Archives: Wiki Pages

A wiki custom post type

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Caius Vallenar

Name: Sergeant Caius Vallenar

Age: 33

Race: Human

Hair: Dark Brown

Eyes: Hazel

Occupation: Former Vandregon Lieutenant – Present New Hope Sergeant, Blacksmith & Bartender

Known Skills: Blacksmithing & Professional Soldier

Birthplace: Kingdom of Vandregon, Year 232

 

History

Caius Vallenar hails from a minor city-state housed in the Kingdom of Vandregon. His father, who was born a mere commoner, dedicated his entire life to the service and protection of a local lord. In exchange for his service he was rewarded with the official bearings of knighthood, and used his noble status to provide for himself and his son. While Caius had the build and untapped skill for combat, his true passion and calling came from the smelting and folding of steel; it surprised all around him when his natural talent for the craft surfaced early on. His father glowed with pride at Caius’ skill, refused to push him towards the life of rank and nobility, and was eager to learn blacksmithing along with his son. Misfortune would not look kindly upon the young smith, however. A large group of cutthroats and bandits invaded their hometown, looting and pillaging anything they could. As the town guard was caught entirely by surprise, initial resistance was scattered and disorganized at best. Upon hearing the screams of his neighbors, Caius instinctively picked up his smith’s hammer and a nearly-finished blade, and ran to their aid with no hesitation. They discovered him kneeling with a great wound to his right shoulder, without making a sound. Upon closer inspection, it seemed he was surrounded by two of the brigands: both were dead, his right hand still holding fast to the forge hammer’s grip.

After some much needed rest and training to restore his shoulder to full strength, his father, recognizing his true potential as a fighter, immediately inquired his opinion of becoming a soldier and protecting those in need. As Caius was already fascinated with the weapons and tools of martial combat, his decision was firm; within months his combat prowess instilled great respect from his peers and set him apart from other members of the military, despite his young age. Caius took training to the utmost importance in addition to honing his skill as a smith. His aspiration: to forge the finest of armor and weapons for himself and those around him; that they may provide the finest protection during their time of need.

At the age of twenty-one, Caius was wed to the love of his life: Silvetta. The two were described as amongst the most honorable and devoted a couple seen throughout the land, and they bore two children in only a few years’ time. Caius, now with a fatherly conviction, continued his life in the military and soared through the ranks, while his wife took care of educating their children and continuing her role as a talented leatherworker.

Little is known of Caius’ life between the years of 255 to 260, save his arrival to Mardrun on one of the few ships successfully completing the voyage from Faedrun in the year 261. Upon landing, he immediately setup his small forge to accommodate the incredibly high demand for a local skilled smith. With the addition of bartending in a local tavern throughout the week, Caius was able to quickly and efficiently establish himself on the new continent. While none would dare speak ill of his work, the locals who know him best are aware of one hard fact:

..The smith came to Mardrun alone.

Caius seldom speaks of his previous life, though no one would dare fault him; people are known to block out the most traumatic and horrific events they have endured. Those who maintain relations with him have tried to appeal to his past; any attempt has been met with silence followed by a cold, hard stare. He maintains a calm, collected demeanor with a hint of ice to his personality, and the local populace respects his trade and his moderately well-known status throughout the city-state of New Hope. While none can say for certain, rumors and theories circulate aplenty: Caius’ family was killed or lost during The Fall, and he shoulders the blame alone for failing to protect what mattered most; for failing to possess the strength to make a difference. Despite his prestigious ranking inside the Vandregon military, he requested to be discharged upon arriving to Mardrun, relinquishing the titles and influence he had earned from years upon years of service.

Over time Caius’ opportunities improved, as he was offered membership in the Vandregon Trade Guild. His duties: mending armor and tending to weapons for the volunteers of Vandregon; individuals who kept the colors alive in the new continent. His duty-bound soul was somewhat at ease, for he was able to supply the Vandregon units with much-needed equipment, and the soldiers frequently spoke to him or petitioned him for advice while he repaired their armor and weapons. Known for his excellent service, Caius accepted a different bartending situation at a tavern in Baroness Catherine’s district of New Hope, though taking care of those who’ve had a bit much to drink would always be in his duties.

Years went by. Soldiers came and went. Stories circulated amongst the soldiers, and then to Caius’ ears. The colors of Vandregon were still at the forefront of battles. Their leader: a knight by the name of Sir William, commanded great respect from his men. However, it was not to last: the once-compelling stories heard at the tavern eventually turned to stories of worry and dread from the locals stationed at the nearby barracks.

Vandregon was dying.

The last embodiment of order and solidarity was strung out, low on supplies, and its people beginning to starve. Dismissing such tales at first, Caius would settle the locals, retelling with vigor and pride the stories of prowess he had heard about the Vandregon forces on the continent; the stories of Sir William leading the way, of lighting the ever-darkening path for his brothers and sisters in arms. The travelers and locals always left reassured; perhaps not from the stories themselves, or even the manner in which they were told. Something about the look in Caius’ eyes inspired them; it made them believe.

As time continued to pass, so, too did the tales of worry; this weighed heavily on the smith’s mind. For as the rain heaped down upon the roof of the forge one night, it was simply mirroring the arm of the smith, blow after blow raining down upon the cherry-red steel. Caius’ mind was restless, and the forge was the only place he could collect his thoughts. He worked faster, taking half the time he normally used to heat and pound the steel into its final shape. The hammer soared through the air, resounding with a plethora of ringing throughout the structure. Faster and faster he forged, until finally he made his mistake.

With one final strike of the hammer the blade itself broke in two, shards of metal scattering across the floor of the smithy.

Looking down at his work, he examined the broken half of steel. He wasn’t angry; he was empty. Staring into the distance, his mind could think of nothing but Vandregon.

Picking up the broken piece of metal, he held both halves of the blade in each hand. It was at this moment the zeal returned to him – His brows furrowed, and his eyes were set ablaze. Placing the metal pieces next to each other, he heated them in the forge and began his task; for this next blade would be his own.

For too long had he carried the burden of his family’s fate. He abandoned his pride and his post in Vandregon. He had become the one brand of individual he despised above all others: a coward. As the night went on, each hammer blow to the blazing orange steel further solidified this newfound purpose.

Caius renewed a vow to himself alone: he would reenlist with Vandregon. He would assist in their struggles, protect them from harm, and regain his lost titles. This would be how he honored his family. If they were alive, he would work to find them. If they were dead, he would become a man, a father, and a husband they would be proud of.

Filled again with conviction and purpose, Caius ran out in the middle of the night to reenlist.

Upon his arrival at the Vandregon Headquarters, Caius was astounded by what lay before him: The survivors of the battles were packing up the offices and structures of the Vandregon Headquarters…

The rumors were true in their entirety, and worse than previously imagined.

The people were rioting. All of the supplies were gone; Sir William of Vandregon vanished without a trace. The overwhelming stress and high expectations of his performance had finally bore their way to his mind. Without his guidance and presence, the soldiers lost faith and began leaving the ranks of Vandregon in order to find work elsewhere. Vandregon, and the entirety of its influence on the continent of Mardrun, was dissolved.

Caius stormed back into the smithy, picked up his hammer, and cleanly threw it across the room into a wooden pillar, the scraps of wood splintering across the floor of the workshop. The fire burned deep within him, but now it had changed: a fiery vengeance against one who betrayed his people. How could the one man he could look up to in these dark times, the one whose stories turned fear on its heels in the hearts and minds of the people… How could he turn his back on his own men? Caius gazed across the room, blankly staring into the smooth stone wall. Despite trying desperately to push it from his mind’s reach, the thought finally settled upon him:

He, himself, was no different.

His own men…his own battalion of soldiers; he had abandoned them. The honor, devotion, loyalty and integrity he once stood for meant nothing because of his cowardice.

Kneeling down and firmly grasping the hammer, his will was finally tempered. Fueled now by a reformed sense of purpose and a fury against his previous self, Caius left the Vandregon Headquarters and set his path upon the military barracks of New Hope. Knowing his previous training and rank would never transfer, he refuted the doubt from his mind: he would rise in the ranks and prove to his family, himself, and to the citizens of Mardrun a truly noble cause was still worth believing in.

Caius enlisted as a soldier in the New Hope Army and thus began volunteering for duties and additional training whenever the opportunity presented itself, tackling every challenge or obstacle presented to him; he would become a leader to the people of Mardrun, and shine his light for others in the dark times ahead.

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Starkhaven – History

Back to Order Home page

HISTORY:

When colonists first arrived on Mardrun, the Order spent immense resources building a full settlement and began production on a keep. This attracted a number of settlers to join them and help their efforts; the benefit of having the disciplined leadership and military might of the Order in charge of the settlement was amicable to some that were lost and in need of a new home. Starkhaven is one of the most most defensive settlements on the continent and resides where the Yurnai river meets the Great Wolf’s Hackles.

Yearly Update – 260 (2011)

The leadership tended to the needs of the people and to expanding supplies for the Order. A few Lions had been sent to investigate what was happening in the rest of the colonies.

Yearly Update – 261 (2012)

Word reached the Order that an undead, a lich, was spotted on Mardrun, Lions were dispatched to track down and kill it. Several groups of Lions and squads of Starkhaven militia were killed trying to defeat this foe, until finally the Coalition helped track it down the northern coast and into Grimward territory. With the help and guidance of the Lions, the lich was cornered and destroyed.

Yearly Update – 262 (2013)

As the Ulven Civil War gains momentum, the Order of Arnath’s Fist is caught in the thick of it. Lions are sent out on patrol, Starkhaven militia protect the roads near their settlement and Daven’s Reach, and the battle barges of the Order sail and patrol the Yurnai river that separates the Grimward and Nightriver lands. Conflict after conflict takes its toll on the Order as the highly skilled and equipped warriors fall one by one, difficult and costly to replace. Months of attrition force the Lions to retreat from the main bulk of the conflict to reinforce and a sneak attack on the Yurnai river by Clan Grimward warriors led to the destruction of the Order’s battle barges and the death of their crews. As winter sets in at the end of the year, the Order is in dire need of supplies and support; their ambitious goals to help the Civil War resulting in a terrible cost for both the Order and the settlement of Starkhaven.

Yearly Update – 263 (2014)

Following the political fallout between the Order of Arnath’s Fist and Baron Richards of Newhope, Starkhaven’s construction ground to a halt and its walls slowly began to fall into disrepair. The already famously xenophobic clerics retreated deeper into their cloistered stronghold, pulling their troops out of the war save for a handful of Lions who were sent to hold the Pass through the Great Wolf’s Hackles.

More and more over the year, Starkhaven patrols stop going out on the roads and the Lions remain stationed at home.

Frustration began to build as signs of corruption and foul play were discovered inside Starkhaven itself while the Lions in the Pass, expecting and awaiting reinforcements, seemed to have been forgotten by their allies. The year culminates in a decision made on behalf of Starkhaven, to be revealed early in the following year.

Yearly Update – 264 (2015)

Beginning on a sour note, the Order of Arnath’s Fist started the year by informing the Coalition of their decision to pull their troops out of the pass through the Great Wolf’s Hackles in order to return home and help tend their fields. Feeling betrayed and ignored by those who called them allies, Starkhaven had been hoping for some form of aid or support in the pass, but received none. Although weakened, a handful of Lions and Starkhaven militia flew their banners and marched alongside Coalition and Clan Nightriver allies… although none of them survived to return home. It is unknown if the Order will continue to remain reclusive after the Civil War had taken such a heavy toll on them.

Yearly Update – 265 (2016)

After years of decay and financial distress, the once great settlement of Starkhaven had descended into near ruin. Many settlers fled to other colonies. Although the military might of the Order of Arnath has never recovered from the initial conflict with the Ulven and the recent Ulven civil war, a handful of the Fist chapter members maintain control of Starkhaven and can be seen periodically. They have become more reclusive now, choosing to stay inside their crumbling keep and keep to their ideals and themselves instead of getting involved in the world at large. This had concerned members of the Order and also some of the people of Starkhaven, and a Griffin stepped forward to push for a reform. A new direction was presented and the Hand of Arnath listened; although the Order of Arnath’s Fist would remain the primary chapter of the Order on Mardrun, a new settlement and some of the existing military units were re-purposed with aiding the efforts of this new chapter.

The Order of Arnath’s Light is a brand new chapter of the Order of Arnath. Led by the new Chapter Master, this group within Starkhaven is pushing for more diplomacy and progressive ideals on the world. This was originally met with resistance as the surviving chapter of the Order of Arnath was the Fist, the most militant chapter of all of the Order of Arnath. The new chapter resides in a part of  Starkhaven. This has caused tension between the two Chapters, and in the settlement itself.

The first action was the Inquisition of Fire. Bos Meszar, the militant wing of the settlement of Serai, was found to be experimenting with Undead. Recalling the fate of Faedrun, both Chapters mobilized, but the Light was in the lead. The Chapter of the Light and Bos Mezsar came to blows, but their militia was no match for the highly trained Order militia. Unlike the Fist, however, the Chapter of the Light dealt a soft hand to the settlement. Most were captured and given aid. However, a rampaging Mordok horde pressed both Chapters hard. With Serai no longer having a military force, the town swore fealty to the Order. The Fist currently patrols and safeguards the settlement.

At the end of the year, the Chapter of the Light overstepped their bounds and welcomed corrupted Ulven into the settlement. The people of Starkhaven complained, but dealt with it. Crisis was closely averted by the help of the Prince of Aldoria, and the Phoenix.

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

October 28th, 2017 – Foothills of the Spire

FIRST SCENARIO: AT THE GATES

STORY INFO:
Tension grips Mardrun as a combined force calling themselves the Allied Group has marched to the foothills of the Spire. Home to the Archons, the Spire residents begin to raise concern over an organized force arrived at their doorstep. A treaty has been delivered and verbal exchanges made among the Spire settlement and the Allied Group’s camp. The Archon’s independence from outsiders is threatened as the treaty states several terms, including bringing in a wanted criminal, controlling research, and payment of reparations as a fine. The Allied Group seems steadfast in their treaty details and has given the Archons a timeframe; by the 28th day of October, at noon, the Allied Group expects an answer to be given be the Archons and how they want to proceed. This will give each side of this conflict a chance to negotiate moments before a decision is made.

POST-EVENT STORY INFO:
A counter offer to the Allies’ original treaty had been put forth, and now tension hung in the air as the deadline to accept or refuse drew near. With allied forces waiting just outside the gates and Archon citizens preparing themselves, negotiations between both groups’ leadership were slow-going. Some residents of the Spire chose to accept Vazra as their savior, while others denounced him as a madman but remained proud Archons. Either way, these people would fight for their homes. Slowly but surely, cooler heads grew in number and in volume as the terms of the treaty on both sides were analyzed, explained, and discussed. Claiming his right to the title of Archmagus of the Spire, Faolan led those who would follow him in denouncing the actions of Vazra and beginning their life anew. Only those devoted to their former leader resisted, though Faolan’s magic and the combined numbers of the allied forces and the archons themselves quickly and nonlethally apprehended these protesters. Whether or not this new structure can withstand the trials of Mardrun is yet to be seen, though many feel it is a step in the right direction.

 

SECOND SCENARIO: AT THE FARMS

STORY INFO:
As the events at the gates unfold, the farms of the settlement of the Spire are quiet… for now. The Allied Group has laid siege to the farms, cutting off the farmers from the critical fall harvest. Farmers, Spire defenders, and soldiers of the Allied Group stare each other down quietly but ready to act at a moments notice once a decision is made at the gates. Should the defenders be able to break the siege on the farms, it could allow them to continue harvesting to gather much needed food and supplies.

POST-EVENT STORY INFO:
The bandits, led by the man who had previously tried to steal the Mana Construct from Newhope and their scholars, not-so-patiently waited to hear the sweet ring of combat. They had been offered looting rights if they would fight for the Spire, and knew that no fighting meant no looting, and no looting meant no payment. Taking matters into their own hands, the bandits soon turned on their former employers, many of whom were already nervous at the thought of such ruffians protecting them and their belongings. Where they hoped to find a broken, injured people scattered throughout the settlement, however, the bandits soon met a wall of determined archons set on keeping their homes intact. To the surprise and ire of the attackers, these archon forces were reinforced by the very allies they were supposed to be fighting against. Now outnumbered and outmatched, some bandits fled while others still tried to extract their payment. By the time the dust settled, several dozen bandits had met their maker, with a handful more either captured by the allied forces or wounded too severely to continue fighting. This display of unity has led to a glimmer of hope for the future of the Archons and of Mardrun as a whole.

 

For pictures from the event, click the link below!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1473891399390709.1073741917.771124283000761&type=1&l=73b87d0614

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

September 15th-16th, 2017 – For the Good of All

Story Information

The people of Mardrun rejoice as news spreads like wildfire across the continent; the means to a cure, a real and full cure, has been found. A scholar in the Chapter of Light District of Starkhaven has uncovered the mysteries of the mana construct. This construct is a unique magic sequence that can be used to create a cleansing ritual that could fight back and destroy the dangerous corruption weapons of the mordok. A vocal proclamation has been made that Starkhaven is going to share this method with both the City-State of Newhope and the leaders of Clan Nightriver. A group of scholars has been dispatched to Starkhaven to get what they need and return to the main colony and begin work on creating a cure.

With a chance to find a cure seemingly on the horizon, word has also reached the ears of desperate people. Refugees afflicted by the corruption or bitter due to recently losing loved ones before a cure was given, have been rumored to be on the road and following the supposed “cure”. People often get desperate and sometimes dangerous when their lives or the lives of their loved ones are on the line.

A tavern located along the newly created roadway of Newhope has heard word that some of the bandits that fled Daven’s Reach have been involved in stirring up some trouble. It is suspected that this group is taking advantage of the refugees and hopes to capitalize on this desperate situation.

The scholars have sent word to Newhope that they are going to wait for an escort back to the main colony and fear for their safety while on the road. Newhope has dispatched a unit of soldiers to reach and escort them, but they will not arrive for two more days. A general call for help has gone out for any people of note and trustworthy factions in the nearby villages and settlements to provide support. The fate of many lives and perhaps that of the entire continent, rests on the mana construct reaching the Newhope colony safely and intact.

POST-EVENT STORY INFO:
Preparing to dig in and wait for reinforcements to arrive, the caravan from Starkhaven happened upon a small farming village along their way whose mayor graciously offered them lodging for the night within his walls. Many of the caravan’s guards remained uneasy and on edge during the night, while others took the chance to let their guards down and relax. Though some of the rougher citizens of the town seemed interested in seeing the visitors off quickly and a number of heated exchanges took place, no harm was actually done. Tensions and tempers rose throughout the evening as strange howling was heard in the woods and a number of mischievous acts took place. As the sun rose the following day, though, the mana construct and its bearer were still safe and accounted for.

Moving out shortly thereafter, a more organized force approached the adventures with their goals clearly laid out: they sought the cure, and they sought coin, and were more than willing to kill for it. To prove this point, they brought forth some hostages they had taken; a cleric of Arnath, a corrupted young mother and her infant child. As the adventurers pressed in to collect the hostages, warnings were shouted and blades were drawn across throats. In the ensuing chaos, the mother nearly bled out before being rescued and tended to by the healers, as was the cleric. The child was not as lucky, succumbing to her wounds in the arms of her captors. The scene appeared to create just enough of a distraction for the bandits, who managed to make off with the mana construct. With the leverage they needed, the bandits were able to keep their would-be attackers at bay, though a traitor in their midst nearly gave his life to return the device to the caravan. Too concerned with the well-being of the mana construct, the bandits were not pursued and remain at large, though their initial plan to take the cure for themselves was thwarted.

Click here for pictures from the event!

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Apocrypha

Back to Order Home page

These writings are of dubious authorship and canon. As it is not in the Order of Arnath’s nature to destroy safe but erroneous texts, they are preserved for reading and contemplation. 

Arnath’s Coming

The Sagas tell us that our people first came to the North of Faedrun during the darkest days of the Sun Wars, trying to find a place to escape the Syndar. Knowing that most Syndar prefer the fertile and temperate lands to the south, one group of refugees turned their attention to the Celestial Mountains in the far north. After many weeks of hard travel, they found a barely navigable pass, which is now called the Blue Flame after the beautiful ice that forms it. The pass led our people into their new home. A valley untouched by Man or Syndar that was rich in game, water, farmland, and ready access to the stone and iron to make their walls strong and their swords sharp.

None thought to ask themselves why such a place was empty.

The first few years went uneventfully, but as time went on the people found more and more evidence that Men had been here before. Old ruins dotted the valley, old fences, graves and the bones of Men. The bones were piled in great heaps and marked with strange runes that made the people uneasy, and looked as though many of had been cracked open for the marrow. None of the people had ever heard of this place, and it seemed like many people had lived here. What had happened to them?

The next summer brought the answer. Out of the highest peaks came throngs of Giants, Jötnar in the Old Tongue. They came to slaughter and burn, for no reason beside that they could. Our people fought like a mother Ice Bear protecting her cubs but were pushed back and back, until there were only three warriors left. Their names have been lost to time, but their valor will live forever. There the Three stood, holding the last door of the building between the Giants their families. The Giants were taking their time on the last door, taunting the warriors, conversing about the foulness they would inflict on the women and children.

Just as the last timber was splintering, the Giants left, screaming back to their mountain lairs. The Three advanced cautiously into the light, confused by their sudden fortune. Standing there was a great White Lion and a jet black Eagle, with two great heads. Before the people’s eyes the two greats beasts became one again, and a creature of legend, a Griffin, stood before them. The Griffin walked towards them, stretching its great wings, and told the Men that all three of the beasts were Arnath, Gatekeeper of Elysium, Defender of the Fallen and Teacher of Man, and that the Giants were his mortal foes. In the stand of those three warriors He had seen courage unknown in these bleak lands of ice and pain and that together they could banish the Giants back the darkness from whence they came!

He then set out to teach the Three the Path, how to master the Fury, Honor and Wisdom within them. How to turn the power that all people have locked within themselves into a tool for the righteous. Only by mastering all three of these very different pieces of themselves could the Three find the strength needed to face down the Giants at His side. After many months of study and training the Three accompanied Arnath into the darkness beneath the Celestials, and sealed the Giants in a great cave with mountains of rock and runes never since equaled.

There they will stay, until the appointed time when they will burst forth from that icy prison to assail the Gates of Elysium during the End times. We stood with Him then, and we will stand with Him at the end too.

In the months and years that followed each of the Three founded the Lions, Eagles and Griffins, thus forming core for Arnaths Hand, now simply known as the Order to friend and foe alike

The Ages Since

Since that day our Order has stood as a bulwark and inspiration to many. We have fought in countless wars, protecting the helpless and allied with others to crush those that used their power for personal gain. The hardest times for us have been since peace reigned in Faedrun and the followers of Light began to spread.

Following Arnath is not easy. There is much expected of us, much we must learn and master within ourselves to become whole, and a new faith that required little sacrifice from its followers was very inviting to many. The turn of the years saw the Order dwindle until just before the Rising there were barely a thousand of us left on the northern half of Faedrun, pressed to the limit just trying to maintain what we had left.

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Order Prayers

Back to Order Home page

Order Daily Prayer

“We are His Light, a beacon to His Path.
We are his shepherds, protecting His flock from the wolves.
We are His Hammer, the justice which smites the wicked.
We are His Faithful, and in His Light, we are strong.”

 

Lion Battle Prayer
“It is for us to stand when others can’t.”
“It is for us to hold when others run.”
“It is for us to fight when all hope is gone.”
“Such forges the future.”

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Book of Brother Joseph, Ninth Deed

Back to Order Home page

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

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Book of Brother Dorian, Eight and Final Deed

Back to Order Home page

Book of Brother Dorian

Eighth and Final Deed

And as his opponent’s blade struck true, Brother Dorian knew the wound would be beyond recovery. 1

And his life seeped from the wound, forming a crimson pool at his feet. 2

Brother Dorian fell to his knees and prayed, preparing to meet his end with honor. 3

“Speak louder,” his foe taunted, “that all may hear of your defeat!” 4

Brother Dorian raised his voice. 5

“My words were not for your ears, not any other in this life. 6

They were for my Brothers who preceded me in death, that they might welcome my soul this night. 7

Your aim was true, as are your words. 8

My wound is mortal, and I shall not see the dawn break again. 9

But I have not yet been defeated, for I will not make this journey alone. 10

Ere the sun rises, you will lay beside me until death takes us both. 11

And Arnath shall know of my victory. 12

For I am His Lion, and He will hear me roar!” 13

And with a great shout, Brother Dorian rose to fight again. 14

A righteous fire burned in his eyes, and his foe knew that Brother Dorian had spoken truly. 15

Brother Dorian’s movements were extraordinary, as though his sundered armor weighed no more than silk. 16

His aim was uncanny, as though his hammer was instead his own fist. 17

Blow after blow was visited upon them both, but while his foe reeled with each echoing strike, Brother Dorian took no notice of his new wounds. 18

At last when his foe could withstand no more, they each collapsed to the ground, his foe too far removed from this life to be within reach of his abominable gods. 19

And Brother Dorian lay beside his fallen foe, and he smiled, and drifted off to rest for the final time. 20

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Book of Brother Algar, Second Deed

Back to Order Home page

Book of Brother Algar

Second Deed

As the Lions swept through the village, descending upon the Penitent and undead within with a righteous fury, Brother Algar waited. 1

Though he knew his duty, something did not feel right. 2

A rustle nearby, barely perceptible through his helm, was enough to prove his caution justified. 3

Shield presented and mace raised, Brother Algar advanced toward the source of the sound, a large shrub beside a small hut. 4

Alone, as the other Lions had pushed forward, Brother Algar approached cautiously, prepared to strike. 5

His mind raced at the possibilities: a penitent archer, some recently animated corpse, or worse. 6

Yet as he drew near, his mace did not fall. 7

Again, something did not feel right. 8

The rustling stopped, though the presence remained. 9

Brother Algar lowered his mace to the ground, and slowly removed his shield. 10

Unbuckling his helmet, he exposed his face to the shrub, then he smiled and he waited. 11

Again the shrub rustled, and his heart began to race, for he knew that his choice could be his end, though he did not ready himself for combat, nor allow the soft smile to leave his face. 12

Slowly, a small child emerged from the shrub in which she had hidden from the commotion around her. 13

In that moment, Brother Algar forgot the battle around him. He forgot his armor, his shield, and his mace. 14

All he knew was himself and this child, and he was glad. 15

He extended his hand to her, and though she shied away at first, she soon ran to him as he embraced her. 16

He carried her with him away from the fighting until they had reached the safety of the Lions’ camp. 17

When stopped at the perimeter, an Eagle demanded to know who this child was, where she had been found, if she could be trusted. 18

Brother Algar roared back to him, gathering the attention of the entire camp, 19

“This child is an innocent in this war. 20

“It was Arnath’s mercy that spared her life, and it is for her that we must fight.” 21

Back to Order Home page

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Wiki Pages
  4. /
  5. Page 47

Tale of Brother Ventaris, the Gatebreaker, Hero of Daven’s Reach

Back to Order Home page

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.

Back to Order Home page