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Tournament of Champions 2 (The game has begun)
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"We're too late... it's him!"
The person stepped out from the shadow and stood still as he was staring at the two girls. Sylva glanced at Nya, who was holding her staff in a defensive stance, then the airship repairer looked at the expressionless man in a black armor.
"So you're the one behind all of this. What do you want from us?"
A cold wind howled in the street and blew the dead leaves into the air. The knight slowly raised his both hands and looked towards the dark grey sky while the wind was rising.
"The day is finally here. I came here to gather all souls forgotten and left behind by time. I will take them with me to a place where they would have a purpose, once again."
"He manipulates darkness and all souls consumed by it," Nya said to Sylva in a slightly trembling tone. "He broke the rune-stones and liberated all shades of Salaxum in the process. Some of them tried to kill me when I started to run away and look for you!"
"I couldn't stop the most violent shades from attacking you right away," the knight said as he put his hands down and grabbed the pommel of his sheathed longsword with his left hand. "It won't happen again; they're now in my total possession. I can't let you leave and tell about this to anyone until the ritual is over. You have nothing to fear as long as you stay put."
Sylva looked at the man straight into his grey eyes. Even though he seemed to act friendly, he was most likely extremely dangerous. She could feel it, and so did Nya. Letting him gather an army of living shadows and walk away with it was absurd to her.
The hosts at the audience have most likely seen what has happened here through master Eetu's orb, and this knight may not know about it. Perhaps they've sent soldiers to help us out, and maybe Acyros is awaiting a good opportunity to stop this knight. I could try to buy them some time.
Sylva slowly unsheathed her dagger, dropped it, then took a slow step towards the knight. This made Nya open her mouth in surprise.
"Sylva, what are you--"
"It's alright, Nya," Sylva said in a calm tone as she turned around to look at Nya and winked her right eye. "Let's just do what sir knight says and get back to the town after this is over."
Nya was standing still for a moment before she slowly put her staff to lay onto the ground right next to her feet. Then she watched what Sylva was doing. She was crossing the empty street until she stopped right in the middle of it. Her hair was waving in the silent wind and she could hear a faint thunder in the distance. Sylva looked at the knight, who was moving his left hand's fingers slowly in a strange way, most likely performing the summoning ritual with them. As his left hand was leaning on the sword's pommel, immense power radiated from the weapon each passing second. Then Sylva began to speak to the knight to distract him while trying to figure out how to stop the ritual.
"So... what's your name?"
"I haven't had a name for fifty years, but I was once called Merikh."
Nya walked to Sylva's side. "Why didn't you tell me that when I asked earlier? Instead you destroyed the rune-stones which took days to place in this town which is apparently your old home."
"The rune-stones prevented me from performing this ritual, and I only have so little time. If it runs out before it's complete, it can not be done for another fifty years."
All three looked up and saw the shadows flying from the town high into the cloudy sky until they vanished. A lightning flashed behind the clouds and the echoing sound of thunder followed a few seconds later. But then Sylva noticed someone crouching at the edge of a building's roof behind Merikh. Small sparks of blue lightning flashed around the person whose silver hair and mechanical arm Sylva recognized.
Acyros... He must've climbed there while being invisible. Otherwise the shades or Merikh would've seen him.
"What are you going to do with those tormented souls," Nya asked while expecting an answer she did not want to hear. "You said you would bring them to a place where they would have a new purpose... to where?"
Merikh lowered his head and answered with a grim tone. "You ask too many questions..."
Sylva kept looking at Acyros, who was pointing at Merikh with one of his guns. Then she quickly jumped to the right while pulling Nya with her and shouted.
"Now, Acyros!"
When the girls fell onto the ground, the knight turned around and saw a flash of blue light followed with a handgun's loud noise. When the bullet hit the knight's stomach, he groaned, took a step back, and quickly drew his longsword from its black scabbard. Acyros shot another time at Merikh, but this time the knight blocked the energy bullet with a thin shield of darkness which he cast before him. While Acyros jumped down from the building and kept shooting at the knight, the two contestants had picked up their weapons.
"Last battle of the day, Nya!"
Merikh ran towards Acyros while his shield protected him from the bullets, and prepared to slash with his longsword. When Merikh was only a few meters away from the gunner, he tripped over. Nya had cast a vine that wrapped around the knight's right leg, then began to pull him farther away from Acyros, closer to the two girls behind the lying knight. The shield vanished when Acyros was reloading, so he couldn't stop Merikh from cutting off the vine from his leg. Then the knight jumped back to his feet and suddenly turned into a black shadow. Acyros' bullets flew right through the knight's shadow as he quickly jumped high into the air and landed behind Nya. Merikh turned into a normal human as he prepared to attack Selesnya warrior.
"Nya, watch out!"
Sylva shouted as she threw a makeshift bomb from her bag which she had originally created to use against Nya. The young warrior jumped to her stomach, barely dodging Merikh's slash. The bomb exploded and its shrapnel penetrated the knight's armor and wounded his face. Merikh put his left hand against his face's left side while regaining his balance, but then Nya stood up and thrust his chest powerfully with her staff that started to faintly glow after she quickly whispered a spell that strengthened her attack momentarily. Finally, Acyros shot at Merikh with his both handguns four times. Each bullet hit one of the knight's limbs, causing him to scream in anguish and falling down to his knees.
"He is still performing the ritual with his sword!"
Acyros shot at Merikh's both hands with his both handguns at the same time, which caused the knight to drop the sword onto the street not far away from him while groaning yet another time. Merikh looked into the sky where the storm clouds had gathered. The girls could see the nasty injuries they had caused on his face, left eye, limbs, and stomach. Instead of bleeding blood, black smoke came from the knight's wounds.
"So be it," Merikh said as the wind began to blow stronger than before. He stood up as if his body wasn't screaming in pain anymore. Then a vortex of wind surrounded the knight. This caused Nya, Sylva, and Acyros to walk away from Merikh while covering their eyes from the flying leaves and dust. After a moment, the wind slowed down and the trio could open their eyes again. Merikh was still bleeding black smoke, but at the same time, a black aura of shades flowed from the black clouds into him and his sword which was levitating before him. He took a firm grip from its handle and pointed its tip at the sky while keeping the blade close to his face.
"The ritual is already finished..."
Merikh slowly took a stance and pointed his sword at his opponents while he was completely surrounded by a shadowy aura. Black spirits also appeared next to the dark knight each passing second.
"... but I may still take your souls."
Before Stelladora unified it was just a series of kingdoms as everywhere else in the world. The western coast of Dormania had many exotic wares and other tradings goods that the Lisakdonian people began to grow an interest for and thus also the merchants. so around year 350 or so Lisakdonia began to trade with some Dormanian kingdoms but it was in particular one that were of very high interest to Lisakdonia. The small and poor kingdom of Lalden.
Lalden did not control much land but the land they own was very fertile and of correct type for the spice and crops that Lisakdonia desired. They were also willing to trade very much in favor of Lisakdonia since they had such weak economy to begin with. The trade made Lalden rich but the surrounding kingdoms did like what was happening since they lost trade opportunity because of Lalden.
As the years and decades passed, Lalden became too greedy and focused too much of the soil for the trade, the available soil that was left for ordinary crops become too little and the kingdom ran the risk of starvation and famine. Lalden tried to make trade agreements with their neighbors but they saw an opportunity to remove Lalden as trading partner and take the trade themselves, for a higher price that is. Lisakdonia would not agree to trade away crops since they were those in the first place in need. Since they could not import food through trade and reducing the land used for trade with Lisakdonia would decrease the income that had become so crucial for the small kingdom. There was only one solution left, they had to take the desired land by force. Lalden's military was however very small compared to their neighbors so an invasion was far from possible. There was only one solution left if they were to avoid a famine and keep their income. They had to ask Lisakdonia for help. Lisakdonia agreed to help in exchange that Lalden would become a vassal to Lisakdonia and provide them with a military port and a fortress. Lalden was forced to agree so in the cover of normal trading ships an Lisakdonian army was sent to Lalden.
The neighboring kingdoms had expected Lalden to in a desperate attempt attack them. They expected an army of no more than 2000 trained soldiers and maybe another 1000 militia so when they were met by a 15 000 strong army under Lalden's banner at their gates they had to surrender. The Lisakdonian-Lalden army managed to quickly take over five more cities before they were met by an Stellearon army at the path towards the seventh. The Stellearon general recognized the army as mostly Lisakdonian which described its efficiency and size so he could not afford to risk a battle here or war could follow. The general met the commanders of the Lisakdonian-Lalden army and revealed a alliance treaty that had been formed between Stellearon and remaining kingdoms that were in the risk zone. They came to an agreement that the already conquered land would fall to Lalden and thereafter they returned home. The realization that Lisakdonia was willing to ship an army of such size Dormania was reason enough for the large kingdoms to meet up and form an alliance between them in case war would break out. This alliance would become the pillar on with the Stelladora union was formed. They would need to fear an invasion from Lisakdonia as long as they had access to Lalden so in the future they would need to remove it from their hands. Lalden had been successful and now owned much more land than they needed. This and their vassal position invited many Lisakdonions to the small kingdom.
As earlier mentioned a group called the Kilmaeren exist/exited in Lisakdonia before the birth Vearone and thereafter. This group had rallied the Xellaran republican empire to declare war against the newly formed Lisakdonia and the new queen Vearone. They had however underestimated her and her generals. The war was believed to be won quickly but Lisakdonia's armies was used to fight in small forces which made them more mobile. The Xellaran armies was let into Lisakdonia and Crastine with almost no resistance at all but at the time, Vearone had moved with a small force in towards Xellara's capital. So technically Lisakdonia had been conquered but the queen and the armies were still fighting. Multiple small forces were sent to bring up barricades along the paths were the Xellaran armies would pass. Other forces were sent to settlements all over the kingdom, create some turbulence and then quickly disappear again. This would confuse the Xellaran forces who had to split up into smaller forces to catch them but small confrontations was something that Lisiena and Akdonia forces had experienced for a long time and thus become quite skilled in such fights.
The war that should have ended after a mere weeks went on for more than a year which made the republic desperate so they sent out more forces from the kingdom to catch the Lisakdonian queen which was opening up an opportunity for her army. Through deception Vearone and her small force of no more than 200 soldiers were able to enter the capital and both take over the gates and enter the republican congress house and capture the republics thus forcing a peace treaty in Lisakdonia's favor.
Lisakdonia would later conquer Xellaran properly and then managed to annex them but that would be decades later.
The Kilmaeren had been defeated and a few of them had been captured together with the republicans. They could not allow such a failure again so they began infiltrate important positions within the kingdom and passively work for the goal to destroy the queen. It was more difficult than they had believed to even get the positions at all and it remained difficult until the day the queen died at old age. Through generations the kilmaeren managed to take important roles and thus infiltrate the kingdom. As generations passed they came closer and closer to the royal family slowly working for an opportunity when they could destroy the family and take control over the kingdom themselves. They would however need some event that would make the people, or at least the people that mattered to dislike the royal family. That would be their opportunity to take control.
Continues...
The Kilmaeren were given a few chances to remove the royal family. One season the weather became extremely poor so the farms' efficiency became drastically lower, and the war with some minor kingdoms to the west had proven much more troublesome than the king and the generals had expected. The operations costed much more than planned and much of the food was sent there to avoid the operation becoming a failure. They were set in for a choice. They could either withdraw the army to save the food but that would leave room for the enemy to re-assemble themselves and making it far more difficult in the future, also they needed the metal ore from the mining operations in the contested area or other operations would falter. The other options would be to continue the military campaign and let the people starve but that would risk riots and maybe even revolt which could risk overtake the palace and the royal family themselves.
The Kilmaeren believed this would be the opportunity but as they began to plan a revolt the king ordered a campaign towards the elvish settlements in the kingdom. The king had ordered the elves to be captured and enslaved to work on the farms so the production could be increased enough for the people to avoid starving. All elvish settlements were enslaved except for those at the blue drake river as the forests were of a very unfriendly kind. The kingdom managed to hold out for the bad seasons but as the weather became better the elves were not let free. They were too good from an economical perspective and remained enslaved for many generations.
Another opportunity came with the trade with the Dormanian. The Kilmaeren tried to convince the trading kingdoms to not trade with Lisakdonia but a few ignored these convictions, especially Lalden. So the Kilmaeren managed to convince farmers within the small kingdom to sell their food to them and thus reduce the food that could be provided to the people and risk a famine. The surrounding kingdoms were convinced to not trade with Lalden on witch they agreed. When the Lisakdonian army was sent over to Lalden the Kilmaeren was quick and told Stellearon about the army that would soon conquer the specific cities. Stellearon sent out an army that would fight this army but the commander of that army decided that such risk as war with Lisakdonia could not be risked. Kilmaeren had failed another opportunity but the next one they would not fail.
They would continue to work within the kingdom in silence and claim the highest positions possible until the day was right.
That day would come the year 500 after the 500 year celebration. A celebration that demanded the best performances, the best food, the best everything, the best pleasures. A prayer was made to Friyena from a sad lonely voice. A prayer that was said to have put a tear in Friyena's eye. She spoke to king Frederick and he promised that he would fulfill her wish. The next day he demanded that the elvish slaves would be set free. This was the Kilmaeren's chance. They nobility and the merchants would be happy to lose their slaves that had been such income for so long so drastically. The kilmaeren rallied the people that Frederick did not know the people's best. He however would not change his mind. He would follow Friyena's wishes until death. Then one day the people revolted. The king tried to speak to the people but it would be taken out of control so he had to flee. He was escorted by two guards but as they came out of vision he cut down by the guards who where Kilmaeren loyalists. The rest of the royal family was informed of the revolt and that the king was being evacuated. Sir Pavyel of the guard offered to escort the family to safety. He and a group of royal guards escorted them down into the tunnels beneath the palace. They came to the a room with a door. A soldier tried to open it but it was locked. Sir Pavyel and four of the guards stepped out of the room and in came a large group of soldiers. The royal family and two soldiers had to back off into a corner but the order was given by Sir Pavyel. The royal family became executed by their own soldiers unknowing that they were Kilmaeren.
After inspecting the bodies Sir Pavyel realized that the one he had believed to be Julia was just a maid. Princess Julia was still alive. Pavyel ordered the soldiers to find her. He also later ordered ordinary soldiers to find her and bring her to him for "safety".
He later found out that Julia and an unknown soldier had left the city by boat. Hunters were sent out into the land to find her but they were unable to. The Kilmaeren took the throne and believed that they could just deny Julia her claim if someone by the name and claim would show up. They had won. They just had not fulfilled the revenge yet.
A year passed without any news about Julia but another name began to draw attention. A knight of the name Reynald Lethold was recruiting knights for an army against the Kilmaeren. They sent out troops to strike him down but every time they tried they failed or even joined him and the reports became worse and worse as Reynald killed his way past Kilmaeren loyalist after loyalist. Two years passed. Reynald's army grew larger and larger until the day came when they marched to Crastine. The City was reinforced with 30 000 soldiers but when Reynald showed the great white burning from his sword as the moon in the night it could not be mistaken. Friyena had chosen a champion and he stood before Crastine. Most soldier deserted the Kilmaeren rule and opened the gates allowing Reynald and his army in.
The bloodbath ended in the great palace were the last of the Kilmaeren loyalists were killed and the order was destroyed, or at least as it was believed. The idea survived and a new wave of Kilmaeren rose up to take the fight. But they would never even come close to the power they had for so long. They became troublemakers more than a force of revolt and royalty destruction. Stelladora who believed that the Kilmaeren was still the intelligent people that had came to them for so long ago even began to fund them to help in the war as their chance to retake the Dormania had appeared as the god Decaotus himself now stood at their back.
@Bobman111 Now I'm not sure if I want this story end now.
@shadow123 @Bobman111 @pakashara Remember when you volunteered to join my story segment? You can read it near the top of page 39 and it takes place before the battle between Nya and Sylva. It would be great if one of you three could write the next segment.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 8: The Purple Crow, part 1/2
The boy woke up as the sun was touching his face. Nadja was lying beside him with her head stretched over him to keep him warm. The night had been cold but the boy did not feel very cold himself, if it was because of Nadja’s warm body or something else he was not sure. Nadja woke up and stood up as the boy began to move and turn around to see that the gravestone was still there. Lily Mistrune 581 – 595. She was really gone. His memories of her were filling his head, his promise, they were haunting him so it hurt but else he felt empty as if nothing was worth it anymore. The boy stood up on his legs with the help of Nadja. His hands were still hurting from yesterday but they had managed to heal slightly. He looked down the hill Yorvan’s house were the two dead bandits still were held. He decided what he had to do; he had to avenge Lily and her family and Yorvan’s family. Philip would pay.
The thoughts of vengeance were able to keep the painful memories from his head and keep him going. He went down to Yorvan’s house and searched through the soldiers for anything that he could use. He took a composite bow that belonged to Yorvan with a bunch of arrows, an axe and rope. He then went and took a saddle from the storehouse together with provisions for both himself and Nadja. When he was finished and prepared he went up to Lily’s grave one last time. He ripped off a leather emblem he had attached cape. The emblem was red with a silver fox with text written on the back symbolizing his parents. His emblem proving his role within the order of Friyena’s knights. He dug a small hole on the grave and dropped the emblem into it before he refilled the hole.
“If I can’t protect the ones I love then I don’t deserve to be a knight. But I will always be your friend so I give my emblem to you so that you don’t forget about me. Farwell Lily. Lev’foralt Lily Mistrune”
He stood up as Nadja approached him. He mounted her and began to move towards the eastern path where he and Lily had walked to search for his grandmother 8 years ago. The usually colorful forest was barren and grey as the leaves had left the trees and now were under a layer of snow. The path on which he and Nadja walked had a bunch of footprints beneath another thin snow layer in them heading forward indicating that those that had walked here came from the village and had done so the last days, proving their guilt to what had happened. He continued along the path until he came to a familiar place. A small old path led off the road into the forest. He recognized the path as it was that path he and Lily had taken 8 years ago. He could see a little of the river in the distance. He continued along the path that began to ascend upwards as the surroundings become more disoriented with mountains and hills.
After some time he came across an intersection on the road were the other two paths were apparently more trafficked as the snow had been trampled down completely. He continued along the path that led towards the mountain and the fortress. After a little while he saw a red trail in the snow leading into the forest.
”Is there someone there? Help! Please help! I have been attacked and left to die, please help”
The voice was that of a young woman coming from the forest. The boy dismounted Nadja and ran in the direction. He found a woman that lied down towards a tree. She was holding her hand over her waist that was red from blood.
“There you are. Please help me before I bleed to death.”
The boy took out a piece of cloth from his bag and sat down before the woman. He removed the hand from the wound but, there was no wound. He found a dagger was being held to his throat. The woman was smiling at him as she held the dagger to his throat and held his hand with her other.
“Did your mom not tell you not to listen to strangers boy?”
Before he could do anything a group of men came out from among the trees with weapons and bows drawn towards him.
Man 1: “Bad day to act like a hero, soldier.”
Before the boy could turn around to see who was speaking he was hit at his head knocking him out.
Man 1: ”Take a note of his rank and loot his stuff then throw him down the cliff. Take the horse back to camp.”
Man 2: ”Ehm I don’t know what rank he is captain.”
Man 1: “What are you talking about? Just look at the boy’s emblem.”
Man 2: ”Well that’s the thing, he doesn’t have an emblem. It has been ripped off.”
Man 3: ”Haha why would he rip off his own emblem? Did he steal the equipment from a real soldier?”
Man 1: “No he was obviously a soldier from his stance and behavior. He could have betrayed the army and had his emblem removed from him but then again, he would not bear this equipment. He could be hiding something.”
Man 3: ”Hiding something? Like what?”
Man 1: “I don’t know but if he’s trying to hide it then it could be important enough. Tie him up! We’re taking him to Philip!”
The boy was knocked out for hours before someone threw a bucket with cold water over him so he woke up. He only wore a cloth over his waist. His arms were tied to some metal rings in the roof and his feet were tied to a metal rod in the floor. He appeared to be in some prison cell. He could hear the sound of a water fall outside of the prison somewhere indicating that he was in the wooden fortress. Three men stood in front of him. One of them he recognized the voice from as the one that had been speaking to him in the forest. The other two were unknown but it was clear that the one in the middle was their leader as he wore purple cloths resembling that of a noble family. In his belt he had a sword with a pommel of the form of a crow’s head proving it even further. He was a middle aged man with silver beard and long hair. “Wake up! you have some questions to answer!” The boy looked at the unknown man to Philip’s left side and then back at Philip.
“I suppose you are Philip.”
The man in purple answered.
“So you know my name. Since none of those that brought you here had leaked that information I assume you got that information from one of my scouting parties. What a coincidence then that I haven’t heard anything from Steve and Arnold since we left that village. What else did they say before you killed them?”
“They told me your name, that you were covering in this fortress and that you are rapist!”
The man to Philips right punched the boy in his stomach forcing the air out of him.
Philip: “Hold on now. If you are talking about that young girl. I never raped her, nor did I ever touch her. I am too old for such violent actions. I can’t say the same for my men though.”
Philip noticed that the boy’s eyes become more furious. The boy obviously knew the girl and was here to because of her.
Philip: “There was something special about that girl. I usually don’t watch people die since that is beneath me but something held my interest as she was grasping for air after my men have had their fun with her. It was like a fire was screaming to burst out within her. It felt like the whole house was ready to collapse under her. Everything she needed was just a simple spark. But it never came and she fell silent. For a moment there it felt like I was watching Friyena herself being strangled.”
The boy looked up. Had he really heard correct? Did Philip hate Friyena as If it was even possible to hate such lovable goddess? Philip seemed to take joy in his little story as he showed a smile when he noticed the boy reaction.
Philip: “Yes indeed. I have no love for Friyena. No I hate her and everything she has done with my while heart. You know why? Because she killed my sister. “
The boy: “You’re lying. Friyena would never harm a human even less kill one.”
Philip: “You are not completely wrong. She herself would never attack a human but her actions killed more than hundred thousand people. An action she could have prevented from the very start but did not. Where did it all lead to? It leads to her being loved without question by everyone in Lisakdonia. Especially that champion of hers, William. She was the hero that saved Crastine and the kingdom from the worst monster the world had ever seen. A monster that killed my sister as she tried to protect the city. She was a high ranked knight of Friyena. My whole family was a respected family among the knights. When she died I could not bear to remain in Lisakdonia for my memories so I traveled across the middle sea to Stelladora where I later found out the truth our beloved goddess. So I returned here and made contact with the Kilmaeren in an alliance to break the kingdom from within so that Stelladora could take back Lalden and later invade the main land of Lisakdonia.”
The boy was somewhat chocked over what he have heard. Why would he listen to this man who had watched Lily die? This man who killed innocent people? This man who allied himself not only to Stelladora but the Kilmaeren? This man is a monster and enemy to everything that the boy loved.
Philip: “I have told you what I know. Now I want to know what you know since what my men told me seems to be important enough to keep hidden.”
Philip took up and showed the cloak with the ripped off emblem.
“But I will let you calm down since the truth is indeed difficult to handle in the beginning but it will be easier when you well accept it. When you have accepted it I will drain you of all knowledge you have but you’ll probably join me against. Who knows. Maybe I even take you to Stelladora and show you the truth but I doubt you are worth the hassle. So I will keep you here until you tell what I want to know or you accept the truth. I have time but you only have as much as you can endure. See you tomorrow.”
Philip and the other two stepped outside of the cell. Philip and the man from the forest continued up the corridor while the third man sat down on a chair at the table further up with a book. The boy tried to move his hands and feet but they were tightly tied to the metal. He tried to screw around his hand but he was unable to reach the rope with his fingers. He was able to reach the metal rings however. He waited for the guard to fall asleep before he began to try challenging the white flame into his fingers. He had tried for hours but the best he managed to do was bring a little warmth to his cold fingers. He was far from causing any kind of damage to the metal rings. In this speed he would die in this cell before he was even close to break the rings. He had to try though so he continued until he began to feel cold, probably of the exhaustion that made him fall asleep.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 9: Breakout, part 1
The boy was running on the streets of Crastine. The sky was dark as the night and the air was cold as winter. People were screaming all around him. He ran by the sound of wings behind him. The Margeficus was flying over Crastine and spewed black fire across it. The flames came fast and with huge force towards the boy and he was swallowed in the flames. He woke up with a screaming pain in his left arm. Someone was shouting outside. It took a short moment before he realized that he was still in the prison cell and his arms and legs were still tied to the roof and floor. The cell was cold and very dark and the air felt familiar, evil. He looked out of the cell where the guard should be but the chair was empty. The book he had been reading the day before lied on the table and the candle was still lit beside a knife. He returned to his attempt to channel the white flame through his hands. His left arm began to hurt intensively when he tried so he had to try channeling it with his right hand alone. He tried multiple times but it was as hopeless. Someone was shouting again outside. He paused for a moment and looked up at his arms. He then chose to channel through his left arm regardless of the pain. The more he channeled the spell through his left arm the worse the pain became. The pain became difficult to withstand but it felt as he could channel even more through the arm. Then something metallic broke. His left arm was shaking but it was free. He used his free arm to free his other arm and then the legs.
He was free within the cell but now there was no return if they found him like this. The boy felt that something was holding Philip and the others’ attention outside. He was shaking his arms and legs while jumping to return the blood flow through his limbs. He stepped to the cell door. It was of course locked. He put both his hands on the lock and tried to channel the white flame. As before his left arm began to hurt intensively but he continued through the pain and then something snapped. He pushed the door and it opened. He stepped outside and walked carefully through the corridor. Some of the other cells housed skeletons and one seemed to be storage for something. Inside the unlocked storage cell he saw his clothes and equipment except the weapons. He stepped inside and put it on. He walked to the chair and the book. In curiosity he looked into the book. It seemed to be a heroic saga of some kind. He took the knife, left the book and walked up the stone stairs into a wine cellar. Before him was a large open door that led out on the court yard. There were multiple burning barrels and wooden spikes at the fort gate as if they had defended it against someone or something. Some men were running with a bleeding man in their arms.
The boy did not go out on the courtyard instead he sneaked up a spiral stair in the corner that led up into the heart of the wooden fortress. He came to a corridor with multiple doors that lead to sleeping rooms. Most of them hosted multiple beds until he came to one that was clearly Philip’s own chamber. There was one single large bed and a bunch of book shelves full with books on them. Then there was an altar or rather a memorial on the other side of the room. It was a table with a sheathed sword, a bunch of candles, flowers, some paper with text and a painting. The boy walk over to it and looked at the painting and the paper in front of it.
“In honor of lady Oskilde, knight of Friyena and keeper of peace and order in Lisakdonia. Since the lady has passed away and have no children the brother Philip is thus by right the one to inherit her belongings. May the Flame song serve you as well as it did her.” - King Sedric
“The flame song
The boy took the sword which had a pommel of a white crow, the family animal of Oskilde and Philip. He unsheathed the sword and saw the runes on the blade. He could not read them since they were written in the language of the gods but it was clear that it was the real word of lady Oskilde. The flame song. A blade forged and enchanted by Friyena’s white flame. A blade that should not belong to a traitor like Philip. He held the sword in his hands while he channeled a little of the white flame. The sword did not try to resist the flame but instead it embraced it and showed a dull gentle glow. He sheathed the blade and put it in his belt. Before he left the room he bowed to the painting of Lady Oskilde. He heard two men speaking from the floor above. One of them was Philip. He looked at the painting. “I’m sorry lady Oskilde but your brother has to die for his crimes.” He stepped outside of the room and walked to the stairs.
He walked up and found himself in another corridor with one path leading out on the roof of the fortress. The other path leads to a closed door from witch the voices came. Philip was speaking with some other man that seemed to be captain or something.
Philip: “Have they managed to lure the beast away from the area? I would not want it to come back here. We have lost enough men as is.”
Captain: ”I ordered John, Leon and those new guys to lure it to the village to the east. The village should be able to take keep it occupied.”
Philip: ”Good that should give us enough time to empty the fortress and retreat west before it comes back or the army scouts the area.”
Captain: “Should we continue our search for the woman?”
Philip: ”of course! Haven’t you been listening? The documents she stole would make our operation much more difficult to maintain. Find her at all cost. I want her alive but if you have to, kill her. Now dismissed!”
Captain: ”Yes Sir!”
The captain walked out of the room and through the corridor. The boy was hiding in the corner of the corridor outside of the captain’s vision. The captain passed by him and walked down the stairs. A short moment later the boy left his hiding spot and walked into the room where Philip was looking out of the window. ”What do you want now? The orders are clear, find the girl and empty the fort...” before Philip could turn around had the boy taken up a small table and hit him in the head knocking him out.
When Philip later woke up by a bucket of water he found that his arms and feet were tied. His was on his knees on top of a table and around his neck was a noose. To his left laid three bloody bodies of his men and in front of him stood the boy. “Wait no!” The boy kicked the table under Philip trapping him in the noose strangling him. A moment later the chandelier above him broke and he fell on the floor. He was coughing as the boy walked up to him and grabbed the rope. He began to drag Philip out of the room but before he left he threw a candle on the floor that began to slowly spread fire. Philip tried to speak between the coughs as he was being dragged but the boy did not listen. He was being dragged out on the roof where the boy tied the other end of the rope to a hole in the wooden fortification. Philip tried reason and plead to the boy. He tried to break loose of the rope that tied his arms but he was unable to. He began to panic but the boy after tying the rope just kicked him off the fortification only held up by the rope around his neck. The flames within the fortress spread faster. The boy jumped down to the roof beneath and then down to the courtyard. He walked to the center and watched Philip as he waited.
The fire inside of the fortress shattered the window on the front and the flames began to spread upwards the window frames. All horses in the stable had been taken away and there was no possible place where they could have hidden Nadja. The boy stared at Philip as his last breath ended and his eyes lost focus. His body stopped moving and his grunts turned silent as life escaped his body. The only sound except the burning fortress was a few screaming voices from the nursing house. When the boy was sure that Philip was dead he turned towards the nursing house and barricaded the door before he turned around and walked out of the fortress’ courtyard and the front gate. Blood had been splattered over the gate and ground. Something huge had rammed into the gate and broken the lock and parts of the metal frame. The boy continued over the lowering bridge. The chains that had held it up were visible broken at the sides of the gate. The trees on the other side of the bridge were either ripped apart, pulled down or dead as if they had burned.
Lily was dead, Nadja was gone, a most likely abyssal beast was being led to a town to the east and there is nothing he could do about it. He felt more alone than he ever had before. He sat down at a tree as the feelings overwhelmed him of sadness, fear and anger. He punched the tree as he tried to remove the thoughts from his head but they were would not go away. The men were still screaming from the burning fortress. ”They deserve to burn for what they did to Lily and the others.” The screaming became louder. ”Shut up” The screams became louder and the thoughts became more overwhelming. ”Shut up and die!” The boy held his hands over his head. The sound and the thoughts became stronger and stronger. They began to hurt him. He screamed as he held his head as good as tight as he could. The world was screaming and spinning around him. He began to fall as he lost his grip. Voices began to speak from the screaming world. Voices from Lily, Yorvan, his mother and father and many others. Where they screaming at him? He could not make anything out from the chaos within his head. ”Stop! Please stop!” He tried to run away from it all but he came nowhere. He was stuck. He did not even know if his body was moving at all. He crawled into a ball trying to keep the world away as it was hurting him.
Moments later something large and wet was pushing him. The screaming world disappeared and he returned to reality. Nadja was before him butting him. The fortress was still burning in the background but the screams were gone. ”So you’re finally back.” The voice came from a horse beside him. He looked at the person. It was the same woman that had fooled him the day before. Behind her on the horse lied Philip’s body. ”You have been sitting there shaking since I came here ten minutes ago. The horse of yours have been trying to take you back since then.” The boy reached for his sword. “Woah woah, take it easy there. I don’t intend to harm you. The opposite rather, I should thank you. You killed Philip and left him hanging for me to just pick like an apple from an apple tree.”
The boy managed to stand up on his feet. “What? Aren’t you one of his bandits.”
“Well in his eyes I was a mercenary until recently when I accidently dropped a couple of his document into a bag that happened to be on my back when I happened to ride out of the fortress this morning. Then later I found out about an outbreak in the area so I investigated and found the fortress on fire. You see our friend here behind me have a rather large bounty on his head.”
The boy was now walking beside Nadja inspecting her inventory that seemed to be filled with food and some other stuff such as an axe and tent. “So you are like a bounty hunter then?”
”Not really. I am a… raven. I focus on documents, information and a little black mailing. Bounties are just a bonus. It is quite funny. I had planned to sleep close to that village in the west where Steve and Arnold were stationed. Then I found this newly dug grave with a even newer hole in it.”
The boy slowly reached his hand towards the sword as he looked at the woman.
“Dear oh dear. I would never plunder a grave. That’s beneath me. It was just that one evening we find this boy that was riding alone and seemed very broken and then I found a grave just one day older at a location that he had been coming from. You never ripped your emblem off because you were hiding something from anyone else. You are hiding from yourself as you believed you failed to protect Lily. If you love her then fight for what she would have wanted you to fight for. Would she have wanted you to give up or would she have wanted you to go on? Only you know that answer. Oh I almost forgot.”
The woman took out a pendant from her pocket and reached it to the boy.
”Philip’s men found that pendant when they… Well, since it is Levirga’s pendant of female fertility it was given to me. I will never get children so I have no use for it. I assume that it is your name written inside. It will probably not help your grief but it might warm your heart to know that she was more than just waiting for you. Now there is a monster attacking a village. Do want you want with that information and good luck.”
The woman began to ride away when the boy stopped her.
”Wait. I haven’t gotten your name.”
”With my profession it is best if you don’t know that name. On the other hand with the money from Philip’s bounty I could retire before you had any chance to make harm with my name…
It’s Bristana. Good bye and good luck hero.”
Those were her last words before she rode away. The boy was holding the pendant in his hand. It was really a pendant made by Lily. He recognized traces of her craftsmanship in it and his name was engraved inside. If she was willing to engrave his name into a pendant like that then she would not just stop believing in him, even after death. He would be the hero he promised her that he would be. The first step would be to save this village from the beast. He rode east in full speed on Nadja.
As he rode after the devastation he tried to think what kind of beast it would be. An infected? No. A Prokéd was possible but not likely. Then it could only be a Forcis beast. Yeah the signs are correct. It would be a difficult challenge but with the Flame song and the white flame he could win.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 10: Beast
He followed the path of devastation through the forest. It became darker and the air became colder as he is came closer to the beast. The closer he got the more evil the air felt and he began to doubt his own ability. He began to felt his hands shaking. Maybe this was a bad decision after all. What if he could not save the town and only served his own life on a silver platter. No he had to stay strong, for the townsfolk, for his parents, for Lily. He did not have much time to think as he began to see a red light in the distance. It was the town that was burning. He drew the Flame song with his right hand. He tried to channel the white flame into the blade but he was unable to so he had to change to his left arm which for some reason was able to channel the flame. His swordsman skill would be far inferior but he needed the flame or he would have no chance at all against the beast. He rode past a signpost that read “Nadra Vika” and headed towards the burning town.
He entered the burning town but could not see any beast. Many of the buildings were destroyed and dead bodies lied scattered around the streets. A child was hiding in a bush crying. The boy wanted to help the little girl but the risks that the beast was watching him and would attack them both was too high. The girl was safer in her hiding spot. He rode further into the town holding the sword firmly in his left hand. Nadja was neighing and whining. She wanted to turn back. “It’s okay girl. It’s okay.” He and Nadja moved slowly through the burning city. A few houses were not on fire but the doors were opened and they seemed to be empty. The inhabitants had probably already fled. He moved through the town a little longer to make sure but the air was still foul as if the beast was still in the town. To search any longer would only increase the risk that the beast found him. He began to return and get the little girl out of there. When they got to an interconnection in the middle of burning houses Nadja began to move uncontrollably. The boy tried to calm her down but then he saw what had scared her. A large shadow began to movie beside the ruins of a burning building. It turned around and revealed two yellow glowing eyes and in its mouth it had a soldier. In one movement the monster bit through the soldier cleaving him in two. But it was not a Forcis beast. It was an Akon beast.
For a second the boy froze but forced himself to remain in control. ”Run Nadja run!” Nadja took speed and set off as fast as she could towards the center of town. The Akon roared before it blasted through the burning building towards the boy and Nadja. They galloped through the center of town. The easiest way out of town was south as the streets were not covered in rabble. They moved south through the streets in between the burning houses and the town gate. The beast moved through building after building and then the gate spreading burning logs and debris all around. They were finally outside of town were Nadja could use her higher speed to get away but Nadja had not been able to rest in a long while. They rode along the road with the Akon running after them. The Akon gave out a freezing screech that made Nadja panic. The boy had to hold on tight to her. She was not breed for war and even less to stand up against an abyssal beast. Nadja was too much out of control. If she kept panicking she would risk running out into the forest where the beast could catch up to them. The boy had to slow down the beast. He took out a bow and a few arrows from the package and began to shoot at the beast with the best skill he could bolster. The arrows were ineffective though as the beast’s hide was too thick and its eyes were tough as metal.
The beast screeched again making Nadja move uncontrollably. The boy almost fell off. He threw a couple of apples at the beast which was as effective as the arrows. He looked forward and saw a bridge at the path but on the other side was an outpost that blocked the road with a gate. The boy shouted at the outpost in case someone was there. After a few moments a light appeared in the outpost but it was too late for anyone to open the gate. The boy had to turn off the road and continue south among the trees. Someone was shouting something from the outpost that sounded like “Beast! Akon beast! Sound the alarm!” Nadja had difficulties moving between the tight trees in a high speed while the beast that was still after them just moved through the trees. The boy had no choice. He had to fight the beast hand on. He drew the flame song with his left hand and held the shield in his right hand. His control was very limited but normal blades could never harm an Akon significantly. The Akon came closer. He began to channel mana through his left arm so that the blade began to glow. Then as the Akon came so close that he could hear the breath from the beast he swung at it. He managed to just scratch the face slightly leaving a tiny mark. The Akon roared as it struck up the ground so stones and dirt flew at the boy and Nadja. A stone hit Nadja in the right back leg slowing her down significantly.
The boy dropped the shield and took the sword in both hands channeling as much mana as he could before the approaching beast could strike. He only got a little more than a second before the Akon jumped at him. The boy thrust the sword towards the Akon. The impact threw the off Nadja while Nadja fell down a hillside. The Akon went through a couple of trees. The boy had landed at a tree and stood up. He was shaking uncontrollably in his whole body and left arm was in pain. Blood was streaming down his left side and his senses were dull. He tried to find the sword but he could find it nor did he know where Nadja was. He then noticed the Akon behind him. It had not seen him yet so he took the opportunity to move towards the river. The wound was bleeding heavily and he did not even know how large it was. As he came closer to the river he saw that it was a cliff and now he heard trees breaking behind him. The Akon was moving towards him. The boy had to fight to not faint of blood loss. He stopped at the cliff edge and watched down. Could he survive a jump into the river he wondered. The Akon rushed towards him. The boy did the only choice he had and jumped down the cliff into the river.
The river was powerful and violent. The boy was thrown between rock and rock. Some blunt and other sharp scratching into his cloths and skin as he was being dragged down like a rag doll. The water was cold and he was losing blood quickly. He tried to move to the side but it was hopeless. He was far too weak and the stream far too strong. He had to focus keeping his head above the water in hope that the river would calm down soon. He had almost fainted when the river became wider and calmer. He floats until he came to a downed tree that he stuck in. The last of his consciousness left him as the cold water froze his body and the blood was painting the water red.
Darn it.
@Jonteman93 Your writing is quite good. Is there a reason our main character remains nameless?
I get so sad about this contest. At this point, it's less a Tournament of Champions, more an empty shell of a tournament that has been abandoned by its champions.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 11: Knight of Friyena part 1/3
A storm is raging. An ocean is clashing violently. He is submerged and cannot swim to the surface as something is trying to drag him down. It’s trying to destroy him. Everything seems lost. He feels cold and lifeless as if he was already nothing more than a corpse. Then the storm and the ocean surface broke and a silhouette of light appeared. It was a silhouette of a woman with wings and a halo looking ring around her head. He reached his hand towards her seeing the hand ripped off all flesh with purple glowing cracks in the bones. The winged woman grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the water.
He opened his eyes and found himself in a large room with large windows. Sunlight was filling the room from the window showing the white walls and golden frames around the windows. ”He’s awake! He’s finally awake!” The voice from a girl that sitting on the bed beside him holding her hand on his own. It was Janet that was sitting beside him. Rowan who had earlier been playing with some glass bottles had left the room after Janet told him. ”I thought you would never wake up again.” The boy was slightly confused. Janet helped him move further up the bed. The boy noticed that he had two large but healed scars on his left shoulder. The boy looked at the scars and remembered the confrontation with the Akon and the dream he have had multiple times now. “I was saved. Was I saved by Friyena? What happened with the Akon? Where is Nadja?”
Janet: ”Yes you were found but by a group of fleeing people, not by Friyena.”
”Look who decided to finally wake up after eight long boring weeks!
The voice belonged to Antonio who just entered the room in dressed in knight’s civilian noble attire. He walked and tried to show his emblem and his necklace as well as he could. Shortly after came Alice and Rowan.
Antonio sat down beside Janet and pointed at the boy’s scars.
Antonio: “But I must wonder. How by the gods did you survive that wound and the freezing water?”
Boy: ”I guess I was lucky.”
Antonio: ”Luck? Luck had nothing to do with it. You should have been dead. Your body was cold as ice and you had lost most of your blood but yet somehow you survived. Even Friyena doesn’t know how you could survive. Yeah, Friyena herself had to save your life shortly after you had been found.”
Boy ”Oh well. I must thank her as soon as I can then.”
Antonio: “Don’t worry about that. She’s just happy that you are alive and well. Oh and about saving people. They found your horse as they found you. She was wet, could and had a wound and a sprained leg but nothing too serious. She is in the order’s stable so we could go see her after you are able to.”
Boy ”Her name is Nadja. I was the one that dragged her into Nadra Vika and exposed her to all of this so it would have been my fault if something would have happened to her. Wait fleeing people? What happened with the Akon?”
Janet: ” After you had fallen into the river the Akon moved south towards the closest town. The town that lied just at the river that you was found at. Lacus Vika. It destroyed the whole town and only a hundred managed to flee with their life. It was some of those that found you. A group of hunter knights were quickly ordered to pursue the beast. Three managed to find it but two of them were killed by the beast. The beast managed to destroy two more villages before it was finally stopped and killed east of Astra Vika. They haven’t found the hunter knight yet but Friyena believes or rather knows that he is still alive.
Antonio: ”Not kidding. That man was a titan. If I was a beast I for sure would not want him to hunt me. I rather have this fool that sleeps for 8 weeks and causes his friends to be overly worried.”
Antonio was rearranging the boy’s hair and puffing at him.
Antonio: “But hey! Enough with the old news. You know what the order have said. An anonym’s letter arrived sonly after you had been found. It seems like you have done some great deeds during your small adventure and the order want to see you in action to discuss promoting you above novice. That is if you can create the white flame. That’s great right!”
The group remained in the room for a while longer before they managed to get the boy out of bed and visit Nadja in the stable. A few days later the boy was ordered to see the leaders of the order to demonstrate the white flame. The boy was given a test sword enchanted with the white flame.
He held the sword in his right hand while trying to channel the mana but nothing happened. The leaders did not seem happy. The boy switched hand to his left and did the same but now the blade began to glow. He then held the sword in both hands and did the same creating the glow once again.
”You are right handed if I understood correct?” Said a middle aged man at the right of the table. “Yes that is true sir.” said the boy somewhat nervous. “If you are unable to channel the flame with your main hand then you would not be wise to promote do a real knight. I vote against.”
Lady Maria sat to the left of the table. “The restriction is that the user should be able to channel the flame and the boy have just showed that he is able to so he should of course be treated as any other knight. I vote for.”
Sir Galahad: “You know as well as I do that the boy won’t be able to fight as well as any of the other if he is limited to using his left hand. It would be foolish to make such decision before he can fight with full skill.
An old man at probably his 60s was sitting in the middle and now took to speak.
“Most knights are not able to channel the flame with their second hand for another year or so after they managed to do so with their main hand. For some reason this boy learned to do it with his second first and he have managed to do harm against evil with it. He came in combat with an Akon beast and both struck a bleeding wound and managed to survive. Not many knights at all would be able to achieve something like that. I vote for. I’ll be happy to see you my young boy at the ceremony. Now that wine you spoke of Maria. Did you happen to bring some for this old man?”
Maria followed the old man out while Galahad remained in his chair somewhat grumpy. He wrote a letter and gave it to the boy. ”Bring this to Ulric or Alys of the armory.
The boy took the latter but he nervously asked. “Only the armory letter? Should I not get a letter for the weapon forge?”
Galahad: ”Pth don’t make me laugh. You already have a sword. Why would you need another one? Now get out of here.”
`The boy did not really understand what Galahad meant. He had no sword to contain a white flame nor had any of his ancestors so he had no heritage sword either. Had Galahad made a mistake or was this a way to keep him from becoming a real knight for another 3 months? The boy went to the forge and had his measures done before the night. The following days he tried to come in contact with the leaders but it was impossible for someone of his rank and such foolish question. He had to accept his defeat and wait three weeks for the day of the ceremony.
The day of the ceremony had arrived. Antonio had joined to help the boy prepare his suit of armor for the ceremony. “You look great I must say! Almost as great as I and that is something!” Antonio was joking as he made the last preparations with the boy’s armor. He then walked and took the new cape with a new emblem sewn into it. This emblem was larger so the Fox looked more determined together with the red background. ”You seem nervous for some reason. You do know they won’t execute you for being short.” Antonio said while fixing the cape. “No I’m. wait Short!? I’m almost as tall as you!”.
Antonio: ”You’re the shortest in the room and thereby you’re short.”
Boy: Sigh. I’m short and I’m not nervous for the ceremony in itself. It’s because I don’t have a sword. I will bring shame upon myself and my family for not having a sword for my own ceremony.”
Antonio: ”You know what? You think too much. This is your day. Or well it’s your and five other novices day but you know what I mean and there is no way you would bring shame upon yourself. They probably fixed the sword for you or something. Now straight your legs so I can fix your leg plates.”
Janet sneaked in through the door. “I just wanted to say, good luck on the ceremony. I, Alice and Rowan will be sitting in the middle to the west so you know. Bye!”
After both the boy and Antonio had stopped looking towards the door, Antonio went and took the shield and gave it to the boy. “you’re ready. Now go out there and make me proud!”
The boy straightened himself but before he could walk Antonio began to ran out towards the door.
“I should probably leave first and enter the ceremonial hall before you. Might be awkward otherwise.”
The boy held the shield in his left hand and went to the desk where his helm was and took it in his right arm. He took a deep breath and walked out of the room and joins the other five novices that would become real knights today.
He waited nervously for the large gate to open and the ceremony to begin. He looked at the other five that would take the wine and be given a white flame sword of their own today. Three of them he knew from the barracks and training sessions. The other two were older probably around 25 or so. ”It’s finally happening. For ten years have I been training for this moment.” Said the young man to his left. ”Yeah indeed.”
Two older knights came out through a door beside the gate and reminded them of the procedure they had to follow as soon as those gates opened. ”Is everything clear?”
The six responded with a simple “yes sir”. ”Good. Now pare up two and two. Put on your helmets and keep your back straight. Keep your shield in a good grip and make sure your capes are covering the side on which you are walking. So you who are walking on the left keep your cape on the left shoulder, you on the right keep it on your right shoulder. When the gates open follow us to your respectively position.” The two knights took on their own helmets and then took out a banner each symbolizing Friyena and positioned themselves before the two lines holding their respective banner in both hands. The boy stood in the middle of the left line.
Moments later the gate opened by two soldiers. The two lines began to walk through the gates. They came into a huge circular room that was large enough to house a large dragon and give it movement room if it was not for the pillars positioned throughout the room. The outer parts of the room were full with people standing up and benches that were all pointing towards the center where an altar was being located. At the altar stood the three order leaders, some order knights, some priests and a ordinary sized woman that could be no other than Friyena herself. The walls were either covered with flags or huge windows that let in the winter sun. When the lines came pass the benches they split up in two moving around the central circle. Each of the novices stopped at their respectively mini altar while the two banner holders moved up on the altar from the backside. When all six had arrived to their position they put down their shield before them and the altar. Then they dropped down on their knees on a soft pillow looking carpet. They then took off their helmet and put it before them on top of the small altar.
The oldest of the order leaders stepped forward. ”Welcome everyone! This day we will witness these six young people take the oath to our beloved Friyena and drink the wine she provides to them. This day is the day when these six shall become knights of the order, Knights of Friyena and protectors of Lisakdonia, bearer of the flaming swords and master of the white flame.” As the old man spoke, Friyena and two priest walked to each of the novice knights. One priest held a tray with six goblets and a blanket while the other held a large chalice that contained a kind of wine. At each of the six Friyena took a goblet and dipped it in the wine so it was half full. Then she dried it with the blanket and put it on the small altar. She then bowed before the novice knight and gave them a kiss on their forehead before she walked over to the next. She had been at each of the six and returned to the altar long before the old man had finished his speech. He spoke about the history of the order, about the old heroes, about the Margeficus attack, about the great betrayal, about the crusade and about Friyena’s very first knight. Sir Reynald Letholdus, born as Reynald Lethold. He finished the speech with “As Sir Reynald Letholdus one took the oath these six shall now take the oath.”
“I, [name] swear that I shall be faithful and bear true allegiance to my goddess Friyena and my home of Lisakdonia. Regardless of who stands at our gates, who brings disorder to our realm, who brings harm to our people, I shall stand there as a beacon of hope and protection against evil. I shall remain true and never shall my loyalty falter as I shall fight that which is good. For I [Name] shall serve Friyena and her kingdom of Lisakdonia until the very day I die.”
By those last words the six took up the goblet before them and raised it up. They then lowered it and drank the wine that Friyena had provided them. The wine had a very modest taste but it made the boy feel kind of different. He felt pride and something more. His thoughts turned over to other things as he saw five sword bearers enter the room and walk towards the center. “Oh no, I really don’t have a sword do I?” Each of the five sword bearers held a blanket on which the sword lie sheathed with a necklace wrapped around its handle. Each of the five swords looked a little different from each other and had different pommels, some generic and others were of animals.
”The six have taken their oath, now they shall be given their weapon and their title as a true knight. Said the old man as he walked down towards the man in the upper right. One of the sword bearers stepped forward and reached the forth the blanket with the sword. The old man first took off the necklace and placed it around the man’s neck as he asked the man in normal tone. “Have you thought of a name for your blade?” on which the man answered. “No I have not.”
The old man nodded and began to speak in his speech voice again.
”You who have now taken the oath and taken the wine which you been provided, rise. Rise up and accept your blade.”
The man stood up as the old man took the sword of the blanket and reached it towards the man.
“I hereby give you this blade. May you find a fitting name for your blade and your victories with it be plentiful and bring hope and protection to those you chose to fight for. May you bring peace and order wherever you go. Now show yourself to the world Sir knight Walter!” Walter turned around with the sword in his hands. He unsheathed the sword and raised it towards the sky. Many in the audience he was looking towards did the same as to welcome him. He then sheathed his sword again and dropped down to his earlier position.
The old man walked to the next one that was a young woman. He asked the same thing, nodded and spoke out. ”You who have now taken the oath and taken the wine which you been provided, rise. Rise up and accept your blade. I hereby give you the abyss cleaver! May your victories with it be plentiful and bring hope and protection to those you chose to fight for. May you bring peace and order wherever you go. Now show yourself to the world Lady knight Christina!” She as well turned around and raised her sword towards the sky with most of the spectators before she turned back and dropped down again. The old man went to the next young man and continued the procedure and the one after him. When he came to the fifth one that was the boy he looked down for a short moment before he continued to the last skipping the boy. The old man continued the procedure with the sixth one who was a man that had named his sword family protector.
After the man had turned around, raised his sword and turned back down the old man turned back towards the boy. Sir Galahad now stood up from his seat and walked down towards the boy. The boy was shaking of nervousness as he starred down at his helmet. The old man now stood before him and Sir Galahad beside him. The old man did not speak as he put the necklace around the boy’s neck.
”You who have now taken the oath and taken the wine which you been provided, rise. Rise up and accept your heritage.” The boy was confused as he stood up, Heritage? Sir Galahad held a golden blanked in his arms on which a sword was resting in a completely new sheath.
”In honor of the lady Oskilde, knight and keeper of peace in Lisakdonia and loyal to Friyena. For this boy’s noble deeds in battle and connection already established to this blade. Goddess Friyena has decided that since Lady Oskilde has no living heirs the one to be considered rightful of this heritage, her blade shall be this boy. I hereby give you the blade of Lady Oskilde, the Flame Song!
”WHAT!! Antonio was shouting from the amazed crowd.
May your victories with it be as plentiful as its earlier master and may you bring hope and protection to those you chose to fight for. May you bring peace and order wherever you go. Now show yourself to the world.
Sir knight Basil!”
End of act 2
So now when the second act is finished I would like to know. How many read these except @ShaperKyon, @TenebrisNemo and the emptiness of my life symbolized by the cup after cup after cup of high caffeine concentrated beverage (also known as coffee).
Are the story segments good? are they too long or too short?
Should I include more cards to give some sort of visual representation of the current settings?
Should I create a thread only dedicated to this story and related stories?
Is it unclear what this has to do with the tournament?
Should I do or try something different with these?
Anything else you would want to say?
Anyone got coffee?
* Continue with act 3
* The story about the great betrayal and the crusade
* A short prequel story that will involve this whole tournament later. (If it continues)
Edit: Or maybe you want to know more about the Stelladoran, their unification and the dark schemes that took place behind the scenes?
Everything! (lol)
But preferences:
1. Finish Act 3
2. Prequel about Tournament of Champions
3. Great Betrayal/Crusade
4. Stelladoran