Kogaea: Traitors and Tyrants [BOOK 2 - ROUGH DRAFT]

CHAPTER 1: BLADES OF SALVATION

From the rustic Village of Mordis, nestled amidst rolling hills and verdant meadows, a young woman set a younger lord's heart ablaze by an unexpected flame. Kormed Wolfheart, heir to the ancient house of Wolfheart, found himself irresistibly drawn to the enchanting presence of a young peasant woman named Marie. Her spirit shone like a beacon amidst the simplicity of village life, captivating Kormed's heart from the very first glance.

As their hearts intertwined, a tender affection bloomed between the young lord and the peasant maiden. Their stolen glances, whispered conversations, and stolen moments created an oasis of solace in a world fraught with challenges and societal expectations. In each other's presence, they found respite from the burdens of their respective stations, forging a bond that transcended the boundaries of status and convention.

Their encounters were fated, as Marie's father toiled as a blacksmith's helper in Eagleshield Village, a nearby hamlet that often beckoned her presence. It was there, in the twists of destiny, that Kormed's path crossed with Marie's, weaving their lives together in a tapestry of unexpected love.

In the quiet village of Eagleshield, nestled beneath the shadow of Mount Wulfherz, that young Wolf dreamed of chivalry and knighthood. With a wooden sword in hand, and following in the footsteps of his father Sir Albrecht Wolfheart, he would spend hours pretending to be a knight, envisioning himself clad in gleaming armor and wielding divine powers gifted from God.

Little did he know that destiny, it seemed, had a role to play in his life, as the menacing Bonecrusher Clan of ogres, long dormant and now driven by their insatiable hunger and primal desires for blood, set their sights on Eagleshield. Their sinister thoughts were set upon quenching their vile cravings of hunger for flesh upon the innocent villagers, including Marie. The threat loomed over the innocent village, casting a shadow of fear and despair.

But hope arrived in the form of the legendary Knights of the White Mountain, a band of warriors who stood as the last bastion of honor and righteousness which were formed during Kormed's youth following the disbanding of the Knights Templars in Lyare for their treachery of not sticking with the Coalition in the previous war. Their leader, the legendary Highlord Gandic Morthain, emerged as the beacon of light in the face of darkness. Young Kormed, witnessing this heroic display, felt a surge of admiration and determination within his heart.

While Kormed's early years were focused on his own personal growth and the lands of Wolfrun, he held a deep-seated bitterness towards the fallen king, Aiden Perenolde. The king's betrayal of the Lyare kingdom by allying with the Bonecrusher ogres and other monsters had left a scar on the young knight's perception of politics. He yearned for justice and the restoration of his people's pride.

Amidst the turmoil, Kormed's aspirations aligned with his unwavering loyalty. With the blessings of his fellow Eagleshield villagers, he embarked on a life-changing journey. Barely a teenager, when the knights began to pass by in emblazoned silver platemail suits of armor with orange cloth of the Lyare kingdom, he joined the ranks of the Knights of the White Mountain in defense of the village just outside its stockade walls.

In the heart of the ancient forest surrounding the village, where the shadows danced and whispered secrets, a battle of epic proportions unfolded soon after. The clash of steel against iron resonated through the air, mingling with the cries of human warriors and the thunderous footsteps of the monstrous ogres wielding gigantic iron swords. The acrid stench of blood and sweat saturated the battlefield, while the taste of fear mingled with the metallic tang of anticipation.

As the knights charged forward hollering praises to God above, their armor gleaming in the dappled sunlight, their longswords sang a symphony of vengeance. The weight of their weapons, solid and unyielding in their hands, brought a sense of purpose and resolve. The cool touch of steel against their palms was a constant reminder of the task at hand, the duty to protect the innocent and vanquish the vile.