Champions of the Realm, Part 1

**Champions of the Realm, Part 1** is the sixth entry in a series of lore vignettes known as Paladins Chronicles.

As the developer note attached to the end of Champions of the Realm, Part 1 states, "*Paladins Chronicles are short stories meant to enrich the world of Paladins & serve as context for future events."*

This story was originally posted here on Paladins.com, and promoted here on the official @PaladinsGame Twitter.

## Story

“The Paladins. The Realm’s most valiant defenders, ones who brought an age of peace and prosperity. Their stories became that of legends, their members became leaders and symbols. However, they would succumb to the weakness of all beings: hubris. Crystals came, and with that power. Power leads to divides, and none was greater than that of Valera and Karne.

Karne’s Magistrate took over the Realm when the Paladins disbanded in peace time, and the discovery of Crystals threatened the way of life they preserved. Power in the hands of anyone could lead to more unrest, more strife. So, he sought out to outlaw this newfound discovery.

His once ally, Valera, staunchly opposed such an action restricting the next generation of magicians and heroes from ever being realized. She formed a Resistance to fight against him, and thus the Crystal Wars began”.

“And that’s where you entered, right?” a young orc shouted out as the tribe listened intently to the story being told. Grohk chuckled as he patted the young one on the back.

“Yes, that’s where Grohk joined in. Grohk had to ensure we would be safe, no matter who or what ruled this Realm. With lightning in my hands, we watched on as the Stagalla were reawakened, the Houses mobilized, and the Last Warder returned. Crystals were the least of our worries, as Abyss and Pyre slowly crept their way back into the Realm, reigniting an ancient conflict.”

The orcs all shuddered at the thought of such powers beyond them, their quaint home within Greenwood feeling like a spec of dirt on the bottom of a vast riverbed. Their chieftain was all that stood between them and such foes, and so they rallied behind him as he continued his tale.

“Then, the man beyond our time warned us of an imminent danger, the Darkness. As Yagorath began to devour the Realm, all sides were scrambled as a universal need to survive outweighed any prior conflict. They fought side by side, until Azaan came down from the Pyre itself to seal away the being once more.”

The crowd cheers as Grohk waves his hands to settle them.

“However, he is not the savior of orcs. The Pyre is not our ally, they care only for their defeat of the Abyss. That is why we need Paladins, now more than ever. It’s why Grohk departs.”

The whole village fell silent. Their protector, who has stood by them through all this, was going to leave? Murmurs grew of fear and doubt. Grohk waited patiently as his people returned their attention to him.

“Grohk will still protect you, you will be ever safe. This Realm grows, and allies are the only way to ensure we are heard and seen. Grohk will return, friends in hand. Promise.”

The village erupted into applause, and people rallied behind their chieftain as he took up his staff and left to meet with their closest peer: Cassie of House Arturos.

“The Resistance as it once was is no more.” Cassie’s words bounce off the trees around them as she walks with Grohk down the trail following Zigs. “House Aico is seeing to that.”

“This is not about Resistance. It’s about Paladins.” Grohk insists as Zigs begins to squawk at something in the distance. Cassie lines up a shot & takes a deep breath before she sends an arrow towards the brush.

“There’s a difference?” Cassie asks half-heartedly as she retrieves her prize.

“The Resistance fought for a purpose, Paladins fought for the Realm. We need to unite, Maw taught us that.” Grohk stands tall as Cassie looks up and down him, as if she were gauging his level of dedication. She sighs with a smile on her face.

“I’ll go speak to Grover. If you want this plan to work, we’re going to need Barik. He has connections throughout the Realm, and we are going to need all the help we can get. Last I heard, he had set up shop in the Trade District.”

“Whatever you say, huntress. Until we meet again.”

“Well I never thought I’d see the day!” Barik shouts over the noise of his workshop as Grohk tries to continue but can’t overcome the sound of hammering. “Red River Orcs coming out & telling us we need to do better…happy to have you. Welcome!”

Barik sits down with his visitor and discusses the difficulty of the task before them. Talus had gone off to fight the Magistrate’s oppression of Ska’Drin alongside a group of former Resistance members. They were their own group now, but perhaps some would join this endeavor. He’d contact the young one and see to it he returns for a conversation. As their discussion continues on, a nearby mercenary would approach, interested in what she’s heard.

“If you want, I can handle Buck & his cohort. Us Sentinels have unfinished business, I could convince him that this is a just cause.”

“How kind of you to join us, Tyra.” Barik sarcastically states as he returns to assembling his latest gadget. “All we need now is someone we can get these champions to rally behind.”

“Who is your leader now?” Grohk asks, as if he felt he should properly introduce himself, chief to chief. Barik’s face drops as Tyra coughs before speaking.

“They don’t have one. Last one up and left on some crusade…your best bet? The Stone Warden. She’s a Paladin through and through. A bit reluctant, but you’ve got a convincing smile.” A quick laugh escapes her as she salutes and paces away.

Grohk grunts and stands tall towards Barik. “Thank you, mechanic. Until we stand together in battle.”

Grohk would find Inara wandering through the Shattered Desert, hunting for clues to uncover Terminus’ last location. The Stone Warden looked somber, yet determined. On his approach, he feels the weight of her heart.

“Great Stone Warden-” He begins to call out.

“Silence. A moment.” She quietly responds, slowly kneeling to pick up a chunk of stone, holding it against her chest. She hesitantly rises to face him. “What is it you seek from me, chieftain?”

“I seek the leader of the Paladins.” Grohk states simply, as if the words would make sense on their own.

“Oh…Valera is long gone, she left us all after Yagorath was subdued. She spoke of another fight over the horizon. They only ever need Stagalla when there is a battle to be had…” Inara continued on, wandering between lines in the sands.

“I do not seek those who have failed before. I look to the future, one where those who have been wronged can make the Realm right. You were summoned by Valera herself. If anyone can usher in the next era, it’s you. One where all our peoples can live in peace-”

“- and prosperity.” Inara responds, as if by instinct. “He once stood for that as well. This Realm…it has taken so much.” She stops, and raises rock from the ground to reveal a chipped handle of an ax. She begins to reach out, but stops herself.

“It also gives us life. A chance to be better, more than we are alone. Your hurt is not your own to bear. I know not of your pain, but I know of your strength.” Grohk holds out his staff to her, not as a threat but as an offering. After a moment, Inara turns towards him and locks eyes. She pauses for a long moment, then picks up her own & crosses it with his.

“Your words are inspiring, chieftain. I will try, for all our people and those we have lost. The Paladins will defend the Realm once more. Tell all those who seek peace and justice to join us in Greenwood.”

“Thank you, Warden. May the Realm prosper. Grohk must return home to inform tribe.” Grohk quietly bows and departs back to the Red River, to let his people know they will be safe once more.

As she returns to Greenwood, Inara feels the consequence of her choice set in. She gathers herself as she walks the halls, remembering all the battles she had fought alongside her old friends. She was summoned to fight, and now she was to lead. This time, they would stand to protect everyone, even those who had no one to fight for them before. A Realm, united not by who leads, but the people within it. She would simply be the wall between them and that which would hurt them. She always was.

Suddenly, the gates to the fort burst open as wings clang in the distance. She approaches the entrance to see Furia, strained and hurt, flying towards her.

“I…we have a problem. Seris, she-” Furia states, in a commanding tone that betrays her panicked look.

“We’re here to help.” Inara interrupts and straightens her posture. “What can the Paladins do?”

**Directions**Anti-Abyss  •  Anti-Darkness  •  Nature Protectors  •  Neutral
**Groups** Bomb Kingdom  •  Deepwerks  •  Eternal Pyre  •  Followers of Io  •  House Aico  •  House Arturos  •  Outer Tribunal  •  Paladins (Former)  •  Red River Orcs  •  Sentinels  •  Shadow Tribunal  •  Summer Court  •  Tau-Kor Monastery  •  Thousand Hands Guild  •  Warders  •  Unknown Groups
**Noteworthy Items / Forces**Crystals  •  Magic  •  Souls  •  Warder's Key  •  Warder's Relic
**Notable Positions**Abyssal Lord  •  Border Lord  •  Grand Magister  •  Pyre Lord
**The Realm**Abyss  •  Aico Tundra  •  Crosswind Hold  •  The Eight Oceans  •  Enchanted Forest  •  Greenwood  •  Lunar Coast  •  Seris (Village)  •  Temple Isles  •  Trade Row  •  Warder's Watch
**Races**Abyssal Creature  •  Animal  •  Construct  •  Darkness  •  Dragon  •  Deities  •  Dwarf  •  Elemental  •  Elf  •  Faerie  •  Goblin  •  Human  •  Leipori  •  Orc  •  Pyre Creature  •  Ska'drin  •  Spirit  •  Stagalla  •  Tigron  •  Transformed  •  Undead  •  Vulpin  •  Wyrin
**Complete Timeline**Complete Timeline  •  Paladins Chronicles
**Story Arcs**Crystal Arc  •  Darkness Arc  •  Ska'drin Arc
**Time Periods**The Ancient Age  •  The Age of the Paladins  •  The Golden Age  •  The Age of Resistance  •  The Lost Future
**Notable Events**Dragon Scourge  •  Goblin Scourges  •  Golden Age  •  Crystal War  •  Koga's Revenge  •  Destruction of Seris  •  Battle of Ascension Peak  •  Warders Return  •  The Fight of the Shattered Desert  •  Shattered Goddess' Return  •  The Summoning of Raum  •  The Darkness Released  •  Shift of Power
**Other**NPCs  •  Updated Bios  •  Alternate Realities  •  Canon Skins  •  Statues  •  Legends  •  Misconceptions  •  Retcons  •  Character Feats  •  Alpha Lore