Champion Of Life

Prologue

Screaming, agonising screaming, the deafening sounds of those I once knew, smoke heavy in the air, fire blazing hot all around. The war cries of those who desolated the village were like the squeals of pigs set ablaze, their weapons coated in the blood of the fallen. We never saw them, we merely heard their chanting, loud like thunder, horrific monstrosities, running, sprinting across the hill, waving their weapons, swords of steel, faces like hell itself.

Running, I had to get to my house, Vadania, my wife, lifeless, blood pooling around her body. Cries of anguish, my cries, this was the end. The front lines fell within minutes, slaughtered, their screeching becoming louder, closer, rushing towards me, surrounding me. Blade after blade, my sword cut through their flesh like a knife in butter, one fell then two, soon the ground was littered with the bodies of the dead. Cut after slash, my armour rendered, my sword shattered, strength waning, I could fight no more, I hit the floor with a loud thud, I had cut down dozens of them, yet they kept coming, an endless horde.

The world began to spin, I couldn't think straight, and yet with a mighty roar my mind focused just enough, I looked to the sky, i saw the majestic beast, a dragon. It exhaled, bellowing fire upon the village, I watched as the demon spawn's flesh melted off of their bones, the mighty dragon landed near me, my vision blurred, a man or beast jumped off of the dragon, walking over to me with a powerful stride, I became too weak, I blacked out momentarily reawakening to find myself being carried, thrown onto the dragons back, enough, I could not stay conscious, the world went became black, I succumbed to the darkness.

I awoke, wearily I looked around, I was in a grand hall, light shone brilliantly, statues and carvings all around made of beautiful carved marble, brazier were lit with heavenly fire. I was welcomed by the monks that resided within, their faces and body's covered in cotton robes, only seeing a glimpse of their faces, gaunt and hard as the marble carvings themselves. They spoke of the rider that brought me, half man half dragon, in the teachings of Bahamut they are known as dragonborn, born of dragon soul with the body of man, deformed into a conjoining of the two.

The monks accepted me into their temple and taught me all they knew about Bahamut, and the ancient ways of battle, I honed my skills, both mind and battle, I spent years meditating attempting to achieve inner peace. Night and day the memories would give me no rest, I could not escape my past, no matter where I am, no matter where I hide they will always haunt me.

After years of training and meditating at the temple I decided it was time to leave, before my departure the monks gave me one final gift, an amulet depicting Bahamut and with that final farewells. I spent months traveling the country side, visiting every town I came across looking for where I was most needed,  everywhere i went i saw darkness, within every man and every woman. I found my place in the ranks of the paladins, I knew that i would never find peace but at least I could help defend against the abominations that plagued the lands.

I was initiated within days, within years I choose an oath, a bond of soul and body, I always knew the path that I was meant for, the oath of the ancients, I knew well enough the beauty of life and the darkness that would try to snuff it out the first chance it got, I would defend the weak, I would preserve the beauty and destroy those who would wish harm. There were paladins of every race and every religion, those who fought for one god or another, all on a holy quest. However in time i out lived most of them, watching them die one after another, attending their funerals, friends and strangers alike, i spent over 60 years studying and training in their ranks, 60 years of pain, 60 years of loss.

Their halls of stone and marble became home to me, I knew it as if it were an extension to myself, from every carved statue, to each marble tile. There was nothing more I could learn from them, and nothing more I could teach them, I had watched too many comrades die, by battle or by age, I am an elf and the mortal life of a human is but a blink in comparison, I departed shortly after my last friend had met his inevitable demise, leaving with no farewells to the strangers that filled the once familiar halls.

I traveled long and far, in the harsh wilds and harsher cities, to the deepest recesses of the land, no beast nor man could stand against me, the gods thought to save me, but now I wonder, why. it has been many years and nothing, they have not spoken, not a word. In time even the paladins began to dwindle, their order a dying breed, Bahamut was outlawed, his worship once holy was now a blasphemy, I was deemed  a criminal, the empire hunted me, they chased me, and in time they caught me, but I did. not give up, not without a fight.

I ran, and I hid, cornered, cornered like a rat, I had no choice but to fight, they forced my hand, like a whirlwind I cut down several soldiers, dodging, parrying, two more fell, my body shot with pain, my mind shattered. The pain, too weak, the gods had damned me, crimes that could not be forgiven, the very thing I vowed to protect I was now destroying. life o' so sacred, a sharp pain, sword lodged in my side, thud, I fell once more to the ground. Fallen, fallen from grace.