Of Burgundy Family/The Daemon Saga/Chapter One: The Beginning
Contents
Chapter One: The Beginning
Part 1: Dark Omens
The following is a recording of Brackern's reaction on hearing that the then ruler of Caerwyn, Archon Lucian, had been slain by monsters. Brackern was only one region over from the site of the incident, but it is thought that there were not enough hours left in the day for him to reach the region (before or together with Lucian), so he recommended holding at the current location. His letter must never have reached Lucian...
When the report came in, Brackern let it drop from his lifeless fingers, not even noticing that he was no longer holding it.
He numbly muttered, "To think that just this afternoon I received a letter from him, and dispatched one suggesting that he delay until tomorrow dawn when we could fight together..."
With that, the glorious future that he had envisaged crumbled into ash, the warmth of the room suddenly vanished, to be replaced with a coldness that no fire could break.
Just as soon, the sorrow and despair flashed into rage. There would be time for grief later. Right now the monsters in Knyazes must be made to pay, and he would stop at nothing until all of them lay dead, or he joined Archon Lucian in death.
Part 2: The Road to Revenge
An account of the first battle with the monsters that killed Archon Lucian.
[The prior evening, on the road for Knyazes]
As Brackern as his men departed for Knyazes, numerous messengers intercepted them along the path with various scrolls. He took them and tossed them to his scribe, unopened. "I have no time for that," he said shortly.
The rage he still felt burning inside him had changed to a warm, slow sustaining glow. He would see that the Archon was avenged. "May the elements look kindly on my righteous mission," he prayed, in the hope that there would be some response - would take anything right now that would give him even one better chance at revenge.
[The next morning, at dawn]
The men were well deployed on the top of a ridge, and they but awaited the onset of the monsters. The dawn wind was calm - a good omen for the coming battle! Could the elements have blessed this battle, or was it good fortune?
Just then, movement was spotted in the trees below, and a mass of monsters broke from the concealment of the trees and charged toward the archers. Brackern turned, grim resolve in his eyes, and gave the order to fire.
In the clear dawn light, and the calm air, the archers' arrows found many a mark. As the monsters struggled up the steep incline, boulders, branches and scattered debris hindered their progress.
Brackern found an intense burning pleasure watching the monsters crumble under the rain of death falling upon them. Even so, several made it up to the front lines. This strangely pleased Brackern, for he was now able to take out some of his rage on something. Just as he jumped in, screaming like a maniac, the monsters rapidly retreated. The disappointment was as keen as a knife edge, and he even ran after them for a good score yards, whirling his longsword above his head and yelling in defiance of their cowardice.
"Was that all that they had?" he thought to himself once he had recovered from his bloodlust and returned to the ridgetop. "There must be another creature that I have yet to see, that was able to fell one so great as Archon Lucian."
Turning to his men, he said "Congratulations men! Today you have achieved a most legendary victory. See, even now our bard is composing a song in our honour and in remembrance of this day," he continued, indicating his traveling bard (who had been with him ever since the first great archer victory in Dunnbrook, several years ago). "When we face them again, we shall utterly exterminate this affront to life."
Once he had finished his speech, his thoughts had cooled somewhat, and they turned to Archon Lucian. His body must be found, and given the highest burial rites and honours. He would dive down the gullet of a monster to retrieve it if necessary.
Part 3: Sad returns
The thoughts of Brackern regarding the slaughtering of the monsters. The origin of this is doubtful, but is corroborated by other historical documents (what few there are).
As Brackern was once again on the move, he had time to think back to the events in Knyazes. In-between the two monster attacks, he had set out to meet the men carrying back Archon Lucian's body.
When he had finally reach them, he had been shocked to see the injuries that Lucian has sustained. Not one piece of armour was untorn, and many claw marks showed livid and long on his now death-pale skin. Brackern had vowed to himself then that he would avenge the monster that had done this, and all others of its kindred, until he no breath left in his body.
The sad procession had wound its way back to camp, where the body had been dressed and prepared for the journey.
Brackern's thoughts now turned on to the strange events later that evening. The monsters had come again, but were easily slaughtered. The feeling of revenge was bitter-sweet, for nothing could bring back his comrade Lucian.
Just then, a scout had come running into the camp reporting a sighting of what had looked like a massive monster that was approaching the camp. As soon as Brackern had heard the news, he had known that it must be the monster that had killed Lucian. With that he had his squire put on his armour, grabbed his longsword, dagger and battle axe, and headed to the side of the camp facing the direction of the monster sighting...
Interlude
Just then, a messenger came riding up with orders from Marshal Ibrahim, interrupting his [Brackern's] thoughts. Sighing, he realised that other needs of the realm and region would require attention, in addition to monster-slaying.
Although the horrific blow of Lucian's death was still fresh and painful, paperwork would at least take his mind off the event, and stop him from brooding on his failure to move to Knyazes and protect Lucian...
As historians would later note, the death of Archon Lucian and guilt that Brackern felt over it was be one of the turning points in his life, and contributed to the dark path that he would take...
Conclusion: A Greater Threat
A letter from Brackern describing the curious events that occurred in Knyazes. This letter outlines the event that gave indication that they were dealing with more than an unusually big monster.
Nobles of Caerwyn,
I have reason to believe that the threat facing us is more grave than one single monster. I defeated a monster in Knyazes that was much stronger than the usual scum that we need to fight. While it was not as you described your nemesis a while back Sir Jun Hinamoto, it was no doubt equal in adeptness. Archon Lucian had already injured it, and it still nearly killed me several times.
It was a humanoid, with red eyes that almost burned in their intensity. It was massively muscled, and seemed a cross between the mythical vampire that the peasants sometimes speak of, and a great Northern Blackbear.
It had runes inscribed on both of its arms, and a medium sized, curving and jewel-encrusted horn on its head. The strangest event occurred at the end of the battle, and I shall remember it to the day I die. Here follows a brief account, that cannot in any way do the event justice: The battle was going poorly, and I was losing, badly. The beast had just thrown me to the ground, and was about to gore me with its horn. I just managed to roll out of the way, and -elements be praised!- its horn was snagged in the ground for a second or two. I pulled my axe from my back, and aim a desperate blow at its neck. Just at that moment, it pulled free, and would have dodged my blow altogether, were it not for the horn...
My axe struck the horn, which shattered on impact. So did my axe, and there was a flash of fire. The desperate blow left me wide open and weaponless, and I as I dived for my sword that I had dropped on the ground, I was expecting the claws to shred me utterly.
The blow never came.
As I looked up from my knees, I witnessed the strangest thing I have ever seen in the whole of my twenty-four years: the beast was stunned where it had been struck, and as I watched it, the eyes turned to a pleasant light blue colour, and the runes faded. The outer (skin?garment?) flaked away, and...it started to look like a man!
At first its mouth moved, and curious sounds came out.Was it/he trying to talk?! "The curse...is ended..." it whispered. "My thanks..." and its voice faded. It was visibly battling to breathe now, and only managed to say one more thing, so faint that I cannot be sure I heard it aright:"The others...are coming..."
Then it collapsed and died.
Thus, I have reason to believe that there is now more than one of these...whatever they are...now prowling our lands. This fits with the fact that Sir Jun Hinamoto has spotted another powerful beast, and I believe that the daemons down south are indeed behind this, as Sir Jun Hinamoto theorizes.
These are indeed dark days, and both Archon Lucian and Lord Adalthas shall be sorely missed. Let us all prepare ourselves for any further calamity that may occur, and stand strong in the face of this new threat!
For Adalthas and Lucian, may we always honour their lives and deaths with our own swords, words and deeds! For Caerwyn!
Chapter Two: The Growing Taint
