The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix

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  (Author’s note: Jebbson’s history was unique, even for the people of his day, or so the story was told. He was born an illegitimate son of a powerful nobleman. Seeking to keep the matter secret, the man made arrangements for Jebbson’s still pregnant mother to emigrate to a new land far across the sea, promising to provide for her needs. When born, the boy was given the name ‘Jebez Ransom Garlock’, Jebez meaning ‘pain’, for the pain his mother suffered needing to raise a son without a father, ‘Ransom’, for the price she was willing to pay to give her child a decent life, and ‘Garlock’, after a Celtic great grandfather. When Jebbson was nine, his mother married a lawyer. From that union, he gained three half-brothers and two half-sisters.

  Living up to his word, Jebbson’s biological father continued to send monies on a regular basis, permitting Jebbson to attend private schools and eventually enter university. His course majors consisted of chemistry, metallurgy, gemology, and ancient history. Upon graduation, he headed west, to the wild lands. Gold had recently been discovered there and he thought he might be able to put into practice some of his new-found education.

  For the next decade, he wandered up and down the wilderness country, exploring high mountains, traversing barren deserts. John marveled at the endless stories this one man could tell of his personal experiences, from boating raging rivers to fighting painted, feathered warriors. It was during those years that Jebbson acquired his new name, but that was another story.

  When a great civil war erupted in the East, Jebbson found it impossible to hide from its tentacles. Finally choosing sides, he enlisted in a mounted cavalry division, serving first in the West and gradually moving east until, by the war’s end, he was stationed in the country’s capital, working for the war department as a munitions expert. Combat injuries hampered his health, so, when given an opportunity to stay on with the department after the war, he did. For the next twenty years, he studied the designs and inventions of weapon makers from all over the country, using his education to help create more effective ways of slaughter.

  It was while on a visit to one such manufacturer near a city known for its iron works that Jebbson fell into what he called ‘religion’. Having nothing to do one evening, he chose to go for a stroll. Passing by a small theater, he paused to read the marquee. ‘There is No Hell’, read the sign. Out of curiosity, he entered. What he heard moved him so much, he never even returned to his place of work. Sending in his resignation, he focused all his attention and power on advancing his new-found religion. It became his way of life for the remainder of his days in that realm.

  Jebbson’s twelve years in the First Realm were already filled with adventure. By this time, he had done much to change the thinking and views of many of Lowenah’s children. He applied himself to the study of the new technology surrounding him and incorporated it with his previous knowledge. His theories regarding total warfare and subterfuge were starting to be listened to by some of Lowenah’s younger children, and several of his inventions were being developed and put into use. His passion for exploration and discovery led to many exciting journeys with a few of Lowenah’s most colorful children.)

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