Princess Agaju
On the day of Princess Agaju’s birth the bronzed Peruvian sun glistened against the clay-laden river that meandered through the tiny village. Filled with pride at the joyous birth of his only daughter, King Ekkekko raised the baby up above his head, her tiny arms and legs dangling freely downward towards the earth that would one day become the fulcrum of her destiny.
Though it was a time of joy and celebration, such was not the disposition of Prince Supay, whose eyes shown dark and deep with the mischief of a thousand wild cats. He stood quietly, gazing at his new sister and then to his father, a forged pencil-line smile stretching across his face.
That evening, sounds of laughter and song commemorating the birth of the new princess could be heard throughout the village, but someone was missing from festivities.
“Where is my son?!,” exclaimed King Ekkekko lowering his glass mid-toast.
When no one amongst him could answer, the King charged towards the hills with a sense of urgency in his every step, his queen watching him disappear into the distance as she stood with the newborn nestled against her bosom.
By the time he reached the hilltop, night had fallen but the smell of burning caoba wood filled the air. Just as Ekkekko peered through the brush, a shot of light from the distant fire reflected across a dagger as it pierced the chest of a young man. The dagger dropped to the ground, the slayer turning slightly. His son’s face was all too recognizable to the king who turned, his heart sinking with disappointment. As he headed back toward the village he could hear a malevolent cry in the distance: “To charm and deceive…my life’s mission.”
Twenty-one years later, Princess Agaju stood gracefully at her father’s death bed in the temple as the high priest “Hullac Umac” anointed her heir. And in line with tradition, the villagers began to worship the dead. The colorfully adorned council members had gathered from every country to praise the king whose people regarded him as divine. The priest opened his hand revealing a golden skeleton key strung beautifully on a beaded rope. He hung the key around Agaju’s neck and kissed her forehead. Closing her eyes, Agaju said a prayer for nature and its cycles as a single tear escaped the corner of her almond eye. Heads were bowed and tears were shed, but the spiteful prince looked on expressionless, muttering not a single word.
Agaju awoke in the night from a dream more vivid than any other. She was in the temple kneeling at her father’s feet when her ancestors entered, emerging out of every wall and surrounding her at her father’s deathbed. And as they circled her she could see into their faces. None were happy; none were at peace. And then the king arose. He spoke harshly, but as he did he smiled.
“Dear Agaju, daughter that I love and trust, do not let your kind and innocent soul become your enemy. Your brother Supay is not honorable. He will beguile and betray you and your villagers, of this I warn. His soul is no longer the property of the gods, but rather of the devil himself. ”
And with that the room changed immediately, revealing a space so bright it seemed to burn with heat from a flame. She saw her brother. He was standing at an alter, his hands dripping with black blood.
Agaju splashed her face with water from a deep clay dish and noticed her reflection disappearing completely. “10,000 years,” the water seemed to speak as it rippled. “10,000 years to right the world.” The dish became empty.
That night Agaju held a meeting summoning the 196 council members from every land to join her in an extravagant feast. “This day will be monumental,” she exclaimed to the group. “Today you will each be given a unique golden key, a key that will unlock enough gold to start your own country. The council members murmured in disbelief amongst themselves until one cried, “To Agaju, the Princess of leaders!!”
Days later Agaju received word from a servant girl that her infant son had been kidnapped from his bedroom in the dark of the night. Jumping quickly from her bed, Agaju rushed to the window as she heard the distant sounds of fighting and unrest. She knew without a doubt that her brother was the root of the discord. Without haste, Agaju ran quickly into the streets of the village, the combined wrath of mother and leader ascending from within. But before she could reach the heart of the fight, the princess was pulled from behind and pressed quickly to the ground, her face burying deep into the rich earth and the feet of the attacker surrounding her. She felt a deep pain hit her in the gut and blood rushed through her hands as she grabbed herself in pain. Lying on the ground she felt a stinging sensation cross her throat. The key was ripped from its resting place, the beads from its rope scattering along the ground beneath her as her eyes slowly settled.
Upon receiving word of the Princess’ murder, the council men began to flee to safety returning to the lands from which they came, but sadly many were captured by the prince who forced them to obey his unjustly rule. The treasure of the earth was finally his. His dark eyes grew with excitement and greed, and before the first chest could even be opened he began making orders to his captives for the extravagant things he wished to own.
But Supay‘s squandering ways were diminishing the treasures quickly and within one turn of seasons there was little to be had of his newfound wealth. Enraged, Supay tortured one council member until he handed over his key and revealed the truth: The remaining treasure was scattered about the world, each chest opening only to one key.
The prince set out on a mission throughout the earth to capture all of the remaining keys in hopes that one day the earth’s treasures could all be his. His mission raged a battle between good and evil. With treasures scattered throughout the lands. If good can solve the challenges of the earth and win the battles, the treasure will be protected and evil will reign, but the clock is ticking. By 2012, if the last challenge is not one, the result will be ultimate demise.
SHORT SUMMARY:
After the death of the King, Princess Agaju becomes heir to the throne and is entrusted with a skeleton key that unlocks treasures hidden throughout the earth. When a vivid dream reveals a message from her ancestors that her brother, Prince Supay, has sold his soul to the devil, Agaju acts quickly and summons 196 council members from throughout the land. She gives them each a key made from the mold of the skeleton key, but designed uniquely to open only one hidden treasure. Soon after Prince Supay kidnaps his nephew and overthrows his sisters reign, taking control of the village, the land and many of the captured council men. After murdering his sister and forcing one council member to reveal the purpose of the keys, Supay sets out on a mission to ensnare all treasures from throughout the land. Will evil prevail, or will good come together in a fight for treasure and loyalty to the land? If good can fight the battles and win the challenges before time runs out in 2012, a better world will live on, but if they fail, they will be faced with their ultimate demise.
