The Last Knights of Belhae

For Blood and Honor

    I unshackled myself and with the death of the gatekeeper the barriers fell. I rushed to Seirye and tried in vain to heal her. No potions would help, she was gone. I cried out to the aether for Uana to swap our places, to take my life and return Seirye, but no prayers were answered that day. I forsook Uana, vowing that as long as I lived I would deny her graces should they ever come again.

    I picked Seirye's body up gently, and carried her out of the prison, and into the sunlight, blinding and pure. We were at the fateful castle that we laid siege to against Seida. The body of the dragon lay headless, and the corpses of all my companions, my friends, and my ox lay upon the ground. I placed Seirye down for a moment, and searched for the bodies of Marae and Skeldn, but could not find them, When I entered the castle forge area, however, a stack of loot sat untouched, and upon it I could see my old armor, as well as the hammer I had lost. Next to that was Marae's greatsword, taken as trophies on an unholy campaign. I donned my armor, and drank the last of my potion, and wrapped my leg. I was bruised, but I could fight. The hammer once lost would crush the skull of the unjust and bring his reign to an end.

    I carried Seirye's body to the border of Belhae, and atop the hill overlooking the rolling fields I buried her. I found a Cima flower, which only blooms under the light of the stars, and I dug it up, and planted it upon her grave in the memory of her starlit eyes, and her glorious heart.

    I limped to Theros to find it sacked. Most of the townspeople were out rebuilding, and I was told that the invading forces moved through nearly a week ago while Theros' warriors were fighting pirates along the coast. Seida was surely upon the Divide by now. I asked if there were any fit to fight and a group of forty elves of Therota stood with me. The warriors of Theros are not to be trifled with, though small in number they are hearty, and many Knights of Belhae come from their ranks. I told them we would go north to the sea, before descending down and clashing with the army of Seida. I thought of one other ally I may take.

    When we got to the northern shores, I ordered the warriors to stand back with their horses as I took a small boat out into the water. There I waited, and it was not long before the beast of the sea emerged from the water.

    The rumors were true, a gargantuan monster was before me, appearing as a toothed abomination, rings upon rings of teeth, gnashing and swirling. Under it were dozens of tentacles with piercing barbs on the ends. Its head was long, and its mouth was twenty feet from the bottom to the top. Its eyes were black with dark red pupils and its roar was deafening. I stood in my boat, and I was unafraid. Once more, and for the last time, I called within myself and I took the spirit of the beast within myself, its own soul being lost, and it stood enchanted by me. Through my mind I controlled it and its tentacle grabbed me and I rode astride its back as we propelled through the water towards the paladins awaiting my return. They ran at first, though once they saw me riding it, and controlling it, they resolved to follow at a safe distance, and did not question it as perfect soldiers did.

    As the beast carried me upon its tentacles it walked, and soon we came upon the battlefield. Lord Laugrim had prepared well, and a line of bard warriors sat behind the guardsmen and other warriors of the region. They held the line, despite the nearly unending forces of Seida. I could tell that the battle had been unending for some time, the warriors of the Divide were losing strength, so myself astride the beast of the sea, and my small group of paladins rode to their aid, and flanked Seida's troops. I led my thrall to the line and it devoured every enemy it came upon, and the warriors were shaken, but stood strong. I met with Lord Laugrim, who was wounded and would not survive, a lance pierced through his stomach.

"Narifayne, we thought you were dead. Marae and Skeldn were the only ones to return from the initial battle. They helped us prepare for this, though I fear it was in vain." He said.