Among the Faithful

Prologue: Orgins of the Lafang Kingdom In the heart of a merciless desert lies a kingdom like no other—Lafang, a nation forged through suffering, sustained by faith, and blessed by divine intervention. Long ago, scattered desert dwellers fought to survive against brutal sandstorms and relentless droughts. Life was nearly impossible. Storms came without warning—sometimes three times a year, sometimes three times a day. But the people endured. They believed God had not abandoned them. And through generations of faith, something miraculous occurred: they developed air elemental abilities. These powers, passed down and refined, helped them tame the storms, protect their kin, and carve life from the barren land. Then came the Promise River—a sacred stream that flowed endlessly, believed to be God's gift in response to generations of prayer and prophecy. As long as the people remained faithful, it would never run dry. With water came prosperity. With prosperity came attention. With attention came envy. And with envy came war. Four kingdoms invaded, driven by greed. The desert people—who had only ever wielded their gifts against nature—were unprepared for warfare. They were overrun, enslaved, and endured ninety-two years of brutal oppression. Many lost hope. But one man did not. His name was Mark. A devout man in his thirties, Mark was falsely accused by a noblewoman of an unwanted touch, leading to his imprisonment and the execution of his mother and sister. Grief-stricken and broken, he cried out to God with everything he had. And God answered. In a vision, Mark saw his people—free and thriving once again along the Promise River. A voice spoke to him, sweet and mighty: "I bestow you the name, Lafang—I AM WHO I AM. Say this to my people: I AM has sent me to you. Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say. I will make you seem like God." When he awoke, Mark had been granted something no one else possessed: atmokinesis—the divine power to command the weather itself. Mark Lafang became a revolutionary. He tore down prisons. He summoned lightning. He stirred storms. He shattered armies. His resistance grew unstoppable. And from the ashes of slavery, the Lafang Kingdom was born. To prevent further invasion, the people sealed themselves behind an immense fortress, allowing only the Promise River to flow in and out. No outsiders entered. For over 200 years, Lafang remained silent but strong—isolated from a changing world. Today, Lafang is ruled by the descendants of Mark Lafang, known as the Pharaohs. Though often misunderstood as primitive or reclusive, the kingdom commands global respect. Why? Because Lafang still produces the most powerful air elemental users—and perhaps, somewhere among them, still hides a wielder of the legendary atmokinesis. Their devotion to God has never wavered. Their traditions remain unchanged. And so, the world left them alone. Until God has sent a warning to the current Pharaoh in a dream: "Open the gates. Rejoin the world. For they have rejected my regulations, refused to follow my decrees, and violated my sabbath days." For the first time in centuries, the gates of Lafang will open. The kingdom Lafang must face a world they no longer recognize. Whatever future awaits them, Pharaoh Lafang's children are now at their mercy. --