Sunset Dawn

This set of volumes is "The Sunset Dawn" by Lady Saravhana of dae'Fale in dae'Tayana. Librarian and Lore Keeper of Eclipse. It is the version from the Angelfire Texts with the main Kayen variations added toward the end.

Introduction to Sunset Dawn

"The Sunset Dawn" by Lady Saravhana of dae'Fale in dae'Tayana. Librarian and Lore Keeper of Eclipse.

The Sunset Dawn is Eclipse's seminal work on its birth.

Some might question what place it might have in this library. Libraries are the storehouse of knowledge, not everything which agrees with us, but a perspective of all parties. The manner of the portrayal of the Sunset Dawn is highly contentious, though it does follow the basic timeline as it occurred, much within is well acknowledged to be myth and fiction by the scholastic membership of Algoron. The tome was used in ruthless propoganda, seducing those who were not evil to the cause.

In considering this work and the one following it, the critique of The Sunset Dawn, it shows the mistakes which Eclipse made, and exposes the half-truths it exposed. Incorporate in our "Ethos Of Knighthood" and "The Falsehood of Necrucifer" and it rounds out the positions where Eclipse fell to, and why we in Knighthood morally have the high ground, and what it is about our way which makes it feasible, whereas the position of where Eclipse were, and where Shadow currently stand is untenable.

Sunset Dawn is written in the common tongue of this age; based on folk lore and written information from "The Sun of Dominance".

Following this volume is the critique which brings this work to account, citing examples and other lore which prove it incorrect or speculation.

In this tome, truth is embellished, Eclipse are given an overly favourable position and artistic licence is rife. Considering all this, Lady Saravhana of d'Fale in dae'Tayana, the Librarian and Lore Keeper of Eclipse has furnished us with a cracking good read which is reason enough to include it even if some of the detail has the same validity as a fairy story. Iolius.

Editors note: I have made only one addition, and that is a brief one liner under the title of each chapter for the reader to use as reference. Iolius. Additionally, there are several versions of this tale that have been found so a final chapter at the end will highlight the differences. The work is lifted from the earlier Angelfire texts, but I shall also include the last three chapters of the Kayen texts to highlight the main difference, where it may be that Shadow has attempted to write themselves into divine history.

Sunset Dawn: Book One (The Sun of Dominance)

Prologue

Where San Gohdam and Tesalon Gareth are introduced, and the nature of three Gods

There was once a boy. That is all he was at this point in time, a boy, with simple aspirations and simple dreams. His father was a good man, and his mother a fair and loving wife to him.

He was a page, the boy, to one of the eldest knights of Knighthood in Serpantol, and it's leader, sir Tesalon Gareth. True, he was young, true he was too small yet to even ride a horse, but sir Gareth had seen in this child an ability. The ability to someday lead, someday conquer and serve his purpose with all his heart, to immortalize the virtues of Knighthood in the hearts of every good man even more than Gareth himself had. The ability that could be dangerous someday if not cared for, and nurtured.

Tesalon raised this boy in the ways of Nadrik, though he himself was a firm believer in Austinian, and was rumored to have consulted with that god on a number of occasions. The boy was given page-like errands and all manner of directives, but Tesalon cared for him more than any other child in the world. Quite early, at the age of 10, in actuality, the boy was squired to Tesalon, and this meant that he was a Squire of the Crown, and shadowed Tesalon even to the courts of Serpantol and on personal audiences with the King. He was regal, and served with honor and love for his father. A virtuous boy, without a shadow in his heart. He was as noble as the eldest of paladins, as courageous as the greatest battle-rager of dwarven Wargar, and as courteous as the most loved of gentlemen in the courts of Serpantol.

By the time this boy had become a knight, he was the youngest ever. At the age of 16 the boy had excelled against any knight who was not a veteran, and by 18 he had dueled and defeated any knight in Serpantol but his beloved 'Father' Tesalon Gareth. Tesalon was a good sixty years old by his looks now, though his age is shrouded in legend and legacy as to have been stretched beyond the normal scopes of mortals by Austinian himself. He was none the less old in comparison to the length he had lived, and slowly, the boy found himself caring more for the man, returning the favor of his upbringing. It was truly unimaginable, unbelievable, inconceivable and highly controversial that this boy was once so loving, so honorable.

Many philosophers and great men of good have discarded that thought to inane speculation, but, as it was at the beginning of time; when the High God created in his divine wisdom Austinian, Kwainin and Necrucifer... there was no good, neutral, nor evil. There simply was, and the ends justified the means. This is the most accurate interpretation of the story about a boy who became a man known as San Gohdam, of the Dark Years, and the ideals of the Knights who left Serpantol to found Eclipse.

The story of his life, and death, and the fruits of his legacy, with few details spared, collected from folk lore and actual written history and compiled into this manuscript. This is the first book of the series, describing the founding and rising of Eclipse. Within this tomb is described the quick rise to power of Eclipse, Knighthood's struggle to match it, and the tragic end of San Gohdam's vision: the awakening of the hearts of Malice. The next book in the series, "Honor in Brotherhood" deals with the recovery of Eclipse, and the uniting of various races and peoples, and powerful magicks, and explains through plot how Eclipse evolved away from Knighthood's ideals. Proceeding it is the "Rise of Eclipse" which deals with Targetter's attempt at world domination, dragonfire, and the dark years.

Chapter One: The Stagnancy of Serpantol

Where the Yinn invade Shalonesti, San Gohdam meets Targetter and Lord Maven

There had been one day in his life that he was scorned so far, though it would not be the last. The general of the Lance, Maven Holyfield had caught the boy in his tracks, glimpsing at a report on his desk. It was not that that had caught his anger though, but that the boy had argued with the report's logistics.

"It doesn't make sense," the boy insisted to Maven, "Why are they not resisting them? We should be protecting the whole world, not just the aristocracy in Serpantol!"

"It is the law of Serpantol, boy. We cannot go against the king. If the elves are too proud to ask for our intervention, we cannot do anything for them. There are the Cultists to worry about here. We cannot relent our vigil."

"This is absurd, lord Maven! Will they not be stopped until their hordes are here? What idiocracy do we serve under?"

Maven literally threw the boy out of his office and slammed the door. The documents had been hidden for fear of causing the same controversy that traced back and forth through the boy's mind now as he wandered through the streets of Serpantol. It was a glorious city, unchallenged in the lands, as were the Knighthood.

Gareth was ill, and his knights were becoming stagnant because of it. Or rather, Gareth was ill because his knights were becoming stagnant.

The boy kicked a stray rock down the cobblestoned Royal Road. There was trouble in the north. Reports were scattered, but it seemed as if the Shalonesti were helpless to stop it. These ferocious hitherto unknown creatures were called the Yinn, and Serpantol would not allow anything to be done about them. The knights, although mostly wishing to, were ensnared in politics and dedication to the crown. Lord Maven was a stubborn individual, and would not strike at the Yinn, interfering in the politics of Shalonesti and this unknown culture. They had after all done nothing to Serpantol.

Carelessly, the young knight bumped into another boy, with dark skin and dark eyes. This swarthy boy ran a few steps away before the young knight apologized. The other boy stopped in his tracks, turning towards the knight again.

"You're not going to scold me, sir?" this swarthy youth asked.

"Of course not, why should I do that?"

"Most of the knights around here either scold or ignore people like me." the boy shrugged. "They're arrogant fools..."

San figured he had thought that to himself, or at very most breathed it in a mutter, but the other one heard.

"My name is Targetter." The dark boy said, extending a hand. The other was momentarily taken aback, but removed his chainmail glove and shook this "Targetter" by the hand.

"San Gohdam, Knight of the Crown." A keen flash ran through the eye of the other, but though San saw it, he chose to ignore it.

Targetter asked whether they could join each other in a nearby tavern for a drink. When San Gohdam said yes, it could have been the most pivotal moment in history.

Chapter Two: Destiny Manifests

Where the decadence of Serpantol is exposed, yinn are slain, San Gohdam renounces the light

The day had turned red, the light of the sun reflected from the red moon onto the surface of Algoron, amplified by the gloom of the clouds in the north. Everything was a dim, rusty red, and the sky a hazy pink color. It was quite disturbing. Targetter and Gohdam sat in the Wayside Tavern for many hours, discussing many issues. They had an awful lot in common, which surprised Gohdam, for he was of the impression that the poor were very different from the rich and powerful in Serpantol. Though a glorious Empire, Serpantol grew stagnant from the lack of anything to do, anywhere to go.

"It's only a matter of time before things can't go any further." "A preclude to disaster is what it is. The Serpantol army hasn't been used in over twenty years, and the knights are rusting in their tin cans, most of them, or getting old and fat..." he briefly thought of Tesalon, who he loved dearly, and could not believe he had said that... but a knight must speak only truth.

"The aristocracy in Serpantol Central won't let the government do anything, they're afraid they're going to lose something. We can't even stop the Cultists, and there's only a few of them."

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were getting help from a few of the knights. Since Lord Gareth has been ill, Lord Maven has become quite corrupt." "With great power generally comes great corruption... except for those who are true of heart, and filled with the purpose of their cause... have you ever had a purpose..?"

Gohdam thought for a moment, but could not answer, for outside there came much commotion. Targetter and the knight rushed to the door. Outside was a potentially fearsome canine-like creature, humanoid, about seven feet. She was surrounded by an escort of vicious guards. Gohdam could not help but notice how regal they all were. She was dressed in fine silks and earrings, and wore a tiara upon her head. They all stood straight backed and noble, as if they had nothing to fear... as if no one would strike out against them.

He glanced at Targetter, who's eyes locked to his. These were Yinn, and they were as civil as the highest aristocrat in Serpantol. And yet, the crowd turned violent, panic stricken.

It was only a matter of minutes before Maven arrived with a small lance of knights. One of the knights by his side began to try to calm the crowd down, but Maven raised his sword and struck at the Yinn who looked female. She fell, wounded. One of the guards near the back swung at a nearby knight as two rushed to seemingly protect the woman, but the action was so quick, so deadly, that in one smooth motion they had drawn the female out of harms way and lunged like wasps into the group of knights. Another Yinn fell back, slipping out of the crowd. Gohdam held his sword sheathed, but anger filled him. Not at anyone in particular, but the 'lord' Maven. Two Yinn had died, but 3 civilians and 2 knights lay with them in death. Maven was bloody, as were a few others, two Yinn had gotten away. The female had bled to death from the slice in her shoulder.

"What have you done, Maven?"

Maven was furious, still. "Defended the citizens of Serpantol from these monsters is what."

"These were not monsters! They attacked no one until you did!!"

Maven's eyes flashed with the error that he knew was his, but his words did not admit it. "I did what had to be done. Stand aside."

Gohdam's chainmail glove slapped Maven across the face, and landed in the bloody dirt. Fear filled the General's eyes. No one had beaten Gohdam in a duel for almost two years.

"We have no time for this, idiot boy!" Maven seemed to desperately want to hunt down the other two Yinn.

"NO? You're bloodthirsty enough! You haven't protected Serpantol from Evil in over ten years, Maven! You're despicable. You want something to fight, something that can make you a hero or saint?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. He doesn't know!" Maven assured the nearby knights.

"What about the Cultists then, Maven? Why can't we seem to defeat them? Why are they always one step ahead of us? THEY'RE YOUR PAWNS!" Gasps from the crowd.

"I read the reports, Maven. You're a traitor to the name of goodness!"

Some more knights arrived, many who were of the Lance, coming from the street behind lord Maven.

"NO! I am General of the Crown, and you'll show more respect than these unbased accusations."

More knights, they were coming to where the commotion had been reported. A man, a knight of the shield came to the arguing Maven and Gohdam.

"Lord Tesalon was leaving the Crown to San, I thought.." said one of Gohdam's friends, Jaymes.

"Times of war are approaching. It is only appropriate that the recently deceased pass on his title to the general of the Lance."

"That's unheard of."

"You're talking of Gareth as if he's already dead!" Gohdam was furious.

"Lord Tesalon Gareth died this morning, soon after you left my office, boy."

The spite in his voice was too much. Whether or not this filthy man had finished Tesalon off with word of his plans to take the knighthood into his own hands or not were irrelevant. The implication was in his tone. Gohdam drew his sword angrily. There was fear in the crowd. This was unheard of as well, and deeply troubling. Then something that could only have been destiny occurred.

The sky became bloody as the red moon flashed, and slowly began to cover the above. The crowd was in awe, and Gohdam was fundamentally moved. The sun, burning high in the sky, was being overtaken by a small silhouette. Despite all of its power and strength, a radiant giver of life was easily overcst by something that was simply closer.

"Knights of Gareth and Serpantol hear me!" Gohdam said as the sky darkened under the lunar eclipse. "The knighthood is outmoded, made up mostly of men so stuck in their armor that they can not see people," he motioned to the poor crowd, then to the dead, civilized Yinn, "as they truly are! The empire of Serpantol is unchallenged, the people so afraid that they will not defend other realms against invasion, they scavenge for evil like stray cats through back alleys."

Various knights who were with Maven tried to stop Gohdam, who had climbed onto a tipped over stall on the side of the road. Jaymes, for one, defended him, and then others drew their swords in a motionless standoff.

"Those of us who tire of the laws of Serpantol restricting the growth of the world, restricting the very virtues of knighthood, join me, in true Brotherhood. If they want something to fight against so badly, we shall give them something to fight, and may their gods have mercy upon their souls! I wouldn't count on it though, Austinian let Tesalon die, and then this is the honor that his death is given? I renounce him! I follow no god who would let this happen to Serpantol! We shall unite under a new banner! The banner of an eclipse!"

Gohdam flung his sword and it stopped dead, pointing at the now full eclipse. The sun was but a brief rim around the moon, and the sky was dark. A chill wind blew from the previous gloom and the crowd was sent into panic by Gohdam's last cry before Maven broke through the ring of his defenders and arrested the lot of them for blasphemy.

"I RENOUNCE YOUR GODS!!!" "I RENOUNCE YOUR GODS!!!"

Chapter Three: Waxing Tides

Where Targetter rescues San Gohdam from his execution, loses the Crown

It was the day of the hanging. Gohdam, rightful General of the Crown, was to be denied his place, and hung for heresy against the gods of goodness, along with Jaymes, and a few other of the knights who had testified against Maven's claim.

"Let be the souls of the wicked unscathed as they progress towards divine judgement, and may Austinian have mercy as he gives them retribution for their sins..." sir Walter Shimmerston, the cleric of knighthood, recited monotonously as the 'criminals' were led to the scaffold and the nooses placed around their necks.

As the cleric finished, Maven approached as well, and stood up to San Gohdam. He arrogantly spat in his face, and named him evil.

"You never accepted my duel, coward."

"I duel no evil, my wrath undoes and destroys it." Maven boasted. "I am a Higher Evil the likes of which shall toss you about at nights and haunt you during the days. And I shall duel you in hell, when we are there together."

San Gohdam spat back in the face of lord Maven. "And I shall someday send you there, myself."

"Hang them!" Rang Maven's voice, and the execution raised his axe to cut the ropes that held the trapdoors in place. As his axe fell onto the first one and one of the knights slipped to his death, so did the executioner to arrows in the neck. An arrow passed through Gohdam's rope and he had slipt one of his wrists out of their bindings which flung towards Maven's sword sheathe. He drew the sword out, slicing Maven's waist as he did, and sliced the rope of Jaymes's noose as the trapdoor beneath him opened.

Jaymes was sent hurtling to the ground under the gallows, where a few men waited for him, friends from the knighthood, who were dressed in armor but bore no insignia of Serpantol. Gohdam fought atop the scaffold as the Brothers of Eclipse joined him. They had horses down the road, and nothing could stop them, for there were more of them than the stangant knights of Serpantol could handle. Gohdam's words had moved them. Targetter came to his side, with his bow and an arrow knocked, and winked an eye.

"I liked your speech, I thought I'd rally them together and help you." Targetter replied to Gohdam's curious visage, which turned into a smile.

"I thank you, friend." He said and struck down a soldier.

Maven was still on the gallows, the cleric standing over him, and in Gohdam's wrath, he almost went after him.

"There will be time to deal with Maven, San. For now we must go, for it is you who these Ecliptic knights shall follow, and you alone." There was a strange ring to the boy's voice, a ring that knew much more than his age would permit. His wisdom was undeniable, and he and Gohdam got onto horses, and the renegade knights of Serpantol rode from Serpantol quickly, into the countryside, heading southward towards the duchy of Verminasia, where a modest manor surrounded by a small township awaited them, for it was a friend of Gohdam's who was the duke of this place.

"They want evil to fight, we shall give them just that. Though they shall call us filth, call us vile and foul in history, let us always know that we were in the right this day, and the days after. Let the Ends justify the Means, my brothers. Let the darkness of their foolish ways be their ends! Let reign the Brotherhood of Eclipse!" And the galloping knights cheered and rode forward into the southern horizon, where both the moon and the sun was setting. And from good was spawned the higher evil of Eclipse, and their legacy would spread far and wide, like a plague upon the world.

Chapter Four: For the Honor of the Crown

Where Eclipse invades Pan-toll, issue ultimatum to Serpantol

Historically, approximately a year and a bit have passed since the Eclipse had been growing in strength, and quite rapidly.

"The township of Pahn'Tol is ahead, San." The man named Targetter spoke over the galloping of hooves.

There were nearly a hundred armored knights with them, virtually nothing could stand in their way.

"Very good. Targetter, take two thirds of these knights and arch north to cover any resistance from Serpantol, and cut off messengers, then join me in Pahn'Tol. We'll have them open the gates for you. Remember, we are still knights..."

"Well... you are, at least. I -was- a peaceful assassin, as hard as that is to understand." Targetter winked. "But I know what you mean. We still have our honor." Targetter made a shrill call, and his division arched away from the 25 knights left, who rode on through the forest towards the village.

Pahn'Tol was but a small farming town, and Gohdam's knights quickly sacked the gates of the city. There was little to no resistance, and not a single one man or woman was killed needlessly. The gateguards were about the only people who took any injury at all. The valuables of the town such as silverware and money were taken, as well as grain and wheat from the silo's, but only what the Eclipse needed for it's growing army.

"Almost too easy, my friend." San commented when he reunited with Targetter at the northern gate. "Almost too easy."

Over the months, the villages became townships, and through either fear or longing for something greater than the Knighthood, knights who had heard of Gohdam's preachings in Serpantol drew steel beside him. The few confrontations that the greatly unprepared Knighthood had with Eclipse ended quickly, often in violence, though prisoners were taken and ransomed back to increase the coffers of Eclipse. When finally, after another year of hard raiding and recruiting, the Day of the Bull, month of the Great Betrayal, San Gohdam made his formal ultimatum known to Serpantol by messenger. What the Knighthood did not know, was that this messenger was the infamous Targetter himself. Targetter, had a passion for doing the unexpected, and he took pride in his nearly mystical ways.

The man was full of confidence as he strode into Serpantol. Knights from Shinalstin had been allocated here, and he smiled and bowed to them. They did not recognize him, for it was as hard then as it is now that anyone knew the man by face -and- name. Knights had been allocated, but not enough of them. The man drew from an inexplicable force, and warping the fabric of space and time, appeared before the King of Serpantol. The king and his imperial guards were quite taken aback by his appearance, but when Targetter told them to hold, they did.

"I come bearing message from the Knights of Eclipse." He pronounced.

"The Knights of Eclipse do not exist, sir," the king denied. "they are but simple renegades."

"Call them what you will, your majesty, but whoever they are, I bear message from them, none the less. The Knights of Eclipse and their supporting army have decided in their infinite wisdom that the Crown should yield approximately one half of it's treasury to Eclipse, and the food needed for their number for one year."

The king was not at all pleased by these demands. He laughed aloud. "The kingdom of Serpantol has no intention of submitting to a band of highway brigands--"

"I have not finished! The knights of Eclipse did not expect you to be wise enough to pay this, so we have therefor shortened the deadline for these demands as to not waste time watching you act like you are considering our ultimatum. You have twenty four hours before your crown belongs to us."

"GET HIM!"

But with a sharp upright gesture, Targetter had lifted the hand containing a canister of corrosive material and slammed it against the ground before the two guards could think of capturing him. When the smoke was gone, so too was Targetter, leaving the king to wonder how far these 'renegade' knights had come. He immediately sent a pigeon to the Knighthood in Shinalstin, who drafted and recruited all the way north to aid Serpantol. The Knighthood had been doing some recruiting of their own, and picked up the tossed gauntlet.

Chapter Five: The Battle of Serpantol

Where Serpantol is raided by Eclipse who loot, then withdraw after reinforcements sent from Shinalstin

The armies of Eclipse had come earlier than the strategists of knighthood had expected, from the west, with the setting sun at their backs, to let Serpantol see the silhouettes of their enemies as they rose in hundreds over the rolling horizon. Because of the cultists, witchcraft was outlawed in Serpantol, and magic distrusted. Eclipse did not have that prejudice however, and had recruited a few of the mages that conclave had missed.

Fireballs were the first thing to hurtle over the walls of the city, incredible fireballs. From the east came the clouds, clouding the stars as the sun set, and the field was lit by the lightning that crashed into the city, and the fire that flew overhead. Despair inside Serpantol accompanied the darkness as the scales of the battle began to tip.

From atop a palace spire, Lord Maven, General of the Lance and the King stared morbidly over the scene below. The 'renegades'.. these Knights of Eclipse.. could not be held out of the city for much longer.

"I fear what shall become of this world if they overthrow us, Maven."

"Fear not, my king. I am soon to join the battle myself, and the knights from Shinalstin will soon arrive.. -must- soon arrive. Austinian.."

"Austinian have mercy on our souls, Maven."

It was not even midnight by the time the armies of darkness swarmed through the breech in the western gates of the city, and the battle was fought in the streets. Lightning still crackled harmlessly above, but the mana of Eclipse's mages had been used, so the magical portion of the battle was over. San Gohdam fought at the front of his lines, with the uncanny man known only as Targetter.

"It seems that the battle is in our favor, my friend." Gohdam said.

"Shall I order the looting of what we need to commence, Lord Gohdam?" Gohdam nodded, and Targetter's pre-assigned men broke into nearby households and warehouses. The Eclipse were not truly after the treasury, that would be a massive undertaking, as the main city walls around the palace and high quarters were still unbroken and defended.

Midnight struck, on this day of Deception, month of the Great Betrayal, the Knighthood from Shinalstin arrived from the south, only to be met with extreme force on the highway through the valley by knights of Eclipse. A great flare was launched into the sky, signaling Eclipses tactical withdrawal as the southern branch of Eclipse slowly gave the Knighthood way, purposely.

Targetter flinched. Something was not all right. "Gohdam," Targetter said.

"Yes, Targetter..?" "Theres something wrong here.. come with me." The steel clad man followed his swarthy friend, and they entered one of the nearby warehouses. There was a flash of steel and a definite slice as a tortured knight was executed. Two more were subdued, severely beaten.

"What in the name of Gods is going on?" the leader of Eclipse shouted, and the two men who were doing the executions stopped. They were former knights of the Serpantol Knighthood, Gohdam had grew up with on of them, Slough, and the other was about five years old, Klyrr dAstaroth. A few other drafts from Shinalstin stood nearby, and San saw that Targetter was committing their faces to memory.

"Forgiveness Lord Gohdam," dAstaroth replied snidely. "We were under the impression that this was a war."

"We do not kill mercilessly, without motive. These men can be held captive, for ransom. There is no honor in slaughtering the prisoners of war!"

"As my lord commands." Friends of Gohdam arrived, drawing him out of the warehouse to speak. Sir Lokgrim and Lord Jobe. "My lord, the Shinalstin are about a league south on the road and closing while our forces step backwards. Shall I raise the signal?" Gohdam glanced at lord Jobe, who nodded in agreement with Lokgrim. Jobe was a fine magician and warrior, he was the first mentor of the anti-paladins, a recent development in combating the knighthoods ranks.

"Give the signal to retreat, and set fire to a few of these buildings.. the ones that shall catch. We want to give our enemies something to do other than chase us through the countryside. "As my lord commands," smiled Jobe and went to his work. Fire poured through the dark sky, and the black forms of the knights of darkness disappeared like the shadows to daylight.. though it was little past midnight.

Chapter Six: Hearts of Darkness

Where cultists and Malicians appear in the ranks

Raids continued through the countryside the next day, leaving a firm, yet undisturbed path leading to the Knights of Eclipse. No one would be following, the knights would repair the damage. About five hundred thousand golds worth of goods had been taken from Serpantol, and there was much victorious celebrating amidst the ranks. It was not all good though, as the months slowly passed. Gohdam had discussed it with Targetter, the situation that was developing. There were the knights who were truly loyal to him, and to honor.. then there were the others, the suspicious.

There was something rising from the depths of Eclipse that lay within the darkest portion of a mans heart and soul, and they were helpless to quell it. Day by day, reports grew from Gohdam's loyals of animals dead in the forest, skinned only for their fur, or sometimes nothing at all. Gohdam knew who some of his friends were, Targetter definitely, as well as Lokgrim, Jobe, and his good friend Jaymes, who had been the first to stand by him. But day by day, the sentiment of grew inside his ranks.

As Targetter surveyed the camp with Gohdam one gloomy day, they were speaking of this in hushed voices. Almost every face could be attached to an unhealthy soul which is how Lokgrim referred to it. As they passed one of the tents, Targetter stopped and drew Gohdam back to the side of it. They listened on to the inside, but were too stricken with fear and apprehension to do anything but that.

"Kill all those who stand against you, Look into their eyes. Drink their blood and laugh aloud, No truth within your lies. Piss upon their graves, Then cast a final spell; We shall never serve in Heaven, But one day Rule in Hell."

There was a ripping sound from within the tent, and then someone intoned: "The Horned God shall walk again upon the world".

It reminded them both of the terrible legacy of the Cultists in Serpantol, and they could not believe that they had unwittingly dragged that aspect of that place with them. It was quite believable, but totally unwanted.

"The Eclipse must have the sun in order to block it.. this, though.. this needs nothing of the sun nor night. It is truly.. malicious." Targetter whispered. "We can but pray that.. Necrucifer guides our path away from this, my friend.. I hope he's a better listener than Austinian."

Chapter Seven: A Violation of Sanctity

Where Bannersend falls, Targetter discovers his manatonicism and rescue of a maiden's chastity

The town of Bannersend was their next target. They were to draft the men from adolescence to middle age to join their army, and leave the youth and the aged with the women and girls. They would take a year's worth food for the new drafts. Gohdam and Targetter rode at the front of their procession, it was glum, and they were silent. Gohdam could feel every slow beat in his heart against his chest. Something within him was beginning to realize the value of it. Not simply the value of life, not to kill needlessly, but the value to him of his own beating heart.

Things did not go as planned. For the most part, it was so however, but there was resistance in the town, behind the walls. A small band of local heroes stood defiantly against them, and there were an uncanny amount of casualties. Not on Gohdam's army, but a little too many on the civilians' side. Gohdam glanced at Targetter, a miserable frown upon his face. The looting had commenced.

Suddenly, Targetter jolted back and nearly fell from his horse.

"What is it!?" Gohdam said, immediately thinking he had been struck by a crossbows bolt. He swung from his horse, but Targetter was physically fine. The man spoke low, only to Gohdam.

"A girl's sanctity is being broken. A mother is dying, her family dead save the daughter, who screams.." How Targetter could know all this was beyond the aging knight, Gohdam, did not know, but the two proceeded on foot to a house. Neither of them knew what force guided them there, nor whether or not that force was intended for their benefit. The door was locked, and Gohdam, the leaden man he was, kicked the frame in. A man lay killed in the foyer, Gohdam drew again his blade, Targetter his half- sword.

Two smaller children, boys, lay broken on the side of the room that they passed through towards a woman's screams and sounds of struggle. In the bedroom an older woman lay slain, gruesomely cut. This other, a blossoming woman by her looks, her clothes torn, struggled against one of the former knights of Serpantol. 'Sir' Hilloch stood over, watching, and another toyed with a dagger at the mother's gut. A head rolled. This of course, only caused the girl to scream more, being attached to a corpse, and she scrambled weakly away to the corner between the bed and the wall. Hilloch did not move, and the man with the dagger's jaw broken by a swift movement of Targetter's stiff hide boot. De Astaroth came from behind them, feigning surprise and apprehension. There was a moment of silence (save for the panting and whimpering of the girl) as Gohdam stared de Astaroth in the eyes.

"You will hang." He said to the men who were in the room, still staring at de Astaroth. Targetter was gazing slightly awestruck at de Astaroth, as if he had just seen a thought inside his mind.. or been given one. Of all the shame that could be said to the three rapists, not one of them did d'Astaroth let fly, but smirked knowingly at the Knight, San Gohdam, a chilling twinkle in his eye.

Chapter Eight: In the Name of Misery and Sadness

Where Malicians are hung for rape of Bannersend

Some of the Knights had erected gallows, although most had been unwilling to hang any one of their Brothers'. It was the memory of these people that would save lives later on, and possibly Gohdam and Targetter as well.

"I was always convinced our numbers would be torn apart someday by a well planned attack from Serpantol.. I did not picture this." The swarthy man muttered to himself, watching Gohdam on the gallows, as the criminals of war were marched up.

There were four in total, for a few others were caught doing unseemly things in Bannersend. Gohdam thought that making an example might solve the problem. Targetter was often less optimistic than the ex-knighthood.

"We are gathered today to witness the execution of these four offenders of morality. Most of us have worked our entire life to maintain virtue, and although we abandon the laws of Serpantol, and renounce their gods, we must maintain our vigil for Honor, and Higher Evil, not petty nonsense. Why then, do you press my leniency, my mercy?" Gohdam spoke like a king, and even the less enthusiastic 'knights' of Eclipse listened to him, and heard his message.

There was a crowd near the back of the gathered knights which Targetter suspected. Slough and d'Astaroth stood at their front, eyes ablaze with hatred.

"These cruel and heartless warriors who are among you spread misery and sadness for the sake of spreading misery and sadness.. and not necessarily for any good reason. For that, these ones who were caught, and any other who chose to lower themselves to this degree, and be on the same level as dung, shall be hung by the neck until they are dead!" Gohdam motioned to the man who stood near the lever, and the trapdoors opened.

There was little sound but the cracking of four necks and the creaking of ropes. The procession broke up. The glum, and the vengeful all went to their separate tents. Gohdam retired also to his tent, and before doing so, gazing back at the bodies that were being piled into a bonfire. Animals such as those did not even deserve proper burials. Targetter met his eyes for a brief moment, then they each entered into separate tents. It was the last night San Gohdam would be seen alive.

Chapter Nine: The Sons of Malice

Where San Gohdam murdered, Eclipsians flee to Verminisia, Malice rules

Targetter rose before even the sun. The faint simmer of morning lay just below the eastern horizon. He had risen to see dawn, for he knew somehow, another one of these cursed intuitive hunches, that this day would symbolize great change. He walked slowly through the shady camp, for the tents cast long shadows from the rising sun, heading towards Gohdam's tent. His eyes caught some movement, and he averted his course, heading instead towards Jaymes'. Two men lurked in the shadows of a nearby tent, one watching Gohdam's the other watching Targetter himself. Something felt empty and dark within Gohdam's tent, and the usual beat of life from the tent was not there.

The swarthy man hastened his pace and slipped into Jaymes' tent. There was a sudden aggressive movement as he entered the candle lit tent.

"Woah woah! Hold! It's a friend, not foe.." Targetter said, but he had none the less drawn his half-sword in defense.

Jaymes nodded, hands shaking as he gripped his own sword. Lord Jobe was here as well. "I thought for a minute you were them.." "Two of the generals are dead, Targetter. We saw them, throats slit in their beds for wake up.."

Jobe even, feared his life. "I fear that San may too have been murdered. His tent was being watched for those who might go in. I did not risk it."

"What do we do..! What do we do?" Jaymes frantically whispered. He was nearly panic stricken.

"We have to calm down. There's more of them then there are us. If we lose track of our logic, we'll die too. Find Lokgrim. We have to get the hell out of here. All the True Knights of Eclipse know that we have friends and shelter in Verminasia. Malice does too, but they won't risk a venture there, at least, they won't care enough to go there. We have to get to Verminasia and send a team to move the gold though, so that they can't find it anymore. That might be their first directive .."

"I'll sick the Knighthood on them," Jobi offered. "I can send a message of magic to Maven that will alert him to our weakened condition.. at least parts of it. He will take the opportunity I think.. I pray."

Targetter nodded. "Get the hell out of the camp, and don't get followed. Make sure you reach Verminasia. I have something to do." It was deathly quiet outside, there was a strange hum to the air, resonating like a migraine through the skull of the world. There was cautious movement through the camp. The True Knights knew that they must flee or be killed. It was starting to make sense though, to Targetter. Someone on the enemy's side knew who's hearts were and were not true to the cause of Eclipse. They could read mind and emotion, just as Targetter seemed to be able to do. A manatonic. And from the incident in Bannersend, he had a good idea of who that would be. D'Astaroth.

Once he had killed the man, he would sort through his mind and get the information he needed to stop doubting every man who spoke to him. He would know who the True Knights were, and be able to save them.

-Only a matter of time before the Knighthood get here.- came the thoughts of Jobe, and Targetter steeled his resolve, slipping into d'Astaroth's tent. It was poetic justice that the heartless man lay sleeping in his bed. After Targetter had disposed of him, his thauma, the energy that compromised his soul, seeped freely into Targetter's possession. He did not understand these powers, but could use them. Slipping through the ethereal now with little threat of being discovered, Targetter gave a message to every knight that was still true of heart: -The Brotherhood of Honor shall flee to Verminasia from the Sons of Malice, who this day, have defeated us from the inside out. God have mercy on our souls.- Thus the Eclipse fled to Verminasia in a small number. The ranks of Malice inflated quickly as those who were tired of being limited by the beliefs of the Eclipse changed loyalties.

This, however, gave the Knights an even more evil target, and Malice found itself in a position of unwanted attention as the Knights and the magi of the Conclave centered their might on Malice. With reprieve from conflict, Eclipse set about to licking its wounds, and slowly regained the nobility and respect even of the Knights, remembering always the values of the murdered San Gohdam.

Thus ends that tale, of the first book, of the formation of Eclipse, and of the spawning of Malice. The Sun of Dominance, Gohdam's rule terminated most unfortunately. The next manuscript 'Honor in Brotherhood' is an epic in itself filled with the recovery of the knights of Eclipse, under Targetter's rule. Targetter grows to be the most fearsome man to ever have walked the face of Algoron. Tales of the Demon Horde, the Ka'tath, the Dark Alliance, and the reincarnation of Death Knights. Darkness builds, virtually unchallenged in the world...'

Sunset Dawn: Book Two (Honor in Brotherhood)

Prologue

Where Necrucifer lays claim to free will

It is written that, in the beginning, there was neither good, nor evil. Necrucifer spilt his blood into the seas so that all creatures could choose whether or not to be the pawn of someone else's destiny. Whether or not the gods were petty is irrelevant, but it must be recognized that the concept of evil is and was a judgmental term based on perspective. Though admittedly, some of the beliefs of the Sons of Darkness contradict with those of Austinian's Children, who is to say which is wrong? Man is the measure of all things, and there are a great number of men who place our lord Necrucifer's values above those of his anti-thesis. Necrucifer lets men chose and create their own destiny, without limits.

This is the story of a man who did just that -- and nearly succeeded; a man known to the world only as Targetter of Eclipse. Saravhana d'Fale presents the reworked edition of: Honor in Brotherhood Book Two of the Three Part Series: The Sunset Dawn

Chapter One: The World Battles the Sons of Malice

Where Eclipse rebuilds while Good fights Malice

The days after San Gohdam's brutal murder turned to months, and turned to years. The wars versus the sons of Malice were grim and brutally took their toll on the world's morale and time. Yet there was peace in the town of Verminasia, and the people flocked to it over the times. Soon, there was expansion. The city flourished. There were few problems here. The populace was kept in line through respect or fear, whichever applied to the individual. No crime. No violence. Folk lore says even that the streets where paved with gold and silver, and no man dared disturb that harmony. All this appeared to have been made possible by the small order of knights who had taken up residence and service here in Verminasia: Eclipse.

Slowly, the knights of Eclipse grew again in prestige and affluence in the lands. They represented evil, but were decidedly different than Malice. The people could not compare these two evils easily. There appeared to be codes of honor and mercy that they followed. The city they had helped erect proved that their cause was true, that they worked towards a purpose, and an end that justified the means. Even the knights of Gareth began to respect them for the heart and compassion, for the vision that they fought to achieve. It was a sick respect though, the kind that one gives a lame wolf. Harmless: yet determined.

The world fought Malice, and though the rest of Eclipse hated their once-brothers, now heartless scum, the Highlord let them play to their advantage. Eclipse did not become involved in any war against Malice, as the longer the real enemy, Knighthood, fought, they would not grow nor heal as fast as Eclipse could. Since his friend, and the man who had inspired him from the streets of Serpantol to where he was now, had been murdered, the swarthy man named Targetter had become more in touch with his darker, solemn side. He felt.. empty.. and it was long before Targetter knew exactly what he wanted. When he sat alone, quietly in his quarters, staring at the map of the known world for hours, he thought of nothing. He just stared solemnly, blinked slowly, breathed lightly and occasionally sighed. When the sorcerer, Jobe, or the dark knight Jaymes, disturbed him, there would be something about it that felt uncanny, and dark..

"Lord Targetter?" Jaymes asked from the doorway, waiting a moment, early one morning. Targetter had not slept all night. He stared at the map.

"Yes?" Targetter said idly, tracing a finger across the continents. Was it time to begin their legacy anew? As if in answer to his mind, Jobi spoke.

"It is time, my lord."

Chapter Two: From the Eyes of a Girl

Where men are drafted to the Eclipsian army

It was early evening before we heard the galloping hooves in the distance. Father had just come in from his council meeting, the town councilmen were discussing certain issues since the harvest had been finished. King Grant, lord of the the nearby kingdom of Verminasia, had imposed a 10% tax upon all earnings, and the townsmen did not like, nor consider themselves a part of his kingdom. Father told mother that he was a weak ruler, concearned not with the surrounding towns, only with hisself. Brother didn't agree, he had always thought the King left us alone if we did nothing wrong, but I wasn't sure. "This town is subject to draft! Resistance will not be tolerated!" a man cried from out in the street. There were shouts outside as the men got their spears and some, who were rich enough to buy swords, had those.

Father went out too, and Brother stayed to guard us and the house, while I went upstairs to look out my window. They had slowed, it was quite an impressive army of soldiers and they were led by three men, one in a dark great cloak with a strange crest on the back. Other officers, all mounted, bore a sun being eclipsed by a moon on their cloaks. Some of the townsmen started to fight, others threw down their weapons and either ran or simply sat down.

It was very unusual, for the ones who sat were left alone. There was a crash downstairs and I ran to see what it was. The door was strewn open, and my brother knelt, sword pointed down to the ground and head bowed. One of the knights had come in with a small escort. He had various badges of honor, and his cloak bore a skull and his chest a skull pendant.

"Please my lords, do not hurt my father's wife or daughters." My brother said.

"We've not come to hurt them, nor hurt any of you, really, though some resistance was expected. You and your father are being drafted." As were all the townsmen, we soon found out. The small army left almost as soon as it had come, taking only what it needed, and all the men who were to be found who were of age. Young boys and old men stayed, as did all the women and girls, with enough of the harvest left to last the winter. They left, in the center of town, where the flagpole for Verminasia was supposed to be (but never had been in a long time), a different banner. Black as sack-sloth with red-lining, gold letters proclaimed the message in the center: -Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est- My mother had told stories of her grandmother, who lived in the time of San Gohdam, and I remember from those stories how it happened, how it started. It happened and started like this. And the symbol of the black moon aligning with the sun gave it all away. I knew that Father and Brother had been drafted by Eclipse, and that the Knights of Old had returned at last. And who should stand in their path?

Chapter Three: A Vision of Things to Come

Where Targetter masters his manatonicism and sees the future

Eventually, it was well known that when the scouts of Eclipse were sighted, it was better to just open the gates and let them in, for they would leave most everything alone. Week by week, the raids and tactical seizing of resources grew more extensive. Each time out, Targetter developed a closer kinship to his peers, especially the sorcerer, Jobe, and Jaymes. They would hunt together in the forests for food, gamble, play cards and arm wrestle.

These were good times, and Targetter laughed for the first time and not the last in what seemed to be many years since his one friend, San, was killed. His ability to read the minds of others grew slowly each day. He knew the movement of his enemies, he could see what others appeared to not be able to, move objects with his mind. It was bewildering to him, but he kept it a secret. He suspected that this was what the Cultists did, and did not wish to accept that his mind was becoming like theirs. He was not like them, any of them. He spoke of it only to Jobe, who told him of a portal that allowed access to a plane of ethereal dimensions.

Targetter was close to his friends, and his morale was high with them. But he was still empty. San Gohdam was dead, and Targetter knew not how to continue his legacy. How to do the man more honor than ever before? Each night Targetter stared for a few hours at the map of the known world. It would be soon, now, when the time of resistance against them would be organized. Most had forgotten the Eclipse, instead, remembered the Cultists and the Sons of Malice. Each time he closed his eyes and placed both hands upon the map. In lore, and recorded history, Targetter's motives were unclear, thus, it is presumed that at this point, he had none. But he did spend long hours.. staring at his map of the world. -To reshape it in His image. Harmony between all.

Peace. Unity. Power. Those who have the power now are dooming themselves. They will be food for the dogs.- He spoke of the Yinn, who were an ever present threat, looming over the horizon. They would either have to be embraced, or fought off by the entire world. The world beyond warred with each other, but would resist the change Eclipse could bring for their benefit. It would have to be torn down, shattered, to be built back up in the image of darkness. Eclipse would be both the hammer, and the anvil, of the future.

Reaching for his mug of water on his desk, he knocked a candle onto the map, splashing the wax and sparks in various paterns. Targetter stared, enthralled. Slowly, starting from the tower of Conclave, the ring of fire spread throughout the lands. The ashes from the slowly burning page rose into the air above it, swirling, flying, diving like massive -- in comparison to the map -- flaming birds over the land. The small fire burnt itself out before it reached the northlands, the Ogre and Minotaur nations.

Targetter gaped, wide eyed as the swooping ashes fell slowly away. Underneath the burnt portion of the map, where the wax had protected the table from being blackened, Targetter swore that he could make out something significant. Someone had sent him a sign as plain as day, and he did not intend to disregard this mysterious advice. He grabbed his half-sword's scabbard and left his quarters. On the desk, still lay the symbol of his vision: An arrow pointing straight north.

Chapter Four: Like His Blood Into the Rivers

Where Eclipse accepts all races, Targetter rides north, and falls for the Ka'tath

Within the day, Targetter was riding hard to the north, with minimal escort. The army was behind, on the move, travelling considerably slower, and the supply wagon-lines slower still. The swarthy Highlord felt driven though, pulled by some inexplicable force, and he could not wait. It seemed as if the gods themselves were with him, for nothin lay within his path that could stop his ride. He could tell that he was creating destiny with each passing mile, and it felt good to him.

With their leader was the Conclave renegade, Jobe, (note that at this point in history, the Tower had no colored Orders) his companions Lokgrim and the subservient Jaymes. Among others, was an exotic dark-skinned elven woman, rumored to have been a descendant of Spellath the Dark. She was of House Ka'tath, in Shalonesti. Targetter was admittedly infatuated with her mysterious grace, and her alluring mind. She then, fell in love with his vision and drive, the passion for which he thrust forward destiny, wrestled with fate and time for the memory of those he cared for.

Though of different race, and though her name be not documented in any intact lore, the two reportedly fell in love, thus breaking the racist attitudes that Eclipse had still carried from it's Serpantol days... and indeed, it seemed destiny for these two to join in love, as the future would soon reveal.

Targetter's Away party sailed in the fastest ship across the northern seas towards Icewall. Jaymes preached to his companions that God (Necrucifer) was with Targetter, that the Highlord had vision, that they would find the key to the world. He often spoke of Targetter in the third person, even in his presence, but the latter let this be. Though he did not know what he would find, it was better for his friends to think he did, rather than admit to this rash behavior, compulsive whim... his 'hunch'. He was sure that it was these mind-powers, this manatonisism, that he had been developing that led his way... almost positive.

In fact, as Targetter and Verra (being the name I have given to this dark-elven woman who has been lost in the depths of time -- author) grew more and more a part of one another, he supposedly confided in her a lot. One morning, in the cold wastes of Icewall, the following is said to have been discussed, and was written in Jobe's journals.

"Do you think that we are near what we seek, m'Lord?" the beautiful dark elf asked.

"My love... in truth, I do not know. My intuition tells me that it is here, that I will find it, while my mind is screaming that the very idea is insane. It does not tell me where, nor when, nor why, nor how... I just... -know- that I shall find something. I feel ashamed, I pray that I am not losing my mind."

"Targetter, do not say such things.." "But-"

"It is truly God's work, Elsumzi," She spoke the dark elven word for lover, "We should have faith in it.. I have faith in you.. more than anything." And for a long time they embraced before going to the shelter of the ten-person tent which housed the Away party from these harsh lands of snow.

Chapter Five: Untitled

Where Targetter meets the ogres in the ruined ring of stones

The small group of Knights did not know how long it had been since the wandered through the wastes, but one windy day, as the powdery snow ceased momentarily, ahead in the distance rose tremendous stones into the sky, covered partially in snow and ice. As they moved forward slowly across the miles, these massive stones proved to be many spans taller than any human, and yet, they stood up right, and on top of each other in complex arrangements and balances. Giants of enormous size lumbered about. They were seemingly peaceful, but walked about in grey robes and decidedly nasty looking spears, clubs and heavy bone scimitars.

"Who are these people?" Jaymes asked.

"I do not know for sure.. they seem like Ogres, and yet, they don't appear to be acting the same.." Targetter mused. "We shall find their leader."

Their search led them to the center of the massive ice- covered ring of stones, though a maze of smaller ruins and rubble. A male ogre, young by his looks, was dressed in a light suit of armor and a heavy, black cloak which looked good shelter against the winds and snow.

"I am Oblisk." He said simply, he motioned to the formation on the ground nearby. A circle of stones, a foot each in diameter.

"I am Highlord Targetter of Eclipse. We have come fo-"

"I need not know. But we have been waiting."

"I don't understand."

"He can show you.. simply step into the circle.." The ogre entered the circle first, and when Targetter joined him, the last thing he saw before all went black was Jaymes draw his sword and Verra scream, throwing hand hand towards him.

Chapter Six: Servants of Darkness

Where Sah'ron the Demon of Necrucifer orders the Dark Alliance, and how to steal the Draconus

Targetter's eyes opened from his sleep and he was up, sword slapped from his hand no sooner than it had been drawn, he was sent hurtling backwards into... what? Into darkness. The form of this 'Oblisk' stood before him, as if in full light, as did the stone altar nearby, but for miles around stretched darkness. Up was darkness, and they stood on darkness. With them, was a minotaur of great stature, who looked like a barbarian, though Targetter was sure that he too could manipulate things with his mind.

"Where is this place?" Targetter demanded.

"It is the abyss. This is why you came here."

There was a chill feeling now. Targetter glanced around in apprehension and a trace of fear shadowed him as the blackness around pressed in further. Something was coming towards them. Pillars of basalt seem to rise from the darkness, creating rows on each side of the massive, infinite space, constricting it. The floor seemed to smoothen out into marble, as the place turned into a small temple. The altar of stone grew, twisted, into a thing of fearsome beauty, which commanded worship.

"What is here with us... God? Necrucifer?" Targetter asked hesitantly. Oblisk rumbled deeply with a chuckle. Targetter could tell somehow he was masking his own fear. But he did it well.

"Greetings Targetter of Eclipse." Came a voice from all directions. Targetter yelped, unable to stop himself. The minotaur's eyes were wide and his jaws and fists clenched. The Ogre's smile faded. "Each of you have been brought here today for my own benefit." The voice grated in an omniscient growl.

"I am Sah'Ron. I serve the darkness, as you do. But I am greater than mortals such as yourself. My favor with our God allows me to seal a pact between us."

"What pact..?" Targetter peeped. The reply was as harsh and cold as the wastes they had been in beforehand.

"By serving your own interests, you also serve mine. Let it remain at that. I offer you a tool, for God is watching, and he approves of your cause, Targetter. Extend your hands to the altar." And to their surprise, though it seemed for some reason that they had done so of their own choice, they all placed their hands upon the altar.

The faceless voice intoned an incantation in some language so ancient, that no living mortal's ancestors could have translated. Then, "Your peoples shall join in a great Alliance." And silence. The minotaur was infuriated. With his bovine like head, and temperment of a bull, he snorted: "Why should the minotaur nations align with these weakling peoples?"

"The champions that are given to Eclipse's forces in the name of darkness shall receive God's blessing. In numbers they will be strong, and rage across the lands with the force of a tsunami. Many times they shall be struck down, but shall rise again, and be immortal. Their flow shall never end, they shall be as a waterfall upon the world... as the night upon the sky. And the world shall tremble in their wake. They shall be a demon horde, and both Raije and Mencius shall ride them."

"Lord Sah'Ron, demon of Necrucifer... what would you have us do with the Horde..?" Targetter said. -Necrucifer will let you chose your own destiny, mortal. But know this: When the moons align in three months from this day, those known as the Conclave will be waiting for the barriers around a great relic to fall for a brief instant. You probably should be there to take it from them.- The temple faded, the dark plane again stretched before the three, out into oblivion, and Targetter gazed around in awe.

And then he lay in the snow, alone. He felt unclean, and he did not trust even himself. A lingering feeling hung in the air. Sah'Ron had treated him almost too much like an equal, but his complacency was somehow unable to be hidden from Targetter. Legions of barbarians, possessed by Sah'Ron's power, were now at his command. But something was wrong... and Targetter couldn't place his finger on it, even though he knew it would lead to his downfall.

Chapter Seven: A Legacy Renewed

Where Targetter plans the theft of the Draconus and the armies move south

Targetter supposedly talked to no one of his time in the abyss. It is known though, that he confided once again with Verra, and consulted Jobe regarding the Clavists. From Jobe's entries was the following: Day of Deception, Month of Mencius' Wrath. Lord Targetter questioned me thoroughly on the tower, from which I deserted, this day. He wished to know what the Conclave could be up to once the moons aligned, in just under three months from now. I told him that to the best of my knowledge they intended to take from it's mystical prison an object of which all knowledge has passed on long ago. The questions that still remain: What does Conclave intend to do with this object? And why, if not dangerous, is this object in a magical prison anyhow?

Targetter seems intrigued, and I even find myself anxious about what shall come of it. Conclave is known for it's meddling with the works of gods, they twisted the ogre people and brought about the Ogre Wars.. but now they serve our future interests, supposedly. I know not what was talked about with Sah'Ron. I know only that the minotaur and ogre peoples have what is being called the 'Dark Alliance' with Eclipse, and that a horde of fearsome champions from each nation has been allotted for our use and disposal.

There is strange magic in the air, magic that I dread to explain. Those within the Horde are soon immersed in and consumed by some kind of spirit, which aids them in the frenzy of battle. They are a culture all to themselves. The party headed south once again, with the ogre, Oblisk, the minotaur, Barak, and the horde of barbarians at their backs. They met their armies on the northern shores of the southern continent. Home. All of it.

Sunset Dawn: Book Three (The Rise of Eclipse)

Chapter One: The Codex of Ultimate Wisdom

Where Eclipse claims Ofcol, and the Temple of the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom

Knighthood's more virtuous paladins had erected a Shrine, in which was kept many of their hero's and dead. The keep and abbey surrounding it would now be where Ofcol stands, and they are what came into sight as Targetter, his lover, Verra, the Magus Jobe, the Holy Man Jaymes and the General Lokgrim rose over the horizon's hilly terrain.

The sun was setting behind them, thus the garrison plainly saw them. They knew that the army was coming, their scouts had told them this much, but because of the speed which Eclipse's army and the Horde had traveled away from the northern coast, there had been no time for the re- enforcement to arrive. Ironically, the former General of the Crown, Lord Maven, was the presiding captain, over-seeing the paladins at Ofcol. He was quite older now, and had stepped down to a younger General, in the capital to the south west.

He cursed silently, and made a holy gesture to Austinian for aid, as the horizon filled with similar silhouettes alongside the four riders. Over the hillside poured the Horde like rushing water, and soon the distance was covered in darkness. The earth consumed the rest of the sun, and overall, Maven assessed the scene to be 'very foreboding', quoted from his very last journal entry. Targetter was even said to have had the pleasure of the killing blow himself. Eclipse now occupied Ofcol, and in the small hours of the night, while the armies were at rest, Jobe, Jaymes and Targetter convened outside a tall door made of ivory. Runes were scattered all over, wards against evil.

"Gentlemen," Jaymes said, and the other two stood aside. "Nocturnis noselari jandicandus infernus" he intoned, and slowly, starting from the top, a dark, violet fluid oozed down the grand doorway, staining the ivory, filling the ruins, so that the doors crumbled, and withered, into ash, and then nothing. Behold, a Shrine, and on a pedestal showered in a heavenly light, the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Targetter stepped in, his long bastard sword drawn casually, his footsteps echoing in the large chamber.

"Welcome, gentlemen, to what may be the most sacred place left in the world."

"Not very sacred if it represents fool gods." The priest muttered quietly.

"Semantics, really." Jobe said, slowly approaching with Targetter the Codex. "What is sacred to them, is unholy to us, and vice versa. An age old argument, of which we can save for later. As long as we realize that redemption from evil to good, and conversion from good to evil is possible, which it is, as our benevolent forefather, San Gohdam demonstrated..."

"...Then whatever is in that codex can be useful to us," the Highlord finished. And the heavenly light expired as Targetter lifted the sacred book, and plunged the Shrine into the darkness that the night sky mimicked.

Chapter Two: The Death Knights of Eclipse

Where Targetter raises the dead paladins as Death Knights

The army of darkness stayed in Ofcol one more significant night. Targetter was left alone with Verra in the Shrine. The place had transformed in the previous day, for Jaymes had took special care of making this most 'sacred' place into something that the dark gods could be proud of. As well as lining up the bodies of every single paladin slain the previous day (which included every one of them present, since they were too honorable to not fight to the death.) Verra Ka'tath sat idly on the southern altar, while Targetter knelt on the stairs up to the dais. His leafing of the Codex had ceased for near half an hour now, and Verra broke the silence.

"What have you found, Targetter?" She asked.

"Something quite interesting. The pages of this book are slowly changing. Spells and rituals on how to turn the undead are re-writing themselves into how to control them. The fashioning of holy weapons, as I was reading it, changed almost imperceptibly into the forging of hellbrands. And now, the resurrecting of fallen heroes.. has transformed into a ritual with which dead paladins can be raised from the dead, and forced into the service of Necrucifer. Te Occidere Possunt Est Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est. Roughly: What we are able to slay, sin has no power to consume. They keep their powers, because they have already passed divine judgment. It's complicated theory, but amazing, none the less."

"You are saying, then, that we have the power to make these corpses serve us?"

"Shall we see, love?" Targetter smiled fondly at Verra, tilting his head, and she nodded, standing, but more curious than anything. Her face was serious, filled with silent questions. Targetter stood and found the body of Maven. Codex in one hand, he chanted perfectly the intonation on the page, that he had been lipping silently the last half hour. For a moment, nothing happened, and the two looked at each other unsurely. Swirls of darkness came from behind the many pillars and altars, from the vents in the roof, from any shadow. A chill wind rushed down their spines as the body of Captain Maven rose slowly from the ground. His robes and theirs fluttered in the mystical wind, and traceries of energy rushed through his body. The codex hummed, and all of a sudden, it all stopped. The body fell to the ground, seemingly broken.

"Maybe I pronounced something wr-" Maven's form rose from a horizontal position, to a vertical one in such a fluid motion that it appeared that he had just defied the laws of his own body, much less gravity. He drew back his hood, and an iron crown lay on his skull, for his skin melted slowly away into vapor. A flickering crimson fire lit the inside of his skull, and with a fluid motion, his cape turned a darker blue than that the knighthood sported, and his chain-mail rusted to a blackish color. Targetter and Verra stood in awe.

"My Leige?" the death knight spoke, in a deep, metallic voice.

"Lord Maven?" Targetter gaped.

"The very one. I seem to recall that you ended my life. Ironic that you now begin it anew." The death knight stated it, with no attempt at humor. It seemed more of an insult than anything, though very well veiled. The skull's features, of course, were stoic, save for the maniacal grin that all skinless skulls sported, whether or not they were amused.

"Well... what now?" Verra interjected. "Now you raise my brothers. They yearn to be with me." "I somewhat doubt that, Maven." Targetter disagreed. "Well, not precisely, perhaps. They yearn for me to be by their sides in the land of the dead, because they pity my state. I rather fancy it." The undead paladin had an extreme amount of power, according to the codex, the ability to channel powers of Necrucifer almost directly, without prayer. The death knight rapidly became more withdrawn though, as the last of his humanity faded from his bones. A chill surrounded him. He spoke no longer except when necessary, and seemed to harbor an understandable resentment towards his new master, despite his previous words. They all did. All fifty of them.

The sun rose red the next day, and bloodied the sky. It was a significant dawn, a metaphorical sunset on the decades to come, for one last piece of the puzzle was missing before Targetter had within his power to totally annihilate the balance of the world, forever.

Chapter Three: Capturing the Draconus

Where the Dark Alliance captures Shinalstin and the Draconus

Darkness has a strange tendency to be wherever light is not. When light returned, darkness kindly departed. But what if it was light who departed when darkness arrived? There was no such thing as a source of darkness. That was, until the people of Algoron became aware of Targetter's armies. Shinalstin failed to stand to them, and Eclipse captured the entire city, laying seige to the tower. With the death knights wrecking their anti-magic powers and terrible evil at the tower, they were far outmatched, and could not possibly stand against the military power of Eclipse.

"Lorseer Thill will be arriving shortly," said the death knight, Maven, one evening. His chill voice spoke no more, and Targetter, his arm wrapped around the waist of his love, Verra Ka'tath, did not ask how the anti-paladin knew. He shared a sweet embrace with Verra and they strolled to the front of the army's lines. The tower had run out of all ammunition other than spells, and the bands of death knights roving about quickly dissipated that threat.

It was a great day. No one in the history of the world had matched Conclave on the battlefield with their own magicks, protected behind Shinalstin's now fractured knighthood. And indeed, one morning all the moons had risen above the horizon together, and Lorseer opened the gate to the tower, and forfeit to Eclipse. They expected heavy losses, but to their amazement, Targetter's armies touched nothing that they did not replace soon afterwards.

"You are waiting for the moons to align, true?" Targetter asked.

"Yes, but.." Thill answered.

"Take me and my escort to the chamber where your mages are waiting for this thing to happen."

Thill gulped. "There is no such cham-"

"I have no qualms in killing you." Maven intoned stoicly. "I'm sure another mage shall aid us." Targetter nodded to Maven, who raised his rusted blade.

"No! No! I'll take you there. They will let me in.. you need me to get into the chamber." "Very well then. Let us go there."

The chamber's doors were shrouded in illusion and warding, but Thill's presence allowed them to pass. The mages inside were apparently unaware of what had been happening outside, and were quite surprised and taken aback when Targetter's company and five death knights arrived with Lorseer Thill. A dome overhead showed each of the moons approaching their apex, where the sun would be within the half hour. "It is beautiful, no?" Targetter asked Verra, as they gazed upwards.

"I can't believe it... this kind of thing would happen what..?"

"Every three thousand years, apparently." Thill offered, and cowered from Maven's cruel, cold gaze. Slowly, but surely, the sun came to it's highest point in the sky, and each of the moons, from a separate side, closed in, at one point eclipsing the sun, and then slowly aligning, and then suddenly the room erupted into a cacophony. A vortex opened in the floor and a pedestal was revealed, but there was no way in hell that any of the mages in the room wanted Eclipse to have whatever was on it. A few of the robes launched fireballs towards the company, while others slung webs and tried to keep them away. Targetter knew they only had a minute or two, at most.

"Maven, stop these magi! Jobe, we need to get to that vortex, fast." The death knights formed a line and their anti-magic began, fizzling fireballs, as Jaymes and Lokgrim assaulted under their protective cover, the offending mages. From Jobe's hands crackled lightning which sprang from attacker to attacker ruthlessly, while Targetter rushed forward towards the large crystal.

The vortex was already closing, and he dove as a fireball shot past him, and suddenly a thousand minds came into contact with his. He was stunned, but stared down at his hands, and was holding the large crystal. Symbols of dragons were engraved ornately on each side of it, and it glowed in his hands.

"He's got the Draconus!!!" Thill shouted, and in a puff of smoke, vanished, as did the other mages, leaving the room completely empty save for Targetter's company and the death knights. Verra stared at the crystal from the other side, and Jobe helped Targetter up to his feet. The vortex was nowhere to be seen, and the moons were slowly making their way away from the sun, so that bits of light filtered through to the world.

"What is it, love?" Verra asked of Targetter's eyes, who were unfocused, staring forward. "I can hear them... thousands of them. And they are me... every single one, is another me."

Chapter Four: Dragons Hide the Heavens

Where the Dark Alliance conquer, but then are defeated after Conclave retrieve Draconus and Targetter's Ka'tath is slain

Very little record is left of the period of time known as the dark years. It was said that the only thing more frightening than seeing the Horde pour over hillsides and plains, through cities as if they were not even defended, was the thousands of dragons that covered the sky, and the sun with their bodies, and the land with their shadows and their dragonfire.

The world quickly began to kneel before the armies of Eclipse, and Targetter sat in Verminasia, issuing out orders with his mind and through his dragons, faster than any written message could travel. The armies of the world could not organize themselves against such ferocious fire-power, nor such lightning quick coordination. So began the conquest of Eclipse over the world.

They took cities like Arkane, New Thalos first, Shinalstin again, and the lands in between. The Knighthood fought hard, aided by Conclave, and even Malice, who Targetter took special pleasure in decimating. But as the Highlord suspected, his reign of conquest did not go without resistance for long.

Kwainin's hand interfered, and the metallic dragons were summoned by the Draconus. The came, though less organized, to the aid of the Knighthood.

It was a dark day, black clouds covered the sun across the entire continent. The day of the final battle. The forces of light had organized for one last assault, and it was said that Austinian himself rode into battle on a silvery dragon. It was the only reason explainable why Targetter took every single man, woman and dragon in his armies into the fray, including himself, at the front lines. An ancient red dragon named Ungoliante was his companion into battle, and he flew through the skies viciously, Verra on her black dragon nearby.

Below, the armies, and the Horde, turned the land black with their many bodies, and what they could not cast shadow upon, the dragons in the sky could, riding forth behind them. Below, the armies of the world clashed in a ferocious, terrifying battle that spanned for many days. And so met Targetter with a mountain dwarf dressed all in white, sparkling like the sun, riding a dragon of pure copper; of the Karma'k blood line, and another man, a knight of the line Breingiton, a Lord of the Knighthood, possessed with a divine aura, on an ancient gold dragon. A High Elf, the Speaker himself rode in the sky, long lance in his hand and a halo about his head, on a dragon of silver.

They had come for the Draconus, which Targetter had. Dragons overtook one another in the sky, and the heavens were lit with fire and brimstone, gas, lightning, ice. Ungoliante fought with the practice of a millenium, Verra flew her dragon on his wing, cutting through the opposition with her lance until finally they met the leaders of the world, mid-sky. Targetter squared off with the paladin of the crown and his gold steed, Ungoliante letting loose an inferno of fire. Their lances passed, Targetter batted the incoming lance aside with his shield, knocking the Draconus from his hand, and broke his lance on the gold dragon. The gold hurtled downwards, and the paladin reclaimed the draconus.

It was only a matter of time before the dragons turned. Verra had the dwarf right where she wanted him, and Targetter had figured the Speaker of Shalonost would come after him, not assist the dwarf on someone insignificant to the grand scheme, such as Verra.

But alas, the silver lunged in, distracting Verra and her dragon, and the dwarf had time to go in with his lance and surgically plant it in Verra's gut, sending her hurtling towards the ground below. Targetter's heart leaped from his chest, his dragon breathed a cloud of fire and he brought him down, to save his falling darling. Down through the torment of battle he dove, and scooped her up onto his saddle, and the withdrew from the battle, to the east, towards Verminasia. When they landed, Targetter firmly sheathed his lance... in the back of Ungoliante's skull.

Some say that he knew Verra as going to die, and no longer cared for conquering the world at all...

Chapter Five: A Battle Lost Because of Love

Where Targetter flees to Verminisia and his lover dies

Because of Love Verra lay, bleeding in the courts of Verminasia. Her sister, Calythe of the House Ka'tath came also to her side, seeing her state, was grief stricken. Targetter shoved her off, shouting. "Let her be! Let me be with her, please!" And Calythe, stood. "Who did this? Who!?" "It was the dwarf King, aided by the Speaker of the Moons. They have the draconus." Calythe's eyes went steely, and she ran off, crying. Targetter gazed down at his love, and kissed her lips. Her eyes opened briefly, and she gave him a pained smile, and breathed: "I... still believe... in you... Elsumzi."

Targetter screamed at the nearby courtesans, to fetch a healer, and howled as Verra went limp in his arms. The skies to the west were filled with the silhouttes of a dying battle, and dragons coming towards Verminasia, to finish the ordeal. What had gone wrong? Why did Targetter suffer so. He stood, slowly, letting Verra's body slide softly to the ground.

"I promise that before this is over, I shall let them know nothing to celebrate once this battle for them is won." And he disappeared into shadow, as dragonfire rained down upon Verminasia, arrows flew into the sky, and the streets of silver and gold melted into the ground.

Chapter Six: The Aftermath of Legacy

Where Targetter slays the Thane of Wargar and takes the Dracon of Might and Ka'tath are given their instruction

The cold stone halls beneath Thaxanos had felt no such hatred in their midst since the beginning of time, when the darkness beneath every mountain was under direct control of Necrucifer. A swarthy, hell-bent man strode confidently through them, boots echoing like a death toll through and through. No living creature dared to stand in his way, nor the way of the two Deathknights, Maven and Vaksyne, who accompanied him. A yinn, Vette Sho'Gul strode behind him, an emissary from the Yinn Empire, a friend he had acquired during the course of years. Serpantol would pay, Shinalstin would pay, Wargar, Shalonesti. All would feel the wrath of the invasion, after Targetter's time.

"Wait here." Targetter spoke, and passed silently though metal doors, into the King's Throne room, alone. He marched up the the dwarf, and revealed himself from the shadow of the ethereal. The king stood sharply, he knew the face and the name, and the guards had no time to react.

"You killed the only thing I had left to love." Energy shot like lightning from Targetter's fingertips, and the room was engulfed in it's blue, glowing flashes. Screams filled with blood and shock. Targetter drew his sword and separated the King's head from his shoulders. Once every living thing in the room was dead, he slipped into the ethereal, and left quietly through the door he had come, but not before reaching into the pocket of the King, and relieving him of his shard of the Draconus.

This small Dracon was only part of the Draconus, but Eclipse would someday find the rest.

Already, he knew Calythe's plans in Ka'tath, to avenge her sister's death, and the recent controversial actions of the Speaker. He knew of the Yinn Invasion, and of the things to come.

Targetter could see the future. He could see a time when the darkness held control over the world, and he smiled to himself. It would never be within Kwainin's power to stop the right combination of men that might seize the world.

With that, Targetter was never seen again.

Sunset Dawn: Epilogue (Demegant Thill)

Where Demegant Thill espouses the dishonour which Eclipse had done to Conclave

From the Combat Journal of Demegant Thill;

".... We know not what to call this new era. The time of war is technically past, and so I lay to rest this book of combat. I must confess, I was none too sad to see the dragons lay waste to the foul knights of the Eclipse. Although their transgression was before the time of my grandfather's grandfather, the legendary sacking of the tower will live forever in the souls of the Magi. It is with a glad heart that I put away the tools of war and prepare my Conclave for a time of enlightenment and peace. --- Signed, Demagant Thill, High Sorcerer of the conclave"

Post script from Lady d'Fale

There is more recent history to be found in the Eclipse libraries. Tales of the Highlord Yang, and of Verminasia's prophecied children. You will enjoy these, and observe how rich and glorious was our history. It can only be hoped that there are times to come as there were times in the past. Hmm?

Kayen Variations

Chapter 11 : Dragons Hide the Heavens - Kayen - associates to Chapter 4 of Angelfire

Where the Dark Alliance conquer, but then are defeated after Knighthood retrieves Draconus and Targetter is slain

Very little record is left of the period of time known as the dark years. It was said that the only thing more frightening than seeing the Horde pour over hillsides and plains, through cities as if they were not even defended, was the thousands of dragons that covered the sky, hid the sun with their bodies, and scoured the land with their shadows and their dragon-fire. The world quickly began to kneel before the armies of Eclipse, and Dar sat in Verminasia, issuing out orders with his mind and through his dragons, faster than any written message could travel. The armies of the world could not organize themselves against such ferocious fire-power, nor such lightning quick coordination.

So began the conquest of Eclipse over the world. They took cities as massive as Arkane, New Thalos, and Miden'ir on the border of Shalonost. The Knighthood fought hard, aided by what was left of the Conclave, and even the Cultists of Malice, who Dar took special pleasure in decimating. However, as the Highlord had suspected, his reign of conquest did not go without resistance for long. The god of balance interjected Kwainin's hand interfered, and the metallic dragons were summoned by the Draconus. They came, though less organized, to the aid of the Knighthood.

It was a dark day, black clouds covered the sun across the entire continent. The day of the final battle. The forces of light had organized for one last assault, and it was said that Austinian himself rode into battle on a silvery dragon. It was the only reason explainable why Dar took every single man, woman and dragon in his armies into the fray, including himself, at the front lines.

An ancient red dragon named Ungoliante was his companion into battle, and he flew through the skies viciously, Verra on her black dragon nearby. Below, the armies, and the Horde, turned the land black with their many bodies, and what they could not cast shadow upon, the dragons in the sky could, riding forth behind them.

Below, the armies of the world clashed in a ferocious, terrifying battle that spanned for many days. And so met Dar with a mountain dwarf dressed all in white, sparkling like the sun, riding a dragon of pure copper Zingin Karma'k the First Karma'k, the king of the dwarves, and another man, a knight of the line Breinengton, a Lord of the Knighthood, possessed with a divine aura, on an ancient gold dragon. A High Elf, the Speaker himself rode in the sky, long lance in his hand and a halo about his head, on a dragon of silver. They had come for the Draconus, which Dar had.

Dragons overtook one another in the sky, and the heavens were lit with fire and brimstone, gas, lightning, ice. Ungoliante fought with the practice of a millennium, Verra flew her dragon on his wing, cutting through the opposition with her lance until finally they met the leaders of the world, mid-sky.

Dar squared off with the paladin of the crown and his gold steed, Ungoliante letting loose an inferno of fire. Their lances passed, Dar batted the incoming lance aside with his shield, knocking the Draconus from his hand, and broke his lance on the gold dragon. The gold hurtled downwards, and the paladin reclaimed the Draconus. It was only a matter of time before the dragons turned.

Dar had the paladin right where he wanted him, and Verra had figured the Speaker of Shalonost would come after her, not assist the dwarf nor the paladin. But alas, the silver lunged in, distracting Dar and his dragon, and the dwarf had time to go in with his lance and surgically plant it in Dar's gut, sending him hurtling towards the ground below. Verra's heart leapt from her chest, her dragon breathed a cloud of fire and she brought it down, to save her falling darling.

Down through the torment of battle he dove, but Verra's black dragon was faster. She scooped him up in her arms and onto the saddle, and the withdrew from the battle, to the east, towards Verminasia. Below, as the clouds parted, the demons of the Horde dissipated slowly, growing less and less in number, fighting slower, just as Dar's breath faded.

Dar lay, bleeding in the courts of Verminasia. Jaymes rushed to see to his fallen lord, but Verra shoved him off, shouting.

"Let him be! Let me be with him, please!" And Jaymes, stood.

Who did this? Who!?

"It was the dwarf King, aided by the Speaker of the Moons. They have the Draconus." Jaymes' eyes went steely, and he ran off, to prepare Verminasia's defense. The enemy drew quickly near. Dar looked up at his love, and she kissed his lips. Her tear filled eyes opened briefly, and she gave him a pained smile, and breathed into his ear, "I still believe in you, Elsumzi."

Jaymes screamed at the nearby courtesans to fetch a healer, and Verra howled as Dar went limp in her arms. The skies to the west were filled with the silhouttes of a dying battle, and dragons coming towards Verminasia, to finish the ordeal. What had gone wrong? Why did Dar suffer so. She stood, slowly, letting Dar's body slide softly to the ground.

She ran into the nearby temple as healers rushed about in the courtyard, Dar's body framed by the dragon-fire that rained down upon Verminasia, arrows flying into the sky, and the streets of silver and gold melting into the ground.

Chapter 13 : The Aftermath of Legacy - Kayen - associates to Chapter 6 of Angelfire

Where Dar Getter awakens in the Abyss and Necrucifer remakes Dar as his Avatar with his own divine blood

Dar's eyes opened, and once again, the dark abyss stretched before him. A man sat nearby upon the altar, a man who mirrored the Highlord's looks in every way.

"Greetings," the other Dar said.

Dar looked extremely confused as he stood. He looked down at his stomach, where his chain mail was unbroken, and his gut intact.

"I have given you life anew." The other Dar stated flatly.

Who are you?

"Necrucifer, my son." The other Dar smirked. This was not how Dar pictured his god at all. He decided to put faith in the situation, however.

What has happened, my lord Necrucifer?

"The armies of Eclipse have fallen. The demon horde has returned to my realm. The death knights, for the most part, have been broken and banished, their souls left to wander the world aimlessly. The Dragons have departed, with the shattering of the Draconus. It has been separated, perhaps never to be reassembled. You have lost, Dar."

Rage filled the Highlord. His god seemed to be mocking his defeat. It did not please him.

Necrucifer read Dar's thoughts. Verra still lives.

Dar's expression amused the other Dar. The later swung himself off the altar, striding forward. He stopped in front of Dar, staring into his eyes.

"You see me as you see yourself, because in order to revive you, I have filled your veins with a single drop of my own blood. You are just that, Dar: a drop of my blood. You are my Avatar, now.

"Although your efforts lay in waste, your city in ruins, and your body lay dead at it's center, your service to me is far from complete, nor shall it go unrewarded."

Necrucifer turned, stepping away a few steps. "An illness shall descend upon those 'heroes' who banded to destroy you. A strange plague. Their meeting place is Thaxanos. They try Verra there, for her own crimes, and yours"

Dar closed his eyes as darkness enveloped him, a chill breeze across his flesh. He plunged down toward the world below, and then stood in a grassy field. Mountains stretched across the northern horizon: Thaxanos. His master's final words rung in his ears. "Stop them."

Chapter 14 : An Avatar's Vengeance - Kayen - New last chapter

Where Targetter slays the all who try Verra and causes Thaxanos to erupt, then Dar and Verra ascend to Necrucifer

The cold stone halls beneath Thaxanos had felt no such hatred in their midst since the beginning of time, when the darkness beneath every mountain was under direct control of Necrucifer. A swarthy, hell-bent man strode confidently through them, boots echoing like a death toll through and through. No living creature dared to stand in his way, nor the way of the two Deathknights, Maven and Vaksyne, who accompanied him.

"Wait here." Dar spoke, and passed silently through metal doors into the King's Throne room, alone. Inside, were gathered the Speaker of the Elves, the dwarf King Zingin the First, the paladin who had slain Dar, among other heroes of the world. At the center, shackled, was Verra, being judged and sentenced.

"and so, may whatever god you worship, that you say you love have-" "Necrucifer," Verra interrupted. "I have told you. I am faithful to Necrucifer, and he is the one true power and love left in my life."

"Yes" the Speaker sneered. "This 'Necrucifer' who is both a blasphemous ideal, and a creation of a seriously disturbed mind. I sentence you to hang by the neck until you are dead, Verra Ka'tath, and may 'Necrucifer' have mercy upon your soul." Dar strode toward Verra, revealed himself from the shadow of the ethereal. The spectacular entrance stunned everyone. The king stood sharply, he knew the face and the name, for he had struck the killing blow. The guards had no time to react. All stared, fear struck. Dar reveled in their apprehension.

"I am Necrucifer." He spoke levelly.

A crescendo of screams rose through the stone chamber screams filled with blood and shock. Energy shot like lightning from Dar's fingertips, and the room was engulfed in it's blue, glowing flashes. Dar drew his sword and separated the King's head from his shoulders. At once, every living thing but Verra was still and unmoving, he slipped his hands about her waist and the shackles fell off.

The mountain containing Thaxanos erupted like a volcano. It's peak exploded in fiery wrath, and the shockwaves rippled across the ground. Although it was not the whole kingdom, it was a good part of it. Dar and Verra stood arm in arm, watching it. She slumped her head into his chest, crying tears of joy. Darkness would yet prosper in these dark and shattered lands. They ascended together, into the blackness of the skies above.

Targetter, to the end.

Difference in versions of Sunset Dawn

There is an different version of Sunset Dawn which has recently been uncovered which differs to this original in a few regards. The original in this book I will refer to as the "Angelfire texts" as that is where they come from. This later version I will refer to as the "Kayen texts" as they come from the Shadowknight archive.

Differences in the Kayen Texts to the Angelfire Texts included in this book

• The most obvious is the renaming of Targetter to Dar Getter throughout.
• Elves and dwarvern kingdoms attempting to intervene to stop San Gohdam to take the Crown.
• There are references to Zingin Kar'mak at the outset and at the final battle.
• Maven's attempt to cover up that Shalonesti had requested aid from Serpantol to fight off the initial Yinn invasion, suggesting that Maven had hidden the request to Serpantol so that Shalonesti would be ignored.
• That there was stronger evidence on the fictional Lord Maven that he was a Cultist.
• Verra Ka'tath is introduced much earlier and by name, and increased references to her throughout.
• Suggests that the Cultists are the birthplace of the Sons of Malice.

There are other smaller changes, but they do not change the course of the tale much.

The major change is at the end. Some of the last chapters are removed and the final one is titled an "Avatar's Vengence". This is the main deviation from the Angelfire Text.

• Instead of slaying Verra in the final battle, it is Dar which takes the lance in his gut and Verra flies him back to Verminisia instead of vice versa. Dar dies and is sent to the abyss where Necrucifer gives him a second chance of life.
• There is no mention on him taking the Dracon of Might from the Thane of Wargar. Dar goes to Thaxanos remade from the blood of Necrucifer and slays Zingin. This causes some confusion as Zingin played a large part in early modern history, unless he was an ancestor by the same name. Dar then freezes the Paladin Breingiton and the Speaker of the Stars and the rest of the people trying Verra for her crimes, then causes the volcano at Thaxanos to erupt and ascends to the heavens with Verra.

Chronologically the Angelfire texts do come from earlier prehistory than the Kayen texts, so it is likely that the Kayen Texts are later. The Kayen Texts are dated to the foundation of Shadow, but it is unclear who is the author of the amendments. d'Fale had long since departed by this time, so it is possible that the modifications were made by Sorcia Kayen in a seductive attempt to write themselves into history. Certainly it attempts to portray Serpantol in an even poorer light than before. An argument against this is that the original founders of Shadow considered Targetter had lost his way breaking with purist policy, but in the Kayen Texts they elevate him to godlike status.

Recently new evidence has emerged that the different version from the Kayen Texts did originally source from Eclipse's library from the time of Highlord Nag'Shuggoth DarkShade, but that the Angelfire Texts still predate that as he was one of the later Highlords.

At any rate, the story is changed considerably. Iolius.