11/16/2017 – After the strange disappointment of failing to imprison the demon, the royal guards could only wait for the grim moment when Xaerhaonohr would come calling, and come he did. While gathered at Castle Blackthorn he appeared to them in a vision, challenging them to find the Wayward Knight and make good on their deal by killing him. Though the guards did not wish to do so, they were enticed by the possibility of meeting the mastermind behind the entire plot.
Led by Commander Forthwin, the royal guards traveled north to the Serpent Spine mountains, where they found the ruins of an ancient temple recently exposed by a rock fall. After vanquishing the ancient elemental stones found rising from the ruins, they encountered the Wayward Knight waiting by the sealed doors of the ancient temple. He explained that he knew why they were there, and that the ruins before them was once the temple of the Mysterium Fidei. His desire was to see the place one last time before he was to perish. Breaking open the seal released a horde of undead, restless spirits pent up inside for several centuries. After vanquishing the angry spirits the royal guard, led by the Wayward Knight and Commander Forthwin, entered the inner sanctum.
It was here that after some quiet reflection on what once was, the foul demon Xaerhaonohr appeared before them, and with a delight most twisted and inhuman it demanded its payment. Accepting the fate that now lay before him, the Wayward Knight gave himself up to the royal guard who, unable to delay this wretched conclusion any further, vanquished the knight..
Only, he had not been truly slain, for no sooner had the final blade fell, did the Wayward Knight reappear before them. Through jagged, grinning teeth the demon calmly suggested giving it another chance. Again the Wayward Knight fell upon the swords and spells of the royal guard but once again finding himself immune to death itself. Confused, and angry, Commander Forthwin demanded answers. The demon revealed that his evil pact only provided a means to kill the SIX knights of Mondain, not seven, and that they would be unable to vanquish the Wayward Knight. Taking delight in the total confusion of Forthwin and the royal guards, the demon suggested hearing the truth of the matter from his answer, and with that, it vanished.
Before long, a moongate appeared before the guards, and through it walked none other than the Collector himself. The Collector, who seemed in earlier days willing to assist the royal guards, explained that he was after the ultimate rare, a genuine suit of armor forged by the dark wizard Mondain. However, legends of the armor claimed that only certain individuals were capable of donning the platemail; those with unsurpassed conviction and spiritual fortitude could effectively arm themselves with Mondain’s wretched legacy without fatal consequence. The Collector, of course, did not have the ability to wear the armor until in his journeys he happened upon the true enchanted mace which bound the demon Xaerhaonohr. It was then that he made a pact with the deceptive demon – the demon would get to have his fun and arrange the death of the Wayward Knight, and the Collector would be granted an infernal boon that would permit him to wear the armor and the opportunity to take it. From the first sealed tomb being discovered in Deceit, to the assistance provided in finding the vault, among other seemingly unconnected moments, everything had been arranged from start to finish by the demon and the Collector all to arrive at this final, singular moment. Knowing that it was not possible for a demonic pact to be incomplete, the Collector knew that the only way for the Wayward Knight to die was if the armor was released to him, giving him what he wanted: the ultimate rare, peerless strength and immortality. There was, however, one detail of which the Collector was not aware.
The Wayward Knight revealed that there was, in fact, another person present in the temple that was able to wear his infernal armor, and that person was Arthur Forthwin. The Commander was at first astonished, then reluctant, but ultimately accepted the baleful boon of Mondain’s immortal armor that it may not fall into the hands of the amoral Collector. Enraged, the Collector called his hirelings and escaped during the chaos.
When the dust settled, all that remained was to finish what had been started. After bestowing the power of the armor to Commander Forthwin, the Wayward Knight said his final farewells, and gave himself up to the blades and spells of the royal guard now free from his centuries long torment.
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Led by Commander Forthwin, the royal guards traveled north to the Serpent Spine mountains, where they found the ruins of an ancient temple recently exposed by a rock fall. After vanquishing the ancient elemental stones found rising from the ruins, they encountered the Wayward Knight waiting by the sealed doors of the ancient temple. He explained that he knew why they were there, and that the ruins before them was once the temple of the Mysterium Fidei. His desire was to see the place one last time before he was to perish. Breaking open the seal released a horde of undead, restless spirits pent up inside for several centuries. After vanquishing the angry spirits the royal guard, led by the Wayward Knight and Commander Forthwin, entered the inner sanctum.
It was here that after some quiet reflection on what once was, the foul demon Xaerhaonohr appeared before them, and with a delight most twisted and inhuman it demanded its payment. Accepting the fate that now lay before him, the Wayward Knight gave himself up to the royal guard who, unable to delay this wretched conclusion any further, vanquished the knight..
Only, he had not been truly slain, for no sooner had the final blade fell, did the Wayward Knight reappear before them. Through jagged, grinning teeth the demon calmly suggested giving it another chance. Again the Wayward Knight fell upon the swords and spells of the royal guard but once again finding himself immune to death itself. Confused, and angry, Commander Forthwin demanded answers. The demon revealed that his evil pact only provided a means to kill the SIX knights of Mondain, not seven, and that they would be unable to vanquish the Wayward Knight. Taking delight in the total confusion of Forthwin and the royal guards, the demon suggested hearing the truth of the matter from his answer, and with that, it vanished.
Before long, a moongate appeared before the guards, and through it walked none other than the Collector himself. The Collector, who seemed in earlier days willing to assist the royal guards, explained that he was after the ultimate rare, a genuine suit of armor forged by the dark wizard Mondain. However, legends of the armor claimed that only certain individuals were capable of donning the platemail; those with unsurpassed conviction and spiritual fortitude could effectively arm themselves with Mondain’s wretched legacy without fatal consequence. The Collector, of course, did not have the ability to wear the armor until in his journeys he happened upon the true enchanted mace which bound the demon Xaerhaonohr. It was then that he made a pact with the deceptive demon – the demon would get to have his fun and arrange the death of the Wayward Knight, and the Collector would be granted an infernal boon that would permit him to wear the armor and the opportunity to take it. From the first sealed tomb being discovered in Deceit, to the assistance provided in finding the vault, among other seemingly unconnected moments, everything had been arranged from start to finish by the demon and the Collector all to arrive at this final, singular moment. Knowing that it was not possible for a demonic pact to be incomplete, the Collector knew that the only way for the Wayward Knight to die was if the armor was released to him, giving him what he wanted: the ultimate rare, peerless strength and immortality. There was, however, one detail of which the Collector was not aware.
The Wayward Knight revealed that there was, in fact, another person present in the temple that was able to wear his infernal armor, and that person was Arthur Forthwin. The Commander was at first astonished, then reluctant, but ultimately accepted the baleful boon of Mondain’s immortal armor that it may not fall into the hands of the amoral Collector. Enraged, the Collector called his hirelings and escaped during the chaos.
When the dust settled, all that remained was to finish what had been started. After bestowing the power of the armor to Commander Forthwin, the Wayward Knight said his final farewells, and gave himself up to the blades and spells of the royal guard now free from his centuries long torment.
Continue reading...
