Scriptures of the Paladins, chapter 7

# **The Seventh Scripture**

*1- When I sat in the Garden of Earth, speaking with Avzaya, I asked him about the resolve of the Paladins, and how they became extinct. Avzaya said: “When Shakhtan united the tribes he established his kingdom, the paladins were not as numerous as they were before. And so Shakhtan took over Asyhan, in peace. The Paladins carried on with their missions, they made sure Shakhtan and his descendants ruled by my laws. Then came a dark being from the southern lands, and he possessed the dark magic of necromancy, and so the Paladins grouped together to fight him, they numbered around two hundred, and the war was fierce. But at the end eleven Paladins survived and managed to kill the dark being. Then they knew that their end was near, for their descendants were not born as Paladins, rather they lacked much of the Anum magic. And so the last paladins fought whoever they could, and spread goodness to wherever they could, until only one Paladin was left.*

*2- And so the forces of the underdark planned to take over the earth and to spread mischief on it for indeed the Paladins had died, and there would not be any resistance powerful enough to withhold them. They awaited the day the moons eclipsed the sun, a perfect time for them to emerge. But they underestimated my last Paladin. Indeed he called forth his descendants, and said to them: “Oh descendants of the good ones, I am the last of the paladins. Avzaya has taken away the magic of Anum from your hearts. So remember the fourteen laws, and remember our peaceful way of life. We have fought to spread this message, our ancestors sacrificed themselves to uphold it. We have built the gem of the world, and we have a golden history which is not written, rather it is engraved in the hearts of those who respect it, and they shall uphold it.” He then walked with them towards a dark place, it was the epicentre of evilness on earth; The gate to the world of the Underdark, the entry point for the forces of evil.*

*3- He stood in front of it, and he bade his descendants farewell. Then he looked towards the star of Anum and said: “I shall not die until I fulfill the promise of my ancestors.” Thus I said: “Then smite them with thy fist, a fist of power and a fist of light.” Then he turned towards the gate, and he recited some words that the ancestors had held secret, words written on the shard that contained a most powerful magic, the opposite of necromancy. And thus the light of Anum enveloped him. At that moment the sun eclipsed, and the earth shook below. The forces of evil were charging their way to earth. The last paladin made a charge from his light, the likes of which was not seen before. He pointed his hands towards the gate, and the light was in front of his hands, a strand of which was attached to his soul. Then he said his last words: “From the Avestan to Anum, may there forever be light.” And the light was thrown to the gate, with his soul being the seal. And thus the gate of evilness was sealed. The Paladins have fulfilled their vow.”*

*4- That was the last piece of history that was spoken to me, and I cried because it touched my heart. Truly the Paladins sacrificed a lot to fulfill their vow, and I am honoured to spread their message. And Indeed during my last moments in the garden Avzaya told me: “Oh Zaryarez, tell the women to cover themselves when in public, and when the men marry, let them bathe in a water of white flowers, stripes of white wood, and pure alcohol. When the women marry they must bathe in a bath filled with the best of leaves, and they should wash their hair with rose water. And on the night of the event, the man must not turn his wife on her belly, nor on her side. He may not come from behind but from the front. And do not be excessive in your food or drinks, when you eat of an animal, you must drink with it either water, milk or the juices of grapes, and do not drink that which makes you drunk, for your ancestors did not prefer that. Be clean in your homes and in your settlements, and do not eat whilst standing or walking in public places. And speak unto the people with the word of peace.”*

*5- These were among the ethics of the ancestors, they are the best and earliest of traditions. Then Avzaya told me that my time had come, and that I was to return to my body, and so I bade farewell to the garden. Then I exited through the cave, and when I looked back I could not see the garden anymore. When I asked Avzaya about it he said: “It is how I have hidden it, using the magic of Anum.” Then I returned to where I was originally standing, and I was ordered to close my eyes, then when I opened them I found myself as a great giant again. With my right foot on the mouth of the Avestan, and my left foot on its source.*

*6- Then Avzaya asked me: “Oh Zaryarez, when one asks you about your mission, what shall you say?” I replied: “I shall say that I bring the message of the ancestors, a message known to those who have not forgotten the path of the Paladins, I preach the laws of Avzaya, and I am an opponent to the evil doers.”*

*7- Then I was returned to my body. And this oh people, is the story leading to this mission, will you follow my path then you are on the path of the ancestors. A truly beautiful path this is, may light forever be in the hearts of those who spread peace. And thus I end this book with words of goodness. May you, Oh good reader, forever be at Peace.*

Before: Scriptures of the Paladins, chapter 6