I stand as you have stood, proud and unafraid, I, Qais, son of Qayuus, son of Qaymaan, will go forth in this world to vanquish evil and secure a position of glory for my clan and my allies. Like my courageous forefathers, I follow in their footsteps, humble, yet proud, modest, yet confident.
Dear Father, I have braved the orc and werewolf hordes in the fields, I have with the grace and protection of my forefathers, vanquished the undead of the Elven Ruins. I now wield the sword of solidarity, scavenged from the decrepit filth of those blasted ruins.
Father, you said if there was a time you didn’t return that I should seek out Master Auron, but only when I felt I was ready to achieve my destiny. Under the guidance and trust of Master Auron I was accepted into the warrior guild, just like you were accepted father, 27 years before and as grandfather was accepted, 55 years to the day.
I have, with my remaining wealth, purchased a short spear so I may harvest the evil ones as a farmer harvests his crops. I have skewered the Lizardmen and Orc defilers like the early morning zephyr moves to and fro. I have waded into battle amongst many foes, with mere wood as protection but with my lineage as my shield, and I have sown the ground with the putrid blood of our sworn enemies.
The dedication, integrity, and honesty that have been instilled in me has caught the eye of a newly formed clan called No Fear Soldiers. I was invited into the clan by the honorable Damodar and Tezra. Damodar is a fierce Orc destroyer, wielding his majestic weapon with grace and utter violence. He is the image of unleashed violence. Tezra appears to me as a beautiful seductress, her skill is unknown to me, but I have little doubt in the absolute potency in her.
Damodar, with infinite generosity, has lent to me the use of armor of exceptional quality; Brigandine armor and gaiters, a magnificent kite shield amongst others. He has trusted me with raising the honor of the clan, and I will not fail him, our lineage does not allow it. I have been gathering materials for crafting, I have spared excess equipment, and I am currently terminating the evil creatures faster than they can spawn from their sinister trenches. With this gear and sense of duty, I feel invincible.
Father, not all is well, I need your help, I am stricken by some unknown disease, this disease comes and goes like the wind. Before I even know it, I’m seeing double, everything has slowed down for me, my insides are heaving, my breathing has become shallow, I cannot even stand straight, let alone wield a blade, I move my arms as if the weight of Hindemith were supported by them. Then, as I think that Orc axe is coming one more inch closer to my head, it goes away and I’m back as I was a few minutes before. At times, I will get these attacks and seizures every few minutes or so and at times they just do not come. Earlier today, the disease has increased its malicious intent, in mid fight, I just passed out, I was evading, parrying and slashing at this minion of evil, Lizardman, and then all of a sudden, I heard a cackle, and then the soft thud of my head hitting the grass, then utter silent darkness and resounding despair.
I woke up blurry eyed and with my insides tumbling but without any of the usual resurrection sickness that occurs. Usually, when a person is resurrected, in addition to these symptoms, they also feel weak, lethargic, bloated, disoriented, cold, and hot at the same time. At this point, I knew, someone, not just anyone, someone of great power and importance had just used a blessed scroll of resurrection. As I look up, I see a human wearing splendid robes, a shield made of black dark crystal and the most magnificent sword I have ever seen in my life. I have only heard rumors of this sword, but this must be it, the sword of miracles shining like a bastion of holy and magical power.
This man, offered me a hand with a gentle smile, and said in a baritone voice full of confidence, “It appears, there was good reason for me to be in this area after all. Good tidings to you brave warrior, I am Polarity.” I was so shocked by what had just happened, not only had I been resurrected with a blessed scroll of a resurrection, but this person, bedecked in the most splendid battle gear fit for a king is offering me a hand and talking to me with respect. I notice that his clan crest is a green-teal crescent shape under a black background; this tickles something in my mind, where have I seen that crest before? In my muddled mind I couldn’t recall where I had seen it.
As I looked at my surroundings, I saw the remaining mangled carcasses of the lizardmen camp, blood, guts, scales, armor, were strewn about. I noticed the power of this individual, but for some reason, I had a feeling that what I saw was a very minor display.
I struck up a conversation with this man, the whole time I couldn’t believe a man like this, was talking to me as if I were an equal, the cost of a square inch of his robes dwarfed the cost of all my gear combined. I know that I was taught that all men are equal and no matter what a person has or what a person can do, the purity of their heart is the measure of a man Where have I seen that crest before, I could not recall. “What is your name brave warrior?” Polarity asked, I am Qais, son of Qayuus, son of Qaymaan. “What were you doing fighting this many lizardmen? I told him the story of my progression from where I started fighting, of how I had come into possession of my gear, the story of my father and grandfather being great gladiators, the reason I felt invincible, the great debt I felt I owed Damodar, Tezra, and the clan for their generosity. He asked me how long I had been fighting for and I told him only a few years, He looked a tad surprised at the alacrity with which I had reached my current state.
I told him how I heard about these people wielding sorcery of no skill that entrance the fighter and would allow them to hunt monsters without requiring food and sleep. Some of these fighters actually entrance others to follow them around healing and enhancing their abilities with magic. I have even heard of others who sell their souls for adena that would make a king look poor. I told him how my lineage has and will always prevent me from acquiring what I did not earn through hard work and dedication. My progression was a product of my work.
Where had I seen that blasted crest before? Polarity said that in this day and age it was very tough to find a person who wanted to achieve glory, power, and status through honorable means. He then made me an offer, an offer that could only come by you and grandfather’s divine and mystical presence. He said that when I have honed my skills more, when I have experienced more, when I have grown tired of harvesting the evil creatures, when I had achieved the status of gladiator that my lineage had demanded I achieve, that I will find a place within his clan. An epiphany had just rung louder and more clear than the loudest bell in Gludin. I remember now where I had seen that crest . . . this was the crest that adorned the flagpole of Gludin Castle. I turned swiftly and abruptly to Polarity and said in a fevered voice, “Your clan owns Gludin Castle, doesn’t it? Why would you invite someone like me into the clan when I there are many people more worthy?” Polarity smiled and chuckled softly, he paused for a moment, smiled again and then said, “Let me show you the castle.” As I felt my pride swelling inside me, I was almost tearing up for the honor that I had brought to my lineage and myself. I was brimming with a sense of accomplishment, even though, I couldn’t fathom what I had accomplished. I had gone from feeling worthless since Damodar had to substitute my haphazard gear and now I was being invited into a clan that owned a castle in Hindemith.
Dear Father, I seek your wisdom now, more so than I ever have. I have been given a great opportunity to promote our lineage, to bring honor to our house, however, at the same time, Damodar and his clan have accepted me into their clan, they have given me gear to fight the evil, how do I keep my word to Damodar without losing this opportunity to strengthen our name. I cannot lie, I cannot break an agreement, guide me to the path of righteousness Father.
- Qais son of Qayuus son of Qaymaan from House Esh-Shareef
***I know it's corny, but I felt like doing it anyway***
Qais