ranks, too, the ones in the kilts. The last thing we need is
another fight. Let us make haste to a settlement not far from here.
I’ll explain more on the way,” Labolas offered.
“My sword.”
Labolas frowned, asking, “Is it that
important?”
Scar looked at the tower. The flames had
almost completely died out leaving a billowing plume of black
smoke.
“I don’t know,” Scar whispered.
I believe it is, but it’s just a
blade. He returned his scrutiny to the archer, who was already
moving northeast.
“Want to know about the crazy paladin?”
Labolas asked while maintaining his pace.
Scar trotted to catch up. They moved in
cadence while conversing.
“First tell me what you know about me,” Scar
demanded. “I don’t just follow prospective enemies.”
“Certainly,” Labolas obliged. “First and
foremost, I must tell you of the Dragon Wars, the time before the
worship of God. In that time, there were no nations, only men
enslaved by thirteen Dragons. They were cruel rulers and did not
allow for the proliferation of mankind. We were but workers to
them, catering to every diabolical need.
“Men turned then to the skies and begged for
help, for mercy, and in secret they began to pray to those mystical
forces out there in the great unknown. Do you know any of this, or
is it all gone in that great, big head of yours?”
“It is all news,” Scar chuckled.
“Right, so, anyway, the story goes; God
started taking notice of the ceaseless cries of man and granted
them the powers to slay the Dragons. You know; technology, magic,
strategy, and whatnot, so the men united. They fought, and did in
fact kill the great beasts, and when peace came, they built a
palatial kingdom spanning all of Tiamhaal.
“It is this kingdom, Alduheim, from which you
hail. You see, the region now known as Satrone was formerly the
battlefield of the Dragon Wars, and Alduheim Castle was built to
the north, but after many years of peace came dissention. My
knowledge here is a bit murky, but Gilgamesh’s forefathers were
instrumental in both winning the Dragon Wars and erecting Alduheim.
Whosoever caused the dissention in Alduheim forced Gilgamesh’s
ancestors out, so with the help of God they formed their own nation
named after God, the territory of Kulshedra.”
“Wait, I thought Zmaj was one of many Gods,”
Scar interjected.
Labolas halted. A scowl worked over his face.
Scar was unhindered, but waited a moment for an answer.
“There is only one God. I don’t know who Zmaj
is supposed to be, but he is not God,” the archer corrected before
returning to his history lesson. While he spoke, he resumed
marching. “Perhaps there are lesser Gods. I care little about them,
yet it is those in the worship of these… deities , who have
created many problems for us. Your ancestors were killed and exiled
by the traitors we believe now worship Khmer.”
“Who is Khmer?”
“Another false God like Zmaj or Drac,”
Labolas replied. “I’m afraid it is quite complicated, and though
the Kulshedran territories are allied with some of the others, who
also worship false Gods, it is but a means to end…an end that will
hopefully come sooner rather than later now that we have you,
Brandt, rightful ruler of Alduheim- a kingdom which sadly no longer
exists.”
“This is just absurd,” Scar said while wiping
sweat from his forehead. “The Zmajans have never said anything of
this sort. They simply claimed that the worshipers of Kulshedra
were a threat to Tiamhaal, and that the Dracos were no better.”
Sunlight glistened off his pale skin. A
moment of quietude prevailed. Then a hawk shrieked in the distance.
A few lizards did push-ups on rocks. The wind was already too hot
for comfort.
Labolas hesitantly elucidated upon the
subject. “Far be it from me to teach history, Brandt, but listen.
The point is simple; Gilgamesh sent me to recover you in order to
unite all the territories under the worship of Kulshedra, God of
Truth. With any
another fight. Let us make haste to a settlement not far from here.
I’ll explain more on the way,” Labolas offered.
“My sword.”
Labolas frowned, asking, “Is it that
important?”
Scar looked at the tower. The flames had
almost completely died out leaving a billowing plume of black
smoke.
“I don’t know,” Scar whispered.
I believe it is, but it’s just a
blade. He returned his scrutiny to the archer, who was already
moving northeast.
“Want to know about the crazy paladin?”
Labolas asked while maintaining his pace.
Scar trotted to catch up. They moved in
cadence while conversing.
“First tell me what you know about me,” Scar
demanded. “I don’t just follow prospective enemies.”
“Certainly,” Labolas obliged. “First and
foremost, I must tell you of the Dragon Wars, the time before the
worship of God. In that time, there were no nations, only men
enslaved by thirteen Dragons. They were cruel rulers and did not
allow for the proliferation of mankind. We were but workers to
them, catering to every diabolical need.
“Men turned then to the skies and begged for
help, for mercy, and in secret they began to pray to those mystical
forces out there in the great unknown. Do you know any of this, or
is it all gone in that great, big head of yours?”
“It is all news,” Scar chuckled.
“Right, so, anyway, the story goes; God
started taking notice of the ceaseless cries of man and granted
them the powers to slay the Dragons. You know; technology, magic,
strategy, and whatnot, so the men united. They fought, and did in
fact kill the great beasts, and when peace came, they built a
palatial kingdom spanning all of Tiamhaal.
“It is this kingdom, Alduheim, from which you
hail. You see, the region now known as Satrone was formerly the
battlefield of the Dragon Wars, and Alduheim Castle was built to
the north, but after many years of peace came dissention. My
knowledge here is a bit murky, but Gilgamesh’s forefathers were
instrumental in both winning the Dragon Wars and erecting Alduheim.
Whosoever caused the dissention in Alduheim forced Gilgamesh’s
ancestors out, so with the help of God they formed their own nation
named after God, the territory of Kulshedra.”
“Wait, I thought Zmaj was one of many Gods,”
Scar interjected.
Labolas halted. A scowl worked over his face.
Scar was unhindered, but waited a moment for an answer.
“There is only one God. I don’t know who Zmaj
is supposed to be, but he is not God,” the archer corrected before
returning to his history lesson. While he spoke, he resumed
marching. “Perhaps there are lesser Gods. I care little about them,
yet it is those in the worship of these… deities , who have
created many problems for us. Your ancestors were killed and exiled
by the traitors we believe now worship Khmer.”
“Who is Khmer?”
“Another false God like Zmaj or Drac,”
Labolas replied. “I’m afraid it is quite complicated, and though
the Kulshedran territories are allied with some of the others, who
also worship false Gods, it is but a means to end…an end that will
hopefully come sooner rather than later now that we have you,
Brandt, rightful ruler of Alduheim- a kingdom which sadly no longer
exists.”
“This is just absurd,” Scar said while wiping
sweat from his forehead. “The Zmajans have never said anything of
this sort. They simply claimed that the worshipers of Kulshedra
were a threat to Tiamhaal, and that the Dracos were no better.”
Sunlight glistened off his pale skin. A
moment of quietude prevailed. Then a hawk shrieked in the distance.
A few lizards did push-ups on rocks. The wind was already too hot
for comfort.
Labolas hesitantly elucidated upon the
subject. “Far be it from me to teach history, Brandt, but listen.
The point is simple; Gilgamesh sent me to recover you in order to
unite all the territories under the worship of Kulshedra, God of
Truth. With any
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