Rise of the Dibor

"Rise of the Dibor" was Christopher Hopper's first work of literature. Published on June 15, 2006, it is the first of his "The White Lion Chronicles". The series consists of "The Rise of the Dibor", "The Lion Vrie" (published on June 15, 2007), and "Athera's Dawn", which is scheduled to be released sometime in 2010.

Summary

Luik is the Young Son of Lair, one of the minor kings of Dionia, a world where no sin, pain, or problems exist. At least, that's how it has been for centuries. When this story begins, strange occurrences are starting to befall Dionia. Malice, jealousy, greed and physical injury are beginning to mar this perfect world. The wise kings know that this is the work of Morgui, traitorous former servant of Dionia's ultimate ruler, the Most High. In response to this growing evil, war measures are taken, the chief of which is the selection of the sons of Dionia's kings to train as elite warriors.

While Luik, along with the other Kings' sons, is brought by Gorn, a powerful man with experience from a past war, to island of Kirstell, his childhood friends are also experiencing changes in their lives. His talented princess friend Anorra is learning, under a separate trainer, how to physically as well as mentally fight against the coming evils. Another of his old comrades, Hadrian, is trying to cope with the loss of his father, who seems to have reverted to Morgui and has disappeared from Dionia. Lastly, young Fane is now being trained by Li-Saide, dwarf servant of one of Dionia's kings, learning to hear messages in the water and wind and being trained in wisdom.

On Kirstell, a place mainly free from the spreading effects of evil, Gorn trains the eighteen boys for four years into men, warriors, the Dibor. When they are at last ready to defend their people, Gorn brings the fighters back to the heart of Dionia, its capitol, Adriel Palace. On the route they experience a skirmish in the city of Jahdan. The Dibor fight and overcome a massive army of Dairne-Reih, also known as Dairneags, demons working for Morgui.

At Adriel itself, Luik and a portion of the Dibor engage in a devastating battle against the demons, while the rest, headed by Gorn, attempt to find Morgui himself. King Ragnar, the leader of Dionia's human kings, is assassinated, both Luik's father and another king perish in the battle, nearly all Dionia's soldiers present are killed, and Luik himself is badly wounded. Fane and Li-Saide, who had attended King Ragnar in his last hours - during which he named "his son" heir, much to the disbelief and curiosity of Fane, who thought the king had none - take King Ragnar's body through a secret passage and down an underwater tunnel to a secret place.

While this is going on, Gorn and AbOUT half of the Dibor find Morgui's second in command, Velon. The younger warriors first break the arch from which the Dairne-Reih have been entering Dionia and then kill as many of the demons as they can. Meanwhile, Gorn kills Velon after a furious battle and the Dibor escape with their teacher back towards Adriel.

As the story ends Luik, semi-conscious, is being borne on a stretcher by the straggling line of soldier and Dibor survivors headed for Mt. Dakka, the last standing greatest stronghold against Morgui.

Characters

Dibor

Luik - a remarkably talented boy, sole son of King Lair of Bensotha.

Jrio - son of King Naronel of Trennesol. Jrio is Rab, Najrion, and Naron's brother and a good friend of Luik.

Rab - rather smallish boy that Luik frequently saves. Brother of Jrio, Najrion, and Naron, son of King Naronel of Trennesol.

Najrion - son of Naronel of Trennesol; brother of Naron, Rab and Jrio.

Naron - son of Naronel of Trennesol; brother of Najrion, Rab and Jrio.

Fyfler - son of Nenrick, King of Somahguard. Fyfler is smallest of the Dibor and brother of Naffe, Kinfen and Fallon.

Naffe - son of Nenrick, King of Somahguard. Brother of Fyfler, Kinfen and Fallon.

Fallon - son of Nenrick, King of Somahguard. Brother of Fyfler, Kinfen, and Naffe.

Kinfen - son of Nenrick, King of Somahguard. Brother of Fallon, Fyfler, and Naffe.

Boran - twin of Brax, son of King Purgos of Tontha. Also brother of Benigan.

Brax - twin of Boran, son of King Purgos of Tontha. Also brother of Benigan.

Benigan - a bearlike fighter. Son of King Purgos of Tontha, brother of Brax and Boran.

Anondo - son of King Thorn of Ligeon. Brother of Thero and Thad.

Thero - son of King Thorn of Ligeon. Brother of Thad and Anondo.

Thad - son of King Thorn of Ligeon. Brother of Anondo and Thero.

Quoin - son of King Daunt of Jerovah. Cage and Daquin's brother.

Cage - friendly, strong boy. Son of King Daunt of Jerovah. Quoin and Daquin's brother.

Daquin - son of King Daunt of Jerovah. Cage and Quoin's brother.

Kings

King Ragnar - Chief of the kings. Lives in Adriel Palace.

King Lair - father of Luik, ruler of Bensotha.

King Thorn - father of Thero, Thad, and Anondo. He is also the father of Anorra and is ruler of Ligeon.

King Nenrick - father of Naffe, Fallon, Kinfen and Fyfler and King of Somahgaurd.

King Naronel - father of Naron, Najrion, Rab and Jrio. Ruler of Trennesol.

King Purgos - father of Boran, Brax, and Benigan. Leader of Tontha and oldest of the kings.

King Daunt - father of Quion, Cage, and Daquin. King of the horse-land of Jahdan.

Other

Anorra - One of Luik's childhood friends. She is fast and talented and as Luik grows older he begins to love her.

Gyinan - Anorra's teacher, training her for battle.

Hadrian - Another of Luik's companions. Hadrian is a stocky, thoughtful boy.

Fane - A red-headed, small friend of Luik's. He is taken to the palace for training under Li-Saide.

Li-Saide - A wise dwarf of Ot. He is able to sense thoughts and teaches Fane many valuable lessons.

Gorn - Strong, short, scarred, dark-skinned man who has obviously seen battle before the one arising now. Silent, particularly about his past, he has several moments of odd humor.

Morgui - Villain who, once a servant of the Most High, revolted and now leads an army of demons against Dionia's people.

Velon - Formerly on the side of good, Velon was tempted with offers of power by Morgui and defected to his side many years ago.

Resources

Rise of the Dibor, by Christopher Hopper