14 minutes of medieval folk meets comfy synth.
The story below represents the setting and development over the course of each song. For a better visual reading experience, it is also included as a PDF bonus item with the download of this album or can be viewed here: shorturl.at/cjwDF
Chapter 1. High Plains of Lev’myr
Welcome to Lev’myr!
A quaint, picturesque village in the luscious green countryside. The rich, fertile soil (along with just a hint of magic) produces fruits, vegetables, and flowers twice their normal size. Because of this, the bees produce a special honey that can only be found here. This enchanting haven’s location, however, remains unknown. Some even debate its existence. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself here, you’ll understand why most of its residents spend their entire lives here without ever leaving.
Until now...
Chapter 2. Shire Sunrise / Morning Tea
As the sun rises and the early morning silence is replaced with birdsong, the residents of Lev’myr start their day. Families of skunks, squirrels, raccoons, chickens and ducks soon emerge from their domiciles and turn this sleepy little shire into the beating heart of the High Plains. Gwyn the badger and his lifelong friend Basil the hedgehog hop out of their beds and race to their kitchen nook to start their day as well. They head outside, morning tea in hand, and sit next to the stump where they’ve enjoyed every morning for as long as they can remember.
The sun on their faces, the sweet smell of flowers and the continuing chorus of birds filling the air.
“What a beautiful day” Gwyn thinks. He smiles and closes his eyes, totally enveloped by the warmth. “What an absolutely beautiful day.”
After a moment of bliss, the warmth fades and he’s surrounded by darkness. In the pit of his stomach, he feels a ping of something he’s quite unfamiliar with; he feels dread.
“Hey, Gwyn..” Basil barely squeaked.
His eyes snap open, and he’s relieved to see everything as it should be. Almost. He turns to see Basil, pointing to the top of the distant hill.
Basil called out “Gwyn, isn’t that Myka?”
Chapter 3. The Journey Begins
“The gold, Gwyn. The raptors have stolen the gold of Lev’myr.” the towering cloaked feline uttered solemnly.
“The honey is gone? How could that happen?” Basil asked.
“I don’t know how it happened, but it has. And I need Gwyn to help me see that it is returned.” Myka commanded.
“Me? Why me? What could I possibly do to help? I’ve never even set foot outside of this shire! I- I can’t!” Gwyn choked, terrified at the thought.
The great wizard knelt down, smiled and placed a paw on the badger’s shoulder. “You are special, young Gwyn. You may not feel like it now, but you are capable of so much more than you know.”
“C’mon Gwyn! We gotta do this! We’ll be the heroes of Lev’myr!” Basil squeaked excitedly, his eyes lighting up at the mere thought of an adventure.
“We?! What makes you think you’d be coming? Why would you even want to?!” Gwyn exclaimed.
Basil confidently responds, “Well, you’re my best mate! Of course I’m comin’ along! Can’t let you go on a quest AND be a hero all by yourself, can I?”
Myka laughed as he stood up, once again towering over the two. “Basil is right. I never expected you to do this alone. You ARE special. But your friends and companions only add to that.”
“I want to come.” an unfamiliar voice demanded. “I’m the only warrior here, and I want to come.”
It was Rowan, the mighty raccoon. He seemingly appeared one day, and just never left the High Plains. No one had ever spoken to him, and he liked it that way.
Myka nodded. “Very well.”
“So we’re really doing this? I’M really doing this?” Gwyn asked, his knees buckling beneath him.
Myka looked down at him and smiled. “Yes, young Gwyn. You are.” He slammed his staff off the ground and a huge portal opened in front of them. “It is time.”
“Oi! Oi! Wait for me!” a distant voice shouts.
Just as they were about to step through, Fenix the fox collapsed at their feet.
“Why would you come along, Fox? What could you POSSIBLY do?” Rowan asked, almost offended at the thought.
“Well, I have a lute.” Fenix countered.
Chapter 4. Under the Stars
“This area seems good. We should camp here for the night.” snorted Rowan, seeming almost frustrated that he hadn’t fought anything on their first day of hiking.
Gwyn was relieved, however, that it had been fairly uneventful, aside from Fenix, the self-proclaimed bard of the group, annoying everyone with his never ending tunes.
Myka tapped his staff off the ground and a campfire sprouted up from the dirt. “Rowan is right. Let’s get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow won’t be quite as kind to us as today was.”
Chapter 5. Rain Awakening
“Gwyn! Gwyn, you’ve gotta get up! We can’t stay out here in this rain!” Basil shouted, trying his hardest to wake his friend. “I can’t get him to wake up!”
“Step aside, hedgehog.” Rowan ordered, as he grabbed Gwyn by his shirt collar and gave him one hard slap across the face.
“What- What’s happening?” Gwyn sharply groaned. Gwyn was finally awake, and it was absolute chaos.
“We must go!” Myka commanded.
The group started to run, not knowing exactly where they were headed. The rain was unlike anything they ever experienced in Lev’myr. Coconut sized raindrops tore down almost everything in their path. Entire tree branches came crashing down around them as they ran. For a brief moment, Gwyn couldn’t tell if this was real life or if he was dreaming.
“This time yesterday, I was drinking my morning tea and resting in the sun. How did I get here?” he wondered.
“Oi! Look up there!” Fenix pointed ahead to a crack in the side of a distant hill. “Is that a cave?”
They ran as fast as they could.
“You guys! I can’t keep up! My legs are too short!” Basil screamed, quickly falling behind the rest of the group.
“Keep going! I will get the little one.” Rowan yelled, waving the others ahead. He scooped Basil up, sat him on his shoulders, and ran on all fours to catch up with the others.
Just as Gwyn was starting to feel like they’d never reach the cave, they finally did.
“Lucky thing I spotted this cave, eh mates? Sometimes I just can’t believe the power of my mind, ya know?” Fenix gloated. “It’s like, sometimes I’m just–what.. what the hell was that, mates!?”
Chapter 6. Cave Ambush
“Besides Rowan, do any of you have weapons? You may need to use them, if so. I don’t believe we’re safe here.” Myka warned. “There are rumors of giant bugs in this area that have been infected by some sort of fungus. They’re said to be very aggressive.”
Basil pulled a slingshot and a handful of small rocks out of his pocket, and looked up at Rowan for reassurance, who smirked and unsheathed his sword from his back with determination. Basil blushed, slightly embarrassed. Gwyn pulled a small dagger out of his pocket, a family heirloom he’s had for as long as he could remember.
Gwyn muttered, then exclaimed, “I’ve never used this for anything besides cutting fruit. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to know what to do?! I’m not–”.
Before he could finish his thought, a giant infected spider hissed and leapt down from the darkness overhead. Rowan instinctively shoved Gwyn aside and struck the spider down with one fell swoop.
“Ready yourselves! We must fight!” bellowed Myka, as the tip of his staff transformed into a giant spear.
One spider encroached after another and another, swiftly attacking them from all sides.
“This is a nightmare! This all has to be an awful dream!” Gwyn screamed, trying his hardest to maintain composure. Although, he knew he was failing. He wanted so badly to run.
He looked at Myka and Rowan, fighting their hardest. Even Basil, his best friend for his entire life, was giving it all he had. He knew he needed to be brave. So he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, unsure if it was going to be his last. He gripped his dagger tight and plunged it deep into the head of the spider that was rushing towards him.
“W- Wow.. Did I really do that?” he stuttered.
Just then, the cave overhead lit up with a hail of flaming arrows.
“What’s happening?! Who is that?!” Basil shouted.
Myka looked around and smiled, “The bears have arrived.”
More flaming arrows rained down around them, followed by the deafening roar of the bears. The giant beasts formed a circle of defense around the group and they finished fighting off the remaining spiders.
“You. Why are you here? You are far from home. I can tell you are not of this realm.” the apparent leader of the bear army said. He looks around with a firm smile, “Except for you, Rowan. It has been a long time, comrade.”
Rowan dropped his gaze to the ground and nodded. “Hmph. Tobias.”
“Someone known as the raptors stole our village’s sacred honey and we’re trying to get it back!” Basil exclaimed.
Tobias shifts his eyes with immediate concern, “The raptors? You’re going after the raptors? Hmm. I see. We must go now. It is a long walk to Ardmore if we are to get there before nightfall. You are welcome to come with us.”
The group started to leave the cave with their new allies, when Gwyn realized someone was missing. “Hey guys, wait a minute. Where’s Fenix?”
“Heh heh.” Fenix’s head peeked out from behind a large boulder. “The fight over already? That wasn’t so bad, huh?!”
Chapter 7. Ironworks of the Bears
They arrived in Ardmore just before sundown. Gwyn had never imagined anything like it. A huge ironworks run entirely by giant bears.
“You are able to stay here for as long as you need.” Tobias comforted. “We will provide you with shelter and food. You may train here. And if you are willing to let us join your fight, we can also provide you with armor and new weapons. The choice is yours. But for tonight, rest.”
Gwyn felt as though he could collapse right there on the ground. Rowan put a hand on his shoulder, as if he could sense this.
“Come, badger. It will be okay.” Rowan reassured.
Tobias guided the group to their temporary living quarters. “Take tonight to familiarize yourself with our ironworks. Visit the mess hall and have dinner and wine. Eat and drink as much as you like. You are our guests.”
Gwyn closed his eyes and tried to collect his thoughts. He tried to take comfort in knowing that they were safe for now. So much had already transpired in just a couple of days. But he knew that their adventure was still just beginning...
