kulric-stoneheart

[kulric-stoneheart]

Homeward

I awoke, half on the floor, to a sharp rapping at my chamber door. “Kulric, my boy, are you alive in there?” 

I tried to talk but it came out as gibberish. I scrambled to get myself up off the floor and onto to bed, grabbing some clean pants while I did so. Once I was drassed and hurried over to the door and swung it open. Avacyn stood there, hair draped down his shoulders like golden waves. “The barkeep tells me that you literally crawled to your room last night. With anyone else I would be worried, but I heard you put away three and a half kegs of ale. You dwarves are resilient, that’s for sure.”

A redness came to my cheeks. I didn’t remember downing three and a half kegs of ale. “Guess I ran up a pretty impressive tab then. That’s fine, once I get home I won’t be needing much in the way of gold.” I said as I gestured him to come in.

He bowed lightly and walked in, sitting himself at a small table. “Don’t worry about that tab, I paid it for you, as a gift for having faith in me.”

I scoffed, “I should be buying you drinks and giving you gifts, you saved my damn life in there. Rowan was ready to throw me to the wolves if it meant his ass was covered!”

Avacyn nodded solemnly, “I’ve known Rowan for a great amount of time, and the one thing that is certain about him is that he wants an untarnished reputation. He was desperate to keep it that way, but I had to explain some of the...benefits of letting this dirty laundry air out in the open.”

I walked over and pulled out another chair. Inside, I wondered why Avacyn would want to meet me in a seedy tavern when he had all of Laelith to summon me to. “Well, what benefits would that be?”

“You see, he was looking at this situation from a more fragile perspective. He believed that once word got out, nobody would trust the order. I told him that if he lets the news out now, while it’s still fresh, the people will know that it was taken care of. If the people find out something that was hidden from them for so long, you’ll never get their trust back. Even with that, he wanted you as far away from the Order as possible, thus the expulsion. I hope that wasn’t too harsh for you.”

I shook my head, “No that was best case scenario, honestly. I can’t even begin to thank you.”

“Well, there is one thing. Something I’ve been thinking of. You are no longer part of the Order, but you could still have a place here in Laelith. Instead of working for Rowan, what would you say working for me? A paladin of Avacyn. No pageantry, no ponce, no agenda. just you going out and doing good things. Whatever you want really, as long as it’s good.”

I sat there for a few beats. Working directing for the leader of a major city was a dream of mine, but that was just it, wasn’t it? It was a dream, but that dream had been tarnished, a bitter taste was left in my mouth. “What do you gain from this?”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing. I just find that it’s a bit of wasted potential. Listen, I can see that you’re willing to do whatever in order to help the common people. I want more people like that. Like you. I don’t want to pressure you though. I understand if you need to take some time to think over it.”

I shook my head, “No, I know what I need to do. I can’t take your offer, not after what happened. It’s all too close to home, and speaking of home, I need to go back to my family, to let them know that I’m alright.”

Avacyn reached over and touched my hand, “I understand, Kulric. Trust me. Let me just say that if your sister were he--”

“Don’t bring up my sister, Avacyn.” I slid my hand away.

“I was just going to say that she’d be so proud.”

Orizza Stoneheart was a role model for Kulric. His older sister, she went to join the Order of the Gauntlet decades before him. Only now, she was missing. No word had gotten to anyone on her whereabouts, but she was a stalwart knight of the Order when she disappeared. In a way, Kulric hoped that by joining the Order, he would finally have some closure about what had happened, but life plays cruel jokes. 

“I’m sure she would.” I said, my voice devoid of spirit. “Is Harald ready to take me back?”

Avacyn nodded his head slowly, “I’ll tell him you’ll be on your way shortly, he should be hanging around the stables getting the horses ready.” He walked towards the door. “Kulric. It was an honor having you in my city. If you ever return to us, do let me know. We can get drinks or something. Don’t live your entire life in fear of yourself. Goodbye, my boy.”

The ride back to Citadel Felbarr was the worst trip so far. Harald had been ordered to talk as little as possible to me, just to make me as uncomfortble as possible. It left me alone with my thoughts, about my future. I would go home, be with my family. My younger brother would need some guidance since both parents were busy at their jobs. Perhaps I could gain some honor as a hard worker.

Finally, as we crested the harsh mountains of the Felbarr Range, the valley below brought tears to my eyes. A swooping, lush vale of green grass, and on a cliff high above, the imposing gates of Citadel Felbarr, and the peace of knowing that I was home once again.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Judgement Day

The deliberation between the four of us went on for the better part of a day. Elise recalled her testimony over and over again, even under Rowan’s aggressive questioning. She never broke, never backed down from the brute of a man. Avacyn, for the most part, stayed quiet and listened to the testimonies. However, Rowan stood to his one judgement: The Order’s respect would be compromised if it got out that one of their Knights abused their power. He’d rather cover it up than move on.

Finally, Avacyn placed a gentle hand on Rowan’s arm. “We’ve heard both of their sides. It’s time you and I talked alone and really sorted this out, hmm?”

I didn’t expect them to leave us alone, leave us to our own devices and stew over my fate. My stomach twisted into knots. I know I would never be able to make it out, but I thought about making a bolt for the main doors when they left. I looked over at Elise and saw the peace in her eyes. After seeing how much faith she must have in Avacyn, I decided against fleeing.

Rowan looked between us, huffed, and nodded to the winged figure. They both stood and walked into a side room. Avacyn gestured for Rowan to enter before him, and as he entered, looked at me and shot a thumbs-up in my direction. I relaxed in my chair, the first time I had done so all day. Elise rubbed her temples with her hands. “I did not think this is how my week would be going. How are you holding up?”

I nodded, “I’m alright, really. Just stressed. I didn’t think Rowan would offer me up as a sacrifice to his Order just to keep himself safe.”

She shrugged lightly. “I can see where he comes from, however twisted it may be. He’s built up this order over countless years, and now that it serves to guard people and do good it seems like it’s being wrenched away from him. I’m sure if Juras was here he’d be giving him thrice as much hell as he’s been giving you. He’s just...” She sighed, “He’s just desperate.”

Silence overtook the room as we soaked in the peace. “How did you get here so fast?” I asked Elise.

“Well,” she started, “Avacyn came into town about a few days after you left with Harald. He came in and said how little time we had and whisked me away to Ile Canal, southwest of our town if you’ve never been. King Llane got wind that the great Avacyn made an appearance in his city and sent a rather forceful invitation to join him for a meeting about the rising orc threat. Avacyn insisted that we had no time, and we basically had to sneak away and make a break for the city’s Lyceum. That took us yet another day and by the time we got back here, well, it was nearly to late by the looks of it.”

I let a small chuckle leave me, “Looks like you had quite an adventure too.”

With that, we made small talk as we waited for the leaders to rejoin. My mind was swimming with what my fate could be. I could be killed for this, forgotten by time, a footnote in another’s story. Perhaps, though, it would be worse to continue on in the order. Could I live with myself every day if I worked under the same man who threatened the kill me for what I had done? There was no good ending to be reached, I was sure of it. The future was covered in a undetermined fog.

 After a couple hours the doors to the chapel burst open and the two came walking back to the dais. One at a time they sat. The silence seemed to drag on for ages before Rowan spoke, his words weighted in his mouth. “After careful delibertion, I have decided to protect your life in this matter, Squire Stoneheart. We will take full responsibility for Knight Kelborn’s actions, but on one condition.” He looked at Avacyn, “Kulric Stoneheart is hereby expelled from the Order of the Guantlet. He will not act under our banner nor our oaths. This is final.”

Without another word, Rowan rose and made long strides out of the Grand Cathedral. Avacyn stood next, “I’m sorry, Kulric. We had to compromise to keep you safe.” His gaze turned to Elise, “Come, dear, I will be glad to escort you back to Duncaster. You deserve that and more for helping a life today. Stoneheart, you should pack your things. I’ll come see you in the morning before you leave.”

Once I was alone, I broke down. tears came down my face and onto the tiled floor of the dormitory. A part of me was sad. I didn’t want my adventure to be over so quickly, so abruptly. Yet another side, a larger side, was grateful. Grateful to Avacyn for convincing Rowan to spare me. Grateful that I don’t have to be in the Order. Grateful, more so, that I can go live a normal life. Maybe this wasn’t for me. The outside world is a cruel place without structure. No, it was time to go home now.

As i packed my things in the squire’s dormitory, I wondered what the other Knights would be told. What would Bowen hear about Juras, about me? The dormitory was forbidden to me for the evening. So with my stuff in tow, I made my way to an affordable tavern. It was loud, smelly, and bustling, but it’s what I’ve been used to while on the road. Some nights there was just us and the forest around us. I rented a room, dropped my stuff off, and returned downstairs to drink myself into a fitful night’s sleep.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Reckoning

The days it took to get back to Laelith were full of reflection and small conversations with the otherwise silent Harald. We passed through the forests of Remtas, due north into the wide rolling plains. We traversed the land between the Felbarr Range and bay near Plaga. Finally, we turned westward until we arrived at Laelith’s gates. Undertakers were waiting for the wagon as we pulled into the city. They carefully unloaded the body of Juras Keborn and loaded him onto a different cart, carrying him off for burial preparations.

As we rode through the city, it was clear that word had gotten out about the demise of Knight Juras. Pedestrians parted like the sea for our wagon, gawking at the chained dwarf that sat beside Harald. I kept my head low, but stole glances at the crowd every now and then. Old men with plastered sour looks on their faces shook their heads while younger men and women muttered under their breath. Every now and then someone in the crowd would yell “Oathbreaker!” or “Murderer!”

It was clear that whatever the outcome of my trial, this city was no longer a welcoming home for me. We cut through merchant’s row. Business halted as all eyes swung up to see me paraded through the city. “I’m sorry about all this publicity but Rowan wanted to do it this way...” Harald muttered to me.

“It’s fine.” Was all I could respond.

I looked up once more, and a booth caught my eye. It was a humble looking stall, smaller than the others, with pieces of crafted dwarven jewelry. Behind the counter was Ollie, the dwarf I met the first day in the Holy City. She looked up at me, eyes raised in confusion. I reached up and grabbed the iron amulet around my neck, the one she had given me as a welcome present. I had to look away. Her gaze hurt the most.

“Promise that once you find your fortune, you’ll come back to my little shop and look around some more.”

My fortune didn’t seem very good at the moment.

We arrived at the Cathedral. Harald got off first and unchained me. With a firm hand he led me inside the grand building. The lobby was empty, and so was the main interior, save for one person. Rowan sat at a high seat behind the altar, seemingly prepared for us to enter. Wordless, Harald brought me to a chair placed on the opposite side of the large stone altar and sat me down. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder before walking out of sight.

Rowan sat glowering at me for the better part of a minute before standing.  His dark brown hair still cleanly kept, though the rest of him looked like it hadn’t seen rest in days. The commanding voice reverberated off of everything in the empty room.  “Kulric Stoneheart. Squire of the Order of the Gauntlet, under the enforcement of Knight Juras Kelborn, who now lay dead.”

I raised my head higher. After more than a week of preparing myself for this moment, my heart still beat wildly. I would not show regret.

“A report came in last week that you slew Knight Juras in single combat. I will never know how a squire of your...stature came to kill him, but what I do know is that repercussions must be made. I cannot stress enough how bad of a place you have put us in.”

“Juras was a dangerous man who created more problems than he solved. His actions were not that of a Knight befitting his rank!” I exclaimed.

“Enough!” barked Rowan. “Let’s say I entertain your notion. Even if he was as bad as you say he was, you’ve exposed a major flaw in our Order! If word of his actions gets out, our Order is through! All the hard work we have done to keep the peace and help the people would go up in smoke.

“But that’s not how it happened, is it?” His face twisted into a grimace, “Perhaps you were jealous? Perhaps he was a hard teacher and you couldn’t take it? Whatever the reason you killed him in cold blood and without honor! THAT is what the people will hear from this whole issue. They will decide your punishment, and if they call for your head, we will have to give it to them.”

I roared in protest at his words, my rage boiling inside me. He was wrong, I did the right thing. I am the hero! 

Whatever they do to you, they can’t take away the good you’ve done...the people you’ve affected.

“They’ll name you Oathbreaker, and your punishment will be swift! The Order must have the faith of the pe--”

“That will do, old friend.” The voice came from the doors to the Cathedral. It was loud, louder than Rowans, but it instilled peace. The voice was unforgettable.

Avacyn walked down the isle towards the altar. “You are afraid of the truth getting out, aren’t you Rowan? The truth that you know is inevitable? The rug has been lifted, and the dirt has been exposed. Even now you try to hide it, going as far as to sacrifice this dwarf?”

Rowan stared at Avacyn. “There is no proof. This squire killed his Knight in cold blood.”

“Yes, I am aware that you failed to obtain any witnesses.” He came to the altar and stepped aside, revealing a young figure. 

Elise Twofeet stood tall. She looked in my direction and nodded solemnly. “Now,” Exclaimed Avacyn as he clapped his hands, “Let’s settle this.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

The Weight of a Heart

Morning after morning, pale light shone through the stained glass of the small church in Duncaster. Nobody had come to bother me, nobody but Elise Twofeet. She came to the church at least twice a day, knocked gently before opening the door, and brought me food. I spent each day praying to any god who would hear me. She always knew where to find me. I was always kneeling in front of the altar, my head bowed deeply.

She was the only one to understand what I did and why. When I saved her from Juras’ lust, she knew what he was and she was on my side. She talked to me every day, filling me in on how the town was handling such a big murder on their land. Most were confused, and wary to come anywhere near the church. Even services were held in a farmer’s barn for the time that I was inside. Lindon said he needed time away from everything and took off to a ‘relative’s house.’ The most troubling though, happened on the night the showdown took place.

While Juras and I fought outside of the tavern, the few guards neglected one of their most recent prisoners, Quaile. During the fracas, she easily got away and back to her gang in the forest. With Juras dead, I can’t be sure what her new motives will be, but I knew I had bigger problems than a runaway prisoner.

It had been a week since I sequestered myself in meditation and prayer. The day was like any other that I had spent in the church. The knock on the door. The creaking of it opening. There were two pairs of footsteps. Finally, it was time. I stood from my position and gathered my armor that was haphazardly strewn in a corner. I looked to the door and saw Elise first, she looked nervous. Behind her was a large figure, clad in silver armor. As he stepped into the light I saw his familiar face.

“The body is loaded up. Let’s get going before it starts to smell even worse.” Harald declared, gesturing me to follow. 

A small smile found it’s way onto my face. In this crisis of change, at least a familiar face would guide me to my punishment. I stopped and looked up at Elise. “I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality, even if the rest would not give me a second thought. Without you, I wouldn’t be as ready for this as I truly am. What I do hope for, is that you find some peace in the days to come.”

She smiled down at me, “It was an honor, Kulric. You saved me, and I wanted to show you how thankful I was.” She clasped me in a tight hug. “Whatever they do to you, they can’t take away the good you’ve done...the people you’ve affected.”

The sentiment brought tears to my eyes. As she pulled away, she nodded down to me and looked over to Harald, who stood in the doorway, “Sweet as sugar, now let’s go!”

A tarp lay over the huge body in the back of the wagon. I was shackled, my weapons were confiscated and placed in the back as well. Dudon met us on the road out and offered a slow bow as we rolled past. I looked back to see father and adoptive daughter together, waving as our cart rolled out of sight.

“Never thought you’d be the one I’d be hauling back, Stoneheart. Th’ way you acted in Laelith, thought you’d be one of the big cogs in th’ machine someday. Guess we all can’t be walking the straight and narrow.”

I looked up at him. “You ever had to make a difficult decision? Not one where both options are right and you need to choose between them. I mean a decision where one option is blatantly wrong and the other is obviously right, but the right one is so so difficult to do?  That’s what I had to do. I did the right thing, Harald. I made a difference.”

“You may have made one or two people happy with your choices back there, but so many more are going to be affected by not having Juras around. He was known to solve the most issues down this coast.”

“His form of justice is not what the Order should be known for. If you’ve heard anything about him, you’d agree with me. He was violent, brusque, vicious and dangerous. The problems he solved just begot more problems in the end.” I paused, “You remember when you picked me up from Felbarr? We ran into that merchant who scammed people?”

Harald nodded and let me continue. 

“You made him admit his wrongdoings and set him on a path of redemption. You gave him the choice to do better. Juras would have killed him on the spot, pocketed some of his wares, and threw the rest of the items into the crowd. It would have caused fights and disputes and set villages against each other. You did the right thing, though you may have been heavy-handed. He was something more.” I looked back at the tarp. “He was no paladin.”

Harald sighed, “I see what you’re saying, I do. I was never a big fan of him and his works, but his death wasn’t your decision to make. You should have taken it to Highlord Rowan. He would have taken care of it.”

“That is my regret. I should have said something sooner but I never thought he would stoop so low as to hurt and innocent. By the time I realized, I had no time to send word to Rowan. I had to do what I had to do. I don’t regret what I did, but I do wonder if there could have been another outcome.”

“Well, one thing I’ll tell you: you have my respect.” He paused and smiled into the distance, never once looking at me. “What you did was extreme, but there are so many people who choose to stay safe and let people suffer. While you may regret this, those people regret so much more. They wake up thinking about it, go about their day making hypotheticals about what they could have done, even go to sleep with it replaying in their heads. I hope you don’t experience that. It’s does no good.”

His words put me at ease. For a time, it seemed like I was back almost two years ago, riding with Harald to Laelith, my heart full of excitement. Then I remembered my true reality, how empty my heart felt now. “So, you think Rowan will say something similar?”

He took a moment to answer. “Not in the slightest.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

The Breaking

TW: Alluding to rape

The inn was lively, all of the farmers and farmhands enjoyed a good drink at the end of a long days work, but a hush fell over the tavern as the squire who was stolen entered and walked up to the counter. One of the waitresses came by, “Oh hon, you’re alright! Oh Juras is going to be thrilled, you know. He had a big speech about scouring the forest to find you!”

“I just want a drink, can you get me the bartender?”

She nodded, went to a door leading into the back and called out, “Lindon! Squire requesting you!”

My blood ran cold. Lindon, the name on those letters. He was the one informing the gang of what caravans to rob. By the time he poked his head around the corner, I couldn’t hide. He sauntered up to me and plastered on a wide smile. “Stoneheart! My, what a surprise. You must have put up quite a fight to find your way back here. Let me get you a drink, on the house. You like ale?”

“Sure, yeah. Juras is alright, I assume?” I asked as the bartender turned his back.

“More than alright, I’d say. He’s claiming his reward upstairs right now. I’m sure he’ll have a good time, but I kind of worry about her.”

“Wait, who? What’s his reward?”

“The old knight got Twofeet to offer up his own daughter as his reward. Can’t say she looked to pleased about it but when it’s your father and a Knight as big as Kelborn how can you -- where are you going?”

I jumped from my seat and bounded upstairs, large hammer in hand. As I got to our room I tried to open the door, but it was locked. I heard struggling from the other side. I took a step back and brought my hammer down on the lock. It shattered and the door flung open. I stepped in the room. Juras, with just his undergarments on, was pinning Twofeet’s fighting daughter, Elise, to the bed. Juras’ head whipped in my direction, a look of utter shock splayed out on his face.

Elise took the moment to bring a decisive knee up into his groin, which caused him to let go of her and retreat off the bed. Elise scrambled off the bed and out of the door, wrapping the sheets around her naked form. Juras lunged to go after her, but I had already reached my boiling point. He was still doubled over as I charged him, shoulder first. He was picked up off of his feet as we crashed through two glass pane doors onto the balcony, then further straight off of it. We hurdled down towards the ground from the second story. Juras broke my fall, and I rolled off of his gasping body. “You bastard. You call yourself a knight? Criminal!”

I brought my hammer down on his sternum, but before he made contact, a large meaty hand latched onto it and stopped it mid-swing. With a flick of a wrist he flung it to the side. It clattered against the outside of the tavern. Juras took a knee and slowly rose from his place on the ground. “You’ve made a pretty hefty mistake, Stoneheart.”

“The Order will hear of what you’ve done, Juras. It’s already over.”

“The only thing the order will hear about,” He paused, wiping sweat from his face, “Is how I had to put you down for my own good.”

With that, he swung a large fist that met my nose square on and sent me splayed on the ground. Blood flowed freely from the broken nose and I tried to scramble to my feet. He was upon me in an instant though. With little effort, he picked me up and launched me against the side of the tavern. I felt a sharp pain in my side and I hit the ground. I fumbled for my hammer as I heard him walk closer. I formed a tight grip and launched myself up. Shooting pain only made me yell louder as my hammer connected with Juras’ chin. He stumbled backwards as I took advantage of the retreat. 

I swung hard at his kneecap and heard a satisfying crunch. He howled in pain and was brought to a knee. I hit him hard across the face as it jerked to one side. I brought my hammer up, aiming to knock him unconscious when he struck me with a heavy punch. It was enough to make a drop the hammer and stagger as the breath left me again. He gabbed me by the arm and lifted me as he stood. “I almost feel bad you were assigned to me. You would have been a worthy knight.”

I struggled out words as my free arm went for my belt. “There is a reason...for everything.” 

I grasped my original hammer and slipped it from it’s loop. With all the strength I could muster I swung it forcefully against his head. Not only did it connect, but a bright flash of light emanated from the strike, giving it the extra needed power to crumple Juras’ body completely. I dropped nearly six feet to the ground with him. I had no idea what power had granted me the ability to hit him as I did, but it was unintended. He was not breathing. Part of his head was caved in. Blood trickled from his mouth. It was only then I looked up to find that the entirety of the tavern, as well as Twofeet and his daughter looked on from a distance. “Send word to Laelith.” I called out. “A fallen paladin needs to be retrieved, as does his killer.”

The town’s church was dark and not far away. Without anyone stopping me, I hobbled towards it. As I entered, I shut the doors behind me. I walked down the aisle, up to the altar, and collapsed before it, begging for the god’s mercy for what I had done.

[kulric-stoneheart]

The Big Reveal

The desk was modest. Five feet long with drawers on both sides. A high back chair scooted back on one side. I approached with a sense of caution. Papers were splayed out on the surface, handwritten note and letters yet to be sent out. I picked up a couple.

‘Banking caravan being sent to Aurum’s Pass. Extreme caution to be taken. High risk, high reward. Four bells, June 6th. Fell trees to box in. Launch arrows until safe to engage up close. - Lindon’

‘Carrige with high ransom target heading through Remtas. Known empath. Lie ‘injured’ in road. When stopped, take by force. Bring back to safe house. November 23rd, eleven bells, in the morning. - Lindon’

Whoever this Lindon was seemed to be sending letters to the gang here telling them of high priority targets. All the letters on the table seemed to be in the same handwriting, except for one. Carefully, I picked it up and read through it.

Quaile,

I hope this missive finds you well. Twofeet has once again sent for my services. Expect me and my companion in about two weeks time. There is a caveat this time, though. This squire has not been as receptive to how I work as you once were. He is asking too many questions. Take him once we enter the forest, keep him for five days time. Pay will be tripled for this. I will mount a ‘rescue’ once I have collected my reward. He will trust in me one way or another. Until then, be safe.

-Kelborn

I read the letter at least five times over. I felt sick. Betrayal was the last thing I expected of a knight of the Order, but here I was presented with the evidence. I caught my breath and pocketed the note. I could only assume that this Quaile was the leader of this band of marauders. I quickly searched the rest of the room. If I was about to do what needed to be done, I needed my armor. I hurried up a set of stairs on the other end of the common room. The second floor consisted of beds side by side, at least seven of them, with chests at each foot board. 

I took the brass key out of my pocket and tried it in each lock. The fourth one down, the mechanism clicked and I pushed open the lid. My armor was scattered among the other belongings. I buckled it all on, retrieved my original hammer, and put it on my belt. Without much time to lose, I flew down the stairs and out the door. I paused as I stepped outside. I had no idea where I was. The only clue I had to go off of was a footpath that led away from the safe house. The path that the group of marauders must have taken to meet up with someone by the road. Juras, it had to have been Juras. I sped down the path, hoping to find the road.

After a half hour, I heard talking ahead of me, and slowed down. I crept into the brush off of the path. A few minutes alter four figures passed by, dressed in leathers and cowls over their heads. “...she’ll find a way to get out and get back here, that’s what the knight promised, and he hasn’t led us wrong before...”

The voice faded back toward the safe house. Slowly I found my way back to the path and kept going. A short time later, the brush ended and I was deposited out onto a heavily forested road. I sighed in relief and as the sun sank below the horizon I ran south down the trade road to Duncaster.

I got there about two hours later, my legs sore from the trip. Lanterns were lit around town, and the light was on in the trade office of Dudon Twofeet. I swung the door open, squinting my eyes to adjust to the light on my face. It looked like Dudon was tidying up, sweeping the floor, balancing expertly on his one foot. “Closed.” He called behind him without looking.

“Where is Kelborn?” 

He looked over his shoulder, “The squire? By the Gods, we thought they would have killed you like they did Quaile. How di-”

“Kelborn! Where?”

“I...” He paused, “He should be at his room in the inn getting his reward for bringing back the leader of the gang. Why?”

I left without saying a word, and headed towards the inn of this sleepy little farming town.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Into the Fire

I spent at least three days in the dark and dreary storeroom. The same figure came to give me scraps of food, and a taste of water. I knew more were around though, as I could hear multiple sets of footsteps above me. They unbuckled my armor and stole away my hammer and shield. Apart from bringing me food and water, nobody else entered the storeroom. My arms were bound behind a wooden support beam by tied off hempen rope. Naturally, I spent my free time, as there was a lot of it, grinding a portion of the rope into the edge of the wooden pillar.

The third day, the frayed rope broke with a satisfying snap. It was probably an hour after my luncheon feeding, so I had some time before the same man came down again for dinner. I stood up, trying not to make a sound. My legs buckled beneath me from days of them not being used. Holding onto crates and barrels, I made my way around the room looking for my armor or my hammer. It seemed they were a somewhat smart bunch, and didn’t leave them down with me, to my dismay. I started prying open the different crates and barrels to see if there could be something I could use inside. Most had what looked to be rations. Grain, dried meats, leather and hide. I helped myself to some of the dried meats, enough to hold me over and get some of my strength back.

I thought about what a plan would be. Would I wait down here until feeding time and attack the man? If I couldn’t pacify him in time, he would call for help, then I’d really be fucked. If I took him out, it would be one less to worry about, but I’d have to act fast. What if I was just really careful and tried to sneak out? No...no. I knew enough about myself to realize I was the least sneaky person I knew. There were too many up there. If I was getting out, it would be a fight. 

I opened another crate in the corner of the room and tears nearly came to my eyes. Inside was a litany of armaments. Maces, daggers, swords, flails and finally, a thick and burly hammer, larger than the original one I got from the Order. I held it in my grip and gave it a few test swings, and found myself satisfied. The time was almost nigh. 

I stationed myself behind an empty crate, close to the stairway that led down into the cellar I was in. I was there for what seemed like forever, my heart pounding. I thought over my plan time and time again, and every time I felt a sense of doom wash over me. It was impossible, I would die down here. Then the door opened, and I could hear someone call above me, “We’re going to meet him near the road, we’ll be back later today.”

I thanked whatever gods governed the hands of fate. I still only had one shot at this. The pair of feet descended the stairs. They were close enough I could hear breathing. The shadow passed me by, and I moved from my cover. The figure stopped, but just as he was about to turn I swung my hammer across his temple, whipping it sideways. The plate he carried flew and shattered along the floor. The body crumpled, and though he had a large gash on his head, he still drew breath. I held my own breath, listening for any sound of alarm, but there was just the shuffling of feet above me. 

I patted the man down, trying to find any information on who he was, but the only thing I happened to find was a brass key. I pocketed it and went for the stairs. I dropped to all fours and crawled my way up the steps, careful to keep low and distribute my weight evenly. As I surfaced to the next landing, I surveyed the floor. To my left was a common area with tables and seats, games were set up, as if someone left midway through. I stood and took a step onto the landing, and the door flew shut. I managed to dive onto the landing as a large figure revealed itself behind the now shut door. 

They charged me, something about the size of a burly human. He was brandishing a sledgehammer. He brought it down on me. I rolled before it splintered the spot where I once was. I jumped to my feet and swung my hammer at a spot behind his knee, which caused him to buckle. He arced his sledge sideways, catching me in the side and knocking the breath out of me. He stood and lumbered over, swinging the sledge high above him head as if he were about to hammer a nail. I dove though his legs as he shattered the wooden planks. He grew enraged. He turned on a dime, the hammer already above his head and brought it down again. Shards of wood flew everywhere. He turned to face me, three holes cracked into the wood. I gripped my hammer and buried it into a fourth spot on the floor. He brought up his hammer again, but before he could swing the floor buckled under him, and he was sent falling into the cellar, colliding with the crates and barrels under him.

I caught my breath, but the creaking of a floorboard behind me caused me to turn and instinctively throw my hammer. The force behind me turning and throwing the weapon sent it flying at incredible speed straight into the chest of a elven woman, dirks brandished, about ten feet away. She went flying backwards into a bookcase in the next room. She tried to get up, but the force of the hit caused the bookcase to tip forward and fall, rendering her incapacitated.  I ran to pick up my hammer, and paused to look into the study. It was a smaller room, with now one upright bookshelf. A window opened to the forest beyond. I braced myself against the wall and peaked from behind it. There were no guards outside that I could see.

I looked back to the desk, and approached it. 

[kulric-stoneheart]

Out of the Pan

Juras and I rode out to the most recent casualty of the bandit’s onslaught. During the short ride, The Knight spoke about his past experiences with this specific group. They seemed to never stop growing, never yielding, and their leader never seemed to be captured or found. They’ve gone as far as to kill one of Juras’ previous squires to try and make him forget about them, but it only made things personal. I wonder if that’s a reason why he gets so angry all the time?

The scene we came upon was nothing terrible. Nobody had lost their lives but the contents of the caravan were either broken along the dirt path or just outright stolen. Someone who we presumed to be the driver was crouched over another man who was sitting with his back up against a tree. As we approached it was clear that this man put up quite a fight and was most likely a guard, though he stood no chance. 

“Where did they go off to?” Was all Juras asked.

They looked up at us and pointed due north, into the trees of Remtas, the forest where untold magical things made their home. Juras, though, did not hesitate and I walked quickly behind him. He only paused before the large trees to take out his sword. “Stay close” He called behind, then he plunged into the treeline. 

He was moving so fast, I had much trouble keeping up with him, perhaps he forgot his squire had such short legs. By the time I entered the treeline, I had lost sight of him. “Juras?” I called out.

I heard him yell in front of me, and followed the sound of his voice. His yells became more and more panicked, but always in front of me. Then finally, silence. The absence of noise was deafening to my ears. For all the lives that live in a forest, not one made a sound. Suddenly, leaves rustled as something charged me. Before I could get my shield up, it bashed me unconscious.

I awoke with a start, my head pounding, laying on a hard stone floor. My hands were bound, as well as my feet. Using my shoulder I pushed myself up to a sitting position. My eyes were bleary, but I could tell I was in a wooden house of some kind. There was only one large room stacked with crates, barrels, boxes, sacks and chests. The wheels started turning in my head before a figure stepped out from a dark corner.

“Good, we didn’t hit you too hard. You’re able to speak, right?” The darkened figure said as it started to make it’s way over to me. 

My mouth was bone dry, but my lips formed the words, though they sounded as if they came from an old man’s mouth. “Who ‘re you?”

“Me? I’m apart of an ‘us,’ and I think you’ve heard of us, or you wouldn’t have been with that brute in the forest, right? We have no name, we aren’t that pretentious. We’re just a group that wants what other people have, and what better time to take it than in transit?” Light passed over his face, but it was covered by a dirty rag. “Once again, Knight Juras is back to hunt us down, even though he has failed miserably in the past.

“As I said before, we don’t have a name.” He approached and loomed over me, “But to him, we are the squire killers.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

The Last Mission

As we rode back to the Western part of the nation, Juras was silent. The only conversation we had for a couple days was an explanation of the Yuan-ti, the snakelike creature we encountered in Nerrn. 

The Yuan-ti are a species of serpentine creatures who above all else crave power and ruin. They were once humans whose god bred them with snakes. There is a strict hierarchy in the Yuan-ti society. There is a constant need for sacrifices, as sacrifices give power. The most powerful have offered the most sacrifices, but all seek more blood for their god.

They deal in subterfuge and secrecy, refraining from attacking outright. Most of their plans are shrouded in mystery, and nobody knows if their ranks have been infiltrated or not.

Once we got back into our jurisdiction, we made out way south. The trip took us about a month or so, with all the odd jobs we took on. What made me concerned was the amount of money Juras demanded as a reward for the jobs we did. Sometimes he required almost all of a villager’s savings. As he left, I gave them what I could. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t go against him. His temper boiled over frequently now, ever since Nerrn. 

After a couple months we arrived in the southwestern corner of the continent. This was apparently a place that Juras frequented, as they always had problems with a particular group of bandits. Their leader was a mysterious man who could never be caught, but always kept harassing the townspeople. 

We hitched our horses around nightfall in a rather large town called Duncaster. It seemed like a quiet farming town, whose fields were full of cattle and sheep. We made our way to the inn and requested a room. While the room was being set up, the innkeeper graced us with his small talk. He spoke of the gang who had been terrorizing the town for a couple years now. Every time Juras comes and thwarts their tactics, a few get arrested, but there are always more.

We slept peacefully that first night, and once dawn came, Juras and I went to the person who requested him. One Mister Dudon Twofeet, a very hairy halfling who ironically enough only had one foot. Dudon sat over a desk in a shipping yard where caravans came to and fro as a pit stop between Ile Canal and other cities and towns. It was said that his foot was lost after a horse stampede that escaped from a caravan.

As we entered his office, Twofeet looked up from his paperword, pushing up a pair of bifocals on his face. “Knight Juras, a damn shame to see you again. We really thought they stopped the last time you came ‘round.”

“Everyone needs a lesson once and a while. Maybe their coward leader will show their face this time.” Juras smiled lightly as the halfling. 

“Yeah, that’s a fucking long shot innit?” the halfling spat. 

He stood from his chair and grabbed a walking stick to support his stump of a left foot and walked around the desk. “Bastards keep raiding our caravans heading away from the Canal. Survivors say they flee north towards the southern border of Remtas. Most of the militia and guards sent from Ile Canal are far too scared to go into that cursed forest. I know that you being so...brave...will have no trouble tracking them down and get our goods back, aye?”

As he finished talking, a young elf woman opened the door, already talking. “Another caravan just got hit, same thing as the last ones, they ran back to Rem-” She looked up at the company, “Oh, sorry pop, didn’t know you had company.”

The halfling nodded, “Thank you for the update, darling. Juras, you know my daughter Elise.” He looked to me, “Adoptive, before you get any fanciful ideas, squire.”

Elise bowed lightly and slipped out. Dudon walked back to his seat, “Here’s to hoping you find your old squire’s remains, and don’t lose this one along the way, Juras.” He raised an empty glass to him. 

Juras grunted, “We can only hope. Same fee as last time?” He didn’t seem to let on any more about his ‘old squire.’

Twofeet scoffed, “Yes, yes, same as last time and more if you get that bastard who leads them, now go while the trail is fresh.” He waved his hand dismissively.

As we walked out, I had heard enough. “Knights don’t ask for rewards for the good deeds they do. It’s not the right thing to do, Juras.

Juras sighed, but kept walking, “I’m tired of hearing it, Kulric. Once you’re a Knight, you can do things your way, but for now we do things mine. Now, shut up and let’s catch ourselves a criminal.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Concern and Doubt

The two paladins led me into a side-room in the tavern, as if it were for special events. They sat beside each other at one end of a round table and gestured for me to sit at the other end. “Since Knight Juras is out, this is the perfect time to have this little chat.” Bell started.

Pim nodded, “We just wanted to touch base with you. We are concerned with how you’re doing in your squire training. Juras has had other squires. Some of whom are now Knights, some couldn’t make the cut and left, and others...others have died under his care.” She let that sink in for a moment. “Is everything going smoothly?”

I hesitated for a moment, the idea that Juras led people to leave the Order or die trying to become a knight shook me. “He’s not like any Knight I’ve heard of. He’s a bit more brutish with how he solves things, you know? When I think of Knights I think of people who cross the land righting wrongs, asking for nothing in return, inspiring hope. Juras seems to leave more fear than hope.”

The knights looked at each other. Pim reached her hand out to me, grabbing my hand. “We don’t want you to go down the same path he went down. His upbringing was rough. Every man for himself type of lifestyle. Some of the Knights that graduated under him have adopted his way of dealing with things. It’s becoming a bit of a problem for our reputation.”

“Why does Rowan not do anything about it then? Deal out some punishment?”

Bell sighed, “Rowan, I think, has been in the role so long he’s become disillusioned to the news of his knights. He’s used to everything running smoothly, barely having to lift a finger outside of ceremonies. He doesn’t see what we see, being out on the road for months at a time. We are hoping that it won’t take someone like Juras doing something terrible for him to wake up.”

I nodded, “So what do you want from me?”

Pim smiled lightly, “Just...let us know if anything serious comes up with him. If Rowan won’t step in, you can count on us to come help you. We are more than your teachers, we are your friends. Your team. We need to do the most good to outweigh the heavy handed nature of some more of our Knights.”

For once, it really felt as if I were part of a team. That someone always had my back. I was almost sad that I had to be stuck with Juras, who was so distant and brutal. “Yes, of course. You’ll be the first to know.”

As if on cue, the front door flew open. “Kulric! Come on now, time to go.” 

The Knights looked at each other, then at me. “Juras is back, it seems.”

They left the room first, with me behind them. “Kelborn, you don’t mean to leave now, it’s nearly nightfall. You and Kulric need to rest.”

Juras was covered in sweat and dirt, and he was obviously agitated. “The Yuan-ti got away, that bastard.” He wiped his face. “Kulric and I have work to do in our own region. Pack your shit, say your goodbyes.” 

Juras eyed the Knight suspiciously and walked back out the door. I stood in stunned silence. I wanted a night of revelry with Lyons and Bowen, even Bell and Pim. That was being taken from me. I turned back to my friends, my team, who also looked disappointed. I gave hugs to Lyons and Bell. Bowen and I embraced. “Until next time, brother.”

Pim then approached me and bowed to me, “You have a lot of heart, Kulric. Remember what we said tonight.” We hugged for a few seconds. As I walked out the door Pim called out to me.

“Kulric. Do good out there.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

A Lesson in Trust

Wekel sat the the end of the table and grinned, “I don’t appreciate having my every move watched, and that’s what comes with this if I take this deal, right?”

Bell and Pim both nodded, “This town sits in a bit of an overlap between our patrol areas. That means you’ll see one of us more than you would like, but this is a way for you to settle down and actually do something good for society. Make some money while you’re at it.  What do you say, Mayor?”

Another figure came info view, who was hiding beside the giant form of Juras. A large woman, hair pulled up behind her head. “I will loathe to have to look at this man every day given the fear he’s put into my town, but...” She sighed, “We don’t want this happening again, and if that means hiring some muscle, then we may approve, as long as you two knights keep coming around.”

“Oh,” Bell said, “We will be easy to keep in touch with, we promise you that.”

The Mayor looked to Weskel, and they had a bit of a stare down. “Fine, Nerrn will fund Weskel and his men if they guard our town and keep out of the way.”

Weskel smiled, “I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse.”

The three commanders in the back shuffled their weight, “Wes, this is a way out of the bandit life. We could settle down here. We could make something of our lives.” One said.

Weskel stood and turned to his commanders, “Are you all in agreement?”

They hesitated, but they all nodded to the first man.

The leader scoffed,but he looked a bit distressed. “I would have taken you to the end. I would have given you all the power you needed.’ His form rippled with every word. “We cannot stay stagnant! We need to keep getting better, keep getting bigger! We need more people. For me. For you!” His neck became more of a cracked texture. 

More like scales. “We could have grown in power. You don’t know how hard it’s been, this last century. Alone after the slaughter of my people!” He started to yell. 

When he turned back to the paladins, he was a completely different person...a completely different thing. Serpentine features covered his face, and his body was covered in scales. “But if I must, I will be alone again.” He whispered.

He thrust a hand into the sky and from the ground up, a darkness took hold of the room. “The door! Get the door!” Someone tried to yell. Juras knocked over the table as he shot up. People tripped and fell over each other and the creature was lost in the growing darkness. When it dissipated, the room was in disarray. People were scattered on the ground, and the door was flung open. Two of the commanders huddles over another body on the floor. The commander who gave his support to guarding the town lie dead, his throat slit.

Juras looked over to me and trudged over. He grabbed me be the chestplate and dragged me close to him. His voice dripped with venom. “You were the closest to the door. You let him get away, dwarf. This is all on you!” He shoved me aside. “I’ll return when I find him.” He growled as he ducked under the door.

Once we made sure everyone was alright, Pim and Bell approached the two surviving commanders. They were both elves, but one of them had a darker complexion. A female drow. “We are all sorry for the loss of your friend. Can we still count on you to rally your people and help the town?”

They looked at each other. “We’ll do it for Karo, our fallen friend.”

The mayor approached and shook hands with the two leaders. “I hope this will benefit us all, and that Wesker won’t show his face around here again.”

One commander, Raelle the drow, nodded. “Now we know Wes’ true colors. If he returns, he won’t get a second chance.”

We wrapped up dealings with the town and were about to return to camp. However the mayor offered rooms in the rather small tavern in town. We all agreed that we were ready for a few stiff drinks and soft beds to sleep in.

Lyons, Bowen and I sat at one table while the two knights spoke quietly at another. Life stated returning to town, the injured being treated. Out the window the two brutes from the smith hobbled by with healers following close behind. 

Before long, Bowen rose from his seat and half-stumbled to an empty piano. He played a few test keys before taking a few deep breaths. A melody floated on the air around the bar, as if to put everyone at ease. It was simple, with crescendos and decrescendos, flowing easily into a fluttering conclusion. Some clapped in return, and Bowen came back to the table. “I didn’t know you played piano.” Lyons said while peering at him.

He shrugged, “It’s just a hobby.”

I chuckled, “You’ll have to give me some lessons.”

Bowen nodded, “I can show you some basics right now if you wa--”

We were interrupted by the two Knights approaching our table. “Stoneheart, we need to have that talk.” Bell said. 

Something told me it wouldn’t be pleasant. 

[kulric-stoneheart]

My First Battle Scar!

The door gave way easily under my extended boot. The scene inside wasn’t grisly, but it was clear to me what was going on. Two armed men stood guard over three glass blowers, forcing them to keep working while the rest of the town was on lockdown. One had a crossbow and the other had a battleaxe. Their heads whipped in my direction as sneers crossed their faces. 

“Gentlemen,” I said calmly, holding my shield in front of my form, “The work day is over.”

The man with the battleaxe rushed me. His features became more apparent as he drew closer. Human, middle aged, a hulking figure of a man. He brought the axe up and brought it down over my head. I raised my shield and dropped to a knee, bracing myself for the blow that bit into the bulwark. I used my position to gain leverage and pushed him back. The man in the back aimed his crossbow in my direction. 

I brought my hammer up and knocked the closer man to the side just as the bolt loosed from it’s bow. The larger one grunted as the bolt dug deep into his side. He stole a backward glare at the bowman, who was shaking his head while leading another round. The axe begun it’s arc to my side, surprising even me with it’s speed. I tried to being up my shield but I was just a second too late. It dug into the chink of my armor, just below the shoulder. Blood started to flow as the man guffawed. 

My vision blurred as I tried to hold back my reaction to the pain. I couldn’t give him another opening. Hiding my action behind my shield I sent my hammer up into an uppercut, sending a cracking noise into the room. The man started to scream. He spat, and the tip of his tongue hit the floor. The man, with blood flowing from his maw, took one look at it on the floor and fainted. As he fell, the figure behind him took aim. 

Before he could act, one of the glass blowers pulled out a blowpipe out of his crucible and charged the bowman. Coming at him from the side, he was caught unawares. The molten glass at the end rammed him with a sickening sizzle. Smoke streamed from under the man’s arm as he dropped his weapon and screamed. Another took out a sharp implement and ran towards the disarmed assailant as well. 

“Wait!” I ran towards them, stepping over the fallen attacker. “You three, stand down, I think we’ve done enough to them. Keep guard over them. Got it?”

They seemed a little disappointed. The molten glass was removed from one of the bandits. The knocked out man was dragged over to the corner, and the other was shepherded the same way. “Alright, if you need me, call. My superiors are going after the leader. We’ll be back for you.”

I left in a hurry and ran towards town square. Blood still flowed from my shoulder wound, but it wasn’t something I focused on. A familiar figure stood in the town square, a couple bodies around him as well. “Kulric!” Bowen shouted, “You’re the last one, hurry inside, negotiations just started.”

I nodded at him and made my way inside. Three bandits were disarmed and in the back of the room. There was a long conference-like table, where on one end, Knight Eliynor sat. On the other end was a surprisingly small looking human. He was wiry, and overall not very intimidating. Around the edges of the table were Knight Juras, Knight Bell, and Squire Lyons. 

“Squire Kulric, you’re injured. Knight Bell will take care of that for you.” She said almost dismissively as the tabaxi stood and made his way over to me. 

We were in the corner of the room as the group talked. Knight Bell looked at the wound and clicked his tongue. He said a quiet prayer as the put a hand on my shoulder. The blood flow ceased and the wound closed. Only a slight scar remained once he was done. He smiled at his work, “Your first battle scar, welcome to the club.” He said with a pat on my shoulder.

We made our way over to the table as Knight Pim cleared her throat, “Now, I think you’ve had enough time to ponder our request Mister Wekel. It’s the only offer you get. Will you or will you not have your group guard this growing town?

Wekel seemed to grin.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Liberating Nernn

The six of us sat around the round table which had a rough map of the town sketched onto it. “There is a notorious bandit gang in this region that’s been terrorizing the foothills. Seems like with Nernn’s financial success, it makes for a great target. Since the town doesn’t get attacked often, it’s only source of protection is a skeleton crew of guards. Barely enough to handle a few goblins.”

Juras grunted, “They were asking for it, then.”

Both knights looked over at Juras. “Try to be civil, Kelborn.” Pim reprimanded. “Anyways, I will go into the town and surrender myself to the bandits. They’ll take me to whoever is in charge and I’ll try to negotiate. Now we all know, they’re not going to take what little old me is going to give them, right? That’s where the five of you come in.”

She pointed to five buildings around the town’s map. “Once I’m captured, you five will go in on different sides of the town. Each of these buildings have hostages. Bell, Kelborn, you two will take the two priority buildings. Bell takes the Cathedral, Kelborn to the Tavern.” She paused to make sure they understood. “Stoneheart, you take the smithy. Lyons will take the merchant’s hall. Omursonn, take the town square, make sure none of the others are flanked. Questions?”

“This seems risky for the hostages if we don’t do this at exactly the same time, no?” Knight Bell inquired.

“Quite right, which is why this will have to be well coordinated. Our squires have received enough training that they can take on a few bandits on their own, I’m sure. Consider this a trial by fire.” Knight Pim smiled.

Juras, “Their blood shall be a lesson to a--”

“Let me stop you right there, Juras.” Pim held out a hand to stop him. “None of your ‘goliath’s justice’ here. Something I should have mentioned before, we are aiming to incapacitate. Do not kill unless a hostage’s life depends on it. That is not our way. I wish you would remember that more, Kelborn.”

Juras growled, but did not speak back. The way Pim talked to Kelborn, it was as if he were a new member, or a member that always seemed to get into trouble. “Right, we act at dusk. You all stay up on the ridge here, just south of town. Once I go in the town hall, you spring into action.”

We all nodded and waited until the mid-day sun drooped low in the vast sky. We made our way to the ridge and inspected the town. The town hall was the farthest point from us, and just in front of it was the town’s square, outfitted with a stage. Just behind the stage was the tavern. More towards us, the spire of a good sized Cathedral jut into the air, calling all to it’s doors. across from it was a large covered pavilion. The merchant’s hall. Three doors on all sides led into the interior where merchants set up their booths next to each other. Finally, outside of the main strip was the industrial center. Even now, black smoke rose from the numerous chimneys of the smithy.

The town was dead. The only life to be seen were a few guards patrolling the main strip, who stopped as soon as they saw Knight Pim approaching. She threw her hands up and stopped as all guards cautiously crept towards her. With three swords pointed at her, she was stripped of weapons and led to the town hall. Knight Bell, looked at all of us, “Skirt around the town and strike with precision, brothers and sisters. Remember, no dead. Juras, since you are the farthest, we will go on your signal.”

Juras and Bowen went off first, skirting around the east side of town. Lyons went west, and crept up to the merchant’s hall. Just as I was about to leave, Bell grabbed my arm. “After this, we need to chat. Stay alive out there.” He winked.

I was confused, but I pushed that to the back of my mind. Bell went around the east side of town, and I went far west. I positioned myself behind some barrels outside of the smithy and waited. My heart beat wildly inside my chest as I grabbed my hammer and shield. From the direction of the town, I heard a door being kicked down. That was the signal.

I charged in.

[kulric-stoneheart]

The Team

Many missions had passed between Raven’s Bluff and now. Each mission was simple enough. There was someone who needed to be brought to justice and Juras upheld it with an iron fist. For the dozen or so times that I saw him deal with an issue, I kept a gut feeling that this was too much. His methods too heavy handed. They had their positives. For the most part, the problem would not resurface, as most would wind up dead.

I had traveled with Juras for about a month and a half before we got the call to go to a town called Nernn. The oddity behind this was that this town was not in our jurisdiction. There were many knights in the order and each one was assigned a region. There were always a multitude of knights in that region at a given time, since many towns, villages, and cities relied on the Order of the Gauntlet’s men and women. It was rare that Knights were given a temporary assignment outside of their region. This only meant that we were headed to a great deal of trouble.

The journey took a great deal of time, as it was far over the central range of mountains that split the continent in twain. I always managed to take in the scenery as we went, but at this point it became difficult to focus on. My mind wandered back to the previous missions and how Juras handled them. It did not seem like the way a knight should resolve things, as I read in books. Perhaps it was another case of the real world being more cruel than stories one reads.

It took the better part of a week to get to Nernn. We stopped in Aurum’s Pass, the capital, for a couple knights to restock our rations before heading east once more. We passed Eastport and traveled along the foothills. Between these smaller mountains and the sea was a valley, and in this valley sat Nernn. A bustling little port and town. Records state that this port exports a great deal of glass products inland, due to it’s position near the coast. It was surely a town on the up and coming.

Juras passed the time by singing, or telling more stories of his past achievements, all of which has the same ending. On the path down from the foothills, Juras directed our steeds away from the town and towards the south. Before long, we came to a camp, perhaps two miles out from the town. In this camp were some familiar faces.

Sitting near the campfire, holding sticks with fat sausages on the ends of them were Knight Ancient Bell and Squire Julia Lyons. Bell saw up first and jumped with his feet with grace. “Ah, those from across the mountains are finally here!”

We dismounted and hitched our horses. Juras bowed lightly towards Knight Bell, “Old friend. Good to see you so soon.” He said as they clasped hands.

“Better to see you, big man, and better still to see you haven’t gotten your Squire killed.” He looked to me and bowed again, which I returned.

Julia bounded over to me, but before she pounced on me, she skidded to a halt and bowed. Once I returned the gesture she then gave me a tight hug. “Kulric! How have you been? Isn’t this everything you ever dreamed of?”

“Ha, Julia. I am well. Yeah it’s been...an adventure so far. Riding with Juras has it’s challenges. For example, trying to keep a sword clean that’s bigger than you are. Or a horse three times your height. Just the little things.” I said with a chuckle.

She had a good laugh at that, but movement caught my eye. I looked over to the pavillion tent as a built elf threw open the tent flaps. Her dark hair was up in a ponytail that flitted as she looked at the new arrivals. Knight Eliynor Pim, I thought to myself, That only means...

Behind her a dwarf walked out, smaller than Kulric, with a head of brown hair. Already, Kulric was running over to him. Without any formal introduction, the two clasped each other, guffawing heartily. “Bowen, gods how are you?”

“Brother! Oh, it’s been great. The great northern cities have been treating me well, and I’ve learned so much. What of you?”

My smile faded only a little. It seemed every other squire had learned so much over just this past month, while Juras and I just went from town to town casting out wrongdoers. “It’s never ending, what the western coast has to offer.” I looked back to the Knights who were heading towards the pavilion. “I’ll tell you about it tonight over drinks.”

Everyone gathered over a circular table in the pavilion. Each squire stood next to their assigned Knight. Bell cleared his throat. “Welcome, friends, to my neck of the woods. Since Nernn is between Knight Pim’s jurisdiction and mine, we decided to share this assignment. Knight Kelborn, we called you in for your muscle. With your intimidating form, we may be able to complete this bloodlessly.”

Juras spoke, “You haven’t even told us the mission yet.”

Eliynor spoke up, “I can resolve that real quick. The entire town of Nernn is being held hostage.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

Tip of The Iceberg

The descent into the basement was long and dark. The stairs seemed to go down forever, but just when I thought it would go on till I perished, light flickered off the walls. “No torches on the stairs, but on the landing? That’s not safe.”

Juras paid me no mind as he unsheathed perhaps the largest sword I have seen a man wield. The basement was cluttered with old supplies from the Divination school. There were definitely signs of a scuffle as barrels of magical dusts were tipped over, as well as odd pieces of old furniture. chests were open and their contents strewn upon the dusty floor. As we slowly advanced into the room, a growing noise came from the far corner. It sounded as though something was grunting and struggling. I grabbed a torch off of it’s sconce and followed closely behind Juras, taking my mace out in my other hand. 

As we neared the back of the room, the grunts turned more laborious. Juras slowly rounded the corner to find a very short and pale being half way in a barrel. It’s body had no hair, and was covered in craters where maggots squirmed. The stench coming from it was intense and nasty. Juras looked at me and cocked it’s head over to it a couple times. I nodded and set the torch on the ground. I crept up on it and brought my hammer back. With a quick swing I smashed the barrel, which went flying into the nearby wall. It shattered, and the demon screeched. 

What came out of the wreckage was hideous. It’s face was small, eyes oozing, and it’s teeth were sharp and long in it’s rather small mouth. It hissed at me as it rose. Without further warning it charged. I sidestepped just in time as it’s thin arms grabbed at the space where I stood. It slammed into a shelf, which toppled over. Juras scoffed at it and pushed me back a ways. While the demon was incapacitated, squirming in the wreckage it had made, Juras held his sword above it and plunged it into the demon’s meaty body. It’s scream was horrific, but did not last long as it expired. 

“Manes. Fodder among demons.” He spat. “Simple minded, but feral. A group of them could be horrific, but just one is no challenge. Why do they keep coming to the University though?” 

We thought about it for a bit as we made our way out of the basement. As we got to the stairs, I must have walked too close to the barrel of powder and kicked a good bit of it up. I started sneezing and coughing, and walked away from it. As I recovered, I heard Juras hum to himself. I turned back, bloodshot eyes and all to see that the spot I kicked up revealed the edge of a summoning circle. “Well, seems like a student is engaging in some illicit extracurricular activities. You may have saved me a couple more trips here, Stoneheart.”

I smiled, tears running down my face. We exited the basement and I followed him towards the only place that made sense. The Conjuration School. Juras started mumbling to himself incoherently before speaking to me. “Alright, when you become a real paladin, you’re going to be able to sense good and evil. That’s what I’m going to do here. Those that have evil intentions will show with an aura around them, and that aura will be colored based off of what they are. Humanoid creatures will have a very basic aura, but this kid’s dealt in some demonic magics, so he should have a faint red aura. That’s how we know it’ll be him.”

“Won’t a good number of kids have that aura in this school?”

He shook his head as we burst through the door, “Summoning demons is frowned upon inside of the college. They’re unpredictable and tough to reason with. Not something you want to try until you are well established.”

He blinked a couple times, and his eyes turned silver. His gaze swept the ceiling, looking at every aura of those above him. Suddenly, he bounded up the stairs, going far up the tower to the dormitory levels. He strode down the corridor, past dozens of simple wooden doors until he got to a specific one towards the end of the hall. With a giant fist he slammed on the door.

It opened a sliver, and an eye looked through the crack. It was all Juras needed. He kicked in the door, sending the figure flying to the other side of the room. He ducked under the doorway and stepped towards the groaning figure. It was the form of a young man, perhaps nineteen. Juras picked him up by an arm and pushed him into a nearby table. “You are the one summoning demons in the University.”

The boy recoiled from the goliath’s words, “What? What are you talking about, who are you? Get out of my room!”

It was only now that I stepped into the room. Juras slammed his fist on the table the boy was leaning on, sending it crumpling to the ground, and the boy with it. The boy tried crawling away, but Juras grabbed him by the ankle and dragged him closer. “What are you looking for?”

“Let me go!” The young man yelled. Doors from down the hall started to open. 

Juras grunted and let go of the boy, who quickly crawled under his bed. Juras clasped one end of the bed with a gauntlet and lifted it up. Underneath, the boy was wrapped in the fetal position on one end, but on the other lay a milk crate of vials. Seven of them were empty, but there were two that were full of a thick red liquid. Juras picked one up, popped the cork and sniffed it. “Blood. Demon conjurer! He dropped the vial and grabbed the boy again, “Whose blood is this?!”

The boy made meek sounds, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I just take some blood, I haven’t killed anyone!”

“What are you looking for?” He roared again. 

“Magical weapons! Something to h-help me learn new types of magic! Anything to help me!”

Juras scoffed and threw the boy across the room. More boys gathered in front of the door to see what the commotion was. The goliath took two quick strides, grabbed the young man’s right arm and twisted it backwards. He made an unnerving shriek, and many of those in the audience gasped. Even I was sickened at what I saw. 

The young man lay weeping on the floor as Juras stood to looked to the onlookers. “If I have to come back for any more demons in the University, they who summoned them will have more than a broken arm.”

Without asking any more questions he ducked under the door. The throng of people opened a path for him and he made his way back the way he came. I ran after him as the boy’s wails carried down the hall. “Bastard wasting my precious time.”

Back in the Dean’s office, Juras told her about the Mane and the boy who conjured him. “I gave him some sage advice, and a reason not to do it again. I do hope this will be the last time I have to come here for that specific reason.”

The Dean nodded, “I’m sorry that such a young man caused so much trouble, Knight Kelborn. I hope you didn’t scare him too much.” She chuckled.

Juras laughed with her, “No, I don’t think so, but I don’t think he’s going to be acting up again.”

The Dean nodded and dropped a clinking sack on the table. “Pleasure doing business with you, Knight Kelborn. Pleasure meeting you, Squire Stoneheart.”

We both bowed lightly and exited. On the slow walk back to the inn which we decided to stay at, I looked at Juras. “You didn’t tell her what you did to that student.”

Juras didn’t even glance down at me. “Sometimes you have to send a message, and that message was a personal one to that little prick. Nobody had to know. Sometimes it’s the better way.”

[kulric-stoneheart]

Raven’s Bluff

The city, on the outside, was like any other. High walls, a portcullis and guards. They took one look down at us and raised the gates. Obviously Juras was well known in this city, as it is one of the closest to Laelith. On the other side of the gate, to our left, were stables, but for all the city, they seemed fairly small. We led our steeds over to an older man, with balding grey hair, who seemed to be running the place.

“Ahh, Knight Juras. Always a pleasure to see you. You have another squire, I see? What’s this one’s name?” the old man asked.

“Squire Kulric Stoneheart, of Felbarr Citadel.” Juras responded while gesturing down to me. 

“Wonderful to meet you, and welcome to Raven’s Bluff, master dwarf. Please, let me take your weary steeds.” He reached out to grab the reigns and led the two horses over to the three stall stable. I looked up to Juras, “How in all the city are there no horses in the stable?”

He smirked and gestured back to the old man. I turned to look just as the horses passed the threshold of the stable, all three entities were gone. Moments later, the man came back, as if he walked out of the stable. There were no horses. “How in the nine hells....”

Juras patted my shoulder with the back of his hand, not hard, but firmly. I cleared my throat, “What magic is this?”

The old man laughed, “Well, this stable has been around since my great great grandfather built it. I didn’t have the heart to tear it down and expand, so I just created a rift in the entrance to a expansive field where the horses are taken very good care of. More expensive? Yes, but I can’t bear to alter my ancestor’s work.” He shrugged lightly with the last sentence. 

We walked on from the stables. “Raven’s Bluff is the beginning of most magic users here on Faerun. It’s university is one of the most influential in the world. They don’t have a military, to speak of, since every student here has a basic knowledge of offensive spells. Like how in Laelith most guards have paladin or cleric backgrounds, here in Raven’s Bluff, guards are magically trained. It’s said that even their defenses have magical attributes. Even laying siege to the place is a terrible idea.” Juras explained.

Many large and ornate buildings passed us by while we walked. Finally, Juras turned off the main stretch and entered a squat, small, and less conspicuous building. It looked run down, older than the rest, perhaps even abandoned. As we walked in the door, we stood in the middle of a grand hall that was twice the size of the exterior building. A grand staircase guided the two of us up a few stories. From there we made our way down a long stretch of hall until we came to the very end. Juras opened the arched door and ducked into a plain looking office. A elvish woman looked up from behind a large stack of books. “Ah! Knight Kelborn! Glad you got my summons.”

“I apologize, Dean Miracan. I would have come sooner, but I needed to pick up my squire here beforehand. Kulric Stoneheart.” He once again gestured down to me. 

The women came from behind her books. She was beautiful, tall, lean. She had the perfect figure, the perfect eyes. She was the general essence of beauty itself. “Welcome to Raven’s Bluff, Squire Kulric. I am Kaylin Miracan, Dean of the School of Illusion here. Please, call me Dean Miracan.” She bowed her head before looking back at Juras. “He’s back, Knight Juras.”

Juras groaned, “Seriously? Seventh time this year alone, Dean Miracan. This isn’t just a coincidence, and this should just be predictable enough that your people can handle it.”

“Well, we would, but we have hundreds of novice wizards and sorcerers here whose mess we have to clean up, and this one in particular is just too time consuming for us to figure out.”

I cleared my throat.

Both the Dean and Juras looked down on me, “Ah, right. A lesser demon has been wreaking havoc on different parts of the university. Every time Knight Juras tracks it down and kills it, it comes back a couple months later. Demons don’t exactly stay dead permanently, but they’re cast out of this plane and tend not to return for...decades, even centuries. This one just keeps coming back. We think he’s looking for something.” Dean Miracan explained. “Right now a disturbance has been reported in the divination school’s basement.”

Juras already turned and ducked his way out of the door. Kulric looked back to the Dean, offered a smile, and ran after him. They exited the building, and when Kulric looked back, he still saw the squat little building. He shrugged it off as Juras made long strides towards the Divination school. There was a light chill in the air, just enough to make it much more relieving to duck inside the school. This part of the Divination school wasn’t as grand as some other parts but it offered a staircase sweeping downwards, which we followed. 

Two guards stood outside the barred door, and looked rather relieved when Juras came stomping down the steps. “Thank the Gods you’re here Juras. It’s still in--”

“Just let me in, I grow tired of this demon.”

Without any hesistation they granted him entance, and we descended into the dank underbelly of Raven’s Bluff.

[kulric-stoneheart]

Knight Juras Kelborn

We were heading North, a relatively short distance to the nearby city of Raven’s Bluff. The road was quiet and bathed in the early morning sun. Juras rode a monstrous horse, larger than any he had ever seen. Though it was understandable, if he had a smaller horse it would surly be crushed under his weight. My horse was smaller, more manageable for my stature. As we walked along the cobbled road, I lagged behind. “So, tell me about yourself, Knight Kelborn.”

He looked over his shoulder, his pauldrons hindering him looking right at me. “Well, as you may have suspected, I am not from around here. I come from Jotun, far to the north. Near forbidden by your kind. The Northlands are dangerous to everyone, but especially those that do not call it home. Dragons and Giants roam as commonly as goblins here in the south. Many people say that evil stirs within the deep places of the region, but few could ever find it in the wastes.”

This caused him to pause, perhaps with nostalgia for his home, perhaps thinking of some horror that he saw. Just mentioning the Northlands chilled me to my core. I had heard stories of humongous dragons flying in the sky, but all of the stories were merely rumors, as nobody ever came back if they traveled deep in the tundra. “What of your family, did they come with you?”

He shook his head, and the one long braid attached to his head swung with it. “In our tribes, very few travel south, and if they do it is not for good reasons. When I was younger, I grew very sick. Some rare plague had struck me and made me weak. In our tribes, you are expected to pull your weight no matter what. If you cannot do what you are expected, you have two choices. Killed or exiled.

“My mother pleaded with my father to keep me safe. They both knew that the elders would need to act if given another day of sloppy work. In the dead of night, my father and I stole away fro the tribe. He took me south into your lands, where he believed I could get help. He crossed the border and left me in the hands of a town cleric. I can only hope he returned to the tribe and still lives to this day, but I may never know.”

“Did that cleric raise you in the faith where you wanted to become a paladin?” I asked, knowing how this story goes.

“No. That would be absurd. This happened when I was nineteen, about twenty years back. There was no more raising to do. I did a grown man’s work in the tribe since I was eight. No, once I was healed I helped out around the town for the few months until I got enough money to head to Northkeep and tried to join the military there. I will say that they gave me some very good training, but I could not deal with such a tight knight military. Being a cog in a machine, most of us just cannon fodder. I prefer to work alone, hence why I came to Laelith to train. I liked the idea of being a one man force of justice, answering to nobody when out in the wild.”

“You still have to report to Rowan though, don’t you?”

“To an extent, yes. As long as all parties are happy, the jobs get done, and we bring honor to the Order, he lets us do what needs to be done. I’ve never seen another leader other than Rowan, but from what some of the elder knights tell me, he’s pretty relaxed. Makes for an easy job.” He said with a chuckle. 

I hummed in thought, “Sounds like everyone enjoys it, then.”

“Not everyone. There are a few paladins who would want strict guidelines set in place. Knights going as couples, debriefing after every mission, having embassies in every city that people can report to if there is a problem. That sort of thing. Seems unnecessary, and means that they don’t trust who they train.”

I shrugged, “Seems fair to me, but I’m just a squire.”

“Make the judgement for yourself later, once you’ve experienced the field.”

The ride took the better part of a day. Before long the sun started to set, but rest came at the sight of city walls. We were nearing Raven’s Bluff. My first mission with a knight was about to begin.