Book of Brother Joseph
Ninth Deed
Before him stood the churning masses, hordes of the abominations unto his faith, and Joseph knew he would soon be no more. 1
Yet though his end was surely near, never did his faith falter. 2
And he looked unto them, his shield aloft, and he declared, 3
“Behold! This is His scale, upon which His foes will be weighed!” 4
The horde did not stop or slow. 5
Joseph bore his breast to them, clad in crimson and white, and again he spoke. 6
“Behold! This is His light, against which you will break like the tide!” 7
Again, the horde pressed on. 8
Joseph raised his great maul, and once again called out to the horde. 9
“Behold! This is His justice, with which the unworthy shall be smitten!” 10
The horde was upon him, threatening to engulf him like a great wave, come to drag him out to sea. 11
Joseph raised his voice a final time as he entered the great fray, crying to any who would hear him, 12
“And Behold! I am his hammer, for I know no fear!” 13
And with those words, the horde stopped its advance. 14
One abomination spoke, “How can this be?” 15
“No man can be without fear. You speak falsely.” 16
Joseph replied, “then cover, and see my words are true.” 17
The abomination, it’s chain and blade rusted, charged at brother Joseph. 18
Joseph halted the charge with his shield, and with the strength of Arnath himself, raised the abomination over his head. 19
Joseph’s voice carried over the din of the horde. 20
“Upon His scale, you have been weighed.” 21
Hateful fire burned in the abomination’s eyes as it charged again, bony claws protruding where fingers once stood. 22
As the claws pierced Joseph’s crimson tabard, the shattered upon the gleaming breastplate he wore beneath it. 23
And Joseph called out, 24
“Against His light, you have broken like the tide!” 25
As the abomination fell to its knees before Joseph, the hatred in its eyes smoldered to embers of fear. 26
Again, Joseph raised his great maul to the sky, and again he spoke, 27
“By His justice, you have been smitten.” 28
His maul held aloft, Joseph began to recite a prayer to Arnath. 29
As he ended his prayer, the abomination and of him, 30
“All men know fear. What, then, are you?” 31
As Joseph brought his maul to beat on the abomination’s skull, he declared to the horde once more, 32
“I am his hammer, for I know no fear.” 33