The Tonovian Empire

Beneath Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, an even greater underground cave system existed. It extended for miles. Further below was a cavern—a colossal pocket hidden from sunlight. Despite its depth, water found its way, dropping like a waterfall before freezing upon making contact with the cave floor.

The temperature was freezing despite being 10 miles beneath the surface. The only warmth came from geologic activity, such as magma chambers. An extraordinary race of humans resided in this dark, cold, and humid environment. Their adult men and women measured an average height of 8-9 feet, and their asking was various shades of blue.

This lost race of humanity ingeniously carved their homes into the cavern walls, creating a citadel of stone within the cavern. They harnessed the mineral world around them, creating artificial light powered by triboluminescence to illuminate their sanctuary. 

In the highest stone chamber stood the leader of the citadel. He was an impressive 10 feet, a towering figure even among his people. His flowing gray hair cascaded down to his waist, matching the length of his well-groomed beard. His skin was light blue, like the open sky on the surface.

Despite his advanced age, the man's eyes emitted a youthful glow. Standing near a window, he gazed outwards, contemplating the future while stroking his beard.

An 8-foot man with white hair and pale blue skin addressed the old man in a language unknown to the surface world. "Father of Fathers, what will we do if those invaders reappear? Five of them killed hundreds of our brethren. I understand our people are enduring a natural calamity, so our mightiest warriors remain in their extended sleep. However, can we at least consider waking a few up to guard against the invaders?"

Standing across the Father of Father was another man who towered at 10.5 feet. His hair was white as snow cascading down his broad shoulders, contrasting with his darker blue skin tone. His muscular frame gave him an imposing presence. He listened closely to the words of his brethren and turned to the Father of Fathers.

The Father of Fathers contemplated, deep in thought. The man speaking in front of him was one of the brightest minds of their people. The muscular man was his bloodline descendant and firstborn.

Miles away from the chamber of the Father of Fathers, a group of blue men and women gathered. Most had white hair, some gray, and a few of their young, around 5 feet tall, had hair white as snow. The women shed tears and walked towards several mounts scattered across the ground, each resembling their people's giant stature.

The group, adorned in simple garments, mourned the loss of their loved ones. Tears streaming down their faces mixed with the red soil as they carefully dug into the earth, revealing the powdered soil remains of their departed family members. Only the women participated in this ritual, collecting the soil that absorbed their loved ones, Will.

The women then passed the remains to the eldest child present, signifying the passing of the ancestral lineage. This tradition was deeply ingrained in their culture, a way to honor and remember those who had died and returned to the soil.

However, for many women without children, continuing this ancestral connection was a bittersweet moment. Their sorrow was palpable. A calamity had befallen their people, and their numbers were slowly decreasing. They were facing the possibility of extinction.

In this underground world, their diet primarily consisted of crystals and stones. Their bodies had slowly adapted to break down minerals for nutrition. Occasionally, they would snack on scorpion-like crustaceans and shrimp-like cockroaches.

With very little microbial life to decompose their dead, the earth served as a natural resting place. As their diet adapted, the ground began consuming the remains. A new cycle of life was created: They ate the minerals, and upon their death, the minerals ate them.

After death, their bodies slowly petrified, and over time, the petrified body would break down into red soil. They discovered the red soil to speed up the formation of crystals, and when rubbed on wounds, it sped up the healing process. This unique soil slowly became crucial to their sustenance, creating crystal farms.

In their observation, they noticed a curious phenomenon. When a crustacean brushed up against the red soil, it would exhibit signs of intoxication. When their people consumed the intoxicated creatures, they realized the creatures had grown tastier and more filling.

However, they also discovered that if the creature ingested the red soil, it would enter a near-death state. This intriguing observation prompted further exploration and experimentation among the most intelligent minds in their society.

One of their people made a remarkable breakthrough. They found that combining a small quantity of magma with red soil and rapidly immersing it in water could produce unique glass-like crystals. These crystals could then be digested, giving the person who digested the crystal a strange ability. After a few hours, the ability would fade away.

Back in the highest chamber of the citadel, the Father of fathers turned around, his face set with determination.

He spoke with conviction, "I have sought counsel from the spirits of our previous Father of Fathers and our esteemed Forefathers,"

He paused before turning to the 8-foot man. "Loh' Polieus, it is imperative that you embark on a journey to the surface. For countless millennia, we have purposefully avoided contact with the surface, and for good reason. Their numbers are nearly infinite, while we, regrettably, celebrate each successful birth as a miraculous event. However, the situation we now face is dire."

Loh' Pohlieus clenched his jaw but remained quiet.

The Father of Fathers turned toward his firstborn, the muscular man. "The enemy will return in even greater numbers within seven days. Asoto Tinneus, my son, you will accompany young Loh' Pohlieus. The two of you must depart this very moment."

Loh' could no longer hold back. His voice filled with concern objected. "What sort of help do you expect from those surface-dwelling apes? If the impending attack on our people is as imminent as you claim, allow me to stay and lend my assistance. I may not possess the strength of our warriors, but I am still a son of Tonovia."

Loh' checking his emotions lowered his voice; however, he retained his impassioned reasoning and pleaded, "Oh, Father of fathers, you understand better than anyone the strides I have made in deepening our connection with the mineral world." 

The Father of Fathers was simply a title; the man's real name was Usto' Tinneius.

Usto' silenced Loh' "It is precisely because I hold your brilliant mind in high regard that I am entrusting this task to you," he asserted.

"If anyone can foster a diplomatic relationship and persuade the surface dwellers to aid us, it is you." Usto' explained.

Reluctantly, Loh' nodded in acknowledgment, but his thoughts churned with bitterness as he walked out of the chamber. Asoto' remained quiet and was about to follow Loh,' but Usto' motioned for him to stay a while longer.

"Asoto', I didn't want to burden Loh' with the weight of this truth. You have to succeed in this mission! The very fate of our people hinges on your success. Son, I may not be here when the two of you return. That's why I want you to take this." Usto' spoke as he pulled a small pouch out. 

Asoto' opened his mouth to respond but thought better of it, choosing instead to receive his father's gift in solemn silence.

Their eyes locked, conveying a depth of understanding. Father and son tightly embraced, aware it could be their final goodbye. Asoto' exited the room, hastening to catch up with Loh, his heart heavy with the fate of their homeland.

Days later, a profound sense of dread filled the Tonovian empire. A silence permeated the air, amplifying the eerie anticipation that gripped their hearts.

Occasionally, loud rumblings reverberated through the land, accompanied by tremors that shook the foundations.

A few miles from the citadel, a waterfall cascaded through a narrow aperture before freezing. Its crystalline beauty shattered each time an earthquake jolted the land, sending torrents of pristine water into a vast lake below.

Such phenomena were natural sights to the people of Tonovia. However, something in the lake seemed to trouble a bald Tonovian warrior guarding the top of the wall leading to their citadel.

"Great Iron Goeh', does our mother lake appear peculiar to you?" the bald Tonovian inquired, his voice filled with unease.

Great iron Goeh halted and used a glass stone to observe their mother lake, which was miles away.

The citadel of Tonovia was etched into a corner of the giant cavern.

Its cliffs soared majestically, reaching a staggering height of nearly 4 miles. The citadel itself was less than a mile from the cave's ceiling.

The citadel was a testament to the Tonovians' ingenuity; it provided a home to over 50,000 citizens.

Perched atop their defensive walls, the Tonovians maintained a network of military high posts strategically positioned every mile along the width of the cavern. 

The cavern was nearly 30 miles long and 14 miles wide.

Twelve fortified strongholds were scattered along the wall, with the seventh high post near the center.

This outpost was under Great Iron, Goeh' Tahleow's command.

Though the Tonovians' visual perception was not their most significant attribute, their uncanny ability to detect even the slightest movement was unparalleled.

In silence, Great Iron Goeh' approached a colossal stone monolith only two feet taller than him.

The stone monolith was meticulously sculpted into a geometric structure, balanced gracefully upon a red stone.

Great Iron Goeh' extended his hand and gently rested it upon the monolith's surface, closing his eyes in deep concentration. It was as if he engaged in an unspoken conversation, his mind communing with the monolith.

As moments passed, sparks of energy crackled around the monolith, creating an ethereal glow. The intricate runes that adorned its surface hummed with an otherworldly vibration, pulsating as if yearning to break free.

Building to a crescendo, a resounding clap echoed through the air, and in an instant, Goeh' Tahleow vanished, reappearing miles away next to the sacred mother lake.

The transmission was instant. This was the awe-inspiring power bestowed upon them by their advanced mineral understanding.

Goeh' proceeded with measured steps, his gaze sweeping over the serene surface of the lake, mirroring his tranquil demeanor. Stripped of weapons or tools, save for a small pouch secured to his waist, he relied solely on his keen senses.

As he began to turn, preparing to be teleported by one of his subordinates, a ripple in his peripheral vision seized his attention.

In the blink of an eye, a creature burst forth from the water; its eyes burned a crimson red, and its skin shimmered with a metallic sheen. Its lightning-quick movement left Goeh' with no time to react as it swiftly closed the distance.

Though he stood at an impressive 9'2", Goeh' found himself dwarfed by the beast that attacked him, its massive frame nearly twice his size. The creature's hand loomed above his head. 

Despite the overwhelming speed of the attack, Goeh' remained poised, deftly evading the beast's grasp by calmly ducking beneath its grasping hand.

Goeh' wasted no spare time retrieving the pouch from his waist. He leaped into the air with a fluid motion. Mid-jump, he consumed a small blue crystal. As he landed, frost materialized beneath his feet.

A swirling cool mist enveloped Goeh's body.

Seeing it had missed, the beast attacked again, but this time, Goeh' matched its incredible speed. Agile and nimble, Goeh' deftly evaded its hands. Finding an opening, Goeh' unleashed a flurry of five powerful punches before creating distance between himself and the beast.

As he surveyed the scene, a lingering thought echoed, "That hurt my fist. What on earth is this beast made of?" He examined the spot where his punches had landed, noting with intrigue that the frost from his Ice Will was beginning to encase the points of impact.