Destiny & Free Will

The big idea behind this particular story is the struggle between destiny and free will.  However, it's not your simple shouting match about which one exists and which one is absolute hogwash.  In this particular story, both destiny and free will are real powers, opposite forces that wax and wane throughout history.  It's similar to the ocean; when destiny is growing, free will is diminishing, and vise versa.  They are natural periods, and both have different and profound effects on humanity.

Periods of destiny are the times of heroes and legends.  It is during these times that great deeds are done, and grand empires are erected.  Kings and emperors rule, and though conflicts arise, the world enjoys relative peace and prosperity.  As the power of destiny grows to its strongest, the world becomes truly marvelous.  However, once destiny has peaked and begins to descend, the cracks begin to appear.  Heroes, once protected by their fate in life, begin to die off.  The noble kings and emperors are replaced by less heirs, and the people are treated poorly.  The world falls into madness.

It is at this time that free will takes hold.  During these times, great minds make new discoveries in science, and the knowledge of the world grows in leaps and bounds.  They are times of democracy, when the people are equal and united.  New ideas are abundant, and the people are wiser than ever.  However, as with destiny, free will ultimately peaks.  During the descent, the people grow apathetic and lazy; with no drive or urges to motivate them, they do not actively seek to better themselves.  Evil individuals begin to rise up once more, and seek to enslave all the world.

As could be expected, it is at this time that destiny begins to swing back into action, fate is restored, and the world turns back to destiny.  And on and on this cycle goes, like the tides, forever.  Or, at least, it would go on forever, except the story mainly deals with what happens to the world when the cycle is broken.  The particulars shall come at a future date.  So, for now, that is all; not all that there is, but all I'll be putting down to letter and form tonight.