360 L.D. (Lufian Dryears, 1 LD = 1.2 Earth Years)

Arek was a wealthy middle-aged man who had lived his life fed by a silver spoon. Born in the village of Peak, Arek was pampered beyond belief by his parents, Kure and Phyline. Peak, surrounded by majestic purple mountains, low, hilly plateaus, and a crystal blue lake just off the rugged mountain pass that connected it with the neighboring forest town of Pine, was what would seem to be a beautiful home. Though displaying an early mentality for malice, Arek’s parents avoided punishing him, for he was their only seed through many unsuccessful tries.

During his first 30 years as richest boy in Peak, and then Mayor, the townspeople may have described Arek as a bastard. At the tender age of 15, he had acquired a gang of cronies, which he used unmercifully to beat up the children of poor townspeople, which he got away with often. At 26, he graduated to blackmail; extorting thousands of gold pieces from other mayors and other wealthy, influential people. He enjoyed the powerful rush of ecstasy he felt when he knew his prey's life was in the palm of his hands--to be crushed or spared by his very whim. Life was good for Arek, but not for much longer.

Fed up with his despotic rule, one decided to end it. Ambushing Arek leaving a gala for his 40th birthday, the unknown assailant blew the powder of a Mad Bull’s blood into his face and quickly fled the scene. The concoction destroyed Arek’s mind and rendered him insane and impotent.

No one lives in fear of Arek anymore. Upon hearing of his condition, Arek's partners divided up all of his gold between them. His fianceé, or rather...forced fianceé, got the courage to leave him. Broken and alone, Arek wept for days on end, gibbering to himself.

One day, a horrible truth came to his deformed mind. "You have no one who cares for you. No siblings, no wife, no children. You have lived your life this way, and now you are pitiful and alone." Arek never trusted his family. In fact, when he became powerful enough, he sent his mother and father to the gallows. When one of his closer advisers asked why, he responded, "Because, Mother slapped and branded me a bastard, and my father agreed." For all of his ways, Arek wanted children so badly. He always wanted love from someone who wouldn't try to pick his pocket. Alas, he had no wife, so children were out of the question, especially in his current condition, right?

The Book of Sinistrals. A dark book crafted from the fires of Hell, and bound by dark magic. The magic can only be dispelled by the one that it so chooses. It then grants a solitary wish to the recipient, then binds itself together for 1000 years. In his dreams, Arek was visited by 4 people; 3 men and a woman. They spun around his being and chanted this mantra:

Arek, Arek, our unknown father,
set us free, and we shall be your children.
Arek, Arek, our unknown father,
visit the Temple of Resonance.
Arek, Arek, our unknown father,
Open up the book, and pledge your soul to darkness.
Arek, Arek, our unknown father,
wish for us as children!

Arek had heard long and hard about a book that could grant a man's every desire. A traveling priest had told him all that he knew, for Arek promised to let him go if he could give him an entertaining story. And he did let him go...while holding him over a cliff. It wasn't a high cliff, but the thought of him being scared witless was a good feeling. Located in the deep forests of the Ambia 100 miles away, the Temple of Resonance would hold the book.

Arek traveled far through the mountains and across the burning hot sands and finally reached his destination. As he opened the granite wall, the traps armed with various poisonous needles, boulders and pits triggered themselves, allowing him safe passage through the catacombs. Almost feeling the ray of light touching his face from the holding room, Arek saw the book. A sleek, almost leatherish cover shined as much as it could in the brightely-lit room. Engraved on the front in blood red was some Lufian ancient text, followed by "By Hell's Hand crafted, Book of Sinistrals." The spine was made entirely of some type of bone, Arek figured. He strode up to the podium and opened the book.

He was greeted by a terrible odor, comprising of sulfur and death. Involuntarily gagging, he steps back for a minute. Accustomed to the smell, he regains his place at the podium, and begins his wish.

Book of Sinistrals, grant me my desparate wish! I pledge my soul to the king of all Hell for this wish! Please, give me children!

Arek has not been seen from that day.

1359 L.D. (639 years later)
The world is a different place. Lufia: Rise of Arek will cover the events that happened before Lufia II. From here, the story will be created in part by players of the game. How will you shape the future?