3. Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war.

Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war.


  • Shadow

    _There is a woman in this land, Linah I would believe she is called. Usually silent and unnoticable, she could stand dressed in black in a snow-covered plains at noon, and one would still not notice her. It is as if the shadows themselves warp and change to conceal her. It leaves me with a great mixture of thoughts. On one hand, she moves with undeniable grace, her blades a whirlwind of steel cleaving trough exposed flesh, striking swiftly and certainly, and then fading away again to leave only wonder. On the other hand, it is the stuff of nightmares, of shadows come to live to strike down the living, of an existence that lies around every corner and waits patiently for that one mistaken step.

    It is good to know that I have not yet faced her in battle, for to face her would not be a straight-forward battle of faith and strength. It would require guile, perception, deception and insight. I am not trained to fight such things, and the ways of shadows are forever foreign to me.
    And yet she has proven herself to be a capable, if enigmatic, aid. It was in the most recent attack on Norwick, as vast amounts of goblins and bugbears assaulted the town. As they scaled the walls, I ventured out, followed by Mark to dispose of the ladders, yet found myself quickly outnumbered by a great amount of bugbear warriors. Though I had no problem in dealing with one of their kind at a time, their sheer numbers battering away at my armor and shield was enough to give me pause and consider retreat. That is, had it not been for the timely intervention of this Linah, the woman of shadows. She seemed to step from one bugbears shadow into the next, fading in and out of the light and she cut and whirled her way trough the mass of Destroyer flesh. Those bugbears that attempted to face this new attack, found nothing but air, her form having already departed and reappeared on another flank. With my own strenght, durability and faith, and her shadowy skills and precise strikes, what had seemed an overwhelming mass of bugbears was reduced to nothing but decaying flesh within counts.

    I can do nothing but respect one of such prowess, and such exotic skill. Though I doubt I will ever master her shadowstep, and every experience of her leaves me with a certain hesitation, it is for the first in what is likely the entirety of my life that I feel a certain wonder, and indeed dread, at something that is not Craft, nor Creation._


  • On Magic and Invention: I

    _Magic is a raw force, that lays across the worlds of the many different planes, connecting them together. This force can be tapped trough a conduit known as The Weave. Merely trough an effort of will, any with talent or skill can use the Weave to create a variety of effects. To create a particular effect, one must focus on creating the desired effect, and doing so is aided by gestures and spoken words. Though often considered to be the foundations of any spell, they merely serve to focus the mind for the task at hand.

    Let us also be clear on the wording of the created effects. Fire created by spell is not magical fire, but is magically created fire. For all intents and purposes, it shares the exact same properties as a fire created trough non-magical means. Magically created lightning has the same properties as that which appears naturally. It is true, however, that at this moment magic still allows for many effects, such as instantanious healing, raising dead and planar traval, which are as yet not capable trough non-magical means. Though magic is an integral part of all of Creation, every magically created effect, even minor ones, disturb the natural course of things. And thus, use of magic should be limited, and should be accessed with care.

    Invention is using Knowledge and Understanding to create tools that allow certain effects to be created without the use of magic, or with limited use of magic, usually in the form of a power source. Where Magic is a stagnant force that has not evolved since its birth, Invention has been under constant change and evolution, providing solutions to problems. One must look further than the great gnomish creations to understand Invention.
    Even mere clothing is nothing but a basic Invention. Everything created by mortals has been an Invention. As new Knowledge is gathered, Invention follows in its wake, providing solutions to ever more complex problems, and reducing the need for purely magical solutions. Where magic was once a dominant force, it has dwindled to a position where it is usually responsible for more problems than solutions.
    Also, as Invention rises above the level of Magic in status, the balance of power will shift. Where once those gifted with magical skill were considered fit to rule, for the sole reason of the power they wielded, those of magic focus in these days have found themselves at odds with the wielders of Invention. Many examples of this can be quoted, and can be found in every single aspect of existence._


  • Dawn of the Metal Age

    _Much is happening lately. Almost too much to keep track of it all. First there was the adventure that Zoma, Ragnhild and others had had.. they had been chosen to pilot great machines into battle. Oh, how I had wanted to have been there. To become one and guide such an engine, to be safe in its metal womb, and lay waste to His enemies. It would have been glorious. Alas, it was not meant to be.

    Then the coming of the Machinist. A man, driven mad by grief. Dangerous yet to be respected, for his knowledge. The Machinist has given me a metal leg - adamantine even, it seems - to find a way to make his children immortal. I could not help wondering whether what the Machinist said was true and just. We have always depended on tools to elevate ourselves and overcome our natural flaws. If such a tool would aid us to overcome disease and death, would such not be a natural evolution?

    And then the Mechanists.. another faction, and of such great advances. Committed to destroying arcana and the divine alike. There may have been something to their actions against the arcane, yet their exact actions are what makes them a threat. The arcane is an aging and declining tool, and this will not change as more and more shifts to Invention. I was certainly impressed by their ability to fly. An old dream, realised only by magic. There had been a few Inventions, yet they did not provide the stability for any meaningful flight. Perhaps he would be able to salvage one of the devices and learn its secrets.

    And then there is still the progress with the Chapel, and the search for the crystal for the Amulet.

    Yes, things are indeed busy._


  • Mercy
    _He hesitated. It should have been clear enough, and yet it wasn't.
    The demonkin was in front of him. Cornered. The hammer lay firmly in his hand, and a single strike would end her presence on this plane.
    And yet he hesitated.

    Behind, Zoma and Ragnhild were fighting the three hunters. They threw in their lot with the girl that had nearly destroyed their bond.
    The hunters' intentions had been clear, and reasonable.
    She was demonkin.
    She had to be destroyed.
    Their kind will not be tolerated.

    It was in the oath he took as a Knight of the Sentinus.
    "Oppose and Slay the Harbingers of Destruction".
    It was clear enough a tenent, and definitly applicable to demonkin. And here was one before him, her existence about to end.

    And yet he could not bring himself to it.
    She was a young girl. A half-fiend. She cowered before him, eyes full of fear as she looked up at her executioner.
    Gond, it should have been so easy. Why that look? Why that pleading stare, begging him for mercy?
    Behind him, Ragnhild and Zoma finished the hunters. If he was to slay her, he would have to do it now. And it would likely result in having to fight two close friends.

    He lowered his hammer. Letting her live. Risking her escape. Risking her evil ways.
    If he was wrong, he would have betrayed his oath.
    If he was right, he would have showed mercy. Forsaking mercy, the first step towards evil.
    He stepped back, let her go, tending to the wounds of Ragnhild and Zoma. If she betrayed this act of mercy.. he would find her. The girl quickly stood up and ran away. Perhaps for the best, because he doubted his choice still.

    And he would not stop asking himself, searching for an answer in prayer, if he had made the right choice.
    Not for many days._


  • Uncaring Reprise
    "It feels better now. It is not Gond that holds me back, that does not care. It is myself. Gond does not control the man I am, as I am to forge myself, and not be arrogant in my expectation of Gond making of my self and my life of whatever I wish it to be, merely because I serve Him. The things I do, no matter how small, matter. It is with some chagrin, yet amusement, that after all my prayer and searching, it was young Gaerielle's improvised song which made me realise such.
    The losses which the world suffers, are reminders of the necessity of hard work. Though it is currently flawed, one day the whole of existence will have been perfected as Gond wishes it to be."
    And that is a comforting thought.


  • Uncaring
    _"I thought it was different. All my life I have served Gond. I believed that what I did was good, true and necessary. Almost fourty years I worked to attain Knighthood, and yet it means nothing. It does not make me a better man. The Order has been almost completely destroyed, and the title of Knight of the Faithful Hammer means nothing to those not in the Sentinus, of which there are non other here.
    Have I fallen short? Have I failed to attend my duties, my prayers, my protection of craft? Have I become a soldier of the city, falling in wrong focus?
    No matter what I do, no matter how hard I fight, no matter how strong my faith is, it never seems enough. People die only feet away from me, despite being a supposed healer. Destruction comes to the places I step, despite my actions to guard them from such.
    I have so many questions and yet Gond does not answer. I have given my entire life to His cause, just and true. At least, I belief it to be so. And yet now I lack guidance. I died to an animal. If my faith, my dedication is not strong enough to even stand against such a base creature…
    In the last moment as it tore me apart, I realised that I have nothing in this life.
    My mother and father are dead. I was on my pilgrimage to Lantan when they died. I did not turn back. I choose Gond.
    I have no wife nor children. I travelled from city to city in His service, and considered such things distractions. I choose Gond.
    I have no true friends but travel companions and battle brothers, relationships of utility. I am focused on my duties, and smalltalk is a meaningless distraction. I choose Gond.

    And so I am left with nothing but a stay in a foreign city and crumbling faith. Not even in death was I worthy of his attention. Only Selune and Torm offered to return me, which I accepted.
    I search my Derigae, I pray and I plead, and yet there is no guidance.

    I stand alone in service of a distant, uncaring god."_


  • The Fall of the Valley Forge: Chapter V: Seperation

    _The local temple of Chauntea, little more than a shrine, did its best to treat the many wounded as best as possible. Four days passed, and there was no sign or word of any stray survivors of the Forge. There was also no sighting of the ravaging horde, which was welcome news. The enemy force had likely disbanded, having taken their prize and sated their bloodlust. Dentin had recovered from his fatigue, and minor wounds. The local blacksmith had tended to his armor as best as he could, despite his limited skill.

    The peaceful town reminded Dentin much of his old home, and he thanked Gond that it was spared of the same destruction that had come to the Valley Forge. His mind was filled with questions, and for the first time he doubted Gond. Why had Gond not intervened? Why had so many good men and women been lost, and for what purpose? Why was all the marvel and craft of the Forge swept aside in a matter of days? He thought and prayed, yet was given no answers. Things are hardly ever that simple.

    There was the scream of a woman, and the soft thuds of an approaching creature, that broughta shimmer of hope to the broken remains of the Order. The Faithful One had survived, dented and damaged as it may have been. The horde had indeed dispersed, and scattered into woods and valleys. The cultists, however, remained. They had claimed the Forge as their own, and had begun converting it into something else. A dark temple, or worse.

    The following evening, Dentin met with Lady Alenatha, the sole remaining Master of the Faithful Hammer, and the other Sentinels. It was a strange gathering. Several humans, an elven scout, a dwarven smith, a gnomish tinker and the Faithful One. There was great sorrow amongst them, yet there was little time and place for it. The craftsmen had begun returning to their homes. Although the Sentinels did not wish to see them off unguarded, they were too many to protect, and a large group might have attracted further unwanted attention. It was finally decided, that the Order would travel to Cormyr, and seek out their kin of the Purging Flame, gathering allies and new members on the way. Then, when they were ready, and not before, they would return to retake the Valley Forge. Perhaps not in this generation, but the Forge would be retaken.

    Dentin, however, was given a different assignement. Lady Alenatha asked him to return to Narfell. He was to return to the city of Peltarch, and represent Gond there, and the surrounding land. Despite their loss, they could not forget their duty. As long as even one of them endured, the Order of the Hammer would continue to serve Gond, and defend Creation as best as it could. Narfell was also relatively near to Damarra, and so an agent there would be in an ideal position, to gather allies with similiar beliefs of the Order, and to prepare for the day that Gond would return to the Valley Forge. Dentin was reluctant to abandon the already battered group, yet he accepted the wisdom of the Lady, and he understood that his purpose lay in Narfell. And so the following morning he gathered a few supplies, not willing to drain the village any further, and set off once more towards Narfell. Two days along the way, he managed to join with a caravan, and with them arrived at the eastern border only a week later._


  • The Fall of the Valley Forge: Chapter IV: Hall to Hall

    _The Sentinels retreated into the fortress, many groups finding themselves cut off from the others as they made a stand inside the halls and corridors. Several groups were never heard from again, their position overrun and the survivors carved up under maniacal laughter, while other of the monsters bickered about who earned what piece of loot.

    It was a battle of barricading, holding, retreating and barricading once more. Although the plan was succesful to an extent, sooner or later the enemy always overran the set positions, either by sheer numbers or by the destructive power of mages. Dentin was in the same group as Sir Elias and Lady Alenatha. Two of the other Masters were nowhere to be found,
    and the remaining one was fighting on another end of the fortress. The Faithful One was with them, and despite having some trouble navigating the corridors, he proved invaluable in holding ground. Days went on, and almost a week had passed since the initial attack. The Order's men and women were exhausted, food and supplies were scarce, and wounded and dying were everywhere. Yet something continued to drive the savage
    horde on. As another hall was abandoned, and a retreat called, Dentin caught a glimpse of a strange man, seeming out of place in the enemy forces. Tall, wearing an elaborate dark robe with the same symbols as the other cultists, he may have been a high priest, or powerful mage. He stood silently, watching the onslaught. A commander, perhaps.

    Few halls remained between the enemy horde and the Grand Hall of the Valley Forge. The remaining Masters pulled back from the battle briefly, conversing for a moment, before nodding grimly. They then called the nearest Knights, including Dentin, to them.
    "This is a losing battle. Our priority is to ensure the civilians are given the time they need not escape out the hidden passage, that leads from the Grand Hall to the hinterland. We need to hold the Grand Hall long enough for all to escape, and then collapse the passage behind us. Dentin, you are the most capable demolitionist here, your task is to collapse the passage in time. We must hold the Hall long enough for all to escape. This is a dark day for the Order, but we shall return to retake this place, in time. Now go."
    All nodded to Lady Alenatha's words, and then rushed off to proceed with the plan."

    Supplies and weapons, including some new and experimental designs, were salvaged from the storages and armory bordering the Grand Hall. Kegs of explosive powder were carefully rolled out and into the hall.
    Lady Alenatha pulled a few conceiled levers in a specific order, and the machine that had been working for years connected with the final parts, as it slowly opened the doorway to a hidden passage at the back of the Grand Hall. Dentin and a few others rolled the kegs into corridor. The hidden passageway lead to a series of caves, which would ultimately lead to the other side of the mountain, and freedom.

    As the Sentinels struggled to maintain the barricades, the simple peasants and crafters were hurried in and trough the passage. Only a few remained when one of two barricades leading to the Grand Hall was blasted aside by a magic discharge. The evil creatures started pouring into the hall like water, only to be brushed aside by the Faithful One. The mighty construct strode into the corridor and beyond, crushing anything in his path, and was soon out of sight. No more came from that direction, yet it would not be long before the other barricade would be destroyed as well.

    The wounded were still being sent into the passageway when it finally collapsed, and this time there was no grand machine standing in the path of swirling mass of blades, flesh, blood and howls. The men and women unfortunate enough to be close to the entrance were cut down as the horde advanced into the Grand Hall.

    The enemy was close behind, and the Sentinels were slowed by fatigue and wounded, as they travelled trough the passageway. They would be overrrun, without the time to collapse the passageway. And so Sir Elias ordered his men on, and turned to face the enemy. Dentin saw his plan, and rushed to his side, but was shoved back by the aging man.

    "It's my time, lad. I'm old. This'll be a good death, a Knight's death. Make it matter."
    There was only a brief moment of silence, before Dentin rushed off with the remaining Knights, into the darkness of the caves. As he turned the first corner of the passageway corner, he could see his mentor fighting the enemy horde, proud and strong as he had always been, the last bastion of defense amongst a hall tainted with blood and pain. A true Knight of the Faithful Hammer, he would be remembered for many years to come.

    With only seconds to spare, the kegs were lit. A rumbling was heard far as the passage collapsed on top of the first of the cultists to charge into the passageway to finish their slaughter. There was a brief sigh of relief amongst those standing in the first of the caves, as the howls and screams had gone silent for the first time in days.
    Most of the common folk had survived the onslaught, yet only a dozen Sentinels survived. Lady Alenatha, Dentin, two other knights and a handful of Disciples and Acolytes. All wore the tattered remains of the armor, stained in blood and dirt. For the next three days, the group of survivors slowly advanced trough the caves. Some of the wounded did
    not live to see the other side. Some wandered off to dissapear in the darkness. Finally, they saw sunlight once more. The village of Trinal lay at the base of the mountain.
    And finally, there was some rest. The villagers welcomed the battered group, and provided what they could, yet they were disturbed to hear of the fall of the Valley Forge, a bastion of safety and light against a savage, dark world not so long ago.
    After all had been given a place, and supplies had been distributed, Dentin finally laid to rest in simple bed, provided by a kindly old man. His muscles had screamed for rest for days, no longer able to bear the weight of his armor, and it had been only discipline and iron will keeping him upright. His sleep was filled with the horrors of the past battle, the past days having been a wound which would take long to heal, and the scar would never fade._


  • The Fall of the Valley Forge: Chapter III: Overrun

    When he entered the courtyard once more, he came upon chaos. The first wave of the enemy had already reached the fortress and was pouring into the courtyard. The Knights and Disciples had formed ranks and were fighting a desperate struggle to keep the vile orcs, goblins, trolls, human cultists and many more at bay, as the common craftsmen, peasants, many women and children, were rushed to the relative safety of the
    Grand Hall, the strongest structure of the entire fortress, dug deep into the mountain side. Dentin hurried trough the line, meeting the Master Elias, who was busy shouting orders and directing
    the defense.
    "Master, the gate mechanism has been damaged in an act of sabotage. Dark cultists infiltrated and murdered the sentries, along with any who travelled in… I alone survived."
    "Damn this act of betrayal. Dentin, I need you to activate the warmachines, and seek The Faithful One. We need their strength to hold back this onslaught. Now hurry!"
    And with that, Dentin rushed off into the armory. He found the heavily armored warmachines, lined up neatly in their bays. A half-orb on the warmachines' chest responded to a matching half-orb on his left armplate as he touched each machine in time. Power started flowing trough the constructs,and one by one they came alive.
    "Machines. The courtyard has been invaded. Defend the Valley Forge. Destroy the Invaders."
    Responding as one, the machines strode out of their bays and into the courtyard, where they joined the battle. Their massive strength sent many of the vile creatures flying about, and the line held for now. He then rushed trough the different corridors of the fortress, passing Sentinels and civilians alike, each trying to make sense of the attack and do what they could. Wounded were lined up outside a small chapel, and dedicated healers were hard at work. Finally, he reached another hall. And there stood The Faithful One. A strange construct, he had arrived at the Valley Forge some years ago, and displayed a strange amount of intelligence
    and perception for a construct. Research had been conducted on his origins, but had turned up little, and the Faithful One remained silent on the matter. The accepted theory was that he was an ancient Netherese construct, who had somehow survived the fall and wandered about the shadows of the world ever since. This seemed to be the only reasonable situation, as even the most knowledgeable could not explain his incredible complicated build, and basic personality. His voice was deep and metal, as a machine would sound.
    "Dentin of Strauss. I greet you. Long have you left my sight."
    "It has been long, Faithful One. The Valley Forge is being invaded. We need your strength."
    "Direct me."
    "The courtyard. Report to Master Elias"
    "I shall."
    And with that, the massive construct strode off, followed closely by Dentin, as they headed back into the courtyard.

    Once there, things seemed even more grim. Two of the machines had already been destroyed. Mages were casting powerful magic, obliterating entire clusters of Sentinels at once. Demons were summoned, rending trough solid plate with ease. Two of the mighty warmachines had already been disabled, laying on the cobble of the courtyard as helpless as the next heap of metal. The screams of those dying were evident over the roar of battle. The line had advanced further into the courtyard, crossing it by two thirds, and yet there seemed to be no end to the amount of enemies pouring in trough the gates. Dentin fought to sir Elias, granting healing to those he passed and needed it, killing those who stood in his way. The Faithful One followed, and as he entered the battle, for a moment it almost seemed his mere presence was enough to convince the enemy to flee, yet that moment quickly passed despite the ancient construct crushing all in his path with chilling ease. Wherever he walked, the tide of the battle was turned, yet he could not be everywhere at once.
    When he left a place, it was soon overrun by the enemy once more.
    Finally, after hours of continues fighting over the courtyard, losing ground slowly, it was decided to abandon the courtyard, and retreat into the endless corridors of the fortress, believing the hallways would somewhat limit the advantage of numbers the enemy had.


  • The Fall of the Valley Forge: Chapter II: The Flame

    _He spent the next 3 days listening to many speakers, learning many new things and examining new, wonderful inventions. He also held a few lectures himself, speaking of his experiences along his pilgrimage, and his own developments in the field of engineering. Yet more than once, he wished she had been here to join in the festivities, yet she did not have the two weeks to spare. It was unfortunate, as he would have enjoyed her company here, as he always had before.
    Had he failed that day? At first he thought so, yet they had both returned to the small town alive, despite him having nearly lost his leg. Ultimately, that is what mattered. There would come another day to travel into the forest for wood, yet only because they survived in the first place. Yes, he did not fail. It was a flawed, dented action. He had considered it, and learned from it. He and she had improved from it.

    As the days went on, Dentin learned things about his Order. It seems things were not as well as they appeared. Many members of the Order had gone missing, and many more had been found dead. It was a disturbing development, yet there seemed to be no clear pattern in the deaths. What was clear was that the Order's numbers were dwindling, and whispers of traitors within the fortress had sprung up in corners and crevices. And one day, late in the afternoon, it seems that many answers would be provided.

    The horn of the wall's sentries sounded. An army had been spotted, heading towards the fortress. This was not uncommon. The riches within the fortress had attracted marauding bands of raiders and orcs before, yet the approaching army was far larger and better equipped than anything that had ever approached the Valley Forge. A smothering of various humanoids and giants, it moved with haste up the mountainside and towards the gates. The massive gates were ordered shut, yet minutes passed without result. Any runners sent into the gatehouse did not return.

    Master Elias ordered Dentin and a few fellow Knights to investigate the occurance, and they hurried into the gatehouse. The corridor behind the stone door lay quiet and dark. They carefully proceeded onward, towards the great gears that allowed the gates to be shut. Once they reached the chamber, they found the bodies of the runners, and the gate guards,
    mangled and carved up. Some had been crucified against the wall, while one had been put into the machine, effectively blocking the gears' action with his heavily deformed corpse. Before Dentin and the other Knights could even respond to the horrific scene, they were ambushed by men and women, wielding serrated short blades and robes dark as the night. Their faces red with the blood of their kills, they grinned and shouted horrid cries as they fell upon the Knights. Two fell almost immidiately, their throats cut in the blink of an eye. Dentin and the other Knight unbuckled their warhammers, and swang around, crushing the bones and skulls of those in their path with one might blow. The cultists were frail, yet vicious. They howled and fell on the remaining Knights. The two fought bravely, but no matter how many of the vile ones they killed, it seems that more kept on stepping out of the shadows. The dark men and women had likely entered the fortress during these days of Ippensheir, wearing disguises and managing to gain access to the gates, in preperation for the attack. Or perhaps the rumoured traitors had finally revealed hemselves.One drove his blade deep in a chink of Dentin's fellow Knight. The others noticed the wounded man almost instantly, and fell upon him
    as a pack of wolves, ripping aside his fine plates and tearing at his flesh with their bear hands and teeth, ripping off chunks where they could.
    Dentin saw it was a lost battle, and he took the opportunity to retreat from the room. He glanced back, and saw the look in the Knight's eyes.. barely alive, yet full of anguish.
    "Gond may these vile ones be purged by the Forge Fire". Dentin uttered a short prayer, raising his hammer. Almost immidiatly, flames erupted across the room, hot as the forge. The remaining cultists were incinerated almost immidiately, and the flames brought peace to the fallen Knight.
    Trough the fire, Dentin could see the gate's gears had been damaged, and it would take time to mend. Time that was not available._


  • The Fall of the Valley Forge: Chapter I: Knighthood Revisited

    _It was a particularly cold morning.
    Having finished his morning meal and prayer, Dentin strapped on his Defender plates, and prepared to go to his usual rounds. And once again he wondered if he had becom a common soldier instead of the Knight he should be striving to be. He had sent a full and detailed copy of his notes and journal, of his works and discoveries, to the Valley Forge, to the Masters of the Faithful Hammer a two weeks before.

    He left the Defender Temple, only to be approached by one of the runners of the Headquarters. A brief salute, and the young man presented him with a letter, before scurrying off once more. He had never received any mail during his stay in the city, so Dentin eagerly opened up the letter.
    What was inside caused him to smile brightly and proudly, and he struggled to supress a victorious cry. The Masters had reviewed his work, and had deemed the time right for himto be once again a Knight of the Faithful Hammer, quoting his extensive notes on a variety of
    engineering subjects, and his sense of duty to remain and represent Gond in the city of Peltarch, despite already having completed his pilgrimage of repentence to the Holy Land of Lantan. He was to travel to a small outpost at the border with Narfell, where a portal would be opened for him to arrive directly in the courtyard of the Valley Forge. The Ippensheir was here, and it would be a fitting time for the knighting.

    And so it came to pass that Dentin took up 2 weeks of leave -he had never taken up leave before, as he had nothing to spend it on anyhow- and travelled west until he reached a small outpost little more than a fortified watchtower. The local priest opened the portal, and Dentin stepped trough, instantly arriving in the courtyard of the Valley Forge mountain fortress.

    It was truly good to be home. A sight he had missed for so many years, the Valley Forge was a fortress trough and trough. The great walls and mighty gates stood between the peaceful courtyard and the outside world. Various buildings stood against the rock of the surrounding mountain,
    most of them leading deeper into the earth. Craftsmen, laymen, priests, sentinels and constructs alike walked to and fro, the fortress decorated and many inventions and developments on display for the two weeks of Ippensheir. And Dentin stood and watching it all, in awe of the marvel, as he had the first time he had arrived in the fortress, when he was only a boy. It was not long before an old man, obviously over the summit of his strength, yet too stubborn to take off his platemail, approached him. Dentin smiled, and shook the hand of Sir Elias, now a Master. It was a long-awaited reunion not only of master and apprentice, but also of close friends. A variety of talk followed. They talked on his journeys, and his wellbeing. When asked on the situation of the Order, Sir Elias seemed hesitant however. They travelled to Dentin's old room, still kept free for him. It was getting late, and the evening meal was approaching. Tomorrow would be an important day.

    The meal took place in the Grand Hall. The main temple of the Valley Forge, it was not unlike a dwarven hall, with distinct northern influence. For the Ippensheir, the Hall had been turned to manner of festhall. After
    an hour service to Gond, the feast of the day truly began. Humans, dwarves, gnomes and many more sat on endless tables, side by side, and engaged in a drunken revelry that only a collective of smiths, carpenters and craftsmen can produce. There was nothing fine or elegant about the
    feast. Well-cooked meat, chicken and entire kegs of ale lined the table.
    The otherwise disciplined and restrained Dentin feasted along for many hours, a display which may have surprised many who knew him in the land of Narfell, drinking and singing along to many simple yet rowdy songs. It was truly a feast and celebration for a people who work hard and true, and who also celebrate hard and true, and the Ippensheir was the height of a year of hard work. It was early before the celebration ended, and this was but the third night of two weeks.

    The following day,the Grand Hall had been cleaned, and there was almost no sign of the revelry which had taken place the night before.
    Lectures and demonstrations of the year's discoveries and developments were taking place in other parts of the fortress. A mixture of chants, hammerstrikes, the sighs of steam-powered machinery and the heavy paces of armored constructs moving about formed a quiet, yet distinct background. Dentin kneeled before Lady Alenatha, who stood in the center of a half-circle of masters. Behind the masters, five in total, stood the altar, and beyond that a grand statue of Gond. To the sides stood machinery with gears the size of men, yet few knew the purpose of said machinery, or what it was they powered, yet they had been active without pause for more than a century.

    Lady Alenatha's voice was soft yet clear, revealing a strong yet kind personality, despite being half a century of age, she carried a particular kind of beauty and dignity, standing out amongst the burly men that were the Masters.
    "Dentin Strauss. Disciple of the Order of the Faithful Hammer. Once more you stand before the Masters, and Gond's eye is upon you. You have completed your pilgrimage of penance. You have set aside your own desire for recognition in the Order to aid a city in need, and represent Gond within its walls, and beyond. You have fought bandits and monsters alike, and aided in the defense of Creation. Do you deem yourself worthy of Knighthood of the Faithful Hammer?"
    He considered this question for a moment, before answering true. There was no point in trying to twist his words or thoughts, the Master's wisdom was great, and Gond was watching.
    "I believe I am. Yet I must be true to myself and the Masters, and state that the title is a manner of prestige to me, indeed. Does it make me a better man, or a better servant? I hardly believe so. It was the thought that it did which was the cause of my original failure."
    Some of the masters raised a brow, while others nodded to his words.
    Lady Alenatha smiled.
    "That is true. Very true, Disciple. And it seems you have learned from your mistake, and corrected your flaws, as is Gond's will and way. Are you prepared to take the oath once more?"
    "I am, my Lady. "
    "Then proceed."
    He took a deep breath. A renewal of his Oath, more a matter of tradition than anything else. He had never betrayed his Oath, despite his failure as a Knight. And this thought caused him to doubt the Masters for that brief moment. Was his sentence not too hard? Was it not a matter of pride, then a matter of failure? No, this was not something to be considered. The penance had been just, and it was Gond's will.
    "I, Dentin Strauss, swear to hold myself to the words and wisdom of Gond, in life and death, to uphold His glory and defend Creation and Craft from the Agents of Destruction, with Hammer and Fire, with Courage and Wisdom, with Honour and Faith, and to hold myself to the Duty of the Knight and the Duty of the Craft."

    Lady Alenatha, and the other Masters, formed a circle around the kneeling Dentin, taking their mastercrafted warhammers from their belts and holding them over his form.
    "The Council of Masters of the Order of the Faithful Hammer has decreed, with the blessing of Gond, that you, Dentin Strauss, are once again to be granted the title of Knight of the Order of the Faithful Hammer. Now rise and stand once more as Sir Dentin Strauss."
    The masters, one after another, briefly tapped him on the shoulder with their hammer, a symbolic hammerstrike as Dentin was forged into a Knight. And then he stood. Two young Acolytes approached, carrying the pieces of chainmail and plate that belonged to a Knight. Dentin removed his robe, and the Acolytes quickly and efficiently strapped on his armor, until he stood, once more proudly wearing the knigthly armor.

    And once more, he feasted. And once more, he sat at the Knight's table._


  • Contemplation

    _He stood on the tower's hill, watching the green valley below. The occasional kobold scurried about, but all was quiet in the light of the full moon. Another night of guard duty. He did not mind it. It was a test of discipline, an expression of vigilance and duty, and a chance to think on a many things.

    Yet lately, his thoughts had always wandered towards the same issue. Something that haunted his days and nights, which distracted him.
    The moment he had met her, something woke in him. Something long supressed with discipline and continuous labour. Something powerful, and full of fire. From the moment his eyes met hers, there was no doubt. She was the fairest of all Creation. His heart pounded, his blood raced and his breathing halted. Even the many battles he had fought, the many horrid monsters he had fought did not affect him so deeply. No training, no faith, no discipline could ever have prepared him for a blow of this magnitude, which ignored his Defender plate and reached deep into his soul.

    He hated her. Every moment his thoughts drifted towards her, was a moment his thoughts were not with Gond. When they were not in focus with his duty. He hated how her smile melted away his confidence until he was reduced to nothing but a stuttering young boy.

    He loved her. She was everything he could ever want in a woman. He barely knew her name, but he knew she was perfect. There was no explanation, no theory, no deduction. He just knew.

    Night turned to day. The relief arrived and he left for his barracks. A few hours of rest before an inspection of the engines at the south gate.
    As he drifted to sleep, his mind once again wandered to her. And it would continue to do so for many days._


  • History of the Sentinus Gondar

    _The destruction of Tilverton brought with it a wave of debate. The Gondar as a whole were mostly practicers of peaceful craft. Though they did craft weapons, and instructed others on how to use them properly, they rarely found themselves engaged in battle. Let alone fighting in wars on the main battle line. There were temple guards, of course, but non of them had the experience and training to deal with such occurances as the fall of Tilverton.
    And so it came to pass, that the High Artificer decreed that an Order of Gond had to be created. An order of knights of Gond, who would travel the land, from temple to temple, bringing their exceptional training those places where the threat to the Gondar and their holy places were greatest.

    The Sentinus Gondar was created, named after the blessed warhammers Gond granted to his most devoted servants, and it was decided that the Sentinels of Gond would be divided into three different chapters, each having responsibility over a part of the world.

    The first chapter, the Order of the Iron Bastion would remain stationed in Lantan, as the elite guard of the Holy Land of Gond.

    The second chapter, the Order of the Purging Flame, would be based in Cormyr. A civilized land, yet always threatened from within and outside by the agents of evil.

    The third and final chapter, the Order of the Faithful Hammer, would stride forth from Damarra, from the Valley Forge mountain fortress, which had stood as one of the most heavily defended temple complexes of Gond for centuries. In the savage north, there would be much to do for the Hammerites, as the local townsfolk would come to call them.

    As years went past, the Sentinels proved to be a welcome and skilled addition to the forces that stood against evil and destruction, yet distinctly different from the more "conventional" orders of knights.
    Though they were bound by duty to Gond and their Order, most did not have the relentless crusading nature of the Tormtar.
    Though vigilant and steadfast, the Sentinels were far more mobile than the Helmites, who spend most of their time guarding settlements and caravans.
    Though the Order recognized the need for law and order, they did not feel the compulsion to uphold law as the Tyrians did.
    Cooperation between these three, and many other faiths, was common, and they often had much to offer each other, the Sentinus was shifting from the originally defensive force it had been to a group of expert engineers and weapon crafters, willing to take their creations to war, and so often found themselves in sieges and battles that did not match the original goal of the Order; the protection of Gond's temples and faithful.

    Discussion once again arose on the matter of the Sentinus. Would such a trained and skilled force not be wasted on guard duties? Would travelling to the far reaches of the world to bring the Holy Hammer and Fire of Gond to evil not spread the Orders too thin?
    The debate was lengthy, until a young woman, by the name of Lady Alenatha presented the Derigae Sentinus Gondar, a book of guidelines and organisation for the Sentinus, to the High Artificer in Lantan.
    Approved and implemented, the Derigae Sentinus Gondar proved to be the direction the Orders had needed, striking a balance between the offensive and defensive duties and capabilities of the Sentinels._


  • Age Twenty-Eight: Arrival

    _Having spent several years of study and training in Lantan, Dentin had nearly perfected his knowledge of explosive powder in all its varieties and workings, and thought the time right to return to the fortress. After several months of travelling with various mercenary groups, assisting with battles where he could, he was nearing the borders of Damarra. But word had spread of a terrible civil war happening at the city of Peltarch, in Narfell. Compelled by duty, Dentin headed towards the city, arriving at the height of the war. He fought alongside the many nameless adventurers and citizens of the war, and although his name will not be recorded for great deeds in the war, his knowledge and skill proved most useful in the conflict. His advice and actions aided the siege engineers in breaching the city gates, allowing the heroic final assault to take place.

    When the battle was over, much of the city was a smoldering ruin. And once again, duty compelled the Disciple to stay and do what he could. He joined the nameless construction crews, working day and night alongside them to rebuild the city. He granted protection from the elements and healing where it was necessary. He improved the designs where they proved faulty. And as days went on, the city slowly regained its former glory, and beyond.

    But a new threat was already on the horizon. The Eastlanders had become an increasing threat, and plans were made. Now 34 years of age, Dentin joined the Defenders, and would fight for the city that was now his home. A home without family, without friends deeper than fellow soldiers. He would fight for his faith, and for vengeance. The Eastlanders had caused the destruction and death of so much in the village of his birth, and it was only spared by the sacrifice of several Knights. In this war, he would repay that debt. And when it was over, he would be one step closer to regaining his Knighthood._


  • Age Twenty-One - Disciple

    _The Acolyte was made a Disciple. Now allowed to travel alone and carry out missions, Disciples were the mainstay of the Order. Rumours had started of a relationship far too personal between the Disciple Strauss and the Master Alenatha. But they remained rumours, both remaining silent on the matter.

    Now allowed to fight alongside the Knights, although often restricted to a supporting role, Dentin travelled from city to city and siege to siege to lend his services. It was only a brief four years before he was put forth for the rank of Knight by Lady Alenatha, quoting his exceptional skill, devotion and courage. Many argued that this was a partial statement, and that one could never become a Knight at such a young age. And yet, a few months of council and trials later, Dentin was accepted into the ranks of Knights.
    And he was overjoyed.

    Finally he had achieved the position he had strived years to attain, and he was the youngest knight yet. A shining example of his kind, wielding the mighty warhammers of Gond to battle, and blessed by the Wonderbringer himself. Months went by, Dentin and the Acolytes and Disciples under his command winning battle after battle, and earning the respect and gratitude of hundreds, if not thousands. With his reknown rising, so did Dentin's confidence. And slowly he became arrogant in his way, considering himself superior to his fellow Knights because of his natural talent and victories.
    As many of such arrogance, Dentin grew overconfident and made a fatal mistake. In a particularly difficult battle with a marauding orc tribe, Dentin ordered a group of his Acolytes to prepare the siege equipment they had brought while he would meet the orcs head-on himself.
    But the orcs became aware of the plan, and the Knight found their temporary outpost deserted. Meanwhile, his Acolytes faced the entirety of the marauding orc tribe, and were easily dispatched. They commandeered the catapults, using them to lay waste to the very village Dentin and his troops had been sent to protect. By the time the Knight realized his error, and had rushed back to the village, he found it in ashes. The villagers slain and his acolytes dead as well, having fought bravely to defend the town but ultimately too inexperienced to achieve victory.

    The Masters and Knights of the Valley Forge were furious. They would have exiled Dentin from the Order entirely, if not for the intervention of Lady Alenatha. She managed to persuade the others off a lesser penalty. Stripped of his rank, Dentin was now once again a Disciple, and ordered on a pilgrimage to Lantan, to seek forgiveness in the sacred land of Gond, and to prove himself worthy of once again being welcomed back to the Valley Forge, and the title of Knight of the Hammer. Before that, the fortress' gates would be barred for him. Gathering what supplies he could, Strauss set out for Lantan, determined to seek redemption and to never again grow prey to arrogance and idiocy._


  • Acolyte - Age Sixteen

    _Coming of age, Dentin was accepted in the ranks of the Acolytes. Not unlike squires, the Acolytes served as the personal assistants and apprentices of the Knights. Also finally considered full and dedicated members of the Order, Acolytes received their first weapons training, and were given their first set of armor. The training of Acolytes was always hard, but Sir Elias took especially hard on the young Dentin. Seeing the potential in the young Acolyte as he stood above his peers in talent, he gave him the hardests tasks and challenges to overcome. The days were long and hard but Dentin's will was determined, and set on proving himself. He had few true friends amongs the other Acolytes in these days, who did not want to share in his own, more rigid, training. Others were jealous of his talent in engineering, alchemy and combat, that only improved as the months went on. Yet Dentin found companionship in his mentor, Sir Elias and it was during this time Dentin saw first-hand the many "civilian" duties the Order had. When not engaged in battle with monsters or bandits, or preparing for such, the Knights travelled across the lands to advise and teach militia and armies alike in the proper construction and use of siege equipment, and the proper morals of using such powerful weaponry. Too often have soldiers given in to the temptation of simply bombarding an enemy settlement into ruins, a practice that caused untold losses of life and buildings.
    Though the Order initially only held Gondian members, over time Temposians, Helmites and Tormites alike had come to join, finding their place in the structured environment and rightious goals of the Hammerites, as they were often referred to. Recognizing that some destruction and losses could not be averted, the Order strived to make sure they were not in vain, and that new things were created and improved to replace that was lost.

    Dentin's first true battle took place when he and Sir Elias were ambushed by a small band of bandits. Forced to fight, Dentin proved himself to be a disciplined and courageous in the battle, using his light hammer with no small amount of skill. Though more a token weapon, all Acolytes took great pride in their light hammer, granted to them the day they achieve the rank by their mentors. When the remaining bandits fled, Sir Elias complimented Dentin on standing his ground and fighting, instead of fleeing from grim odds.

    The Acolyte learned many things in his years, chosing his focus of learning in battle engineering, over conventional smithing or bowyering.
    He met other races. The dwarves, masters of the forge, the elves, and their supreme bowyering skills the gnomes, creators of strange and wonderful contraptions…

    And so the years went on. The Order was now his home and his life, and every day he learned new things. He saw things he never would have as a farmboy, and under the wise tutelage of Sir Elias, Dentin grew above and beyond all expectations, catching the eye of the Master of the Hammer of the Valley Forge, Lady Alenatha._


  • Initiate - Age Twelve

    Two years had passed since the battle at the bridge. The boy had started his training to become a priest at the temple, but it quickly became clear his extraordinary talent was lost on the life of a common priest.
    After a mere two years, the head priest of the temple sent a letter to Sir Elias, a Knight of the Order of the Hammer, requesting that he would come and collect the boy to be initiated in the Order.

    And so it came to pass that the boy was taken to the sanctified Valley Forge, a fortress and temple complex of the Order, protected by the natural barriers of surrounding mountains. In the Halls, Dentin Strauss was made an Initiate of the Order of the Hammer, starting long years of learning the ways of the Order, the ways of Gond and the ways of Creation. Not yet a true member of the Order, Dentin spent most of his time watching the Knights in their training, dreaming of one day being one of them.