//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: The Three Knight Errant 
// by Ebony Gryphon 
//------------------------------//



All equines are familiar with the celebration of Hearths warming. The celebration of when the three tribes, their respective leaders laughing and swapping stories, the heat of their friendship chasing away the windigo's. A lovely story, just warms the heart.

Its bullshit

Before even the first dragon clutch hatched, humans lived freely in the land that is now called Equistria. They lived and laughed, loved and raised their children, and freely and happily with other towns and tribes, basking in the gift of God, who they called Elohie. Their days were spent in happiness, tending the fields and crops, to live in peace and with Elohie was enough. But one day, strangers came. Odd beings with four legs and wide eyes, some with a single spike from there heads, some with the wings of birds, the others only fur and eyes and legs. But the strangers wore strange shells that shone in the sun, and sparks of lightning and fire from the horned ones lit huts and homes ablaze. And though humans tried pleading, and when that failed, fighting, they soon found themselves in chains and iron collar.

Years passed, and humans and the terra equines toiled endlessly in the fields and mines. But while the earth only lost the light in their eyes, a spark was lit in mans. Casting aside the innocence, and with heavy hearts in leaving the way of God, humanity rebelled. With hidden caches of weapons and supplies, and ever growing army, humans struck a crippling first blow. The winged ones, who now we know as pegasi, upped the punishments of rebellion, first with only lashings, then with impalement and crucifixion. Though these methods were brutal, they seemed only to steel mans resolve.

It all came to a standstill.

Though mankind had made great strides towards freedom, the equines had begun to get the upper hand. All would have been lost, either the genocide of one people or the other, but one night. a miracle.

While she slept, the first Magi was visited by Elohie, who whispered to her The Word. In the morning, the gift of her God still ringing in her heart and mind, the Magi knelt, and began to speak. In moments, as the Words softly left her mouth, the sky began to darken, the thunder clapped. And from the swirling nymbuses, a bellowing whiney. The windagos had been summoned. 

For weeks the tempest of the snow spirits blew hard upon the equines holds and keeps, and in the confusion, Man left Equistria, letting the windigos go before crossing the sea. 

Many winters have passed since then. In our new home, far from the whips and greed of our brothers and sisters, we are free. Life is hard, but we weather the storm as we always have. But in the last few winters, word has reached our shores. The return of our sister Luna has caused us much joy, and the return of our sad brother Discord much heartache, and the shock of our sister Cadence has brought more joy. It is time for Man's boots to make prints in the Equines sands once, and it is time for our scars to heal.