Modern History of Knighthood

This tome includes the major events which have occurred in the modern history of Gareth Keep. Iolius.

Lancelot du Lac and Xybian Llangedai-Madaur

Sir Lancelot du Luc and the treachery of the Goblin horde.

And Lo! The Army of Althainia was sent far to the east,

to make war upon the continent of Arkane and its evil beasts.

A reserve of Althainians from the Goblin City,

marched towards New Thalos singing an awful ditty.

Leaving the the Streets of Althainia empty and numb,

the womenfolk outnumbered the men ten to one.

To the Althainian docks they were meant to head,

so to the road to New Thalos did they tread.

The goblins between Althainia and New Thalos were,

when the army did come to a halt.

And about face they did make at to striking,

their oppressor with an eastern assault.

The Kingdom of Althainia had annexed the Goblin City,

citing security concerns, and that it wasn't very pretty.

So with much venom and anger did the hoarde,

fall upon the eastern walls with the sword.

The surprise was almost complete,

but bravery and skill stopped the sweep.

The Lord Knight sent forth such rousing rhetoric,

that not a man remained at Gareth Keep.

All of Gareth's finest stood tall there with their Lord,

the sparsely defended wall looking out at the innumerable horde.

The Goblins rushed again to the wall,

and the defenders slowly did start to fall.

The knights of Althainia had to hold on at all costs,

till the reinforcements arrived from New Thalos.

The thin line of knights must stand across,

maintaining the city wall would be lost.

The defenders becoming ever fewer,

to the fury and onslaught from the Goblin sewer.

The fighting raged for days with no peace,

waiting for the required response from the east.

In the Knighthood's darkest hour,

one bloom of Gareth chose to flower.

A goblin assault broke the Althainian line on the wall,

and several of their number slew those standing there in a brawl.

Sir Lancelot du Lac saw the danger to the day,

and without hesitation threw himself into the fray.

None stood around him as he smashed into the enemy line,

and a fine account of himself he held to the swine.

Long was the time that he held the wide breach.

Alone driving back the evil who entered his reach.

By the time the relief came it was too late,

for this hero who had held the cities' fate.

He fell from the wall pierced by spears,

as this had all been seen by his peers.

A great cry went up moved from the example,

and those that remained their strength made more ample.

A great cloud of dust approached from the east fast,

as the Lords of New Thalos came to the rescue at last.

A braying goblin cry went up loud with despair,

and against the walls once more their captains did bear.

Sir Xybian vanished under the goblin hoarde,

Again the last in the line which he held as he roared.

But sheer volume no feat of skill at arms could endure,

and was carried away to the Althainian sewer.

The last chance for treacherous goblins was past,

and that assault was to be their last.

For the New Thalosian army crushed them into the wall,

and the enemy was routed with casualties small.

Great thanks were give to Gareth for that day,

without her efforts Althainia would have burned away.

But none greater thanks could be given than to du Lac,

who's noble motives show what in many of us lack.

A place in the Chapel of Fallen Heroes was he to rest,

among Knighthood's most noble, honourable and best.

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Ghyt: The poem by Sehvelarious

Tue Apr 21 18:16:37 2009

To: Sehvelarious Knighthood Darkonin

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Bravo, chum! Yer wrote an good poem there. Rhymes a lot. Yes, indeed.

The only problem is that it am completely and totally WRONG!

Take a look atcher bookshelf, friend. You see that volume entitled The

Notes Of History? Pull down volume 13 and you'll read about a brave Goblin

who warned his people of treachery. His reward for this was an agonizing

death by torture in one of teh many dungeons of Althainia Castle.

Pull down volume 16 and read about the first War Of Althainian Aggression

in an unprovoked attack against their southern neighbors. This were the

first of many such Human insults.

The incident yer poem am about happened years later in bloody revenge.

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Dialook: your poem.

Tue Apr 21 21:39:28 2009

To: Sehvelarious all

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I sittin here in one of my small rooms readin poem in front of me.

Soon it will be behind me.

King Dialook Yeyugh

Gunnar's Ascension

I, Gwaine d'Aggravaine, do bear witness to these times.

I have walked in the wake of peerless men, and I will not forget.

I have many tales

Many lives have past

these eyes.

Some grew old

and passed, their memory cold,

Some stood bold

Their deeds afire after many a night.

I will tell thee of a tale,

Myth you say, but nay,

This is more,

With wrath, destruction,

sacrifice, dedication,

patience steadfast,

I will tempt your ears.

And lo it came to be

A Great Rift parted afore the Blood Sea

Beasts of myth and magic,

Savage and cruel the Rift bore

And upon the land they ravaged

Women cried and men swore.

A plague upon the land,

as locusts from the sands.

Neither good nor evil did

the Rift beasts see.

All were fodder to their wrath.

Many valiant, more cowered

Eclipse and Gareth's sent their best

Blinding blades and clashing shield

All for naught they did yield

The Rift beasts held the field.

Again again the Knights rode

Battle cries and shouts bold

Again they returned bloodied and bruised

The Rift beasts stood the field amused.

Cackling cries and sonorous laughter

The Rift beasts continued their rampant slaughter.

On bended knee and heads bowed,

prayers rang for the dead in shroud.

The Gods looked down and frowned,

To Knights assembled, Nadrik did sound.

"A heart .. true and pure, mortal

Only that will banish,

this blemished portal"

Gunnar the Good, heard this call

Paladin of old, valiant and bold

his heart did give, that all may live.

Diamante of Eclipse, the dagger held

and drove it true to Gunnar's chest.

That unsullied hands would bear,

Lady Muse drew from that breast,

Gunnar the Good, his heart.

Valiant charge, the trumpeters sounded

and to the Rift, the Knights sallied

Bearing his Heart.

Bloodied but unbowed, the Eclipse and Gareth's

Won through, beside the Rift they stood.

And into that morass,

Gunnar's Heart was cast.

Close it did, and take, the Rift beasts with

Those that remained, their end met

To Eclipse dagger and Knighthood blade,

and to the beyond their souls sent

And from that cursed soil, a seed did sprout

Tree of Goodness, to mark the day.

Across the lands people rejoiced,

Their lives spared, the homes regained.

In the Keep, Knights stood

heads bowed, the grief welling

A brother lost, a life's flame stilling

Flags lowered, and lamps unlit

Gareth's sorrow.

Lady Muse, sat in reverence, mourning,

In her ear, the Lord spake,

" Hurry, hurry .. to the Tree

And there, upon the branch, thou shalt see

For mine covenant with thine Keep, a token

Go .. go now .. I hath spoken "

Ride she did, from the hall in haste

To the Tree of Goodness, amidst the wastes

On the branch her eye did alight

The Lord's gift glowing a-bright

From that branch she bore,

Gunnar's heart from that cursed shore.

To the Keep she carried,

This relic sacred.

And in Nadrik's temple

keened for a chapel to honour

Gareth's own son, Gunnar the Good

Lord Knight, Sir Glain, considered, declined

Lady Muse stood mute, resolute,

A solemn oath she swore,

Paladin of the Stone Floor.

A month, she prayed in sackcloth and ashes

Before her boon was granted.

And all that time she bore, Gunnar's heart.

Crystal and gold, the Chapel rose

for Fallen Heroes, a hallowed home

In that sacred place, the Ark displayed

To hold for eternity, Gunnar's Heart.

So stand, my folk of Gareth's

my brothers, sisters in arms,

Bow your heads a moment,

Speak to your heart this instant,

Honour the life, of a man without vice,

Sir Draugrbane, Gunnar the Good.

Listen ye all the lesson contained, of sacrifice peerless, of fortitude for

right.

Most of all, listen ye well, I charge thee to bear this tale.

Your sons and daughters and unto even their,

sons and daughters. Let them hear of this tale.

May it never die.

The Book of Exodus

In the history of Gareth’s Keep the Gods of the Parthenon of Good have twice felt obligated to intervene to guide their flock to the right direction.

In the past, thieves and assassins were not allowed to join Gareth’s Keep in principle rather than by the divine will of the Gods.

In the age of the Rise of Knighthood, it was deemed that there was a niche that these professions could fulfil in the spheres of reconnaissance and intelligence work which Knighthood required but did not have the professions which could adequately handle it.

When the Charlatan’s Guild was formed, there was not much, if any interest coming to Knighthood. If my ailing memory serves me correctly we only ever had one, knight Sante Benaducci, who transferred to the Armada.

When the Warlock’s Guild was formed, there were no restrictions applied to entrance criteria. There were accusations that the magic that they brewed was ‘wild’ but they tended to land far less and cause less damage that one might do casting a spell. The gourds they brewed were different to the normal medium, but in honour terms, no different from hurling a spear or a fireball. They cast spells as most normal mages cast so that was not a problem. There was the charge that they were ‘stealing’ their magic that they had brewed, but the High Justice ruled that for a theft to have occurred then a loss or pain must have been caused to another. As there was no one who could prove that anyone was indeed enduring loss from this new form of magic, it was allowed into Gareth Keep.

In 266AC the first intervention occurred in what we have come to know as the ‘Exodus of the Unworthy’. All of the professions of assassins, thieves, charlatans, witches and warlocks were cast out of the Keep. This occurred when Austinian appeared to the Lady Crown and expressed his will. Lady Straun tried as she might to state her case to the divine, but the ultimatum was issued.

Whether or not she took part, this event would take place and she decided to collaborate as so to ‘steady the boat’ rather that to fight the will of her Lord.

Hugh the Hand, a long time paternal figure for Gareth, and one of her most loyal subjects took offence that after so much faithful service, he felt undeserving of the treatment that he had received. Harsh words were exchanged before the sad column left the walls of the Keep, though some say that the light rays that shone through the clouds and illuminated those of the column who were destined to return. Lady Straun could be seen at the top of the Keep with a tear-streaked face. The promotion that she received for her faith felt rather empty with the loss of so many of her charge.

Those involved in the first exodus were the assassins Hugh, Tanthos, Jaeroth, Gwaine, Caedo, Vysia, Sorien, Kader; and the warlocks/witches Moonwind, Keidor, Alandraya, Ilusen, Zanco.

In 291AC the second intervention befell the winners of the ‘Tournament of Knighthood’.

With all the success which Gareth has achieved against the natural restrictions which are applied to them in Raije’s Tournament came the reward of papers which would allow the easing of entrance criteria to those whom had been found worthy.

Naturally there was much consternation as to where these would be used, as Gareth has always been particularly selective about the hereditary bloodlines and of the professions that may join, which are enforced by the Order or by the Gods.

It was decided by Lady Straun and her Generals that there was to be a tournament to decide on whom might be given the opportunity to join. Trial-by-combat would determine the winner of the privilege of these entrance papers. All combatants were encouraged to enter, provided that they met basic requirements, such as them being good and so forth, but none on race or restriction as this was the whole point of the entrance papers. We are individuals of our Lord, rather than the professions we aspire to. In the example of Sir Gwaine we have a Knight who handled himself in an extremely disciplined way as to be courteous and chivalrous at all times before his exodus, only to return with the faith in the Lord to receive His highest blessing, one of the Path of the Holy Warrior.

A young yinn named Tegyr Vey did not win the tournament, but had them conferred upon him from Jerrand Breingiton.

Upon his entrance, there was much political turmoil in the world, both from within our walls and our enemies. The traditionalists within sought to make his entrance as difficult as possible, while those less dogmatic and more tolerant decided to give Tegyr a chance to prove himself.

There was much bleating and bellyaching from the enemies of Gareth Keep, such loud lamentations from those whom did not have Gareth’s best interests at heart and somehow felt personally wronged by the inclusion as if they thought they ought to be firmly in charge of the entrance criteria of the Knights of Gareth.

Tegyr won over his most ardent critics in Knighthood with the honour and dignity in which he held himself in the time that he was with us. How he took part in the reclamation of the ruins of southern Serpantol from his kin. How he had received the personal blessing of the Lord Nadrik himself. How he held himself in battle. How he assisted in the teaching of younger knights of both virtue and war. How he helped bring about the salvation of the Temple of Nadrik, paving the way for the rebuilding of our beloved Gareth Keep.

The respect and admiration he gained from his senior peers were the envy of any young knight, squire or page.

As Tegyr Vey had proved to be such a resounding success that a second tournament was announced. There were criticisms of the first tournament which were addressed in the second, to which the yinn assassin Kalado won. Shortly after the tournament the Lord came down to both new warriors and gave them a choice: walk in the ways of your peers or you will be removed from my house. Both were under tremendous pressure in little time as to what path to take. Young Tegyr was unwilling to undo all the work that he had done to complete that which they believed in, so was removed from the Keep. Kalado considered the words of Austinian and his path of an assassin was forsaken, destined to return.

Sir Tegyr Vey now walks in solitude upon the shores of Shokono, while Page Kalado has renewed himself and re-entered the Keep on the path of a Clerist.

Those involved in the second exodus were the assassins Tegyr and Kalado.

Recent discourse held in the War Room has shown that almost anything that a profession could do could be conceived as dishonourable, I feel our best path is to govern to the ideals which we believe in. Sometimes this will bring us close to the line of what the Gods intend, for we must balance our purity of purpose with what is required to make us strong. We who protect the weak must put ourselves in the best position to do this, otherwise we will fail. In this instance I feel it is best to follow our path then accept the regulation as the Gods apply.

The best that we can hope for is that the Gods will see us erring from their intentions early as so to provide that assuring, kindly and guiding hand which they are renown for, unlike the gods of the dark parthenon, which give and take away at their whim.

I, Sehvelarious Iolius, find most divine regulation unnecessary, as the actions of any member of our distinguished order speak individually through the strict self regulation which the leadership of Gareth lays down. If there are virtuous acts which are left wanting through the actions of the members of Knighthood, then these are governed at a local level through the strictness of our code. Compared to the code and rules of Gareth to which all members subscribe and keep us of uniform alignment, profession comes a poor second.

Footnote: There is more information on this in "Our Enlightened Future"

The Memoirs of Aenarion dePayens

At the time of writing this I will have served Knighthood for fifty two years. Prior to that I had been training under my father for a further ten years. Sixty two years I have been training to fight, fighting, or close to those fighting.

I joined Knighthood without even having all the recommended skills that were thought necessary to survive. Why I was allowed in at all is anybodies guess but I think Krysten took pity on me. I squired under half a dozen different knights, Ihsan being the main one, but with Kuldan and Garyn also chipping in as teachers. Even Seal took it upon himself to teach me at times, as I was hopeless at combat. The Keep in those days was a very different place. Ruled over by the Madaur family the focus was solely on destroying our enemy. Combat was the measuring stick for any and all knights. Honour, chivalry, even faith were worthless currencies. There were exceptions. Seal, Gunnar, Lancelot. These knights stood head and shoulders above the rest in my opinion, for their balance of virtue with combat. Mistake me not, the Madaurs were giants of men, fearsome knights focused on their duty in a way rarely seen since, but to my mind, our life has always been about more than just the fight. How you fight is as important as the fighting itself.

Following some advice from the Lord Knight, I started anew as a clergyman and found a little more success. My faith was strong and prayers came easily. I did not rain down holy judgement upon our enemies but I was able to keep myself alive much more easily with Nadrik’s help. With the help of persistence (I had gained Lieutenant rank in both Lance and

Shield by this stage), and perhaps my ability to keep myself out of dire peril more often now, Seal granted me permission to become a paladin. It was about here in time that Seal left the Keep and Rheidyr took over. I spent the next few years learning the ways of a paladin. I was in no rush, helping out the clan in consecutive clan wars and otherwise learning what I had to the full before moving on.

What I remember most from this time was the "Vampires in Shalonesti" debacle. The conflict itself was simple. Do we kill the innocent and gold aured elves to get at the vampires we knew to make home there or do we allow some evil to go unpunished to protect the innocent?

Half the Keep wanted the first, the other half wanted the second. Jyrin, a paladin, left the Keep for Armada so he could smite the evil. Garn and Muse championed the protection of the innocent whilst Rheidyr wished to strike down the unholy. Ihsan Madaur left the Keep, claiming the new leadership had persecuted him. He eventually fell to evil, becoming a prime force for Shadow. Zandreya eventually solved the vampire problem in Shalonesti and removed us from the hook but it left a bad taste in our mouths for months to follow.

Sometime early in this period I met and befriended a young gold named Elaevardoran. He and I spent quite some time together and when Leumas took over as Crown General I

left the Keep to spend all of my time protecting the Gold. For some reason unknown to me, Elaevardoran left almost immediately after this, and so I wandered the realm alone, penniless and without cause for some time. It wasn’t until Jhervais, one time Squire of mine, took over as Crown General, that I was invited back to Knighthood, with my entrance paid in full. Absent from the Keep I’d still not finished my training and had no real plans on doing so until a persistent Brass dragon took it upon herself to help me learn the finest arts of paladinhood. I’ve since spent many hours with Paziameira, and count her amongst my friends, although I know she does not hold me in the same regard. She may be fond of my presence, or so I like to think, but I am still just a "softling" to her. She does not understand how I can be weary of life after having lived such a "short" period of time.

Let me digress for a moment to speak on Paz. She is, I believe, the first dragon I ever spoke to and the second I saw, behind Tiguexteac. To my mind, she is the greatest of the Metallics to ever fly in our age and more than a match for almost all of the Chromatics. I was never her official Warder, she never needed one and would be the first to tell you so.

I have, however, flown with her into combat many a time. The child in me would revel when from on high, she would take us soaring down into the midst of battle and the enemy would flee before her in fear. There was a time during the Pirates reign of terror, when a chief antagonist of theirs was an assassin called Kath’ruk. This assassin was arrogant and cocky and had taunted many a knight, slaying many of them as they tried to answer. His arrogance was to prove his undoing though, as he stayed to fight Paz and me. I’ll confess I did little in the fight beyond knocking the assassin over a few times with my lance, but Paz was like a great cat on the hunt. A great cat with wings and a mouth full of teeth longer than my hand that is. The assassin didn’t stand a chance and although he will tell a different story with differing reasons, he was easily outmatched and slain. I remember this fight purely because the assassin stayed. Not through courage or Valor, as someone such as Leumas may have done, but through sheer arrogance. He actually thought he could slay a dragon with a rider on his own.

Another memory of mine with Paz is from Icewall. We were there, together, hunting the white dragon Zsiera. We never found her but that is not what I remember. What I remember is soaring above the ice scape, the snow covered mountain peaks, the majestic glaciers, all so far below us. It was bitterly cold, and I think my armour had frozen into a solid suit. I’d not have been able to fall off if I wanted to. How Paz stayed, when it was the heat she loved and craved I don’t know. Still she took us down through precarious ravines, and up over frozen mountain saddles looking for the lair of this beast which we had directly tracked here. A fruitless exercise, and one of privation and pain, but highlighted by ethereal, natural beauty. Truly I was thankful to be alive when we landed.

Anyway, over the course of my training, before I left the Keep I had joined the Crown, at knight level and risen through the ranks to Captain. When I returned, my rank was reinstated and during my entire tenure in the Crown I’ve spent time as assistant High Justice, transferred several times to the Lance to teach as Weaponsmaster (the irony is not lost on me) and back again into the Crown ending up as a Colonel. There are not many Knights who earn Crown Colonel without going via Generalship in another Order. Varner is another who has achieved this and I still consider it one of the most important things I’ve ever achieved in Knighthood. I am much sorrowed that new Knights have lost the desire to join the Crown and rise through its ranks.

Toward the end of Jhervais’ tenure as Crown General the Lords Shield and Lance came together, worried at the Lord Crown’s increasing absences and seeking me out as Crown

Colonel we decided in the interests of the Keep to replace Jhervais. Aedon was selected, with Leumas being Shield General still, and myself becoming Lance General.

I don’t remember huge amounts of detail from my time as Lance General. Some amusing anecdotes. Threatening to burn down New Thalos if they didn’t return a knight they’d

arrested is one that makes me chuckle now. Juggling the fiery hot headedness of Lancers who wanted to do anything to destroy evil with teaching them to behave like proper knights.

Paleceron’s struggle with self imposed celibacy. I remember waging a constant struggle with Rheivan Madaur, a young Lancer of mine who never wanted to follow the rules and etiquette of knighthood.

Always he would be out pushing the boundaries of what was now acceptable in a knight. He was an extremely capable fighter, a boon to the Lance and an example to all my other knights of how effective a paladin could be in combat which is why I allowed him some leeway. I remember Nadrik coming and visiting Rheivan and wondering why Nadrik would see this recalcitrant yet would not and had not ever talked to me. I know now, why, but I’ll withhold that reason to allow young paladins to discover it for themselves.

I became Crown General when Aedon retired but found myself worn out from my time in the Lance and so did not stay the position for long. I was not made to be the Crown

General. I made mistakes almost immediately. Nadrik approached me and imposed a ban of silence on the Keep, telling me that no one was to know why. He was testing them. Tempers flared the minute I made the declaration, with knights coming up with all manner of ridiculous reasons why they should be allowed to talk to the outside world. I watched in sorrow as all manner of behaviour proved the ire of Nadrik well placed. Even Leumas, whom I regard as a close friend, was unwilling to stay the vow of silence for long with no explanation forthcoming from me. My pleas to everyone to endure in faith went largely overlooked.

A false messenger of Nadrik appeared, a trick by Devion, yet those knights who balked under my command were all too willing to believe the new, false, message about relaxed vows. The vow lasted for only a short time, less than a week I think, but in that time my faith in the Keep and my confidence to rule them in adversity was destroyed.

As soon as it was thought Gwynn was ready, I stepped down and she took over. It proved to be the wisest decision I’ve ever made. I haven’t the patience for dealing with outside forces. Live your life according to the tenets of Nadrik. Kill the enemy. Those are my guidelines for life. Politics is for someone else.

When Gwynn was young, she decided her life was to be that of a paladin. Unfortunately, much as myself when I was young, she was not terrible adept at combat. I told her this and suggested she become a priest instead. It is standard to tell a young aspirant they are not good enough to become a paladin. It is a test of their tenacity. No lies are told, just honest flaws pointed out. Most young knights see this and work hard to correct their flaws, never losing sight of their dream. Gwynn, however, saw that her stumbling block matched a dire need within Knighthood, and rather than choosing to maintain her path, she put the Keep’s needs in front of her and took up the mantle of a priest. This action is indicative of nearly every decision she has made since.

It is rare to see a knight truly dedicated, from the first, with putting Knighthood’s needs before their own. She is one such as this.

So I’ve spent more time "retired" than I have on active service. I’ve been High Justice twice. Lord Templar for a while, a position created to formalise the teaching of paladin aspirants. I spend my time inside the Keep now, teaching and yelling at Squires. I ride only when danger is highest. Somehow along the way I managed to become Champion to Nadrik. I was rewarded, I think, for being true to His teaching in a difficult time.

Just prior to the Abhorrent slaying Aramaelous in the AGL arena, the angel came to us with a message. He, the guardian of the portal that prevented the Abhorrents re-entering our world, had been tricked into leaving his place and the portal had been breached. All was not lost though, certain artefacts could be gained which would allow him to fix the problem. He had tried Justice since he thought our honour would prevent us doing what needed to be done but they had failed him, so now he came to us as a last resort.

"Find the rod of reversal," he told us. This rod will close the portal. Seek out either the bhalanx or the witch, Brei'naela. Convince either of them to help you. He left us with two

warnings. One, the bhalanx would likely not help us if we told it the truth, and two; the witch did not have the rod on her.

It was a task we were doomed to fail from the start. Fate could not have placed us in a crueller situation. The bhalanx was approached, the truth was told as our vows demanded, and the rod was denied us as was forewarned. The witch was then approached. She demanded flesh. Several knights offered, despite the evilness of the act. This was countermanded and the witch ordered to hand over the rod on pain of death. She chose death. We were forced to return to the angel empty handed. Wroth was he that we had chosen to maintain our honour rather than do anything necessary to obtain the rod. Lie, cheat or steal? This is the way of Shadow, not Knighthood. We will find another method to protect this world.

Within the week our Keep lay in ruins thanks to a devastating curse by the dead witch and I was named Champion by my Lord. The road of honour is never the easy road but our Lord sees and rewards those that have the courage to walk it always.

I remember us, in my early days, being reprimanded by Nadrik for allowing those of dishonourable training within our walls. This was a troubling time for me, because I’d always found Gwaine to be honourable, and I knew others such as Hugh, Valen and Moonwind, two more Squires of mine, quite well. Up until this point, there had been little focus on the how and more on the what. We, the Keep, had always allowed this, and it had not occurred to us that our reasoning was flawed from the start. This was, I think, one of the main catalysts for change within our Keep.

Ark Regained

Temple in silence

Fruit of Knight's penance

Blessed Light

Has cast away the fright,

Witch's curse dispelled.

Work in earnest on the rubble

Foremen yelling, workers grumble

Slowly the the grounds are cleared

Blessed relics, buried, despair.

Anguished cries and devout prayers

To the Lord's ear, they rise.

Our Ark, Lord Nadrik, our Ark.

Rubble cleared, granite revealed,

Impervious to sweat and toil,

But to fervent prayer and the Lord's Name,

Even the granite was put to shame,

A single crack, to exploit.

Mac'Kraken of the Mountain, his lore did lend,

dwarven spirits, earthen coal, and flame, said he,

" This crack will open, try it .. you will see. "

Supplies gathered, workers taught,

Work continued, the Knights remained fraught

What lay beyond, they wondred,

A Chapel restored? An Ark regained?

or dust.

On that eve, d'Aggravaine's twain,

with Sir Renetar, in the trenches train,

Sir Moraen held vigil.

Shuddering blast, thunderous roar,

rockfall in the Temple, workers injured sore

Sir Moraen, roused to tend

Call he did to the three away,

Their return swift, to the Keep.

Temple filled with dust unsettled,

More had crumbled, the granite was shorn.

Workers in the rubble midst,

aching bones and broken limbs,

Sir Moraen stood to heal.

Amidst the rubble, Lady Muse saw,

A glistening, shimmering, form,

Hope was a flicker, then a flame,

Brushing the dust, the shape revealed,

Our Ark .. Oh Lord .. Our Ark.

Disbelief and awe,

Was this true, what they saw?

The Ark .. so long lost .. regained??

What fickle eyes could not trust,

all was assured with a gentle touch.

Whispered voices, on bended knee,

The knights gave thanks,

" Oh Lord

What we couldst not win with sword

thou hath given to our hands. "

Gwaine d'Aggravaine

The Reclamation of Southern Serpantol to the Rule of Gareth

After the rebuilding of Gareth Keep, and before Knighthood’s second tournament, Lord Circe identified an artefact which might be present near the ruined fortress in Southern Serpantol. His archaeologists uncovered a tomb in the vicinity of Serpantol where they uncovered a large diamond with gold-mirrored backing. Known as the "Lux Lucis ap Salus" or "Light of Salvation", the source of light was of an early Shield General Daegius ap Grinaard who held the position between the foundation of Serpantol and the yinn invasion.

Upon the finding of the item, the sky lit up with the brilliance of the power of the "Light of Salvation", bringing much danger to those working there. The yinn immediately attacked and the knights stayed on the defensive and called for aid.

Swift was the response from the leadership. Action was agreed on with haste, officers called their knights to them, and knights called on their squires. Relief would come.

A memo was found near an abandoned yinn encampment in an effort to discredit Sir Tegyr, which attempted to mark him as a traitor, but the ploy was unsuccessful.

A patrol of knights was despatched to the region to attempt to locate it where they met stiff opposition from the yinn scavengers who dwelt there. After some heavy fighting they were defeated, and an ancient banner taken from Gareth Keep of ancient Serpantol and Gareth was raised from the battlements. Many knights of Gareth remained to stand guard around the ruins as reinforcements were rushed from Gareth, and a train of materials transported there to reinforce the crumbling structure and fortify it.

Once the battle was won, Captain Mercurion Mamoritai saw about setting the defences to protect those knights now surrounding the ruined fortress. Officers, knights, squires and pages alike put aside their swords and took to their shovels till a trench was dug around it.

Rangers and druids were given the task of scouting the surrounding area, to ensure that we were not ambushed in a counter attack, and Knights of the Lance were deployed to defend the supply routes and trains going from Gareth to the fortress. Knights of the Shield were given the task of felling the trees to fortify the ruins, and the plans for masonry to make the fortress habitable again. Kloegnr, Tegyr and Daerten all made significant contributions in this area, under the instructions to keep constant vigil, scouting around the immediate lands as so to not be surprised by the enemy.

General Bolter Sha'fen organised the supply train of reinforcements, battle equipment and materials for fortification, which was set upon by lions on the way to Serpantol.

I, Sehvelarious Iolius, planted the standard on the battlements and don’t mind admitting on being a little moist eyed at the significance of the event, the proudest of my life. An old tome covered in Serpantine runes was recovered from the top of an old weapons cabinet in the barracks. So far I have managed to translate some sections which include the ancient ‘Code of the Knighthood of Serpantol’ and some other military formations and organisation which have focused on the impact of the ‘massed cavalry charge’ in the field, and the discipline required to make it effective in battle. The "Light of Salvation" which Lord Circe alluded to is in safe hands now that the fortress is under our control. It now resides in our museum.

The last act by the yinn was to set fire to the camp, which Gareth was struggling to put out whilst at the same time being on guard to a feared attack, but may have in fact been a final act by the yinn to occupy us whilst they retreated. Certainly they have been very quiet since.

My fading memory ails me, but I recall Sirs Mercurion, Acthus, Salinor, Tegyr, Camlach, Daerten, Sehvelarious, Leumas, Rithor, Kloengr, Selath, Gwynn, Bolter, Josephine, Acthus, Zacharach, Shylah, and Honoria being actively involved in this reclamation of the south of our ancient homeland.

The Blessing of the Trinity

When Lord d'Aggravaine rose to Lord of Knighthood, the holy Trinity of Austinian, Nadrik and Siccara came together in unison to confer the Generalship to Gwaine. Gwynn was blessed by Austinian and Gwaien by Nadrik, then in unison the voices of the three divine rang out 'Favored is Gareth's Keep'.

Such a thing has never been seen within the walls of Gareth before.

It was Clerist St John who referred the Lord Knight to the prophecy in the Lost Scrolls of Serpantol for consideration, but not all who were present were convinced, perhaps more alarmed at what the prophecy called this in being preparation for:

"This ... (Lord Knight blessed by the Trinity), gifted by the Holy Three would be called Grand Master and would lead Gareth’s Knights into the Final Battle... the battle by which Good would finally have victory conclusive over evil, and kindness, compassion, and virtue would reign supreme."

Footnote: There is more on this subject in "Myths and Legends - The Lost Scrolls of Serpantol" under "Grandmaster".