Stones of the Cipher

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Since dawn of time, mankind tirelessly sought to harness the colossal power of nature for its benefit. Only after millennials of toil did humanity finally unlock the enigmatic nature of light, embedding it within minerals and crystals. These became instruments for channeling an energy of immense power, surpassing that of ten thousand suns.

Originally crafted from precious gemstones, they were forever to be known as “Stones of the Cipher”.

However, the rise of this newfound power sparked a frantic arms race among nations, each wielding its own potent mineral in a mesmerizing display of light and color. Regrettably, this competitive pursuit ultimately led to a catastrophic conflict that brought the collapse of civilization.

Amidst the ruins, only scattered tribes endured, traditionally linked to the minerals that resonated with their unique wavelengths of light. Together, they obliterated all traces of the devastating orbs and the cryptic codes they held.

Over the course of centuries, the tribes gradually transformed into kingdoms, diverging from the prismatic unity they once shared. Each kingdom chose to embrace a distinct color, their people once again wielding swords and axes, oblivious to the catastrophe that lay dormant.

In the heart of a war-torn land, a lone relic stands as a silent witness to a history that was both wondrous and terrible.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: niro972

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.0/ 5.0
Followers: 202
Views: 6,889

Chapters(10 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(2)

ShyBoyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Very early review, but with 2 chapters available that's what we have. Colours matter and first chapter does an excellent job with this, as well as setting the style, the conflict and the first few characters.
I did not expect the style, TBH. While it's said we have kingdoms and medieval reality, hearing people talk like in King Arthur's tales of the Round Table, was surprising. The style is strong from the first three paragraphs alone. Actually, here, have a taste:
Our story unfolds within the grandeur of Redmont, the majestic capital of Roseland. This city, a manifestation of the color red, echoes with the traditions and symbolism of its kingdom. The populace is adorned in various shades of red, and their names are often inspired by crimson hues.
Amidst the vibrant atmosphere, the focal point is the imposing Redmont Castle, a structure that rises proudly amidst the city's embrace. Its towering walls and turrets,all bathed in shades of red, evoke a sense of authority and tradition.
As the sun casts a warm glow over the city, the scene shifts to the castle's entrance. Two riders, mounted on noble steeds, approach the towering gates.
I like fairy tales, I'm intrigued by the logic behind the colours (there seems to be some), the pacing seems more than fine (two chapters to bring characters, style, set the conflict and the stakes - that's incredibly good for mere two chapters) so I'll see how the story unfolds.
OnyavarRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
Two things are most outstanding here: An all-knowing narrator describing the theatre stage, and the color-themed actors on said stage.
Please note also, I really like to use the whole gamut of stars, and rate all stories on the same absolute scale: Readable, decent stories get 2 stars, and then I go over good and very good ones towards excellent stories. --> So this story ranks as merely "good": If what I'm going to describe is what you like, you may still very much like it. Just I don't.
In my first paragraph, I speak of "theatre", and I mean it. The characters read to me like wooden dolls and behave in a manner mimicking Shakespearean drama... without being as witty, though. All characters are nobility if not royalty, and while they certainly act with the formal etiquette of their station (good!), this does not endear any of them to me as the reader. As far as I read, all this mostly diminished the enjoyability of the story drastically. For all I know, each of them is a bad guy, and given the mostly red theme and the fact that they're debating war prospects against a neighboring country while none of them seems to be overly concerned about the common folks, it may even be the author's intention to paint them all as villains.
But if so, the author should not begin the story introducing schemes among the villains; stories need sympathetic characters in my opinion. We see the movers and shakers of the nation moving and shaking, but that's it already. A redeeming quality however in the world building is the strict color-coding of the factions (as long as you can identify the color shades). Also, the setting is rather consistent, these characters don't break the fourth wall or make me disbelieve the setting.
Another positive side about the srory is the high-quality grammar, and also a pretty consistent and very neat writing style. Yes, high on adjectives and pompous descriptions, but unlike many other stories, we are told very graphically how the scene and characters l