Fall of the Decapolis

For generations, the Decapolis stood as the jewel of the Old World, a flawless, peaceful sanctuary perched high above the clouds on Mount Torkan. With its marble temples, lush gardens, and harmonious community, it was a monument to the Great Creator. But as history has taught, perfection is fragile, and the enemy that destroyed the holy city wasn't a conquering army. It was destroyed from within. When a petty rivalry erupts over the affections of Kari, a beautiful temple attendant, her childhood friend Dela commits a desperate act of vandalism against her sacred sanctuary. Manipulated into silence by a jealous confidante, Dela watches in horror as his foolish prank is mistaken for a coordinated attack. Paranoia quickly spreads through the once-peaceful streets. Desperate to restore unity, High Priest Swit declares a grand festival to showcase the temples' devotion. Instead, the decree unleashes a torrent of long-buried greed. Neighbors turn against neighbors, hoarding food and drawing steel as the wealthy Western quarter attempts to buy their way to dominance with a mountain of solid silver. As Kari watches her mother and her people succumb to blinding vanity, the Decapolis teeters on the brink of a brutal civil war. >As marble shatters and colossal roots tear the city apart, the survivors must abandon their golden idols and make a harrowing descent into the freezing mud of the lowlands. The Fall of the Decapolis is a standalone novella in the Third Kingdom universe, a gritty, tragic, yet ultimately hopeful story about the devastating cost of pride and the enduring power of the human spirit. This work is a companion work to "Blood on the Wand" as well as "The Conqueror Series".