Thread: Grimoire of Myths

Destiny Storm Ah, so you wish another tale? You wish to know how it was that the nobles did select one to rule over them? The taking of the throne? Then gather kinsmen, and the tale I shall tell you... It was in the deepest of winters. It had been many years since the Moon Nightshade had stalked the land, though rumours did abound in the deep forests of wolves that seemed to think with the power of the people. No great threat had arisen since then, and the people were faced with more mundane worries. The harvest had been poor, and the winter was thick and deep that year. Rationing was enforced, and the people did try to stretch what they had until more could be found. As fate is wont to inflict, mundane issues would forever seem to attract more serious threats. As though having waited for a moment, the beasts within the dark made a push within the lands. The Watch, barely manned in these dark days, and weakened further by the lack of food, could not do more than slow the invasion. By some power, the beasts threw up a pall of shadow in their advance, keeping away the purifying light of the First Fire. This power was clearly telling, for the advance they made was slow, as though the power that they drew on was not without limit. The people had maintained a force of warriors to combat threats, and they began to rally to the banners raised by the noble houses. But it was a band of common warriors who observed the path that the beasts did take that realized the depth of the threat posed. These bests made not for the cities, but instead for the largest of the farms. It was here that great stores of grain were kept, and the loss of which would spell the starvation of thousands, no matter if the beasts were thrown back or not. The nobles were alerted, and hastened to intercept them, but it as clear to any who observed that they would not reach the enemy in time. Something had to be done to slow them. But any who stood before these beasts would die in moments. A woman within the warriors stood tall, and announced that she would take the fight to the foe. Every moment that she might gain would give chance to the nobles to intercept. A small force could travel with swiftness, and make their stand before the enemy. She called out for volunteers to join her in her endeavour. When others demanded to know her course of action if none would follow her, she calmly announced that she would go alone. But that the more that came, the longer they might hold. She rode out from her home, a bare twelve warriors with her. None who made the ride entertained any thoughts of their fate. The nobles were on the move, adn had no time to spend on a small force like theirs. They would face the horde. And they would die before it, unsung and unremembered by any. But by their actions could they save even a single life, then they would know that their deaths had not been in vain. The dark cloud that preceded the horde made the enemy easy to track. In a wooded pass, the warriors did draw up. The woman who led them walked behind them all, and with the edge of her sword, drew a line in the earth. Upon this line we do stand. And on the honour of our very souls, we shall not take a step behind it. Swear this with me now, and know that when we find our ends, there will be no shame in our hearts. She announced. Each warrior swore the oath, and on their faces she found no trace of fear. The beasts did advance towards the pass, only to find it barred. They thought little of this, and came on in a darkened wave. Of that battle, so little is known to us, even in this age. We know that the beasts threw themselves at the warriors two score times, all of their savagery and fury spent on the unwavering line of warriors. When a warrior did fall to their foes, the line stepped forward, and spread but a little thinner, but yielded nothing to their enemy. The nobles did spy the enemy, halted in the advance, and turned their force to face the foe. Sounding war horns, and advancing to meet them. Of the warriors who had made their stand, only one remained. The woman who had led them there still stood, a carpet of dead beasts lay around her, three deep, and stretched for nearly a dozen paces behind her. The coming of the main force broke the nerve of the beasts, for all of their numbers had been halted by these few, what chance would they have against teh collected might of the people? They fled back to the Dark lands, and the peopel did turn to the one who had held the line. She would speak of nothing until her people had been seen to, their souls sang to their end, that they might find an honourable ending. And then she told of what they had done. The noble did decree then that this one soul had been as a Storm to the foe, battering them before their arrival. And now by their unanimous agreement, she would have a new Destiny, as the first Queen of the people. Though she did try to refuse, she knew in her heart that in such a position, she could accomplish much good. And so she ascended to the throne of the people, and did all she could to ensure the well being of those around her. She did not lay aside her sword, nor her armour, always leading her people from the front, always inspiring. She did this until her dying day. Her line does still lead us, in our darkest times they have been tehre to guide us to victory. And we will still sing of her, for she did show that to stand need not be for glory, nor honour. But to stand with nothing but the good of other in mind...this would be the ideal that all should aspire to hold.