The First Saga,

A Story of the Dawn Age,

By Devon

We open up in times of yore

Where none but misery and death be born,

When gallant souls were tempted and fated

And all of the creatures were lost and forsaken.

It is written down in blood and ink

Of a city bold and unbreeched

That starts a tale of myth and legend

Bloodstone, was the name it was given.

It fell into and foreign land

Without it Bloodstone’s fair guardian.

A time when heroes were needed fast

To undo the wrong, the wrong everlast.

Heroes of every age were brought upon the scene with

Swords and armor that glittered and gleamed.

Words of promise to make right what was right

Grew to screams of horror that rang through the nights.

Dragons and giants had now made their homes with the

Shells of human remains and their broken bones.

Terror grew wide and scorched across the land,

Scoring into the fragile earth with a cold and bitter hand.

Skahild the merciless, as she came to be known,

Cast forth darkness and evil seeds to be sown.

She cast forth a swirling mist that spread across the ground,

Every manner of being thought that no hope could be found.

When the mist did clear a group of

Adventurers walked through boldly and grew near;

Their garb was strange, their manners odd

It was said that one grew a resemblance to Grendel Todd.

These newcomers upon the scene

Brought similar hopes and ridiculous schemes.

A motley bunch to say the least and

Yet the prince regent did them want to meet.

Our land is riddled, is highness began

With plagues of fishes and unholy land,

Join me to rid my people of all this muck and mire

And you could become Dukes, Princes or Sires

As if on cue the band of misfits agreed

Casting away earlier thoughts of lust and greed,

They marched on towards a mighty war

Not knowing what fate had in store.

The Battle was gruesome, it raged without thought

Then an angel from above tried the war to stop,

Evil never to be outdone called in the reinforcements

Two mighty and hideous Dragons.

Evil tore through an angel that day

It’s feathers and fragile bones were ripped away.

A once proud army was now laid to waste

And the proud heroes? They quickly mad haste.

Old heads were turning, disturbed by the view

Plans were getting ready to make the world anew

 A hole was torn in the very fabric of time and space

Giving room for eternity to birth a better place.

And did our champions hide their faces then?

They held their jaws steady and prepared to welcome in

An place which was to them not assuring or very similar

Then they spied a face that all found too familiar.

Tholuk, a god of chaos and revel

Stood before the troop to put them on the level

You each have gifts bestowed to you, by gods of world renown

Now it is up to you that their reincarnation come around.

First to receive his gift was Aramin, the chaste

Whose gift from Anduiras, the king of the gods, to be a champion of the human race.

Aramin once marred ears grew to a silhouetted perfection

As he now wore the mantle of justice and protection.

Together, the warriors brought the dawn of time

With new gods bringing about reason and rhyme,

And now glorious stories await to be told

Of days now new and also of old…

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Aramin, the Chaste

Dawn had stretched her way into every corner

Of the hills, the mountains and the surrounding water.

Animals were striding out of the shadows bold and brave

But for a confused new paladin it was not the same.

Aramin sat taking in his new prospects

Looking unto himself for momentary reflects.

A god, Anduiras, had told him he was a champion

Now the choice gave him grief, the outlook looked grim

To the band of heroes, Aramin looked on anew

As their changes (in the group dynamic) grew and grew.

Two half dragons, an angel, and a fiend

Plus two blue elves with tails, Thorcatla and Mindy.

Beginning…

Heroes come an heroes fall

Most of their stories have been heard by all.

Yet one most unlikely hero of men

Is this the tale of Aramin.

The tale begins with a motley band

That put forth much to this new land

Tholuk had given them all a gift

Of making the new world of legend and myth.

New towns were growing from the ground

As friends were busy doing rounds.

Aramin overwhelmed, headed for the trees

Where blue tailed elves baited him with ease.

(“Bedding with you could be quite dangerous for there is a chance we could be contagious…”)

Revel and debauchery, drinks of wine,

Draping of limbs and sweating thighs

Swelled around our hero’s head

Soothing away all feelings of doubt and dread.

Seven nights of lechery heated,

Anduras was quizzical and became unseated,

Heading for the blue elves’ forest revelry

To tell his champion he’s acting deplorably.

Your dereliction of duty, I find most disturbing.

Yet I understand you have your primal yearnings, so

Spread your seed with five mates

Then maybe your needs for flesh will abate.

But first its time to create new orders with

Knights and priests to praise my my laurels

Land so fertile it could grow great grains so that

Humans would know it is the time of Anduras’ reign.

Wonderous temples were erected in the God’s name

Surrounded by bustling cities of fame,

Danellas, Devon, Corinne, Aramin, and Claire

If there was unease in the world it could not be found there.

Humans weary from unyielding woe

Found comfort and haven under Anduras’ Code.

Aramin himself was celebrated quite widely

But a yearning for more grew ever biting

Anduras bade Aramin good tidings good

Luck with the ladies, but lay off the drinking.

Head held high with the world to explore

Aramin headed off to find unaltered shores.

His many travels found humans and more

But nothing would prepare for what was in store.

Darkness it is said can be found from within

But first it started from within Aexein.

A cold and foreboding night

Found Aramin warming his bones by the firelight.

Familiar sounds of hooting owls stopped

Aramin drew his sword – turned to the trees and scowled.

“Don’t you know a friend’s a friend?”

then with claw and tethered wing in walked Aexein.

Aramin uncharacteristically faltered, he drew

His sword closer – his friend halted.

“My friend,” he hissed “you wound me greatly,

put down your steel – and come embrace me”

“Sir, you are nothing less than a horror,

to sheath my weapon would be in error.”

“So you are not a fool, as others have claimed,

you know when a friend cannot be made.

We’ll meet again – on this rely, : the creature

Sliced Aramin – the wound festered with bile.

Days and nights the wound never closing

Our valiant hero was kicking – but the thought he had lost,

His body collapsed at the foot of White Cliffs,

Envisioning wings of fallen snow and a heavenly kiss.

Feverish with pain Aramin did awaken,

The burn in his side told him he wasn’t in heaven.

He tried to get upbut he was touched by an angel

Aramin never dreamed he’d end up so well.

“That wound is grievous, settle down old friend,”

that word stoke a cord, Aramin would not be fooled again.

He clambered for weapon – then clambered back unarmed,

“What are you trying to do? Hurt your old companion, Eve?”

Years erased as the two recollected days

Of fighting alongside each-other then the splitting of ways.

“You changed so handsomely,” Eve had remarked,

“I’m glad you’ve come round, you’ve gladdened my heart.”

Aramin did not want to bring bad news to good cheer

But Aexein’s terror was plain and Eve had to hear.

Her eyes drooped slightly, she seemed not surprised

She’d seen Axian’s grisly visage Aramin had surmised.

“You say that he’s near, “the angel now spoke

“Axian was thought to be dead, or so I had hoped,

He’s playing a deadly game with you

One I hope you survive when he’s through.”

“Your gash needs more time to heal

my magic it seems has not the zeal to

rid the wound of all it’s evil

but I’ll take you to someone who will.”

Rather than risk travel by shore

Eve with Aramin above the land they soared to a

Place where the land seemed to end

There they found Rake, but the no sign of Redd.

Eve bid both farewell, she must be away

Aexein had been sighted near the aerie

She unfurled her wings ready to take flight

Gave Rake a wink then flew off in the night.

“Here have some drink, “said Rake with a smile

“I’m sorry, I’ve had to put off the grape for a while”

“Then let’s have some fun,” Rake turned to a door,

Aramin grew pale at the thought of what was in store.

No dress to be found, but many large papers,

Pens, and protractors. Rake smiled a sneer,

Pulled a table closer and sat down beside

a confused Aramin with pain in his side.

Aramin is a gallant fighter by nature

To guide a ship proper was proving a failure.

He ran aground the mainland, puncturing the port

And in his ineptitude he’d was way off course.

This new land was covered quite sparsely

Sand, dunes, and cacti made up most of the scenery.

Armor, vestments, and weaponry all worn seemed risky and heavy

Making hard work for Aramin to levy.

Unadorned Aramin scoured the horizon

For some sign of life to show

Aramin was not prepared with food or with water

So he quickly dehydrated as it grew hotter.

Festivals with streamers and slippered dancing feet

Women with abounding cleavage were kissing his cheek

He put up a hand to feel their soft faces but

Scaly skin and hiss came from their embraces.

Startled and shaken Atyen attacks away

Then striking with huge success at his prey

A cooling shadow falls on his back

The lizard gets away, it’s tail snaps.

Aramin turned his head and got full view

Of a maiden, exotic, with eyes of pure blue

Her skin was golden brown hand hair like night

She viewed him cautiously with a jug at her right.

“My name is Aramin, champion of Anduras the God

I apologize if my manners are to gruff or too odd.

If you could furnish me with some nourishment

I can make sure any needs you have are met.”

The two traveled, with the young woman leading

Aramin wasn’t sure if she’d gotten his meaning.

They arrived at a village made of earthen clay

The natives were friendly the fair one could stay.

The maiden who had initially caught Aramin’s fancy

Was the niece of the chieftess.  Mz’rha was her name it fit her very nicely.

He courted her as did his tradition require

Be all was for naught she did not him admire.

Children of the Sun, they called their rag-tag tribe

They offered tributes up to Anduras to help them buy them time,

Evil forces had been encroaching onto the children’s soil

It was hoped this event of Anduras would evil foil.

Aramin thought he was in over his head

When warriors from tribes across the desert came to join the din.

Together 20 tribes accounted an army of 120

They drove back the seething forces even though it cost them plenty.

Battered yet victorious Aramin the general led the way

Good warriors won the fight and evil rued the day

Thus a handsome paladin had come out ahead

A familiar voice swore “He’ll soon be dead.”

Having proved himself worthy of Mz’rha’s attention

She showed him the meanings of love and devotion.

They traded vows within one short year

A happier couple could not be found there.

For five and ten years their love grew unhindered

But the time had gone and almost past to have children.

A midwife come to aid in their need

Soon a child began to grow from their seed.

Joyous occasions very seldom last

Too true is this as Evil again en masse

Loped through the desert with a new battle cry

“You will be assimilated. Flee, escape, you still will die.”

Though feeling rusty at the helm

Aramin donned his armor – fitting well.

He promised Mz’rha and their unborn child

That he’d be back for them – it’d be just a while.

Like before the desert force grew to face the foe

But now the evil had a name, which brought Aramin much woe.

Aexein was commander and his eyes were filled with rage

One of them would be dead at the end of this day.

The armies clashed and came in steady waves

Like water beating at the shores, neither side giving way.

The tides did turn in favor once or twice

Then turned grim once again – the outlook wasn’t nice.

Just as chaos was thought to have won

Law and order held high and proved it’s own salvation.

Yet the price of victory is also apparent

Aramin lay dead – so Aexein had sworn it.

Banners hung in the air at half mast

As the bereaved warriors trudged slowly past

Aramin’s once happy home. Mz’rha looked out

And was filled with grief, misery, and doubt.

Anduras, you’ve taken my love from me,

Now I’ve a score to settle with thee.

I’ll find a way, by hook or by crook

To bring you down.  I’ll not be mistook.

In her pain, anguish, and hate

She lost the only thing left by her mate.

Mz’rha turned her back on the tribe,

To find a way to pay Anduras in kind.

Now what of our hero, is this his end?

Nay Anduras resurrected and called to him.

Come Aramin I have need of your council

The time is right and the plans on the table.

And so our story begins and ends

For what will happen it cannot be said

Whether evil or good will eventually win.