From the Sky

By Andrew Schroeder

When a young warrior witnesses the coming of beings he considers gods, his life and the lives of those around him are changed forever. But the story of these beings of tremendous power is only half of the truth. Witness what happens when myth and legend meets fact, and discover the truth behind those who have come From the Sky

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514424780

Andrew Schroeder

Andrew Schroeder grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona before moving to Virginia in 2013. Andrew is an avid paranormal researcher, UFO hunter, and student of ancient mythology with a passion for mystery, adventure, and discovery.

Book preview

Part I

They Came from the Sky

Prelude

Dust kicked up along the barely-driven path as a vehicle raced towards a small, fenced-off area in the middle of a desert. It was a small, four-wheeled vehicle most often used in areas far from civilization, and as it sped towards the cordoned-off section several more could be seen already parked near a series of small, metallic shelters. The driver could barely contain his excitement as he approached his destination. Large, bulky equipment was scattered around the outside of the site, massive drills and cranes waiting to be called on. Inside, dozens of people slowly walked through a series of smaller, roped-off sections, most carrying brooms, brushes, magnifying glasses, and other small tools.

The man was an archaeologist, one of the most respected on the planet and the leading expert on the ancient people known only as the Plains People. They were known to be among the earliest tribes of humans found on the planet, and he had been studying their limited amount of relics and information since he was a child. Now, there had been a breakthrough.

This team had uncovered a settlement in the desert just a few miles from Mount Remus, a towering mountain named for one of the gods of the Plains People. The writing on the remains of pottery and scraps of scrolls indicated that this could be one of the earliest settlements ever found - and it was surprisingly intact. Though whatever buildings the Plains People had used for shelter when they had thrived here were long destroyed by weather and time, the relics they’d left behind had been well-preserved by the dry climate.

The man practically leapt from his car even as it was powering down and sprinted to the fence, eager to begin his investigation. A woman saw the new arrival and waved him over. He wasted no time, jumping the fence easily and running to her. She shook his hand with a smile.

Professor, it’s an honor to meet you. Welcome to the dig site.

The professor grinned like a schoolboy. The pleasure is all mine, Miss. This is remarkable!

She nodded. It truly is. Though we haven’t found any skeletons or body remains, we have found pottery, scrolls, clothing, tools… everything we should need to learn a lot about the Plains People.

As she spoke, she led the professor to a table where a number of people were carefully cleaning and cataloging artifacts. The professor looked over a series of small wooden hammers, spears with carved-rock tips, and crude belts with fashioned pouches for carrying… well, something.

This is fascinating, the professor said. An incredible find. Do you have a listing of everything you’ve recovered? I would love to go over it before I look at anything directly.

The woman nodded but picked up a large box. We do, but first, I think you ought to see this. We found it in what looked like some kind of tunnel or tomb.

The professor took the box and opened it, nearly dropping it in surprise. Inside was a large stack of ancient papers - or whatever the Plains People had used to write on - almost completely intact, covered in the ancient script. He stood stunned for several seconds before the woman spoke again.

We have people who speak the language, of course, but no one fluent enough to translate that. We were hoping you could… Say no more, the professor said quietly, still in awe of the find. He put down the box and carefully removed the stack of pages, careful not to crush the ancient document. The woman led him to a shelter the team had set up and walked to a table with drinks while he began to quickly glance over the pages.

It appears to be one of the legends of their deities, the professor said as the woman poured a pair of glasses of water.

A legend of the gods? One we’ve already discovered? she asked.

The professor shook his head. "No, this one looks different. I don’t recognize it. But this word here? It’s capen - the Plains word for god. Ah, Remus… the Plains sky god. A story about him. The woman nodded. Now that name I know. They really liked him - named the mountain after him."

Many things in the Plains culture are related to Remus, the professor said as he continued to turn the pages. There are birds and mythical creatures named after him. The crater on the other side of the plain - they called it Remus’s Fury, if our translations are right. Hmm, here’s something interesting.

What is it? the woman asked, placing the water on the desk in front of the man and glancing to where he was pointing on the page.

"This word - luten. It doesn’t show up in many legends. We’re honestly not sure what it means. Possibly a lower deity, maybe even a human king viewed to be divine. It’s always been up in the air. But this… this seems to indicate three lutens came from the sky along with Remus. If I’m reading this right, there was a luten… Melnin, I believe this says, a great warrior with a staff that shot thunder and lightning; a luten Alkio, a giant with incredible strength… and a luten Petra, a beautiful woman wizard with magical powers."

I didn’t think the Plains People had female deities, the woman said.

We hadn’t found any. Not until now, at least, the professor said with a smile. "I’ll have to translate these passages more completely to determine if lutens in this story are portrayed as deities or something else. This could help solve that mystery."

He continued reading, practically buried in the story. This talks about how they came from the sky… a lot about them on the mountain… and... hm…

What is it? the archaeologist asked, seeing the professor confused.

This… I’m having trouble determining what they’re trying to say here. Something about wizards, I believe. They owned, tamed, captured… something. This word is fire… and this word is, if I’m not mistaken, the Plains People’s word for monster.

The woman leaned over the pages, as if trying to draw the meaning out herself. Fire monster? What do you suppose that means?

I really don’t know… the professor said quietly, trailing off in thought.

Well… to me, that kind of says, dragon, she offered.

The professor cracked a small smile and shrugged. That does seem to be what they’re trying to say, but none of the other Plains People legends ever spoke of dragons or any kind of fire-breathing anything. The Plains People didn’t consider fire to be sacred, because they seem to have discovered it on their own, as opposed to other cultures who claim it was a gift from the gods.

Perhaps this story takes place earlier than the others we’ve found, when older creatures were a part of their legends. A creation legend of some kind? the woman prodded.

The professor shook his head. No, it appears that the Plains People were already around when this took place. It’s told as if they were observers of the gods coming down. Now here’s something I’ve never heard of. They talk here in this passage about another race.

Another race? You mean, like interaction between themselves and another tribe? That would be a first, the woman said, excited.

But the professor shook his head. "No, they seem to describe these others in the same kind of manner they describe Remus and the people who came with him from the sky. They talk of a hidden capen in a city in the caves… evil monsters serving the people who… I believe this says they came from the ground. The description of these people is very odd. Green skin, glowing eyes… they’re described more like reptiles than people. If I’m getting these words right, it seems the Plains People call them the Lizard-People, and they’re the enemies of Remus."

Lizard-People? Who are they? the woman asked.

More pages turned. "It appears… they came out of the ground at the crater when it was a cave. The approached the mountain, which made Remus angry. He returned with the lutens and their followers and fought a great battle with the Lizard-People, even calling the birds of the sky to his aid. When he drove the Lizard-People back to the caves, he called down thunder and fire from the sky and destroyed their caves so they could never return. That’s how the crater was made."

The woman laughed. Wow. That’s some legend. How do you suppose they came up with it?

The professor leaned back in his chair. I don’t know. Though, I have found more often than not, there is some degree of truth in most legends and rumors.

You actually believe a god came from the sky and ordered a flock of birds to attack a group of half-lizard, half-humans? the woman asked incredulously.

The professor chuckled and shook his head. No, no, certainly not. But something certainly inspired this story. I’m going to take this and read it more thoroughly, get it translated for display in the museum. I’ll be certain to credit your team with the discovery.

The woman nodded and left the shelter. The professor stood and glanced down at the pages one more time before putting them in his bag.

What I wouldn’t give to know what inspired you, he whispered. How was this legend originally told? How did it come to be?

Chapter One

Though Ze was only a young man - only 17 years of age - he was already among the finest hunters and scouts of the Plains People. Even great warriors twice his age, and the elders three times his, claimed he would become the greatest warrior in the history of their tribe. Some even whispered that it would be Ze who would be the first to kill one of the great Behemoths - the giant, multi-tusked, six-legged monsters who roamed the far plains and killed any hunters brave or foolish enough to challenge them.

While Ze was flattered by the praise and enjoyed the hunts he accompanied the other warriors on, his true passion was in exploring. He had already traveled more than anyone in his village and enjoyed the solitude. His favorite place was on a distant ridge. It took some time to walk all the way from the village to the small rise, but from there he could see the entire village, across the plains to either side, and all the way to the distant mountains. One day, he hoped to see even those up close.

Life in Ze’s village was routine, but never boring for the young warrior. Like all men in his tribe, he was taught from when he was young to hunt with the mighty spears the elders created. His first kill had been several years ago - he had easily taken down a preyer, a small animal that flourished on the plains and was the staple of his village’s diet. The village shaman had blessed both him and his kill and had declared him a worthy member of the tribe; from that day on, he had hunted with almost every sunrise, only occasionally sneaking off to explore the plains around him or run to the ridge to be alone.

While the warriors would spend the day hunting, the rest of the village would remain busy. The younger boys would train with the warriors, while the girls and women maintained the village and prepared food for the warrior’s return. The chief of the village and the shaman would attend to larger matters and spirituality of the tribe, a task Ze was glad not to be involved with. It was so much easier to hunt - and much nicer to be able to leave the village and explore.

Today was just another day for Ze. He had snuck out of the village at dawn, taking only a few pieces of dried meat and some fruit, and had run off to the ridge. People in the village knew he disappeared for some time every few sunrises, and though some of the other hunters got angry, most felt