THE ANCESTRAL TRAIL

Synopsis of Ancient Stories used for the Partwork Publication by

 Marshall Cavendish and written by Frank Graves

(First 26 Chapters of 52 Chapter Total)

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THE ANCESTRAL TRAIL (Main Cover - Project Launch) Richard (Rikki) enters the mythological world and meets Golan, the keeper of life force and Orkan the pig at the 'Tree of Life'.  Richard is given a quest to find 6 guardians and 6 missing pods of life. Richard is handed the remaining 7th pod of life and then follows Orkan.

 

1) THE MOSS BEAST

Rikki and Orkan meet up with Melek who carries the Book of Prophecies. They come under attack from the 'Grapfrits' and run for cover to the river. Richard falls into the water that heaves when Nya-Nya appears. Nya-Nya tries to attack and Richard manages to escape.

 

2) TOLOSH OF THE GAROON

Richard saves Orkan from worms. There are wailing sounds and they find the vicious doll-like 'Tolosh' calling for help. A passer-by arrives at water's edge and is lured into water. He is attacked and eaten by the Tolosh. A stranger arrives and is told what happened to the previous leopard-man. They entice the Tolosh to give up a pod of life. They hear a thumping sound and Orkan pulls Richard into a thicket. They are petrified.

 

3) BAAL THE GIANT SPIDER

In the forest they encounter a cocooned people before encountering a huge spider, 'Baal'. The leopard man fights the thing while the others escape. A giant snake called Lotan attacks Richard and Orkan shoots the snake that dies. Baal comes back on the scene. - Richard and Orkan now know that it works for The Evil One trying to steal all the pods of life' - There is a pod of life at stake.

 

4)   MIRRA THE MAGICIAN

The group stumble into the city of stone, the stronghold of Mirra the Magician. There are statues of all types of beasts. One statue is Juroot, the guardian of the Birds. Richard senses that there's something standing next to them, it is Mirra who carries a mirror and a sickle which are the tools used by her to turn all opponents of truth to stone. The guardian is Juroot carries a mace and almost attacks Richard. The group return to Baal’s lair. 

 

5) BOLTAR, BIRD OF THUNDER

When they tumble over the edge of Ravine, they are rescued by Oganga the bird spirit who updates progress on the battle with the evil one. They are caught in a tornado and left in a desert. At last Oganga finds them. Oganga is attacked by Boltar, the bird of thunder and the two go into a great mid-air battle and then disappear from sight Melek loses ‘The Book of Prophecies.

 

6) COZARDS AND KILLER BEES

They find the book and hide from the marching Cozards, searching for the group. The Cozards are the storm-trooper soldiers of the evil one. When the coast is clear they enter Green Man Wood. A tree grips Richard and explains what is happening. They hear a buzzing noise and the killer bees arrive as the group search for cover in a cave. The killer bees attack the Cozards and the group escape into the cave but, fall down a hole at the back of the cave

 

7) ZOCK, CANNIBAL CHIEF

They come to and find that they are confronted by 'Zock, the Cannibal'. He takes them to his headquarters where they are placed in a cage and they soon realise they are bound for the pot. They trick the dwarfish Zock and make their escape by taking a hostage as they head off to reach an underground lake. They steal a boat but, the lake is filled with vicious eels. Zock gives chase and the group get through the lake and find their path block by a deep impassable chasm.

 

8) ENLIL’S DUNGEON

The find a way across the chasm and the group stumble onto Enlil’s dungeon which is guarded by the Hounds of Hell. They get past the hounds and inside find beasts of all kinds working as slaves. The group dispose of giant bats acting as lookouts but then see many of Enlil’s slave beasts heading in their direction. They prepare to defend themselves.

 

9)   LIVING DEATH-TRAPS

Instead of being attacked the animals are friendly and pleased to be released. Broon the leader of the Common Beasts. They enter a clearing that is filled with Cozards being attacked by Grapfrits and by flesh-eating plants. Melek races in to rescue a trapped creature and almost becomes a victim of one of the plants. Richard and Orkan start a fire to get the plant to release Melek and the creature. The fire spreads and the plants and Grapfrits begin exploding- They race away.

 

10) ZIBELLA’S FORTRESS

The group jump into a lake and are sucked under. They become trapped in a passage and are attacked by rats. Escaping, they find themselves in a cave with a woman in long robes. She introduces herself as Zibella the all-powerful. Zibella uses her magic on the group and turns them all into toads. They work on something from the Book of Prophecies and undo the spell. Zibella appears and now, she shows herself as a haggard old witch.. She is upset with them.

 

11)  KLAW, SERVANT OF EVIL

They escape Zibella and then from a hole they hear a voice calling for help. Melek climbs down and finds a wasp-like creature with a wounded leg. She is Kika, guardian of the insects. She was trapped by Klaw, an evil one’s servant. and has a blow-pipe strapped to her side. She gives Richard a belt and the group move on into the desert. They meet the skeletal warrior, Klaw and his army of skeletons. There is a fight and Kika takes Orkan’s bow and seemingly flies away as Klaw enters the battle.

 

12) SCORPIONS OF THE DESERT

Klaw is about to fell Richard when his army start falling apart around him. Kika had shot Klaw in a vital spot and he and his army all disintegrate. The have to bypass The Sand City. They come upon the Sorpion Men guarding the place. In trying to get past, Orkan is stung, which Melek heals. Inside is a deserted citadel. The group are surrounded by four Scorpion Men. Kika is caught in the pincer of a scorpion and the others go to her aid.

 

13) DRAGORA’S INNER SANCTUM

The Scorpion Man is distracted and Kika draws her blowpipe and kills the scorpion. She sends the group off but the fall into a central part of the citadel. Dragora is a multi-headed serpent that then proceeds to attack the group. One of Orkan’s arrows hits the target and Kika lets off a barrage of darts from her blowpipe. They find that the place is filled with reptiles but with the death of Dragora the citadel begins to break up and starts collapsing around them.

 

14) HULKAN, THE MOLE MONSTER

Kika leaves the group. There is a rumbling from within the ground and a mound grows before their eyes. Hulkan the mole monster appears and begins to form live mud-men who surround the group. The group escape and head for water where the mud-men cannot follow. They do, and simply become mud blobs. The group head for the forest and then hear the familiar drone of the Grapfrits approaching.

 

NARKUM, THE FLY KING

They race away from the Grapfrits and seek shelter where they meet a monstrous fly called Narkum. His flies form a hand to encircle the group. Melek hatches a plan and uses a rope to relieve the fly of its wand that lands in a fire. All Narkum’s flies undergo a transformation turning to butterflies etc.. The insects leave Narkum’s hideout

 

15) CRAGMAR, MAN OF STONE

They follow suit and meet up with a lizard called Zard, the guardian of Reptiles who has been captured. The stone face of a cliff begins to move and Zard warns them about Cragmar, the Man of Stone. Cragmar lumbers towards them but, his main objective is chasing after Zard. A fight takes place between Zard and Cragmar. Richard rolls a giant boulder towards Cragmar and a rock landslide ensues. Cragmar is caught in the rock fall and is destroyed. Zard heads towards the valley floor and there is a second rock fall.

 

17) GATOR, REPTILE WARRIOR

Zard reappears unscathed. The group move forward and into a swamp. Where they are attacked by greedy bloodsuckers. They meet up with more reptiles hiding in the swamp. There are minions of the evil one among the group led by Gator. A battle between rebel alligators and reptiles ensues. Gator is killed by Zard. Zard and the reptiles head off as the group find a canoe and head towards the sea. .    

     

18) KRONIS, THE WINGED LION

They reach the Isle of Illusions and the group hear the flapping of wings. They race into maze and find a tethered unicorn; it is Tuska the guardian of mythical beasts. It is held captive by Kronis, the winged Lion. The release Tuska and Kronis attacks as they flee to a lighthouse. Kronis tries to get through a hole in the wall and is trapped, the group all use their weapons on the lion. All the mythical beasts have been released and Tuska escorts them back to their boat and then moves on with the mythical beasts.

 

19) NEMIS, MASTER OF THE DEEP

There is a wild storm and the boat sinks. They see an old schooner moving towards them, once on board they find that the helmsman is a ghost. The get into a diving bell as the ship sinks to an underwater city. They are confronted by the Merman King called Nemis. And find that Tishon and Shunta, the guardians of the fishes are held captive by the Merman King. The diving bell is attacked by a huge octopus and the group escape and free the guardians that frees all the captive fish. They are whisked away by a dolphin to Frigoria, a place of ice.

 

20)  SPECTOR OF ICE KINGDOM

They pass through the arch of horror and find an ice city. It seems empty until a one-eyed giant called Spector confronts them. He locks them away, removes his hypnotic eye to keep watch over them and then goes to sleep. Richard manages to get hold of the eye but drops it. Spector races forward and now blindly shatters everything in his path. Pygman kills the giant and suddenly the whole place melts releasing those trapped. They move on and find that they are caught in a sudden snow blizzard.

 

21) STRIDOR, OF SNOWY MOUNTAINS

The group rope up together and eventually find a cave. There are devoured carcasses trapped within the ice. Stridor, the lord of the snowy mountains appears, he looks like an abominable snowman. Richard confronts Stridor and stabs it in the foot. The huge roar from the beast starts an avalanche that sweeps Stridor down the mountain. They continue and find the forgotten city which they search and find nothing. They see gleaming in the distance a pyramid shaped building. They move towards it.

 

22) ZYTON, CURSE OF LOKTAR

Melek disappears; the others search and then make their way to the pyramid. They enter a chamber that seems to be a tomb room. Zyton the three-headed monster appears and tries to attack them. As the tomb is opened Melek appears having deciphered the wall scrolls. This is the tomb of Loktar and guarded by Zyton, they notice something moving inside the tomb and race away. There is a searing hurricane caused by a blast inside the pyramid.

 

23) DAGMAR, DEMON OF FIRE

They are blown clear of the pyramid and then find they have to cross an abyss over a rope bridge which breaks when they are half way across. A dragon-like creature arrives spitting flame, it is Dagmar. Before it can kill off the helpless group a second creature arrives to save them, it is Dion the Firebird and it attacks Dagmar. The firebird returns with news of the others but, Dagmar also returns and while the group make their escape, the firebird re-engages the battle. As they make their way the bloodstained firebird arrives to tell them he has done his duty. They make their way to Sorcerer’s Waterfall

 

24) SYRUS, SPIRIT OF THE SKY

They pass through the waterfall and find a massive cavern behind. They encounter Syrus, the Genie and explain they want to reach Wizard’s Well. Syrus shrinks them and places them in a bubble; they find that they are not the only bubble in the place. They eventually escape the bubble and find themselves among large bottles in the genie’s workshop. One of the bottles contains a Syrus antidote. The group plus the rest of the people that were imprisoned and called the Landsmen find armour. Richard is given a special suit but, Syrus reappears and Richard is left facing the genie.

 

25) FENRAR, THE DESERT STALKER

Richard uses a spell to shrink the genie. The group meet up with the Landsmen and move towards the desert of shimmering sands. They reach an oasis and see a large lizard. It is Fenrar and while the group are bathing, Fenrar steals their clothes. Richard sees the lizard changing shape into a wolf that then grabs Melek. A flying horse called Ravan approaches and Fenrar starts to change into a horse but, is attacked by the flying horse before the change is complete. The flying horse takes the group on its back and flies off towards the Tree of Life.

 

26) KOKER & THE FINAL STORY

They reach the Ancestral City. The evil one still holds the city and the animals are gathering for a last push. The group attend a Council of War. Finally a battle plan is arranged and the guardians begin gathering their forces together in readiment. The armies advance towards each other and ferocious battle is commenced. There is also a major battle taking place in the water. Slowly good begins to overcome evil in the final onslaught. When it is over, the sky becomes red with funeral pyres. Afterwards, all the guardians representing the animal kingdom and Golan all meet at the Tree of Life. Melek has been made the Keeper of the Sacred Runes and Golan says the prophecy has been fulfilled. The evil one has vanished and Golan questions whether evil has been vanquished.

 

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