The Emerald Sword Saga

The Emerald Sword Saga is a high fantasy story spread over 5 albums by the Italian symphonic power metal band Rhapsody of Fire, written by Luca Turilli. It includes many of the common themes of the genre, including a clearly defined good-versus-evil plot and the inclusion of various fantasy monsters. The hero of the story is the Ice Warrior, who sets out on a quest to find the legendary Emerald Sword, with which he can defeat the Dark Lord Akron. Each new chapter of the story is described in the booklet accompanying that CD. The narrator is the ancient wizard Aresius, who "has seen it all".

The story is told in five CDs: Legendary Tales, Symphony of Enchanted Lands, Dawn of Victory, Rain of a Thousand Flames and Power of the Dragonflame. The saga ends with Power of the Dragonflame, however The Dark Secret Saga is a direct sequel to the Emerald Sword Saga, following one of its main characters, Dargor.

Legendary Tales is the beginning of the story, in which the listeners are introduced to the Ice Warrior and his quest. The Warrior begins his search for the Emerald Sword, traveling to the city of Ancelot. He finds the city in ruins, with countless victims. Princess Airin had been captured by the forces of Akron, the Black King, along with several of the bravest knights. They have been brought to the city of Hargor, but the Warrior does not know this. He thinks he has found the body of Airin and is devastated about her death. After a while he sets off again and meets the army of prince Arwald. They join forces and set off for the town of Elnor, where they will begin their search for the three Keys of Wisdom that will unlock the way to the Emerald Sword. The Ice Warrior, thirsty for revenge, is unable to rest when they arrive in Elnor, and awaits what will come.

The main theme in Symphony of Enchanted Lands is the search for the three Keys of Wisdom. As prophesied in Legendary Tales, the Ice Warrior must overcome his deepest fears in the "Mirror of Shadows" to obtain the first key. Then he has to get past Tharos, the ever-watchful dragon, keeper of the second key, who is under a spell. The dragon is defeated after a long fight, but the Warrior does not take the opportunity to destroy him, thus releasing Tharos from the spell. The Warrior and Tharos then become allies. Tharos takes the Warrior on his back, and they fly to a distant valley where the altar of Ikaren is. There, in a mystic cave, he finds the third key. Near that altar is a hidden passage leading to a great hall, where the ancient wizard Aresius awaits the arrival of the Chosen One. Aresius watches over the Ivory Gates, the passage to a wonderful land.

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Wikipedia