A record is kept now with the Church.
Where they dreams?
Visions?
Lord Lyonaler was witnessed by attendants at the Shrine to have appeared as if he were miles away, though he physically did not move.When he awoke once more he stood and his eyes shone with a brilliance for a moment and wing egan to grow from out of his shoulder blades. A gift from the Red General. A sign of her Favored.
As his vision cleared and the light within them faded, he looked around the room, as if searching for someone. With a shake of his head he realized the Archievist, the Celestial being that had seemed to be there just moments earlier was no longer present. He moved to find a scribe to take a report of what had ocurred in his visions.
Earlier...
As he knelt in front of the Shrine, he prayed for guidance. For opportunity to continue to give his talents to the City of baldur's Gate That his strategies continue to benefit the City he loves. That the Lady of Strategy guide and bless the future school of strategy and shrine that is to be built at Radiant Crossing.
The feeling of a heavy weight is felt upon the Knight's shoulders..
A feeling of impending purpose. Duty resonates in Aaron’s heart, driving him to action even in spite of the momentary respite from the realms’ woes. The thought of all that he has faced and all that he will face is a brief distraction -- but when he focuses his attention before him, what he sees is no longer the shrine of the Red Knight.
What Aaron seees is no longer the Shrine of the Red Knight, but instead a vast lanceboard upon the center of which soldiers have arrayed themselves in twin columns. Across from Aaron is a vision of someone deeply familiar - Lady Bloodhawk herself.
Lady Kaitlin Bloodhawk: "
Present yourself, Lord Lyonaler. There is to be a great battle and we must discuss strategy."
As the Knight pushes to stand from kneeling, ocean eyes lock upon Lady Bloodhawk, then upon the soldiers. "
How may I serve?"
Lady Bloodhawk shows Lord Lyonaler the two armies arrayed upon the Lanceboard they stood upon. Both armies matched in strength.
Aaron Lyonaler: "
Tell me of the enemy, that a strategy may be formed."
The response was simple, an attacker seeking conquest, a defender seeking survival. Both armies had been at war now for hundreds of years.
Lady Kaitlin Bloodhawk: "
The task I set upon you is thusly, Lord Lyonaler. To choose a side. On the surface, a simple question, but you should know better than most that nothing is simple in war. Consider your answer, carefully."
As he speaks chess pieces move about the board, smashing into one another. "
Neither side has advantage in numbers. One might pick the army of conquest, to subjegate the defender and bring about peace between both. One might simply choose the defenders, as they seek their freedom. But, knowing neither group, nor their intentions, I cannot pick without knowing further of each army. Strategy is oft driven by the needs or desires of those battling. What drives the attacking army?
As the question is asked, the pieces cease in their movements. Lady Bloodhawk simply smiles and the vision begins to fade.
Lady Bloodhawk and the warriors of the Red Knight melt away. When focus returns to your sight, you find yourself now in an unfamiliar place - and yet somehow you know you are in a critical battle over a key strategic point. Beside you are your allies - holy knights, paladins, and clerics. All of you are grievously wounded. Across the way is an army of Zhentarim. They outnumber you more then two to one.
Dame Catherine the Just: "
If this is to be our last stand, let Tyr watch over us as we give ourselves to our duty!"
Triadic Paladin: "The paladins of Tyr are with you, Dame Catherine! We will fight with you until the very end! We are a beacon against the forces of evil, we wmust resist them until our last breath!"
The vision is limited. He can only see himself and his allies upon the bridge, the Zhentarim army pressing closer every moment. There is no archer support, no ballistas. There is no telling what will happen or be lost if this position is retreated from. No telling if other pieces could assist, could move around the bridge and pincer. There was just a moment to decide. Those standing next to him were prepared to fight, prepared to fall. This poisition was vital. All Paladins are familair with the idea of trading their live to protect others. All Commanders know that loss is inevitable at times. All Lanceboard players are familiar with sacrafices. And so it was that the Knight on this Lanceboard was to be sacraficed.
Aaron summoned a prayer of Mass Healing to help his allies and spoke commands to form up along the bridge.
A brave battle for the ages is fought, one that the bards will tell for generations to come. Aaron fights valiantly alongside his compatriots, healing them, taking as many Zhentarim down as he can. But in the end, it is too much. The Zhentarim force is overwhelming and they overrun your position. Aaron, Catherine, and everyone else is slain to the last.
The Vision changes once more..
When Aaron's eyes return to focus again, the battle at the bridge is gone. Instead, you find yourself in an all-too-familiar courtroom
The Magistrate: "
Then you personally, my lord. You would stake, name, creed, and title for the accused today?"
The Redeemer: Ocean blues look at the Repentant once more a moment, then back forward "
I will hold myself responsible. His failings will become mine."
Aaron was watching the scene of himself, standing before the Magistrate at the Trial of Amos.
It was a moment in his history that he, at times, regretted. At times had wished to go back and undo the pledge he made. His eyes looked upon the vision of the Magistrate, then to the image of himself (Redeemer) and then settling onto Amos (The Redeemed). He knitted his brow slightly, as he took in the vision of Amos standing before the court at his trial. Had he made a mistake that day? Was there another course and he still be redeemed?
The Magistrate: "
Then we are decided. Repentant, raise your sword hand and prepare for your oath."
The Repentant: "
I pledge my Mercy upon this court. Upon this day, my failures will be shared, My wounds shall be shared. Allow the severing of my hand serve as a reminder that action have consequences."
As the scene plays itself out, suddenly, Aaron becomes intensely aware that all of the witnesses have averted their gaze from the vision of Aaron and Amos -- and instead fallen upon Aaron - the real Aaron - himself.
The Magistrate: "
Would you make the same choice again, Lord Aaron Lyonaler?"
He considers his words a moment
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
I wanted him to be redeemed. I had conversations with him before the trial. I saw in him a desire to change. When he appraered at Radiant Crossing in order to be arrested and taken into the City, I thought, perhaps, he could change, if he were given a chance.. a better example."
The entire courtroom is rapt. All eyes are on Aaron - the current Aaron, the older, the wiser Aaron.
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
I worried.. I still worry, that I made a Poor choice. That I should have let him take his punishment on his own. But.. I made the choice. I chose to hope. I chose to provide a chance for him to be better. I feel.. I have always felt, that 'a proper example is better weapon in the hands of good, then a blade'. Was I to speak those words oft, but not stand by them? Strategically, it was perhaps not my finest moment. I took a risk, with no real upside for myself. My friends, especially Lord Osric Vale, pleaded with me not to make the choice. Perhaps I wished to show that, even after lossing most of your pieces, you are not completely done for."
The Magistrate: "
You have yet to answer the question, Aaron Lyonaler. You need only answer: would you make the same choice again?"
The Vision was correct. He was nearly talking himself out of the decision made that day.
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
Many chided me, many thought less of me for doing as I did. I will not deny that, at times, I have reconsidered my choice. But, I stand by my decision. I chose to see a better side to Amos. Should he return, I will continue to try to better him. What is the point of redemption, redemption we all wish for ourselves, if we do not offer it to those who would seek it?"
The Magistrate: "
Then you would make the same choice now as you did before?"
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
I told him, I would slay him, should he break his word given at his trial. And while the thought of that occurring has caused me stress and even anxiety over my choice, I stand with my decision."
An audible gasp runs through the crowd, and then -- Aaron's eyes clear and once more he is within the Shrine of War, before the altar of the Red Knight. He had never left of course. What he saw was only visions ... For a moment, you feel a great weight lifted off of you ... The relief is disturbed only by the sudden beam of radiant light coming from above, and the flutter of wings...
A winged man stood before him, towering in height above the tall knight.
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
Greetings, Aaron Lyonaler."
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: He bows his head Greetings. "
Pardon, you know my name, but I do not know yours."
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
My name is unimportant. You may refer to me as the Archivist of the Forgotten. I record that which is forgotten, such that it will not be. The vision ... the dream you just experienced is one such thing. In the throes of mortal waking, such things as dreams and their details are often lost ... but the Lady of Strategy does not wish you to forget what you just saw and the choices you made."
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
Tell me. The choice given you by the Lady Bloodhawk. Rather than make an immediate choice, you chose to question the circumstances. Why?"
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: The Knight considers a moment.. "
Because, on a lanceboard, the who or the why is of no importance. But, in the lives of mortals, especially acting within the duties of a Paladin of the Red Lady, the why is always important. When one understands the "Why" they can devise the "How"." He pauses for the briefest of moments, before finishing. "
Strategy is never so black and white."
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
During the Devil War, I gained the Lady's favor through strategies shared with Duke Eltan. Initially, the strategy was to throw troops upon the walls of Tymount. My strategy was to lure out the Devils to attack the Flaming Fist troops ehile a fast unit would attack from the tree line, nearby, acting as a hammer and anvil. I then lead a small unit to take the, now undefended walls, and hold it against the devil forces. In the end, the war turned towards victory for the Flaming Fist and the devil units in a vast area were wiped out. This was done, becuase I knew the why and the who. I understood what might drive the devils and their motivations, I knew the Flaming Fist and those who stood with them and their motivations to fight. I could devise a strategy based on that knowledge."
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
The Red Knight was pleased with your choice. Strategy cannot be devised absent knowledge. But what of the battle upon the bridge? Against an overwhelming force, you chose to stand with those who would martyr themselves in a hopeless fight. Why?"
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
I had little knowledge of the whole battlefield. I knew not what other pieces were in play. Only that the bridge was vital. Could we hold out for support? Where might this support come from? Should we retreat? What terrain behind us could we utilize or might work against us? Would doing so threaten others beyond the bridge? Given the low intelligence I had for that battle, I chose a sacrafice. In the hopes that in doing so, other pieces could be moved to take the enemy. As the lady teaches, knowledge wins battles. Such was not available. had I been in control from the start of the conflict, I would have sought to scout the area better and chosen a different battlefield, then a bridge aginst overwhelming odds. I considered a sacrafice move."
Archivist of the Forgotten: Pauses a moment to listen, then offers. "
The Red Knight teachers her faithful that a tactical retreat is always an option. There was no need to throw your lot in with the Tyrrans - remember that you also have your voice and your wisdom. Show those who would throw their lives away that there is a better way in living to fight another day."
Aaron Lyonaler: In agreement, "
We can serve the people only if we live to do so."
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
You have already explained why you stand by the choice you made to bind your fate to that of Amos Thistle. That you recognize the tactical faillings and risks in making such a choice are sufficient, for the choice is already made -- you could not unmake it now even if you wished to do so."
Lord Aaron Lyonaler: "
I will continue to hope that he, as a pawn in this case, be moved to the other side of the board and become something much more powerful. "
Archivist of the Forgotten: "
May the Red Knight see you to such a strategy, lord of men."
Archivist of the Forgotten: "A
aron Lyonaler. Your choices have been tempered with wisdom and do honor your goddess, the Red Knight, the Lady of Strategy. Recognize your failings and learn from them; walk anew with the knowledge you have gained today. Your vision has been recorded such that you will never forget them. Remember what you have seen and your choices here today, Aaron Lyonaler, for your journey is only beginning ... and you have taken the next step in the epic that shall be your life."
With a snap of his fingers, the Archivist is gone -- and Aaron emerges from his vision for real. And as he steadies himself, he realizes that solemn gray wings have sprung from his back, marking him forever as one of the Red Knight's favored.
