Tale of Brother Ventaris, the Gatebreaker, Hero of Daven’s Reach – Unknown Author
Here follows the Tale of Brother Ventaris, Lion of the Order of Arnath’s Light, the Gatebreaker and Hero of Daven’s Reach. Let his example inspire us all.
In the month of April of the Year 266, the combined forces of the City-State of NewHope set to liberating the settlement of Daven’s Reach. After securing the innocent, the forces moved to attack the cutthroats and murderers that had terrorized the people. These could not be persuaded or reasoned with. They were blood mad hounds that needed to be put down for the safety of all.
Brother Ventaris led from the front in the initial attack. The wretches were no match for the forces, steeled by his presence. Such was Ventaris’ Divine Aura that even those whose families had been killed by the curs did not give in to bloodlust. The Lion was a bedrock to the warriors.
The mongrels, seeing their friends pushed back, closed the gates. These villains cut off their own comrades rather than face righteousness. While some may have been satisfied to let them rot, Brother Ventaris would not let them escape justice. He gathered the force around the battering ram and spoke.
“We cannot let them stay there. If we do, they will fester like an open wound. Like any wound, it must be cleansed and treated. We will be heading into a storm of arrows but with courage and faith we will survive. Who is with me?”
So great was his resolve that his divine power shone as a halo. So great was his power that those who had never fought nor had the inclination stepped to his service. All hearts were righteous at that moment. From the ramparts, weeping could be heard as those who had wickedness in their hearts realized their errors. The unrepented fiends around them cut them down as a warning. Nodding at the sight, Ventaris hefted the ram with the others, and strode into the hail of arrows that greeted them.
The heaviest clouds in the world did not rain as much water as the archers rained arrows upon the group. Ventaris’ own faith protected many of the warriors, allowing them to shrug off blows that would have felled the strongest Ulven. Reaching the gate, they began to strike it with force enough to cause the walls to tremble. Brother Ventaris was the anchor, calling out the rhythm.
The warriors around Ventaris began to fall, heroes all, as the arrows storm did not abate. Fresh warriors rushed to fill the gap, inspired by the great Lion. Often Ventaris would forsake the cover of his own shield to protect another. The wicked enemy, seeing such selfishness, tried to bring him down. Over two dozen arrows struck the Lion, but could not fell him. The enemy had a greater weapon, however.
From the ramparts tumbled a great boulder as large as a cart. Seeing it, Ventaris pushed aside a warrior and took it himself. A great cry went amongst the forces; the liberators in dismay, and the fiends in delight. However, from the rubble came the mighty man himself. Whereas any lesser man would have sat out the rest of the fight, Ventaris took only a minute’s respite before charging back to the ram. The cries now switched as the villains knew they had no chance.
The gates began to splinter. The arrows increased, a fool’s hope against the waiting forces. They took their toll, whittling the forces down. Finally, with a great heave, Ventaris led the warriors in shattering the gate. With its supports broken, the mighty Lion ripped the gate from its hinges and discarded its rubble nearby. The cutthroats, quaking in fear, lost their chance to rush the liberators. Ventaris held no hesitation. Letting out a roar that would put his namesake to shame, the Lion charged.
The struggle for the gate a charnel house. The desperate villains brought all their great weapons to bear on the line. Ventaris turned their mighty two handed blows away with his righteous hammer, not even faltering a step. One fiend managed to land a hard blow on Ventaris as he protected his fellows. It crumpled his helmet, and for the first time the warrior stepped back. The cutthroat may have rejoiced for a moment but only one. Stripping his ruined helmet, Ventaris’ face came into view for the first time.
The Gatebreaker’s face was chiseled stone. The strong jaw and wide brow were set in grim determination. No sweat nor blood marred the powerful visage. But his eyes held a storm the likes none had seen. The cold fury of the Lion. With a great blow he sent the fiend who struck him back, the man’s breastplate caved in.
The fight seemed to go out of the wretches. They broke from the gate to make another stand in the courtyard. Ventaris was not to let them go so easily. Calling his brothers to him, Ventaris led the charge into the courtyard. He quickly moved to the side alleys between the buildings, directing the other forces to sweep the open areas. He knew the dark, cramped places were the most dangerous. He would lead the way into it.
Armor rent, shield scored, Ventaris breached every doorway, every corner, every dark area. Arrows and knives flitted out of the darkness; his great shield forced them back, keeping his comrades safe. The pitched fights in total blackness were horrid affairs, only lit by the sparks of metal on metal. The Order, following their Lion, did not hesitate. They brought the Holy Light of Arnath to the darkness.
All gave way before the Lion and his brothers. It also attracted the most wicked, for they could not stand for something so pure. The Lion and his brothers were surrounded by innumerable villains most foul. Fighting back to back, they made their way into a small house. There the foul wretches crashed upon Ventaris’ shield like waves on cliffs. Like a mighty cliff, the Lion did not break. The curs, seeing their friends felled, slunk off into the darkness.
It was Ventaris and the Order who took the building the cutthroats were using as a command center. It was Ventaris and the Order, supported by the Broken Blades, who swept the courtyard. It was they who pushed the last of the foes to the ramparts. On those ramparts the foes barricaded themselves, breaking the stairs and denying access.
Here they tried to finally bring Brother Ventaris down. The last remaining archers of the enemy let loose a great volley directed solely at Ventaris. Countless arrows drove themselves into his great shield, but a few of their number managed to slip past. His armor gone from the hours of constant fighting, the arrow points bit deep.
If the fiends had been hoping to fell the Lion they were mistaken. He stood, his steely gaze staring down those who would hide, and declared he would bring them to justice. The last holdouts, finally seeing the greatness of Brother Ventaris, threw down their weapons and surrendered. Victory was secured.
Thus ended the Battle of Daven’s Reach, and thus did Brother Ventaris gain the names of The Gatebreaker, Hero of Daven’s Reach.