death… They have built their city to be carried by enormous balloons, like zeppelins carrying houses and public buildings. The transportation from one flying piece of land and the next are bicycles with a wing flapping mechanism hooked up to the pedals (as your bike goes faster, your wings flap faster). The community leader has appointed himself as a religious figurehead to the people. He has asserted his identity into the fabricated role of the “Solar Prince” (Reincarnation of Jesus in the new Sun-Testament form). The ultimate mission of this society is to one day reach the Sun and achieve eternal rest in Nirvana. The “Solar Prince” has been manipulating the population of Zephyria into believing that he is a divinely elected individual and he was chosen by their Sun-God to lead the Skylings. Eventually people begin to obey his word as scripture. The community leader’s real name is Morgen Till. A Skyling far up the political hierarchy (Grand Flash Tavern, “grand flash” being his title) has noticed Till’s attempts to draw the public focus away from finding their true goals (enlightenment and happiness) and weave webs of lies about his own “divine authority.” He calls a meeting of the Warden High Church Council (WHCC) to discuss the divinity of the so-called “Solar Prince.” Tavern explains to his fellow Wardens of the Council this issue, and Till is called forth and accused of fraud and attempts to hinder the plans of the city. Till apologizes for everything he has done, admits that he has been abusing his power, and agrees to change his ways. He believed that he was simply helping people by bridging a gap between the Skylings and their Sun-God. He did not intend to manipulate anyone. The Council agreed to keep him in the city with his usual position, but if one more formal accusation were to be made with the Council’s consent, he would be banished from the city. However, the Council was not exactly unanimous in this decision. The Wardens were divided by their opinions. Half sided with the religious propaganda of Morgen Till, and the other half backed Tavern with his accusation. The very next day during the morning sermon, Till said these words: “Now I appreciate all of my love and support from my dear fellow Skylings, but certain opinions have startled and shocked me. SOME OF YOU think that it is okay to QUESTION the Enlightened Role of “Solar Prince.” *crowd gasps* Some have called me a fraud! *crowd gasps louder* To those SOME of you, I say to question ME is to question GOD and his omnipotence!”
The crowd reacts with violent whispers and shielded murmurs. Tavern glares at the Speaking-Podium in the town square in awe of the hypocrisy of his Town Leader, his Religious Figurehead, his “Solar Prince.”
“Grand Flash Tavern has accused me of fraudulent behavior! Do you have any concern for your soul, young man? Would you enjoy the frozen hells of eternal damnation? Well, good people? Loyal followers? What should be done!?”
Cries of “Execution!” and “Kill! Kill!” roar throughout the crowds. The army that Till had yearned for had been birthed, and it was starving for blood. The arrogant zealot waved the crowd to silence and uttered the harsh sounds that composed the word “Banishment.”
To the people of Zephyria, the Earth was a primitive wasteland of ecosystems grown out of control and epic natural disasters. The Earthlings were “the rest of the known world” and were not to be generally associated with Skylings. The Skylings had left the Earth in search of religious freedom and a better life. But through the preaching of Till, the Skylings developed a superiority complex over the Earth’s inhabitants. “The Sky is higher and closer to God. We deserve more attention. We are of a nobler breed,” Till would spout. But back to the screaming mobs and the punishment.
As soon as the
Tavern is dragged out of the cage to the edge of the soaring Town Hall land piece. A crowd of thousands watch, some with eager, hungry faces and some with worried, shocked faces. The “Solar Prince” drags him to the very edge and bellows, “This is where your world ends!” while holding Tavern’s hair so his face is staring down at the Earth 3,000 feet below. He beholds the grand stretch of an ocean, the first real one he has seen in years.
“Grand Flash Tavern, you are hereby ordered to be banished from Zephyria. You have been made an outcast by your congregation and your community. This town will associate your name with death and evil. You shall be killed upon your return. May the Sun shine upon you always, and may God care about your pathetic cries for mercy.”
And so Morgen Till, the “Solar Prince,” then let go of Tavern’s hair, sending him plummeting to the vast blue of an Earth ocean. First the man fell like a necklace of rocks, a missile of dead weight powered by gravity. Soon he came to his senses and shook himself out of his daze. What was left of Tavern’s faith in humanity was now dead, and he howled in his rage and sadness until his body slammed into the still blue, plunging limply into the deep.
