G
Guest
Guest
<div style='width:99%;background-color:#FFFFFF;'> <div style="width: 95%; text-align: center; background-image: url('http://uo.stratics.com/newspics/siege/divider_frosty.gif'); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat;"> </div> <table summary='' style='width:95%;border:solid 2px blue;margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;'> <tr> <td> <table summary='' style='border:solid 1px blue;width:100%;background-color:#000000;'> <tr> <td style='width:130px;text-align:left;'>
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<span style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 30pt; font-weight: bold;'>T</span>he old blind man stood before his friend and leader, slack-jawed with shock and horror.
"Nay, sire! It cannot be! Say tis not so! There must be another way!"
The old warrior placed a firm hand on Otto's shoulder, shaking his head, although he knew the movement would not be seen.
"My dear friend, there IS no other way. We Knights of the Silver Serpent have ever done our duty, no matter the cost, no matter how high the price. But, if I do not walk this path, then the price would be too high for even me to endure."
They stood in mutual silence, both knowing that the end of an era had come.
Then, the Knight Commander spoke:
"Sir Otto, as the highest ranking Knight still to walk the land, I pass to you the sword of leadership. I do not envy you the road ahead. What was once a mighty legion of knights, mages, and other warriors, is now a faint ember of what it was. But, that ember still burns. Do your best. No one can ask more."
"My destiny calls, as do the voices of those I love more than life itself. Be safe, and be true!"
And, with a final salute, Lord Py Lethius turned, and stepped through a glowing portal, to a strange land beyond. A land devoid of magic, but filled with strange devices, and stranger people.
The land of the Spirit Realm. The land where his closest kin awaited him with open arms.
The old miner weighed the sword that had been placed in his hand. It seemed to glow with energy, but more so, with the power of the legend that had been written by Py Lethius.
Turning to the window, with a heavy heart, he called to the townsfolk below.
"Good people of Sosaria, lend me your ears!"
There was a brief shower of severed ears, swiftly scooped up by the deranged mayor of Luna, but then Otto could hear the townsfolk standing attentively below.
"Good friends, countrymen, and citizens of Sosaria, I bring you dark tidings.
On this day, did Lord Py Lethius set foot on the path that leads away from our lands for the final time.
He lives yet - do not mourn his passing in that way - but it is safe to say that this is a quest from which he will most likely not return.
Join with me then, in a moment's silence, to honor this great man, who did so much for our lands!"
A stunned silence fell over the crowd below.
Then, one by one, the people came forward, bringing tales of valor, memories of encounters with the great man, and word of lives he had saved, monsters he had driven back, all in their defence.
Join with me now, good friends of Siege, and let us remember Py Lethius, and all he was to us, in his time here - on Siege Perilous.
<table summary='' style='width: 100%; border: solid 1px blue;'> <tr> <td style='text-align: center;background-color:#000000;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:Arial;font-size:15pt;'> Please do not misunderstand, good people. This is not an obituary. Nothing serious has happened to Py.
This is a farewell, and an opportunity to honor one of the great men of Siege.
Events in his life have become such that he can no longer walk the dusty paths of Siege Perilous.
As the life he lived with us here was honorable, so too are his reasons for saying farewell.
So, let us do honor to all he meant to us, and all he did for Siege! </td> </tr> </table>
Blind Otto turned from the window, and pondered the sword in his hand once more.
"You know," he remarked to no one in particular, "I could have sworn I was a miner and blacksmith."
He sheathed the sword, and stood up.
"Well, miner, knight, or, if they'll have me, Knight Commander, one thing is certain. As long as I draw breath, KSS will not die!"
From a far off land, came a familiar voice, sounding the Knights war cry
<span style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;'>SOL INVICTUS!</span>
</div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>
<div style="width: 95%; text-align: center; background-image: url('http://uo.stratics.com/newspics/siege/divider_frosty.gif'); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat;"> </div>
<span style='width:100%;color:#000000;background-color:#FFFFFF;'> When I first encountered Py Lethius, I was still a member of [NEW].
VmP had surrounded the guildhouse, and were casting poison fields and other spells inside.
Thankfully, this was in the days before the Samurai lands were discovered, and before the Elves had returned, with their natures furies and other spells.
Still, there were no [NEW] leaders around, and none of us had enough skill to resurrect each other if we died.
Then, this wave of blue warriors arrived, cutting the vampires down in their path, and sending them howling off into the caves and shadows of the northern mountains.
They were led by a grey-haired commander, who made a bee-line for WyRm, the leader of the vampires.
Yelling his battle cry, and flanked by two healers, he made short work of the vampire lord.
Once the last vampire was dead or fled, the Knights of the Silver Serpent entered the guild house, to heal the wounded, raise the dead, and, once all had calmed down enough, spent their time offering training advice, supplying resources, and providing encouragment.
Truly, an inspiration. He fought with honor, and insisted on the highest standards from those who followed him.
He refused to allow dry looting, mount killing, or rez-killing.
No member of KSS was ever to call on guards against an enemy.
Enemies were always to be resurrected when possible and treated with honor.
And that is just one handful of examples of his standards. More can be read here.
But, I will leave it to you to tell your own tales of this fine man, and good friend.
Or, as the case may be to some of you, worthy foe.
So, let us hear it - what are your memories of Py Lethius, people of Siege? Bring us your pictures, your memories, your tributes - to give a fitting farewell to this living legend of Siege!
</span> </div>
<span style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 30pt; font-weight: bold;'>T</span>he old blind man stood before his friend and leader, slack-jawed with shock and horror.
"Nay, sire! It cannot be! Say tis not so! There must be another way!"
The old warrior placed a firm hand on Otto's shoulder, shaking his head, although he knew the movement would not be seen.
"My dear friend, there IS no other way. We Knights of the Silver Serpent have ever done our duty, no matter the cost, no matter how high the price. But, if I do not walk this path, then the price would be too high for even me to endure."
They stood in mutual silence, both knowing that the end of an era had come.
Then, the Knight Commander spoke:
"Sir Otto, as the highest ranking Knight still to walk the land, I pass to you the sword of leadership. I do not envy you the road ahead. What was once a mighty legion of knights, mages, and other warriors, is now a faint ember of what it was. But, that ember still burns. Do your best. No one can ask more."
"My destiny calls, as do the voices of those I love more than life itself. Be safe, and be true!"
And, with a final salute, Lord Py Lethius turned, and stepped through a glowing portal, to a strange land beyond. A land devoid of magic, but filled with strange devices, and stranger people.
The land of the Spirit Realm. The land where his closest kin awaited him with open arms.
The old miner weighed the sword that had been placed in his hand. It seemed to glow with energy, but more so, with the power of the legend that had been written by Py Lethius.
Turning to the window, with a heavy heart, he called to the townsfolk below.
"Good people of Sosaria, lend me your ears!"
There was a brief shower of severed ears, swiftly scooped up by the deranged mayor of Luna, but then Otto could hear the townsfolk standing attentively below.
"Good friends, countrymen, and citizens of Sosaria, I bring you dark tidings.
On this day, did Lord Py Lethius set foot on the path that leads away from our lands for the final time.
He lives yet - do not mourn his passing in that way - but it is safe to say that this is a quest from which he will most likely not return.
Join with me then, in a moment's silence, to honor this great man, who did so much for our lands!"
A stunned silence fell over the crowd below.
Then, one by one, the people came forward, bringing tales of valor, memories of encounters with the great man, and word of lives he had saved, monsters he had driven back, all in their defence.
Join with me now, good friends of Siege, and let us remember Py Lethius, and all he was to us, in his time here - on Siege Perilous.
<table summary='' style='width: 100%; border: solid 1px blue;'> <tr> <td style='text-align: center;background-color:#000000;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:Arial;font-size:15pt;'> Please do not misunderstand, good people. This is not an obituary. Nothing serious has happened to Py.
This is a farewell, and an opportunity to honor one of the great men of Siege.
Events in his life have become such that he can no longer walk the dusty paths of Siege Perilous.
As the life he lived with us here was honorable, so too are his reasons for saying farewell.
So, let us do honor to all he meant to us, and all he did for Siege! </td> </tr> </table>
Blind Otto turned from the window, and pondered the sword in his hand once more.
"You know," he remarked to no one in particular, "I could have sworn I was a miner and blacksmith."
He sheathed the sword, and stood up.
"Well, miner, knight, or, if they'll have me, Knight Commander, one thing is certain. As long as I draw breath, KSS will not die!"
From a far off land, came a familiar voice, sounding the Knights war cry
<span style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;'>SOL INVICTUS!</span>
</div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>
<div style="width: 95%; text-align: center; background-image: url('http://uo.stratics.com/newspics/siege/divider_frosty.gif'); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat;"> </div>
<span style='width:100%;color:#000000;background-color:#FFFFFF;'> When I first encountered Py Lethius, I was still a member of [NEW].
VmP had surrounded the guildhouse, and were casting poison fields and other spells inside.
Thankfully, this was in the days before the Samurai lands were discovered, and before the Elves had returned, with their natures furies and other spells.
Still, there were no [NEW] leaders around, and none of us had enough skill to resurrect each other if we died.
Then, this wave of blue warriors arrived, cutting the vampires down in their path, and sending them howling off into the caves and shadows of the northern mountains.
They were led by a grey-haired commander, who made a bee-line for WyRm, the leader of the vampires.
Yelling his battle cry, and flanked by two healers, he made short work of the vampire lord.
Once the last vampire was dead or fled, the Knights of the Silver Serpent entered the guild house, to heal the wounded, raise the dead, and, once all had calmed down enough, spent their time offering training advice, supplying resources, and providing encouragment.
Truly, an inspiration. He fought with honor, and insisted on the highest standards from those who followed him.
He refused to allow dry looting, mount killing, or rez-killing.
No member of KSS was ever to call on guards against an enemy.
Enemies were always to be resurrected when possible and treated with honor.
And that is just one handful of examples of his standards. More can be read here.
But, I will leave it to you to tell your own tales of this fine man, and good friend.
Or, as the case may be to some of you, worthy foe.
So, let us hear it - what are your memories of Py Lethius, people of Siege? Bring us your pictures, your memories, your tributes - to give a fitting farewell to this living legend of Siege!
</span> </div>
