Curious librarian find a heavy tome in an unvisited section.
-
Larzs
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:27 pm
- Location: A vast corn field
Curious librarian find a heavy tome in an unvisited section.
Part 7 of the stories for my old Paladin.
-
Larzs
- Posts: 439
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:27 pm
- Location: A vast corn field
Chronicles of the Holy Knight: Trial 7, Sacrifice/Honor
(This book appears to be a journal that was writing as the event took place, like a scribe was writing what was happening in the individual’s mind.)
I stood before my lord, my leader once more. He told me this was the final test, that I had done quite well on the last ones. “Flying Colors”, was a term he used. “Here you shall be tested on your sacrifice a good knight needs to know when to give themselves for the better good”, he paused for a while and continued, “and perhaps more my knight” With that said, a bright flash of white blinded me and I appeared in front of a small house in some normal clothing with a baby in my arms. I looked down and my lord spoke to me through my mind.
“This is your child he is from you, given to you by us. Take care of him, he too may be part of your test, we thank you for your devotion and drive to the cause. We know you gave up much of the mortal “normal life”, but that is why we choose you my boy. This is a little bit of our appreciation for what you have done…..or at least tried to do, you have spread our word son.”
Finishing that, I gave another glance at the child…..and smiled, I wonder if the child had a mortal mother or if he was conjured by divine magic…..didn’t matter to me, I have something to teach another, something to complete, something that does usually end in me raising a blade. Finally some peace………
(The next several pages, chapter and other written info contains the stories and thoughts of the knight as he raised the young boy teaching him all the things he found important, regaling stories of wondrous places and mighty battles. Of people of great battle prowess and arcane magic, ones of evil foes that he had defeated only to change their ways after hearing the kind knight’s words.
There is only particular heavy written, actually written quite a bit finer then the rest of the ink, detailing the story of a beautiful, winged lady of great skill and power. Tormented by her existence and what she was, and how after her long struggles and doings, she finally left. To a better place, a place were she could finally be free of the torment on her very conflicting nature, a place where there was no need for her to prove herself. A rest long over do, the knight told his son with this tale, telling him that the feather he kept was from her wing and that to be very careful while handling it for it was quite sharp, despite just being a feather.
The journal continues more, with the normal tales of a child growing up. Getting into normal boy trouble and learning from a all to compassionate father. Great celebrations, and how the knight became a very important figure in the town.)
I awoke one night with the rumbling and red glare of fire to be seen out of my room, I quickly jumped from my bed and opened the chest at the foot of my bed, how I only wish this day never came I was getting to love this place so. I donned my armor as quickly as I could, as I finished tying down the final strap my son walked in.
He asked you, “What is happening?”
"It appears they have come, son. Get your few things ready and grab a few loaves of bread. I am going to take you to a safer place. Hurry!" I told him only hoping he can escape the plot of these wicked beings.
As your son gathered his things you rushed to his room and told him, “We have to leave my son, lets go now” I picked him up and he feel asleep in my arms as I dashed out the door grabbing a few loaves of bread on the way out.
I dashed to the local temple where Balthazar could hopefully help me in this matter. My son awoke a few minutes later in the town church, while I was talking to the friendly priest. As he walked toward me, I turned around and motioning for him to stay there, he return to a pew.
“Make sure he remains safe, he is destined for great thing. I know my fate, I just can hope he finds out his.” I told the priest.
With me finished speaking with the priest I approached my son. I told spoke to him.
“It looks like my past has caught up with me, I need to protect you and others once again,” I handed him the angel’s feather I have kept all the time since Athena departed for her long overdue rest.
“May she find peace in the beyond, where ever that may be, that she couldn’t have in her mortal live”, I thought to myself.
“Take this son and keep it by you, perhaps one day you will meet her, perhaps this time she will not have the burden she carried when I met her.” With this said I placed my golden and silver helm on and walked out the church doors. Venturing to the fiery blaze that has been my home for the last 7 years.
As I ran to the small open field before the town entrance I dodged behind a small house and cast my standard array of magical protections, while not many they still help. As I continued walking to the opening, I told myself. “I hope this give me a edge against these foul things”
I walked to the small opening before the town and saw a towering evil demon, I had hoped to never see these damn things again……ugly they are….ugh…..I now stood before him and his vile troop of underlings, gleaming in my armor and shining brightly from the protections of the divine (quickly a flash comes across your mind as a knight described here appears and vanishes). The vile towering demon, wreathed in flames and a black unholy energy turned to me grinning.
“MUHAHAHAHA, I am surprised by your courage mortal. I would of guessed we would had to raze, slaughter and destroy this whole little town before we found you, only to be cowering in some corner. You have made this much easier Holy Knight, I shall make your death significantly less painful for showing such bravery.”
Grinning back I told the foul pit spawn, “Huh, you think you can strike fear into me. You think you can come here and carry out your wicked deeds, you think you can best me. Well, odder things have indeed happen. You are just another little pawn things to the devils in the abyss, they are my concern. You are just another expendable thing. What makes me sick about you and your kind. I don’t have time for this so you’ll just have to wait another time to hear them, send your worst demon!” I hefted my holy blade and readied myself for whatever things were about to come.
The fearsome beast motioned his hands and two demons attacked me, one a huge twenty foot creature a UGLY cross between a ape and…..a boar, with tiny little wings on it’s back and a six armed half-human/half-snake beast charged me. I rose my shield as the six arms came down on me, my shield managed to block four of the six arms, but the other two got by, luckily my armor repelled one but that last arm got by the protections. The foul head demon grinned as the blade went down the side of my chest and I fell to one knee and blood run from the wound, as the other demon still charged. I mustered my strength and pushed the horrid six armed thing, from me and delivered a quick slash across it’s torso causing it to rear back in pain.
As the ape/boar thing approached and swung it’s heavy axe I blocked it with my shield and carried the creatures weight with it and rolled around it and struck twice to it’s back, dark blood sprayed from it’s wounds. I couldn’t avoid this stuff. “Ugh! And on my armor too…..” I yelled. The beast reared back swinging that mighty axe and right for my head, I branded my shield just in time to have it take the axe blow, but I was pushed back by the demon’s immense strength. I quickly came to my feet and called upon my god for some divine aid to strike this foe down, as I was surrounded by a white tower of light the thing swung again, as the aid finished being delivered I once again avoided early demise, something I can come to get use to. I struck the beast with three quick precise blows the last one getting him across the face as small yellow puffs of divinity ran across the sword strikes. He fell to the ground screaming some infernal, I only hope they were forgiving works.
As the ape/boar thing fell to the ground, the six armed one charged me, I guess my strike can as more of a shock to it then I thought. But as the beast ran towards me I focused my righteous justice into my blade and through my being, I struck at her as she came in reach. The blade left a large gash across her chest, light streamed from it and burned her unholy flesh. She fell to the ground just as did so many other evils before me. I turned to the demon with a smirk on my face, telling him.
“As I said, you should never underestimate your foes. Will be your death, not like you will live past this night anyways.” The demon turned and looked at me, I saw a bit of fear in his eyes.
“Huh, well it appears my lesser are no match for you. It comes to the conclusion that you are a bit mighty for them. But perhaps me” He hefted his large black blade. “I am well over your skill” It said with a air of arrogance in his voice.
“That is what you thought before as did they, and we know with what become of them. Leave here now and I will spare your life. Go and repent demon, it can be done. You have to only choose.” I told it.
“Huh, will only have to see,” the demon pouted, raising his blade and just smiling quite evilly at me. I began chanting and covered myself in the divine grace of my lord, hoping that his protection shall aid me against this foe. The demon charged and I readied my blade, once again focuses my power and my god. I struck forward as the demon came within reach, but this time I not only hit the beast but the righteous power that be or perhaps it was my own drive and skill……only the gods truly know, guided my blade even further that blow. The blade exploded in a great and blinding holy light, thunder and clapping as if my lord struck him himself, the demon flew back his blade shattered into a million pieces. The unholy fragments flew toward me a bounced off my armor, tainted black for a short while before fading out of the armor.
The demon stood, staggering and cowered to his feet. Trying to hold as much honor and composure as he could, but I saw he was fearing for his very being. I said to him,
“I am surprised you are alive, not many survive such a blow. Actually you are the first, I wonder why?”
In a guttural tongue the demon spoke back, “I do not….know, it appears greater powers keep me here to strike you down. Your luck and faith have run out Holy Knight, prepare to die.”
“You know as much as I do, that you cannot strike me down. Do you only wish to continue this, you will only fall. Do you think that you will be saved more then once, I am prepared to fall for this town. But are you ready to die trying to take it, cause you will not as long as I stand here.” I told the beast in a commanding voice.
He stepped back, realizing his fate, what I said was true. “You are….correct, you are too much for me. Perhaps a deal?” The demon said with a grin about his wicked face.
“What kind of deal do you speak of, foul one?” I asked him.
“A exchange of sorts, you give yourself for the town, I and my demon kin shall leave the town. And not with a single person slain, only but a few burnt ashes that where the house.” Grinning all the more as he finished his words.
“I see, but how do I know you will not keep your word. A trick is all this could be, you are known for going back on your word, Demon!”
“You will just have to trust me, human” said the demon with a grin and look in his eye.
With that said a voice, a calming word flowed around my head and to my ears. It said,
“The true name of this demon is Ba'elzaden the Cruel, use this name wisely for it holds such great power over all beings not of the true divine.” As soon as the voice came it was gone.
“I see, Ba'elzaden the Cruel,” with the name spoken the demons eyes glared open and stared at me with a true fear in his eyes as strange arcane runes and magic flew around him, binding to his being and burning into his demon body, he fall to the ground as the runes burned deep within him, “I think I shall have to discuss this further with you.”
The demon turned me with rage and yelled at me, “DAMN YOU!! How did you? You will burn for this, knight!!”
“As I said, I am man of my honor, YOU are going to leave here and take your FOUL demons with you NEVER to return here again. Likewise, I shall give myself for the city. I will come with you. You gave your deal and I shall only make sure you keep your end of the deal, I will always keep mine.”
“I see, you are truly a honorable man, don’t ever see that in the abyss. We will have most fun with you!!” The demon said groaning as the runes burned deeper into him, with a small smile across his face.
“Heh, I doubt that. You shall never break me. Bring your worse twisted, it shall only strengthen my resolve,” I told the demon as I approached him fulfilling my word, I did as a honorable knight would. I stood there as black malevolent runes appeared around and slowly crept closer to me and finally bound themselves to both armor and skin, but not the soul. The pain and agony were unlike anything I had felt, so this the true feeling of sacrifice it was all worth for them and mostly for him. Moments before the magic consumed me, I thought to myself.
“Tiberius, my son, I hope you are safe. May you know your fate as I knew mine”
(With this final line the book ends, no finale as if the writer stopped in the middle of finishing the book. The fate of the knight’s true end is not detailed in this book.)
(As you flip through the last ends of the book on the inside of the back cover there are odd shifting runes, divine in very feel and odd sensation as you run your fingers across them. You can feel if they are riddle, a word games to unlock the powers of the book, but you are lost in the shifting letters, that you feel you will never know)
I stood before my lord, my leader once more. He told me this was the final test, that I had done quite well on the last ones. “Flying Colors”, was a term he used. “Here you shall be tested on your sacrifice a good knight needs to know when to give themselves for the better good”, he paused for a while and continued, “and perhaps more my knight” With that said, a bright flash of white blinded me and I appeared in front of a small house in some normal clothing with a baby in my arms. I looked down and my lord spoke to me through my mind.
“This is your child he is from you, given to you by us. Take care of him, he too may be part of your test, we thank you for your devotion and drive to the cause. We know you gave up much of the mortal “normal life”, but that is why we choose you my boy. This is a little bit of our appreciation for what you have done…..or at least tried to do, you have spread our word son.”
Finishing that, I gave another glance at the child…..and smiled, I wonder if the child had a mortal mother or if he was conjured by divine magic…..didn’t matter to me, I have something to teach another, something to complete, something that does usually end in me raising a blade. Finally some peace………
(The next several pages, chapter and other written info contains the stories and thoughts of the knight as he raised the young boy teaching him all the things he found important, regaling stories of wondrous places and mighty battles. Of people of great battle prowess and arcane magic, ones of evil foes that he had defeated only to change their ways after hearing the kind knight’s words.
There is only particular heavy written, actually written quite a bit finer then the rest of the ink, detailing the story of a beautiful, winged lady of great skill and power. Tormented by her existence and what she was, and how after her long struggles and doings, she finally left. To a better place, a place were she could finally be free of the torment on her very conflicting nature, a place where there was no need for her to prove herself. A rest long over do, the knight told his son with this tale, telling him that the feather he kept was from her wing and that to be very careful while handling it for it was quite sharp, despite just being a feather.
The journal continues more, with the normal tales of a child growing up. Getting into normal boy trouble and learning from a all to compassionate father. Great celebrations, and how the knight became a very important figure in the town.)
I awoke one night with the rumbling and red glare of fire to be seen out of my room, I quickly jumped from my bed and opened the chest at the foot of my bed, how I only wish this day never came I was getting to love this place so. I donned my armor as quickly as I could, as I finished tying down the final strap my son walked in.
He asked you, “What is happening?”
"It appears they have come, son. Get your few things ready and grab a few loaves of bread. I am going to take you to a safer place. Hurry!" I told him only hoping he can escape the plot of these wicked beings.
As your son gathered his things you rushed to his room and told him, “We have to leave my son, lets go now” I picked him up and he feel asleep in my arms as I dashed out the door grabbing a few loaves of bread on the way out.
I dashed to the local temple where Balthazar could hopefully help me in this matter. My son awoke a few minutes later in the town church, while I was talking to the friendly priest. As he walked toward me, I turned around and motioning for him to stay there, he return to a pew.
“Make sure he remains safe, he is destined for great thing. I know my fate, I just can hope he finds out his.” I told the priest.
With me finished speaking with the priest I approached my son. I told spoke to him.
“It looks like my past has caught up with me, I need to protect you and others once again,” I handed him the angel’s feather I have kept all the time since Athena departed for her long overdue rest.
“May she find peace in the beyond, where ever that may be, that she couldn’t have in her mortal live”, I thought to myself.
“Take this son and keep it by you, perhaps one day you will meet her, perhaps this time she will not have the burden she carried when I met her.” With this said I placed my golden and silver helm on and walked out the church doors. Venturing to the fiery blaze that has been my home for the last 7 years.
As I ran to the small open field before the town entrance I dodged behind a small house and cast my standard array of magical protections, while not many they still help. As I continued walking to the opening, I told myself. “I hope this give me a edge against these foul things”
I walked to the small opening before the town and saw a towering evil demon, I had hoped to never see these damn things again……ugly they are….ugh…..I now stood before him and his vile troop of underlings, gleaming in my armor and shining brightly from the protections of the divine (quickly a flash comes across your mind as a knight described here appears and vanishes). The vile towering demon, wreathed in flames and a black unholy energy turned to me grinning.
“MUHAHAHAHA, I am surprised by your courage mortal. I would of guessed we would had to raze, slaughter and destroy this whole little town before we found you, only to be cowering in some corner. You have made this much easier Holy Knight, I shall make your death significantly less painful for showing such bravery.”
Grinning back I told the foul pit spawn, “Huh, you think you can strike fear into me. You think you can come here and carry out your wicked deeds, you think you can best me. Well, odder things have indeed happen. You are just another little pawn things to the devils in the abyss, they are my concern. You are just another expendable thing. What makes me sick about you and your kind. I don’t have time for this so you’ll just have to wait another time to hear them, send your worst demon!” I hefted my holy blade and readied myself for whatever things were about to come.
The fearsome beast motioned his hands and two demons attacked me, one a huge twenty foot creature a UGLY cross between a ape and…..a boar, with tiny little wings on it’s back and a six armed half-human/half-snake beast charged me. I rose my shield as the six arms came down on me, my shield managed to block four of the six arms, but the other two got by, luckily my armor repelled one but that last arm got by the protections. The foul head demon grinned as the blade went down the side of my chest and I fell to one knee and blood run from the wound, as the other demon still charged. I mustered my strength and pushed the horrid six armed thing, from me and delivered a quick slash across it’s torso causing it to rear back in pain.
As the ape/boar thing approached and swung it’s heavy axe I blocked it with my shield and carried the creatures weight with it and rolled around it and struck twice to it’s back, dark blood sprayed from it’s wounds. I couldn’t avoid this stuff. “Ugh! And on my armor too…..” I yelled. The beast reared back swinging that mighty axe and right for my head, I branded my shield just in time to have it take the axe blow, but I was pushed back by the demon’s immense strength. I quickly came to my feet and called upon my god for some divine aid to strike this foe down, as I was surrounded by a white tower of light the thing swung again, as the aid finished being delivered I once again avoided early demise, something I can come to get use to. I struck the beast with three quick precise blows the last one getting him across the face as small yellow puffs of divinity ran across the sword strikes. He fell to the ground screaming some infernal, I only hope they were forgiving works.
As the ape/boar thing fell to the ground, the six armed one charged me, I guess my strike can as more of a shock to it then I thought. But as the beast ran towards me I focused my righteous justice into my blade and through my being, I struck at her as she came in reach. The blade left a large gash across her chest, light streamed from it and burned her unholy flesh. She fell to the ground just as did so many other evils before me. I turned to the demon with a smirk on my face, telling him.
“As I said, you should never underestimate your foes. Will be your death, not like you will live past this night anyways.” The demon turned and looked at me, I saw a bit of fear in his eyes.
“Huh, well it appears my lesser are no match for you. It comes to the conclusion that you are a bit mighty for them. But perhaps me” He hefted his large black blade. “I am well over your skill” It said with a air of arrogance in his voice.
“That is what you thought before as did they, and we know with what become of them. Leave here now and I will spare your life. Go and repent demon, it can be done. You have to only choose.” I told it.
“Huh, will only have to see,” the demon pouted, raising his blade and just smiling quite evilly at me. I began chanting and covered myself in the divine grace of my lord, hoping that his protection shall aid me against this foe. The demon charged and I readied my blade, once again focuses my power and my god. I struck forward as the demon came within reach, but this time I not only hit the beast but the righteous power that be or perhaps it was my own drive and skill……only the gods truly know, guided my blade even further that blow. The blade exploded in a great and blinding holy light, thunder and clapping as if my lord struck him himself, the demon flew back his blade shattered into a million pieces. The unholy fragments flew toward me a bounced off my armor, tainted black for a short while before fading out of the armor.
The demon stood, staggering and cowered to his feet. Trying to hold as much honor and composure as he could, but I saw he was fearing for his very being. I said to him,
“I am surprised you are alive, not many survive such a blow. Actually you are the first, I wonder why?”
In a guttural tongue the demon spoke back, “I do not….know, it appears greater powers keep me here to strike you down. Your luck and faith have run out Holy Knight, prepare to die.”
“You know as much as I do, that you cannot strike me down. Do you only wish to continue this, you will only fall. Do you think that you will be saved more then once, I am prepared to fall for this town. But are you ready to die trying to take it, cause you will not as long as I stand here.” I told the beast in a commanding voice.
He stepped back, realizing his fate, what I said was true. “You are….correct, you are too much for me. Perhaps a deal?” The demon said with a grin about his wicked face.
“What kind of deal do you speak of, foul one?” I asked him.
“A exchange of sorts, you give yourself for the town, I and my demon kin shall leave the town. And not with a single person slain, only but a few burnt ashes that where the house.” Grinning all the more as he finished his words.
“I see, but how do I know you will not keep your word. A trick is all this could be, you are known for going back on your word, Demon!”
“You will just have to trust me, human” said the demon with a grin and look in his eye.
With that said a voice, a calming word flowed around my head and to my ears. It said,
“The true name of this demon is Ba'elzaden the Cruel, use this name wisely for it holds such great power over all beings not of the true divine.” As soon as the voice came it was gone.
“I see, Ba'elzaden the Cruel,” with the name spoken the demons eyes glared open and stared at me with a true fear in his eyes as strange arcane runes and magic flew around him, binding to his being and burning into his demon body, he fall to the ground as the runes burned deep within him, “I think I shall have to discuss this further with you.”
The demon turned me with rage and yelled at me, “DAMN YOU!! How did you? You will burn for this, knight!!”
“As I said, I am man of my honor, YOU are going to leave here and take your FOUL demons with you NEVER to return here again. Likewise, I shall give myself for the city. I will come with you. You gave your deal and I shall only make sure you keep your end of the deal, I will always keep mine.”
“I see, you are truly a honorable man, don’t ever see that in the abyss. We will have most fun with you!!” The demon said groaning as the runes burned deeper into him, with a small smile across his face.
“Heh, I doubt that. You shall never break me. Bring your worse twisted, it shall only strengthen my resolve,” I told the demon as I approached him fulfilling my word, I did as a honorable knight would. I stood there as black malevolent runes appeared around and slowly crept closer to me and finally bound themselves to both armor and skin, but not the soul. The pain and agony were unlike anything I had felt, so this the true feeling of sacrifice it was all worth for them and mostly for him. Moments before the magic consumed me, I thought to myself.
“Tiberius, my son, I hope you are safe. May you know your fate as I knew mine”
(With this final line the book ends, no finale as if the writer stopped in the middle of finishing the book. The fate of the knight’s true end is not detailed in this book.)
(As you flip through the last ends of the book on the inside of the back cover there are odd shifting runes, divine in very feel and odd sensation as you run your fingers across them. You can feel if they are riddle, a word games to unlock the powers of the book, but you are lost in the shifting letters, that you feel you will never know)