Curse

Calaval · Oct 17, 2006, 06:02 PM // 18:02

Forever Knights

Prologue:

Legend tells of a small band of mortals hailing from the Canthan Islands, known together as the Forever Knights.
Only through song are their deeds now known, much of which is thought to be of fantasy and myth.
Today come the true Forever Knights, after the Searing devastated the lands of Ascalon, noble men and women of the ancient blood have sworn an oath to ride once more as Forever Knights and reclaim the glory of songs lost!

Men and women of the order carry a great horn borne with the markings of a great drake written in ancient characters.
Many of the order wear clothing that too bears the symbol of the drake, while others carry the mark of the drake upon their swords and spears.
It is known for warriors of the order to sing the oath of the Forever Knights as they charge into battle:

"Guardians of the people, guardians of the land.
Lost is he who has not honour, lost is he who has not love.
Only when one is pure of heart, true of soul & sound of body
may he count himself among us…the Forever Knights!"

Chapter 1

Punished for deeds long forgotten, the lady known only as the Wyrm Maiden waits in her cell; a wall of ice, located in a secret place, unseen by mortal eyes. Untouched for thousands of years. Here she lingers, using her mystical energies to enter the dreams of men and women, searching for those gallant and valiant, for it is only those most virtuous who may enter her enchanted chamber breaking the spellbound ice keeping the Wyrm Maiden prisoner. Yet to her dismay her messages are seen as fantastic dreams. The lady waits...passing into folklore.

Not all men and women have believed these messages to be dreams. One such woman was Amithiel Hanodel, besieged by visions of the Enchantress since as long as she could remember, Amithiel inspired by the Wyrm Maiden became an outstanding soldier and natural leader thus becoming a heroine of the Canthan Islands.

However her triumph came short lived, as Amithiel spirited warriors to glory the darker her dreams became, often taking her to the verge of insanity. At the age of twenty-seven Amithiel Hanodel taking a troop of loyal men, left behind their wives and children beginning the search for the lady of myth and dreams, becoming Forever Knights questing her cause never again to return to their homeland.

They set forth, knowing nothing of the perils that awaited them; and even as word of successive failures reached their ears, they continued the search unabated, establishing new paths, setting out fresh way-markers for those who would follow.

The eternal quest of the Wyrm Maiden has brought doom and folly to many but it is this continuing search that inspires Forever Knights to experience aspiration, failure and one day it is hoped the ultimate achievement!

Chapter 2

The dark eye widened as it watched the party of dwarves drawing nearer its den, the one that led them fascinated it for only she among them was not of their kind – she was human.
The dark eye watched amused as the dwarves followed the path of the hapless mortal, at the sight of the human female it sensed by her stature and worldly look, that she could be a worthy foe. The dark one licked its lips, long had it been since it tasted the flesh of a human. The very sight of her made it hungry.
A sudden fury entered the dark eye as the party drew closer, this mortal it recognised from a long and distant past, more than thirty years before had this very human hunted and destroyed its kind.

The dark ones fury increased as it heard the party hail the human as Dragon Slayer, but the dark dragon was clever, it would quell its anger and wait, wait for the human to lead the dwarves further into its den, further into the dark where only death awaits...

Amithiel Hanodel stood and stroked her sword as she stared into the cave entrance. She called forth a magical light as the dwarves made their way into the cave. They walked deep into the cave with no sign of their quarry until Amithiel stopped, as a clicking sound ringed the cavern walls, she had stepped on a pressure plate, a small shaft opened beneath her feet and into darkness she slid.

Amithiel had landed upon the rough stone floor of the cavern, far away from her party and into the drake's lair. Glorifhai laughed as it saw the once mighty warrior before him, for now it saw the Dragon Slayer was a tired and jaded old woman.

"Why do You come here mortal, here only torment and death awaits You!" mocked the dragon as Amithiel lay wounded upon the cavern floor. The fall had badly crippled Amithiel but her will was strong, in reach was her iron side and to her sword she stretched.

And for a final time Amithiel Hanodel faced Glorifhai, the Forever Knight roared a battlecry but the creature slammed its foot down and the old woman stumbled.

Glorifhai advanced, Amithiel raised her sword to block the dragon's claws but her reflexes came slow and the monstrous creature skewered Amithiel with its talons and lifted her off her feet.

Amithiel fell under the dragon’s spell as she gazed into the beast’s eye and higher they flew as Glorifhai lifted her out of the mountain. The dragon roared with laughter as it saw the futile attack of the dwarves' arrows fly harmlessly by and further into the sky the knight and dragon flew. In the bitter cold, scarlet blood poured out of the old woman and unconscious she became.

It was the sound of a maiden that awoke her, above the highest mountain a voice whispered in the wind "Guardians of the people, guardians of the land. Lost is he who has not honour, lost is he who has not love. Only when one is pure of heart, true of soul and sound of body may he count himself among us...awake Forever Knight."

Eyes half open, Amithiel smiled, the Wyrm Maiden had answered her call. She knew what to do, as Glorifhai landed upon the highest peak, it mocked the great knight once more but Amithiel was ready, she licked her cold lips and from her pouch took her horn and answered the Wyrm Maiden.

The blow of the horn came strong and mighty, and from miles below the dwarves heard it...and so did the mountain. Amithiel laughed and spat at Glorifhai as the cliff crumbled beneath them and the mountain awoke. Down with Glorifhai Amithiel fell as the cold ice snow smothered woman and beast, burying the dragon and the knight.

Upon hearing of his mothers plight battling the cold-drake Glorifhai, Cavalain swearing vengeance renamed his sword after the beast, should it ever awake from its tomb in the mountain. And so none would ever forget the fate of Amithiel, he carved the image of Glorifhai into his Golden Horn, beginning a tradition that continues to this day...

Chapter 3

"Sons of the serpent
Daughters of the drake
Quest to break the spell
Of she that never fell
For she the enchantress
Forever Knights ride unto hell!"

Amithiel Hanodel bore two sons - half brothers they were, Cavalain Glorifhai, he of the sword and Calaval Ironside, he that would have it.

Born only a year apart, each brother, a bastard, came faithful to Amithiel but more so to her quest and the dreams the Wyrm Maiden sent them.

Even from an early age ferocious in killing they were, to the Forever Knights and enemies alike, Cavalain and Calaval came known as "Sons of the Dragon". And dread would enter the hearts of men when the call of Amithiel came to Cavalain and Calaval, "Sons of the Dragon, come here and get flesh!" for then all men knew the carnage would start and always and evermore the Sons of the Dragon stood victorious bloodied by death.

After the demise of Amithiel the brothers parted, ignoring the pleas of the Wyrm Maiden Cavalain sought revenge and naming his sword after the beast, travelled east in search of Glorifhai. While those who stood pure to the call of the enchantress journeyed west with Calaval ever searching for her.

The harsh east lands grew colder, autumn turned to winter and like the land fruitless became Cavalain's search for the dragon but worse still the call of the Wyrm Maiden had deserted all who travelled with him. One dark winter night madness and despair took hold of Cavalain and the knights that stood with him, comrade killed comrade, knight murdered knight, 'til only one stood alive - Cavalain the Glorifhai.

Unbeknown to Cavalain a maiden had witnessed the bloody murders, but little did she, Celaria the Sorceress, care for justice. It was the great sword that was taller than her, she craved, but even more so the knights knowledge of the mythical maiden he sought.

In the dead of night, calling forth her minions, Celaria's kindred charged the fallen warrior. Cavalain the Glorifhai cut down more than forty of her sect before a dart laden with poison put cease to the slaughter. Dragged and bound into Celaria's lair he went and for thirty days and nights Celaria's kindred ceaselessly tortured and harassed the knight but never did Cavalain tell of the Wyrm Maiden nor of his order the Forever Knights.

In sorrow and grief Cavalain dwelt but never more would the Sorceress hear his roar for as a new month dawned the blade Glorifhai came to his face and Celaria, its owner, cut out his tongue and claimed him her slave.
And for twenty long years Cavalain, the once mighty warrior and Son of the Dragon served her humbly.

While Cavalain dwindled in Celaria's keep fortune had smiled upon his brother, Calaval the Ironside had married a lady as noble as she was beautiful, who had birthed seven sons, each as strong as the other, sharing the likeness of their mother and wisdom of their father. Together with his family and host of knights, Calaval's search of the Wyrm Maiden brought him upon the very same path his brother had taken twenty years earlier and into Celaria's keep they entered.

It was there adorned high upon the grandest wall he saw the sword of Cavalain. Aghast at what had befallen his brother and why the sword hung there, Calaval claimed it his, yet cunning Celaria was and lied of the fate of Cavalain, telling Calaval he had died many years past, then proposed Calaval take the sword freely if he would defeat her champion.

And so the champion of Celaria came forward to do battle with the Ironside, a knight dressed in blue armour faced him with Glorifhai in hand and Calaval furious that another would take his brother's sword immediately smote the Blue Knight down. Yet the Blue Knight did not strike back and blocked Calaval's continuous attacks, it became a marvel to all that he stood, as always blood fell from him fast.

Calaval fought wildly forever abating the Blue Knights defence, yet never did he break the knight's stance until such a furious blow did he give that the Blue Knight fell to the ground and fought no more. The valiant Blue Knight lay dead and Calaval wept as he took Glorifhai from him.

Yet his triumph came short lived, for as the Blue Knight's helm fell open, Calaval saw the face of his most worthy foe was that of his brother Cavalain. The treachery of Celaria came heavy that day, for a great battle ensued and all who fought was slain but for the seven sons of Calaval Ironside.

Caalran the eldest son of Calaval took the sword Glorifhai from his dead father's hand and wandered off, away from his brothers, alone into the east, twenty days he was gone, before returning without the sword Glorifhai and continued their search for the Wyrm Maiden the seven brothers did. Thus the sword was forgotten, never to be spoken of for centuries.

And for two hundred years the sword of Cavalain Glorifhai lay lost like the Wyrm Maiden, lingering dark in deep waters, waiting for a knight to hold it once more and those that searched for it came known like the brothers, as Sons of the Dragon.

Amithiel Hanodel bore two sons - half brothers they were, Cavalain Glorifhai, he of the sword and Calaval Ironside, he that would have it.

Chapter 4

Those that followed Caalran claimed he to be the perfect knight, so loved was he by man and woman that they bestowed upon him the title of prince, yet no land did Caalran claim, only hearts and minds of Forever Knights…

And only one woman did he love, she was Animara - the beauty of Cavalon. Animara, she of the silver hair and skin like a sky at dawn - both pale and rosy, no beauty matched hers for a thousand years and only did Animara's deep blue eyes hold her lover's secrets, the secrets of Prince Caalran. For many secrets there are for those who share a love forbidden.

Caalran although born far from Cantha was of Kurzick blood, yet Animara was of kindred hated and despised by Caalran's Kurzick brethren - she was Luxon. Even among the Forever Knights, comrades of many nations, such unions of Kurzick and Luxon came frowned upon and none so guarded their pure lineage so zealously than the brothers of Caalran.

For many months Caalran and Animara kept their affections well hidden. Among the Forever Knights they would ride ever in the search for the Wyrm Maiden, yet their concealment of love came so well played, it came common knowledge among the knights only Lady Animara did not cherish the prince as others did…much to the gladdening of the brothers Ironside.

Upon the night of her twenty first birthday Caalran prised Animara away from the hunting party they rode, for he wished to be alone with her. His love for her had grown deeper than ever before - and her love for him was that of a true consort. As they rode together exchanging glances and words of love, a child's cry came from yonder, without a second thought Caalran rode into the darkness ignoring Animara's plea of caution and there rode into a trap laid by bandits and rogues.

For the cries were not that of a child but that of a sly bandit who had learnt the gift of mimicry. Animara followed soon after Caalran blowing her knights horn as she rode, but the ambush was set and the bandits were soon upon her.

Together they fought side by side but as every outlaw fell more and more came from the shadows. Animara had taken many arrows for it was her who the bandits had centred their wrath upon and as she slumped to the ground, it was only then the Forever Knights reached them - where the remaining outlaws were massacred and all but one of the Ironside brothers slain.

Animara died in Caalran's arms that night, with her last words for the ears of her lover and his alone. Buried she is beneath a great tree in Tyria, where the white iris grow and into that tree Caalran carved her name 'Animara' and below her name he carved his own - for when fate takes him, the winds shall know where to take his ashes.

And so alone a Kurzick prince journeyed into the heart of Luxon land. Into Cavalon he strode, unchallenged as he travelled under the watchful eye of Luxon pirates, for they could see the sword he carried was one of their own. And as he stepped into a clearing, he stood and wept at the songs of sorrow the Luxons sang - for they knew the sword he held belonged to a maiden of the seas named Animara.

The fairest of their kind came forward, her face Caalran recognised readily for she was the sister of beautiful Animara, and to she he kneeled, then offered Animara's blade and told the sad story of her sisters fate. After the tale was told his head hung low as tears of grief rolled down his cheeks, then once more Caalran addressed those his kin hate.

"I am Prince Caalran of Kurzick blood, last of the lineage of Amithiel Hanodel, now I stand before you with no sword nor malice, the blame of Animara's ruin rests with me - my life is forfeit…do with me what you will!'

Little was said as his eyes and hands were bound and gagged, in darkness and silence the Luxon pirates escorted Caalran to his fate and willingly he went, hoping for death.

For what seemed an eternity they travelled in this manner, until Caalran's feet stepped from the soft Luxon sand onto cold hard stone, and there he could see again and was unbound. Before him stood only Lin Yao, Animara's sister, and for brief seconds in his daze he dreamt it was Animara reborn as her resemblance was close to her sisters beauty.

Together they stood in a great hall of breathtaking splendour, Lin Yao beckoned him to follow and to a smaller chamber they came. And there Caalran stood in awe and wonder as before him lain upon shields of bronze stood dozen upon dozen of golden horns bearing the mark of Forever Knights.

"Long has the Wyrm Maiden called us Caalran" Lin Yao whispered, "Long have we waited."
Caalran knelt before her again and with his head bowed he awaited his destiny as Animara's sword fell upon him.

'Ride forth Caalran, seek out Luxon and Kurzick alike, seek out the strong and the gifted, seek out those capable of using these golden horns before you. With speed go now, ride with the spirit of Animara for her fate will not be lost in vain for as long as the horn of the Forever Knights draws near those of grace and courage!'

With Animara's sword Caalran returned to the Forever Knights with Kurzick and Luxon alike riding under the same banner, united under the drake.

Yet something new stirred in Caalran's heart, to find the Wyrm Maiden he swore he would not fall to his doom like his brothers or his beloved Animara, Caalran rode the lands in search of arcane knowledge and dark whisper, he sought to live forever.

Chapter 5

Much gold came wasted in Caalran's search for everlasting life, it soon became known far and wide of his quest as tricksters and charlatans came quick to meet him with offers of potions and tales of how to achieve immortality.

Often among the tall tales and cons he would hear of Lacrimosa, a Lady of a vale, of how a siren of a valley had lived by a stream for two hundred years. Caalran sought her, an enchantress, a most despicable witch of black magic and even darker arts, a necromancer she was known and to the Lady of the Vale, this practitioner of evil he rode.

To great valleys the Forever Knights followed and in one such valley Caalran heard the cries of Animara, his long dead love. Without a second thought the Forever Knight galloped fast towards the vale of the seductress from whence the cries came.

Yet as he came closer to the wailing he saw not Animara but a masked lady, whose slender frame cast eerie shadows amongst the trees she stood. And to the Lady of the Vale he knelt and made his plea.

Her face hidden behind her mask Lacrimosa grinned with glee hearing his pain and anguish. "Do my bidding and in time, you Prince Caalran, shall live as long as the stars. Conquer all enslaved lands but stay clear of the east, sleep by day and battle by night and upon each seventh day eat no food, nor talk to no man but only drink red wine granted to you by myself - for I Lacrimosa shall travel with you."

And so she that had dwelt by the vale for two hundred years rode with Caalran and the Forever Knights to lands to be vanquished. As the years passed many knights fell to Caalran's perilous endeavour, yet none questioned his will or queried his judgement for so loved by all Forever Knights was he.

After each bloody victory Caalran drunk Lacrimosa's red wine from Animara's horn, for it was the memory of she, his beautiful beloved he fought. In the north he became known as Caalran the Valiant and in the south Caalran the Great and to the west Caalran the Pure, yet never did he venture east as Lacrimosa instructed.

And all those Caalran liberated ignored his peculiar way of sleeping by day, his silence to men on the seventh day and his strange masked companion forever at his side.

After seven years Lacrimosa sent word to escort her to the east and there the Forever Knights met ferocious fighting, often at times victories looked unattainable yet Caalran and his knights fought always with grace and courage…and won!

The loss of lives had come great, no longer Caalran rode with those who had fought with his brothers or father, now only their sons remained and enraged by the death toll he became.

"I have done all you sought Lacrimosa, conquered lands not mine for the taking, won great victories I had no place being, lost gallant knights dear to me, but all for a whisper you promised long ago. No longer shall I travel or kill by night, I wish to see the sun rise and feels its warm rays upon my face - to be free of your will I so wish!"

Lacrimosa laughed. "Come with me my Prince, the last battle you have fought, you have done all I asked of you and more, it is time to keep my promise, I Lacrimosa shall give you the secret of life everlasting." Leaving the knights she took him by the arm and to a dark cave she led him, secluded from people and animal alike.

Together they drunk her wine and upon unveiling her mask, his face lit up astonished to see her truly for the first time, it was known she had lived for two hundred years yet her face had not aged by time but shone beautiful like that of a Goddess. In rapture of her beauty, Caalran pulled her close and kissed she he served, Lacrimosa grinned as Caalran held her tightly and in the darkness of the cave Lacrimosa revealed her true self to him.

The Lady of the Vale smiled as she lifted Caalran's head to one side, exposing the throbbing vein it contained. She pulled her head to his neck and into Caalran Lacrimosa sunk her fangs and in her clutch the Forever Knight fell to a vampire.

Upon hearing a groan Lacrimosa leant back taking Caalran with her, then cut her teeth into her own skin, raking a deep gash across her left arm, she saw him at last open his eyes. Desire immersed Caalran as he awoke, the sweetness of blood contained beneath her tempting skin took hold of him and from Lacrimosa's arm Caalran drank.

Newly formed fangs perturbed from his mouth, Caalran bit hard and to his astonishment he lunged at her with great thirst, for like Lacrimosa's red wine it tasted. Her blood flowed through his body, renewing almost at once his strength and condition. And pulling back from the Lady of the Vale, Caalran licked the blood slowly from his lips, relishing its sweet taste in his mouth.

"Caalran, Caalran." Lacrimosa spoke his name...almost caressing it. And with a faint smirk the Lady of the Vale placed her hands around his waist and whispered softly. "You are like me now."

She stood close to him, letting her soft blonde hair fall back, a vampire she was caught in the blood gaze, taking pleasure in the presence of another like herself, whose lust for scarlet was stronger than her own. Lacrimosa looked into his eyes; blood red they shone and in the blackness of the cave she laughed with delight as she saw his fangs extrude hungrily against his lips, desiring what all vampires desire.

"Claim what you sought so long for Caalran, claim me! I the immortal!" Her words came textured like velvet, her voice was low and intense, yet her speech sounded like a stranger to him and as she spoke he watched blood drip delicately from her lips, the hunger was within him.

"I am a blood drinker Caalran, as you are. You searched me out, and I came to you. In these years past you have vanquished all my enemies - all they who would slay me."

The Lady of the Vale laughed excitedly as she licked the blood dripping from her lips and fangs. "I lingered a little longer in the towns you conquered Caalran and drank enough human blood to sate my hunger."
Rage dwelled within him, he was a monster, an eater of men, a fallen knight, lost to the blood lust like the vixen before him. Caalran masked his anger with a smile and letting her guard down Lacrimosa accepted his grasp.

Lifting her head to one side Lacrimosa exposed her neck to him and into it Caalran sank his fangs, Lacrimosa clung tight as the cut of his teeth sank deep into her flesh and under his spell she fell, suffocated by the torment of pleasure vampires give.

And as Caalran stole Lacrimosa's blood, he could smell her fear and hear her heart as it pounded slower as her power left her. Hearing her heartbeat decrease Caalran gently whispered "I mean to kill you Lacrimosa." Yet Lacrimosa could not escape, she was now too weak to let go of his grip - into his trap Lacrimosa had fallen.

Shaking violently she collapsed to the ground and licking the last of the her blood from his lips Caalran stood watching Lacrimosa as her life force left her. Lacrimosa's lower lip crusted with blood as she spoke for the last time upon this earth "Caalran..."

Caalran the Immortal left the dark cave and its dying vampire within and to the Forever Knights a newly born vampire returned triumphant. "Knights! I Prince Caalran shall find the Wyrm Maiden, if not in this age but the next with your sons or indeed even their sons - for I am a vampire, immortal!"

The Forever Knights looked on in awe at the pale rider before them, yet no knight responded, those that so loved him turned their backs to Caalran. For Caalran had betrayed everything Forever Knights sought and believed, no more in the purest of Forever Knights could they see grace or courage but instead only anger and greed.

Outcast Caalran was, but not only by his knights. No longer did the whispers of the Wyrm Maiden pursue him. And so the dark vampire travelled alone.

Yet the tale of Prince Caalran is not over yet, for still he lives! Centuries old and maddened by the loss of the Wyrm Maiden and his beloved Animara, the vampire Caalran stalks the night, once the finest of Forever Knights…now their greatest enemy.

Epilogue:

"Seekers of the lady of dreams we are, Acolytes of the Wyrm Maiden, Forever Knights questing her cause..."