The Chronicle of Heroes: Chapter I
-
A book finds its way to the shelves of the city library, titled "The Chronicle of Heroes: Chapter I" @TheSheep:
The Chronicle of Heroes: Chapter I
Based on a true storyThe Godless
The Heroes
Ezekiel Gideon - Martyr of Hoar
Caroline Winterhawk - Martyr of the TyrThe Villains
Silvia Scarlet - Seeker of the god-killer
Victor - Seeker of the god killer
Roman - Vile enforcer of insanity
The Dark Sisters - The Pain
Mr. Salt - The follower of Bhaal
Tomas Vandar - "Priest" of BhaalSilvia Scarlet - The introduction of the Godless
_As a young girl, I was taken from my home in Rashemen. By a force of slavers who ended selling me to the Zhents, along with my friends. We endured cruelty and hardship at their hands, eventually breaking free, but not until we had both gathered in much knowledge from serving one of their mages.
You see, for as bad as the Zhents are, they themselves are slaves as well. They serve willing or unwilling, the iron will of their god, and after doing some further research, we discovered -all- are slaves to the whims of those who lash the whip harder and more frequently than any other- and these, are the gods.
Call them what you wish, they are no better than mortals with more power than they should have. They are petty, vain, Vengeful, angry and they will crush anyone who dares to move against them or one who odes not please them.
And they are afraid too. They feel very mortal fear, just like we do.We also learned that somewhere, somehow, a creature exists that has the power and desire to kill, even the gods- and thus we now contact it, to awaken it, and set it loose on the gods._
- Silvia Scarlet upon arriving to Arabel, 1393, at the The Claw of Winter
Contacting the creatures beyond
The company of red clothing entered the wasteland of Helm, the ground forsaken and twisted. Silent as the wind, their full focus was on the success of each step taken closer to their destination. Gazing upon the land, one of them sneered: "Abandoned by the gods."
It was Victor, one of the first of the Red People, he'd seen much in his time, and was one of the wisest and most respected in their company. The rest of the people valued his father-like-ways to treat, and keep them safe in times of danger.
Halting at the center of the helmland, they stepped in a circle of flame. A book of freedom was spoken of, something that knew how to kill the gods themselves! Something- or someone, to be specific- Victor said. - And today, we intend to hear and see if we can reach to this beast.
"I am free, I am yours", they all shouted, in one voice- "let us break the shackles of our slavery, let us become kings of our road. Let us free- you!"
A burst of dark matter shook the ground from the soil and ended their chanting with sudden quake. Before they could react, shadowy figures emerged from the depths of the stone, mirror images of their own true selves. The staring did not take long before the battle ensued, and all godless suddenly found fighting themselves. But victorious they were- and for this, they took it as a great omen of the power beyond, nodding with madness and smile to each other.
"Zbug is next." Said Victor, before they left the ritual.
An unexpected acquaintance - Meeting Mr. Salt
The Humble bard was on his way to hear the latest of Shylock stories, when upon him came a man, clad head to toe in brown clothing, a glowing scythe of pure dark energy resting on his shoulder.
The man introduced him to the humble bard as "Mr. Salt.", and before he even realized- he was already being seated to a table at the Pub, to hear the tale and story of Salt.
Mr. Salt:_" The lord of Murder, one Bhaal to the common man, is due to arrive back and reward his followers. A man who roams these streets by the name of Tomas Vandar is the spearhead to this prospiring venture. He leads a band of men who seek to envoke the fear of the lord returning.
Every throat is cut, they speak his name. Every time a stomach is slit, they speak his name.
They wish the god to become theirs. Their pet. One they can do with what they wish, to what end? Well, such is for the rest of your pages to come. Vandar is connected to many and to few. The wheels are in motion. That is all I know. "_
And thus Salt guided Fandon out with his palm, and left him ever so curious as to what it all had meant.
The Dark sisters failure
Stepping out of the Pub, I took it my duty to leave and make way back to the citadel. At the steps of the Temple of the Unquiet night- a new twist had emerged.
There, at the footsteps of the Temple, four ominous figures surrounded a body of a man. These, were the dark sisters and their accomplices, and at their feet- was Zbug, the priest of Bane.
The Humble Bard couldn't believe what he saw before him. They were making their leave with Zbug dragged behind- and the humble bard was forced to a quick decision, and follow in their footsteps- for he knew there was nothing he could do against four of the godless, born to battle and lusting for blood in their insanity of the mole.
Dragging him to the sewers, he was given a choice: "Say a prayer to the dark sisters, giving loyalty to them. Or is branded in forehead as a sign of weakness for the world to see. Very Simple prayer, two lines. Nothing overtly defiant to you god"
But in his true belief to Bane, Zbug reluctantly refused. And so the brand of "SLAVER" was put on his head. Yet they were not done- for now did they force themselves upon Zbug in the plan to slit his throat and end his life. Yet with the words of Glittergold through the Humble bard, he convinced them of otherwise, and thus Zbug was spared. The dark sisters left, and gave room for the humble bard to bind and help the banite from his predicament. With haste, they took their leave, and made their way to the citadel gates. There- Zbug offered the humble bard his gratitude for aid- but he himself was still focused on the threat of what the dark sisters posed.
Yet somewhere, inside the humble bard, he knew the godless had faced the first of their failures as the priest did not fall from his faith- but stood valiantly and accepted what pain was -forced-. And he felt in the goodness of his heart- that it was not the last of their failures.
Days passed, before a time came when the Sisters found the humble bard once more, for a story they desired to be told. A story they thought had again been a success. The sisters, being unable to offer much of a conversation to the humble bard, instructed Roman to do it for them, and so he did:
Roman: _"We wish you to tell the tale of how the two paladins met their end. Paint us as villains if you must, but there is only truth here.
The Tyrran agent came first. Into old town, where a trap was sprung. Then came the aasimar- and an elf, innocent bystander. They were all brought down, and then taken to a cavern. There- the game started._
The two protectors of the city, sworn to defend the weak, the innocent. They were given a choice. They could forsake their gods, make use of a bloodstone, and live to take revenge and continue to protect those under their charge.
One could kill the other. Choose a lesser 'evil.' Then, two walk away. Or they could do nothing. And the innocent would die.
Hnh, The fools " Roman continued, clearly more agitated at this point:"They, so devoted to their masters, chose to impale each other. To spite us, to serve their gods before the people they were sworn to protect. "
And so ended our conversation abruptly. The story of Roman, had told me of how heroes of Arabel had vanquished the evil in their intentions with the purity of their nature. They had become martyrs of their gods- and the godless now saw true devotion- and some realized, they were not gaining what they desired.
Roman - The End is nigh
Few days passed from this incident, before Agent Riggs, a guardian of the city captured Roman and brought him to face justice for crimes committed. There, at his cells, Roman told his story.
_"Family was burned in a house struck by lightning. Roman heard their screams, pain and cries for mercy. He believes the gods are responsible for it.
I watched them die. Heard their screams. Pulled from the building by a passing gypsy who saw the flames, I was unfortunate enough to live through it. He tended my wounds as I slept.
When I woke, I realized a truth. The only strength you can count on is your own. My family burned, and I was too weak to save them. I knew I could never be that man again."_
A few days after the execution of Roman, the dark sisters disappeared, Victor took his own life, and Scarlet was executed while Salt fled the region. The sorrow and chaos caused by the menace of their evil had come to its end, and through the power of good, was their band of destruction never to rise again. While the White Mole may have find its new victim, one by the name of Muric- those few days, were spend with no threats on the lives of the people, filled with joy and laughter.
- Fandon'Zorak Hairyscales, the humble bard