Quest The Darkness In Our Hearts

[Quintus Vexion]

He'd stood before the Allirian Council, his energy radiating like a second sun in the Allir Keep. When the corpses of the little girls from the slums were shown to him, it compelled him to act. Despite his body being weak from previous use, Quintus had stood before his peers in the armor of his ancestors. He'd told them in the words that they needed to hear in order for many of them to not prove themselves cowards. He told them that he would take up his ancestors' armor and defend this city as his family always had, with or without their help. But if they loved their home and their people, they would not risk the reputation of their house and the stain on their names should they not move as he did. He, the Star-Touched Knight. Chosen of Astra's progeny. Defender of Alliria.

Many of them moved and that was enough for him. Hopefully it would be enough to erase the pain in his heart. Their bodies had been ravaged by an evil that had been left unchecked by the rich and powerful in their ivory towers for far too long. Alliria had bled silently for far too long. If his blood needed to be penance for his irresponsibility then so be it. He knew where he was going should death call him. The children of Astra spoke to him in their many voices of how there was a place for him in the stars among his ancestors when the shroud of death found him.

He'd never know a lonely night. Wasn't that worth dying for?

Vexion gold alone had been enough to purchase three companies to serve under his banner. His personal guard rode with him as his vanguard. He sat atop his black horse with it's blood red mane. His armor shone like crystal or perhaps glass. It was something ancient and something beautiful. The colors from that holy armor shined in a way that inspired those who gazed upon it. The Scarlet Legion marched behind him, their commanders leading them from the rear. As the Allirian force approached the treeline, the Star Touched Knight raised his sword to the heavens. Ghostwarden shined brightly, a sword seemingly made from heaven that called out to it's enemies. The darkness in the forest seemed to respond. The trees began to bend as undeath welled in preparation for battle.

The wind blew his long silky black hair as he whirled around on his steed. A great contrast to his armor kissed by heaven.

"Allirians! Those who fight for Alliria! For too long have we allowed the evil of the green dragon to spread in the land of my ancestors! YOUR ancestors! Their corpses awake and wander and corrupt all that we hold dear! I will not allow it! WE shall not allow it. Whatever it is you fight for, let it ring true in your heart so that it might guide your sword! THE STARS WATCH YOU THIS DAY! LET THEM IGNITE YOUR HEART AND STEEL YOU AGAINST HORROR!"
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And we shall ignite you, Lord Vexion.
Let our love guide your blade.
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"Form up! Let us send these abominations into the abyss between stars!"

Lords and mercenaries formed ranks and the evil that spewed forth from the Allirian forest was legion. The Star Touched Knight rode forth with his own vanguard to meet the first wave of the undead horde and over his head, arrows fell like many droplets of rain.​

 

[Eden Sinclayr]

Of course Eden had been trying for months to get the Council to rally enough resources together to deal with the forest's infestation. But few were willing to move men or coin if the cause had any possibility of benefiting another's House. It took that gleaming bastard, Vexion, to convince them of the threat. The merchant councilors couldn't bear the searing light of the man's self-righteousness.

Eden had pledged three of her Ten to the efforts, which to many may have looked stingy of her. They rode casual and haphazard in the green of the Sinclayr house, several sleek hunting hounds keeping stride alongside the horses. The horse's eyes bulged and their nostrils flared in fear as the steeds caught the scent of undeath upon the wooded air.

Their altruistic host, Lord Vexion, noticed the shift in the air, too. He gave the signal and rallied the mottled companies together with a few rousing words.

The dark-haired elf that rode at Eden's right side whistled high and impressed at the Knight-Councilor's call. "Hey, why don't we ever get any speeches?" He asked his own councilor.

Eden's pale palomino snorted and stamped, but dared not stray from the path she guided it down. "Nerkiss, how much do I pay you?"

A delighted chuckle left the elf's chest. "Enough to die for, I'd recon." He spurred his horse onward, as their small company sped up to form their place in the ranks.

"There's your motivation."