The Last Knights of Belhae

The Ceremony

As I knelt before the effigy bearing my old Runatan armor, I heard only the plinking of raindrops upon the helmets of the guards that surrounded the proceedings. A wise, older gentleman,with a lengthy white beard and a dark green robe raised his hand, and thunder struck as a bright flash of lightning burst the straw effigy of me into flame, and it was consumed with a fire brighter and hotter than any I had ever experienced. The straw produced embers that climbed the smoke column and disappeared amongst the clouds, and the armor began to dissipate.

The guards around us, in their simple garb of chainmail and blood red woolen cloth, raised their swords to the sky, all gleaming silver. I sat in front of the great King Ebodan, who held his hand on the back of my head, holding me so that I may see the end of the life I once knew. The townspeople that were present covered their heads with their hoods, and huddled close to the flame to share in its warmth.

I looked for a moment for my parents, and friends from Runata, but none attended, save for my good friend Yisear. He was an elf, born long ago and of the Lintoric elven lineage, and he has been a farmer longer than my father's father's first breaths on this realm. He stood in his least torn rags outside the circle of attendees to not attract unwanted attention, being the private man he was.

Behind me, in support, were the rest of the Knights of Belhae. These noble warriors always came to witness the initiation of a new kindred. Each Knight possessed a sacred weapon as a symbol of their office. I saw those with swords, those with bows, and even some with great axes larger than a tavern table. All bowed their heads, and the fire shone from the metal of some Knight's breastplates, and the buckles of those clad in fine leather. Elite members of the kingdom they were, and they certainly carried the confidence befitting of that reputation.

As I knelt, waves of fear washed over me, and I felt naked, despite being dressed in the finest of fur pelts and noble tunics as was custom. Still, it felt as though the clothes no longer fit, my legs felt weary, and in my mind, everything seemed as the silence before a great siege. I was uncomfortable, and scared beyond fear. I felt as though I should run, and how I should have ran.

Frozen in place I began to shiver, and I grew restless. King Ebodan must have noticed, because he squeezed my shoulder gently, just to let me know he was still there. I looked, and the effigy continued to disintegrate, with the fire turning blue. It was then that the deep and haunting voices of the Knights of Belhae rang out in song at the coming of the newest knight.

On broken ground and crimson stone
Through gnashing teeth and shattered bone
We stand with you, now born anew
To fight for kin so far from home

Your mind and body will be worn
Your flesh left bloody, warped and torn
Though how you try, you're sure to die
In the halls of heroes, forever mourned

But brothers and sisters raise your voice
Stand by your brother, his honored choice
He'll rise today, ere his last days
His deeds we'll sing with full rejoice

We stand with you, son of Belhae
In all the evils you will face
We strike with you, we fall with you
In all the lands that you will grace

So take up arms! And sing your praise
Your past left scorching in the blaze!
Your life renewed, thine honor true
Fight for glory, die by blade

As they sang a dwarven man approached me, his clothes covered in soot from the forge. He placed in front of me something wrapped in cloth, bowed his head, and he stepped back, behind the king.

The song ended, and the silence enveloped us once more. King Ebodan moved before me, and gripped my arm as he commanded me. "Rise, Sir Knight. Take up your weapon and face us all. Face us not as Faran, for that name is no more. You are now Narifayne! Bringer of death and vengeance! May your days be blessed, and your service true."

I sat for a moment, and still could not believe this day had come. Though I had dedicated my life to the service of the kingdom I was a guardsman, destined for naught but the night watch. I admit, I certainly tried to gain notice among our ranks, and always volunteered for the more dangerous jobs of rooting out raider nests that would threaten our safety.

Nonetheless, My deeds were childsplay for the work of the Knights. Perhaps the King saw within me some quality he admired, perhaps he was replenishing ranks and had few to turn to. I knew I would have to prove myself to the King, and my fellow Knights, and I was ready.

I opened the cloth which was laid before me, and the masterful work of the forgemaster was revealed. The finest greathammer ever smithed for men shone in brilliance from the fiery blaze of the effigy. Members of the congregation gasped at its beauty, and I looked to the smith, who was dressed with a massive grin at the reaction to his masterpiece. The bottom of the shaft was decorated with swirling metal around the wood, with a long spike carved with a dwarven incantation for strength. The handle's wood was smooth, and black as night, a wood I had never seen in all my days, and it was hard as stone. The head of the hammer was most impressive, crafted in the shape of a biting dragon, with eyes of ruby and its nose dotted with emerald. The other end had a sharp point for piercing armor. Goldesmyr was the metal, a bright material known to be indestructible by mortal means. This weapon seemed worthy of higher purpose than for a man of the swamp city, but it was mine. When I gripped it for the first time, it felt perfect, like it was something I was always meant to have.

I stood with my hammer, and straightened my back as I slung it over my shoulder. I looked to King Ebodan and I grabbed his hand as I proclaimed,
"Until my last dying breath, our enemies will tremble at my terror. Evil will be purged in the fires of my vengeance. All lands will know thy name, thy strength, and sing our praises in the grandest of mead halls, or fall to my wrath. My oath to you, my lord, is my blood. Set your aim upon an evil and I will pursue it to the deepest of pits until it is no more."

I had rehearsed this many times, in preparation for this day, and it looked as if it pleased the King. He smiled, and shook my hand with his, before he gestured to the rest of the crowd and said, "Face your kindred, Narifayne, and today, we celebrate your service and sacrifice."

I looked at the crowd of knights, and they all took a knee and bowed to me. For the rest of the attendees, there was no applause, no cheering, and seemingly no glee. Though considered to be one of the greatest honors the kingdom had to offer, the appointment of a Knight was almost always a death sentence. Most in the service died before their first year was done. This ceremony was both an accolade, and a funeral. The silence was to commend my spirit to Uana, whilst I stood before them.

Once the inferno of my likeness was spent, we entered the royal hall to escape the storm, and to celebrate properly.