MONDO - THE STORY:
Mondo is a story of the hidden, or forgotten continent – the 8. continent. A parallel world.
Mañana is governed by a king (the Sidukan) - a relatively young man by the name of Malakai.
Malakai is in desperate need of a Queen, since the practice is that there must be an heir, or the king must be replaced by someone more capable.
Malakai travels incognito around the continent in his search. He doesn’t really find anyone before he completely falls for a street girl in the northern city of Rhana.
Partly against her will the young girl is brought to the Capital Sidukana. A wedding of hitherto unseen proportions is arranged.
The girl gets the name Queen Rhanyais – derived from her home town Rhana
For a period the marriage seems like a happy coincidence and she is soon pregnant. Sidukan Malakai is first of all relieved that he finally gets an heir, but at the same time he is growingly suspicious towards the young woman, whom is displaying a certain independency. Also she seems to be under the influence of some cult like group known as the Ebolin Knights – an ancient brotherhood that see the unborn child as a fulfilment of an ancient prophecy – and a vehicle for their political, economical and military ambitions.
Strongly urged by the Captain of the Guard – a political master in control of the military, the Sidukan drives his young queen away.
The captain is driven by his two desires: to become Sidukan himself, and a mad wish to possess the young queen Rhanyais.
Aided by the Ebolin Knights she ends up in a remote mountainous area in the Soltan province called the Ebolin Heights. Here she gives birth to a beautiful boy, whom she – counselled by the knights, names Mondo after the strong province of Mondano.
The Captain comes from the province of Shackadon, where – prior to the unification of the different nations to the Sidukancy of Mañana – he was The Shackadon (the unification of military, political and religious powers) Obviously the plan is to become the Shackadon of all Mañana, and restructure what he considers the decadent Sidukancy.
The young Sidukan Malakai is slowly, but inevitably going insane. He sinks down into a swamp of vanity and passivity, from where he cannot come back.
Rhanyais knows that she is in great danger, but she is also somewhat aware of the historic role she – against her will, or as a consequence of circumstance – has been dealt.
She knows that she must protect the boy from the Sidukan and – especially – the Captain. Protected by the Ebolin Knights - once driven away from Mondano, and with a very rigorist set of behavioural rules – she brings up Mondo to make his own choices in life.
The boy is somewhat different. He doesn’t seem to have many ambitions, and he certainly lacks the drive that the knights so much are hoping for. He seems to be his own and follows his own route. The Ebolin Knights have to wait and see, since they have locked them selves into the myth of him being the “true Sidukan”.
Sidukan Malakai eventually caves in to his sickness and weakness. The captain is now effectively the ruler of the continent.
He runs the show through the supreme Council Of Mañana (The SCOM) – the parliament, gaining big from their support to the captain, who now openly calls himself The Shackadon.
The Shackadon easily convinces the SCOM that Mondo is a great threat to them all, and since his mother is not noble, he has no right to the throne. A new Sidukan must be elected.
This is soon the official truth, and all resistance in the capital is brought down hard.
In the provinces all sorts of opposition still is very much alive. In Soltan a group derived from the Ebolin Knights calls themselves the Wise Men launch a large campaign to promote the “divinity” of Mondo.
The cult around Mondo obviously is a threat to the Shackadon and he urges his spies to do their utmost to locate and kill the boy.
It becomes evident for the “protectors” of the boy, that for his – and for their own sake, they need to relocate him. The young man ends up in the large coastal town of Sandolin, where he manages to disappear totally for several years. Neither the knights nor his mother knows his whereabouts.
The Ebolin Knights no longer have use for Rhanyais, and ships her to Sidukana. They drop a few hints to the Shackadon´s spies. Rhanyais is soon captured and installed in the golden tower at the castle of Sidukana. The Shackadon soon becomes a frequent visitor.
She is faced with the choice: Live with the Shackadon or eventually get killed. She desperately tries to gather news of Mondo – but with very little success.
She gives birth to yet another son, whom is named Casaval. The Shackadon is the father. The boy turns out to be both mute and deaf, but also demonstrates extreme sensitivity and an emotional intelligence, that fills his mother with joy. The father looses all interest in the child.
Mondo is living the lazy life in Sandolin, a beautiful, somewhat sleepy city with a pulsating night life.
He experiences a “free” and floating life in spite – or maybe because of – his exile and cover identity. He is aware though of his historic obligation – and constantly he must deal with this inner battle.
Through different channels he receives the news of his half brother.
Casaval is very disturbing for the picture painted by The Ebolin Knights. They launch the prophecy that Mondo eventually will surface and eliminate Casaval, or somebody will do it for him.
Mondo is so to speak forced out of his cave.
His mother and brother have been exiled from Sidukana to the northern Shackadon town of Maluki. Mondo travels to Maluki and meets them both. He becomes very fond of his brother and bonds with him. Somehow they seem to be able to communicate without words, and Mondo regards Casaval as a guiding star – clean and uncorrupted. In Mondo´s world the brother provides the signs and the landmarks he somehow needs
Mondo concludes that he must play his part. He convinces himself that this is the imperative that his brother has put before him.
He decides that his mission must be to free Mañana of the Shackadon
Soon all opposition is concentrated around Maluki. The Shackadon decides to crush it once and for all and the showdown is inevitable. So the story ends in the battle of Shackadon Hills.
The Shackadon is lethally wounded and seeks some sort of comfort by Mondo before he dies.
The unanswered question is: what happens afterwards?
Is Mondo the new Shackadon? Who knows?
FAQ´s about Mañana
Norulan: Once the dominating factor, now poor and almost covered by desert - due to excessive foresting. Largest town is Rhana.
Mondano: Rich and powerful. The province is divided into Mondano and Old Mondano (all Mountains). The largest city is Aguilon. The Capital of Mañana is Sidukana placed beautifully in the mountains close to Lake Mondano.
Soltan is a small jungle covered province. The capital of the province is the very old town Ebolin.
Lindon: Small province traditionally allied to Shackadon. The capital of the province is the industrial porttown of Zarton.
Shackadon: Second strongest province although almost covered with forest. Traditionally Shackadon is a very strong military power. Traditionally a dictatorship based on the supposed genius of the ruler “the Shackadon”. Capital of Shackadon is Zarlan just across the sea from Zarton in Lindon.
The Shackadon The Captain of the Guard – The Shackadon (en titel der er knyttet til det faktum at vedkommende skal komme fra denne provins). Shackadon er en skovklædt landtange ”rolling Hills” - et bakket tyndt befolket område.
Sandolin: Quite large port town to the south in the province of Mondano bordering Soltan and the jungle. A relaxed sunny prosperous town largely based on tourism. Mondo hides here for several years.
Sidukana: “Place of the Sidukan” The Capital. Sidukana is a very old mountain town on the mountain Siduka. Originally it was built as a castle.
This is the origin of Mañana. Sidukana was originally a very poor mountain state, but through conquest it became the dominant power in Mondano. It has lost a lot of its importance and is not very large.
Ebolin Heights: A very wild mountain region in Soltan. The Ebolin Mountains are very high mountains with poor access. Ebolin Heights is also the mythical name of the castle in the very centre of the mountain range. The castle is owned by a group of businessmen from Aguilon.
The rumour says that they are merely fronting for the Ebolin Knights.
Ebolin Knights: Mystical semi-secret brotherhood living by their own set of rules. They are spread all over Mañana, but have a picturesque headquarter at Ebolin Heights. They have been feared throughout history of Mañana, and many times has the Sidukans attempted to eliminate them – so far with no success.
The Ebolin Knights have many and very complicated rituals and live under a strict regime. The world knows very little of them except for a few basic principles they try to impose on their surroundings from time to time.
Ebolin Knights are firm believers in “the true Sidukan” and they have for long supported the myth of Mondo as this “true” heir to the throne.
The Ebolin Knights secretly provide Mondo with the majority of his army at the Battle of Shackadon Hills. The organizing and financing of the “Mondal Army” is said to be orchestrated by the Ebolin Knights.
