Kameo Official Podcast
From RWP Wiki
“All too aware of mortal greed, both races--Elves and Sargothans--were commanded to use their powers together, working as one if darkness should ever envelop the land...”
—Legend of the First Days, Kameo: Elements of Power
The story behind Kameo: Elements of Power is complex and deep, yet most of it is not seen in the game itself. Instead, Rare opted to tell the story through a Podcast, and a Manga. A complete transcript of the Podcast is available below.
Contents |
Chapter 1: The First Age
In the ancient mists of time, the Gods conspired to forge a magical tome called the Wotnot Book to maintain control over Nature and the Elements. Within the Wotnot, were contained ten Elemental Warriors, powerful spirit beings whose responsibility it was to safeguard the natural world. And as the world evolved, it was the Elemental Warriors who caused the clouds to produce rain, made the grasses grow, and urged the forests to persevere. It was also the Elemental Warriors who created the mountains, which naturally gave rise to meadow and brook, lake and stream. Without the Wotnot, the Elemental Warriors would not have had the power to do any of these beautiful things for the creatures of the land, and their absence was something which no one ever imagined possible.
To further the magical power of the Wotnot, the Gods also created a powerful, magic jewel: the Element of Power. This one-of-a-kind gem, contained powerful transformation magic that imbued the holder with the ability to transform into any Elemental Warrior contained in the Wotnot. After transforming, one could manifest all of the Elemental Warriors’ impressive powers and abilities. With their work now complete, the Gods commanded the ancient races of the land, that if darkness ever threatened to envelope the world, they must seek to combine the power of both the Wotnot and the Element of Power, and make use of the Elemental Warriors therein to save themselves.
However, the Gods were also all too aware of base mortal greed, and didn’t want the power to fall into the hands of any one mortal, for this would surely imbalance all they’d created. So to the Elves, strong fighters and hearty explorers, the Gods gave the Wotnot Book, and all the Elemental Warriors contained inside. To the Sargothans, wise soothsayers who could divine the future, the Gods gave the Element of Power, and the knowledge of how to use it. By doing this, they felt assured the people of the land would be forced to work together in a time of need. It was well known that only by working together could these two, powerful races combine the artifacts given to them and command the Elemental Warriors. But unfortunately, the thirst for power corrupts even the purest heart. Greed began to fester in the hearts of both races, who now craved all of the power for themselves, and greed led to resentment, which led to aggression, and finally, to all out war.
This was a bloody war, a war for power and domination that lasted for a thousand years, scorched the earth, and very nearly destroyed the whole world. Many Elves and many Sargothans died as the war made its mark on history. Through generation after generation, both races became so entrenched in their hate and animosity towards one another, that they forgot the Element of Power and the Wotnot Book only worked when used together. Each race held what the other did not, but this important truth faded from memory, and chaos reigned supreme.
It was only after the Elves at last reached victory over the Sargothans, appearing to wipe them from the world, that they realized the consequences of their actions. Although they now held the Element of Power for which they'd fought so dearly, none among them knew how to use it. Making matters worse, the Gods retaliated, for they were furious the Elves had dared defy them and claim all of the power for themselves. They unleashed a terrible punishment upon the Elves, the Elemental Warriors were taken from the Wotnot, and hidden across the land in the form of tiny Elemental Sprites.
These Elemental Sprites though still possessing great power, were hidden in remote and dangerous locations, and without the Wotnot, their powers were rendered useless. Now only the bravest adventures could ever catch the barest glimpse of them. It would take generations of hard work for the Elves to recover from their punishment, so they set about retrieving the Elemental Sprites. Still clearly obsessed with power, and consumed by greed, they believed they had no other choice. Desperate to repay the Gods for their mistake and determined to reclaim the Warriors, the Elves began their long search. It was a quest that would be handed down from generation to generation, down through the ages.[1]
Chapter 2: A Time of Elves, Goblins, and a Mystic
As the domination of the world by the Elves continued, they forced the forest Goblins through hard labor to construct an Enchanted Kingdom which floated high above the land below, protected by a mighty shield. Nested among the clouds, this became home to the Royal Elves who still held and protected what was left of the Wotnot Book and the stolen Element of Power. The never ending search for the Elemental Sprites continued down their bloodline, and the Royals became increasingly frustrated that they still lacked the knowledge to use the transformation magic. They searched the land for clues to the Sargothan's lost secrets, but the war had been so savage that hardly anything from that ancient time now remained.
Out of desperation, the Elves called upon the tribes of the world, promising great rewards and riches for anyone who could reveal the secrets and knowledge they so desired. Eventually, the Elves' pleas were answered and someone did step forward, claiming to hold the secrets of the Element of Power. The new arrival was an elderly hag-like creature who called herself The Mystic. This Mystic had a great seeing eye and with it she was able to reveal a vision to the Elves.
"Behold! I reveal for you the secret ceremony. In it, the unveiling of truths, of how the Element of Power and the transformation magic have been and always will be: passed down through the ages. Anyone who has the Element of Power passed to them in this same way will be able to transform into an Elemental Warrior."
The Elves could not believe their eyes and eagerly wished to learn all the secrets this old crone had in her possession. She became greatly revered among the Elves for the knowledge she possessed and because of this, they readily agreed to let her enter the Enchanted Kingdom as a Royal Aide. The Elves celebrated their new-found knowledge and control of the Element of Power and the ability to command the Elemental Warriors. Now all they had to do was find the rest of them.[2]
Chapter 3: Welcome the New King
The Elves continued in their determined search for the remaining Elemental Sprites. Many generations of Elfin adventurers returned unsuccessful in their quest to find the missing Sprites until eventually, a very special and gifted new King stepped up to take the throne. His name was Solon and on his coronation day, he too inherited both the Element of Power and the Warriors that had been recovered thus far, safely sealed and protected inside the Wotnot Book.
Solon, too, had a Mystic, as this had become a long-standing tradition among the royal family. During his reign, Solon forged a pact with a race of Trolls that lived below, a pact thought beneficial to both. Although the Trolls could not use magic, they could design and construct great weapons and useful devices for the Elves. The Trolls benefited from this arrangement by living inside the Elfin borders in the protected and prosperous lands. Some of the other tribes resented this, claiming the Trolls were too barbaric to live amongst them.
By the time of Solon's coronation, the Wotnot Book was very nearly full; only one Elemental Sprite still eluded the Royals. Each new King was trained to used the Elemental Warriors by a tribe known as the Twycross. Now it was Solon's turn; he too would learn to use their powers. The Twycross were close to nature, and legend had it that they could communicate directly with its spirits. They were harmonious with the ways of the earth, an aptitude Solon found most refreshing. Because of this, Solon took quite easily to the use of the Elemental Warriors.
His mentor was a Twycross elder named Terramus. He taught the young King how to become proficient and skillful with the Elemental Warriors. Solon visited often and became fast friends with Terramus and his family. During one such sojourn, Solon met with a beautiful female Elf named Theena with whom he fell in love. Solon took her as his Queen, and brought her family; Halis, Lenya, and Yeros, to live with him in the Enchanted Kingdom. At the same time, and unknown to Solon, Thorn, the biggest and strongest Troll anyone had ever seen, was gaining power and influence throughout the land. Unable to use magic, Trolls prized strength and brute force above all else. Because of this, it was easy for Thorn to declare himself King of all Trolls.
Thorn planted the seeds of discontent in his people, and they became increasingly unhappy with living and working as subjects in the Elfin lands. They wanted more for themselves, and resented being looked down upon as brutish by the other tribes. Eventually their jealously and resentment led to terrorizing and stealing from the other tribes in the area. Meanwhile, Solon was still fulfilling his legacy, and had miraculously and as if by fate, uncovered the location of the last Elemental Sprite. With the Wotnot Book finally complete, Solon returned to the Enchanted Kingdom only to realize what the Trolls had been doing in his absence. Solon was furious, and with the power of all ten Elemental Warriors, he completely routed Thorn and the Trolls from his lands. Then he banished them into exile, so they could no longer enjoy the prosperity of the Elves' fertile crops, clean air, and pure water.
Solon next confronted the Mystic; how could she have let this happen? How could her Crystal Eye not have shown her Thorn's treachery, and wasn't it her duty to protect the Royal Elves? He would have banished the Mystic too were it not been for Theena who calmed her husband and reminded him that it was Elfin tradition: a King must always have a Mystic who was knowledgeable in the ways of transformation magic. Solon relented, but still punished the Mystic by forcing her to leave the palace. Forevermore she had to live in a hut amongst the Goblins, and her trusted position in the Royal Court was taken from her; she no longer meant anything to Solon.
With the Trolls banished, and Solon back home in the Enchanted Kingdom, an era of peace began in the Elfin realm. It was during this time that Theena gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Kalus. Little did they suspect that while in exile, Thorn, and his seven Trolls Lords had begun to plot for war. [3]
Chapter 4: Solon's Disappearance
Playing with Kalus in the garden one afternoon, Solon was approached by the Mystic. She begged Solon for an audience, and showed him a vision of Terramus and the Twycross tribe under attack. Solon immediately prepared to go to his friend's aid. He arrived in the Twycross homeland and was confused because everything seemed to be fine and the attack the Mystic had shown now seemed nonexistent. Instead, Terramus was at his home, sitting peacefully with his baby granddaughter. Suddenly, Thorn and his Troll Lords sprang out of hiding. Appearing from out of nowhere, and swinging his mighty arm, Thorn narrowly missed Solon, instead striking Terramus and mortally wounding him. Thorn struck again, this time knocking Solon to the ground, damaging the Wotnot Book.
Despite his injured state, Terramus moved between them. He was trying his hardest to protect Solon while still holding his granddaughter in his arms. Solon could do nothing to help Terramus, but was just able to snatch the baby away before Thorn struck in fury and killed his longtime friend. Angrily, and clutching the baby, Solon summoned the power of all ten warriors and created an Elemental Shield. With the shield in place, Solon struck at Thorn with the ultimate magical curse, one that would turn Thorn to stone, but at the cost of his own life.
As the curse took hold, Thorn was encase in stone; Solon's life force faded, and the tiny baby he held stretched her arms towards his face. Solon looked upon her, smiled softly, and disappeared. The Element of Power dropped from his head, into the baby's hands. With a bump, fell to the floor along with a heavily damaged Wotnot. The ten warriors with the book damaged and the Element of Power no longer in Solon's possession, reverted to vulnerable Elemental Sprites. Thorn was no entombed, but the Troll Lords remained. Panicking, they snatched up the Wotnot and managed to capture five of the Elemental Sprites. With their leader defeated, and the rest of the Twycross on their way, the Troll Lords settled for the book and the five sprites they had and fled.
In their haste, they could hardly care for the baby lying on the ground. Not one of them suspected that in its tiny hands lay the fabled Element of Power. When all was still, the five remaining Elemental Sprites emerged from the undergrowth and surrounded the baby. They picked it up and headed into the wilderness. [4]
Chapter 5: The Return of the Element of Power
Many weeks passed, and news of Solon's disappearance had spread across the kingdom. Kalus was walking alone through the gardens where she had last seen her beloved father when five Elemental Sprites emerged from the undergrowth, carrying a baby. Theena, upon hearing Kalus's startled cries, rushed to the scene, and realized that the Sprites were what remained of Solon's Elemental Warriors. Knowing now that something terrible must have happened, she found the Element of Power clutched within the infant's hands, and felt in her heart that fate had somehow brought this child to them. Without the Wotnot Book, the Elemental Sprites were vulnerable, so Theena chose to safeguard three of the herself along with the Element of Power. She then gave one Sprite to her younger brother, Halis, and one to her older brother, Yeros.
The Mystic had been watching events from her dingy little hut. Emerging, she addressed the Queen:
"My dear Queen! I-I know for whatever his reasons, the King had lost all confidence in my council, but do trust me on this: I have heard rumor amongst the Goblins that it was the Troll Lords who murdered Solon, and it is they who now hold the Wotnot."
Hearing this remarkable news, the Queen ordered her armies to capture the Troll Lords and retrieve the Wotnot Book. This they did. As punishment, the Lords were to be cast into the Shadow Realm, the timeless land of the undead where souls were left to languish for all eternity. Theena was still unaware however, that the Troll Lords retained the five Elemental Sprites they'd captured on the night of Solon's death. Unwittingly, she had condemned the Elemental Sprites to the same fate. Theena praised the Mystic for her efforts in exposing the Troll Lords and was restored once again to a position of trust within the kingdom.
As for the baby that had carried the rarest of all gems that was the Element of Power, Theena named her Kameo and decided to raise her as a child of Solon. Kalus of course knew this new arrival was not her real sister, but was instructed by her mother to never reveal Kameo's origins. With the Mystic back in favor, the Troll King turned to stone, and the Element of Power and the Wotnot Book back in the possession of the Royal Family, order and harmony returned to the land. Kameo and Kalus grew up together in a time of peace. The now defunct Wotnot Book was given to an elderly and pompous old wizard named Ortho to repair. Unfortunately, the damage was so great that he was forced to place himself within the book to restore its magical powers. This would at least allow the one who held the Element of Power the ability to control the few Elemental Warriors the book contained.
As the two sisters grew up, Kameo began to outshine Kalus in every area: Elfin flying sports, book study, popularity. Wherever Kalus failed, Kameo succeeded. Gradually and inevitably, Kalus's jealousy towards her adopted sister began to grow, and fester.[5]
Chapter 6: Kalus's Jealousy
Kalus approached her eighteenth birthday with anticipation. She was very aware that at that age, it was customary for the oldest sibling to become heir to the throne, thereby receiving the Wotnot Book with whatever Warriors it contained and the Element of Power itself. Although the whereabouts of five of the Warriors were unknown to the Elves, and the Wotnot Book was still in disrepair, Kalus felt sure that the magical artifacts would be hers. Since Kameo was not only younger, but also adopted, Kalus was certain she'd take both the throne, and the power it wielded.
One day, the Mystic approached Theena in secret:
"Your Majesty, I have something of great importance to show you: in private."
Knowing how the Mystic had helped her before, Theena took the Mystic aside, and was presented with a horrifying vision. A dark future in which Kalus was Queen and was leading the kingdom to darkness and ruin. Theena had always been aware of Kalus's spotted history of success, and had believed in her heart that Kameo was fated to take the transformation magic. Faced with this new warning, she consulted her family, and together they made the decision that Kameo, not Kalus, would inherit the artifacts and become Queen. Kameo was none the wiser, and was oblivious to the plotting that would dictate her future. When she was summoned to the throne room for the ceremony that would pass the transformation magic and the kingdom to her, it was a total surprise.
Theena bestowed Kameo not only with the Element of Power, but also the three Elemental Sprites that she'd been safeguarding for many years. Through gossip and descent, Kalus learned it would be Kameo and not herself that would receive the transformation power. Hearing this, she rushed to the throne room just as the ceremony ended. Overcome and distraught with anger, she fled the palace and her family's attempts at consoling her:
"My family's betrayed me! That power was mine by birthright...and now I'll never get my hands on it..."
Meanwhile Kameo, exhausted from the ceremony, was placed in the care of the castle aides so she could recover. Theena learned that Kalus had run away on her own, and wracked with worry and guilt, summoned the Mystic once again:
"I see...a distant land, and a figure entombed in stone. There can be no doubt my Queen, your daughter is heading for the cursed tomb of the old Troll King! You must find and reach her, before she stumbles into untold peril!"
The Mystic's prophecy ringing in their ears, Kameo's family immediately left the safety of the Enchanted Kingdom for the distant lands of the Twycross. They could not imagine that Kalus, far from running blindly, had already planted the seeds of revenge. She had released Thorn from his statue with a single kiss upon his granite lips.[6]
Chapter 7: Thorn's Return
"Speak: why have you released me?"
"I freed you because I am told you can help me. The Element of Power, rule over the Enchanted Kingdom, these are mine by right. Perhaps...perhaps we can help each other get what we want..."
"Perhaps we can. Your magic could augment my trolls. With your help they might be able to harness the powers of the Elements, and become even more powerful than before!"
"To what end?"
"Why...I too am after what is rightfully mine: the tribal lands. Help me claim what is destined to be mine, and you can have your Element of Power, and your floating kingdom..."
"I'll agree if you command your trolls to obey me. I want to bring my family before me and take those Elemental Sprites away from them! I want them to be sorry they betrayed me!"
"Your family...the Royal Family? Than that would include the Queen..."
And so the deal was struck and the ever darkening shadow of War spread across the land once again...[7]
Chapter 8: The Journey Begins
Waking at last from her slumber, Kameo arose refreshed and invigorated. In fact, she was stronger than ever. She could feel the power of the three Elemental Warriors coursing through her blood. At the same time, the elation and confidence this new power brought was offset by a feeling of panic: where was her family? Why had her ancestors not returned from their search for Kalus? Kameo quizzed the Goblins who had been attending her. They'd heard that Kameo's ancestors had been captured by the Trolls and taken to Thorn's ancient castle. Kameo raced to Ortho who was, as always, tinkering in the Wotnot Book.
"My family are danger, and are being held in Thorn's Castle! I'm going to find them, and I need the Wotnot Book now!"
"Quite impossible! The Wotnot is nearly restored but it's not yet complete, you simply can't use it! I'm afraid you'll just have to wait until I'm finished and let the soldiers handle a rescue attempt on their own."
"I can't wait for those soldiers, if the book isn't ready than I'll-I'll have to go without it!"
"That's very dangerous and rather foolhardy! If you're too far from the Wotnot Book, your hold on the Elemental Warriors will be weakened! If you were to be seriously hurt you might lose them altogether. You just need to wait."
"I can't wait! I've got the power of three Elemental Warriors, that'll be more than enough to teach those flea-ridden Trolls a lesson they'll never forget!"
With her mind made up, and ignoring Ortho's protestations, Kameo took the three Warriors her mother had left her, and began the long journey to Thorn's crumbling castle...[8]
