Reinhart Family

The Reinhart Family Legend

A harsh nights wind strained the guide ropes anchoring the tent. The internal wooden support creaked as the cloth was pulled to and fro like a ship on gentle seas.

The King held a hand out at the preoffered seat. Valgar Reinhart's easygoing smile turned steely as slow realisation spread that this would not be a simple handing out of orders. Excuses and polite refusals from his limited supply were examined in his head, none seemed appropriate so he inclined his head and settled into the deceptively comfy chair.

" So you would have me tell you about my past? A more settling subject, like having my arms cut off, would be less uncomfortable.".

Ranulf peered at him, " Something to hide Knight Reinhart? If so, then perhaps your forthright manner is an act of unconscious atonement?".

Valgar waved his hand as if to physically dismiss the notion, " No. Not something to hide. Something to run from, King.". Much to his chagrin he shifted slightly in his chair, he had known that whomever he ended up serving would want to know his past. He just hadnt expected it to be this awkward to tell.

The tumbler was placed on the oak table nestled next to his seat and he exhaled slowly, he knew he would be having nightmares again tonight after telling this tale.

" My brother, our few compatriots, and myself, are all that is left of our people. The Black Knights were once part of a much larger army in a land many miles from here. I speak not of names and places because they are dead now, and there is no legend to follow in its wake. Our nation was at its peak. Prosperous, healthy, artistic, all the right ingredients. Our division of the Knights were posted to the Eastern coastline in preparation for overseas expansion of the Empire.

Our people built huge sailing vessels to carry troops, diplomats, and craftsmen to the far lands. Gabriel, myself, and the rest of the commanders you see here were assigned to defend the construction and deployment of these mighty craft from outside attacking influences.

The completion of the first of the vessels was approaching and there were dark murmurings arriving from recent traders in the capital. They spoke of a new belief spreading among the people of the city. Artefacts had been uncovered and examined by the learning colleges of the capital. Their origin was unknown but the texts inscribed upon them set a fire in the belly of men who read it.

Soon the occasional arrival of worried traders became the determined onslaught of ferverent priests of this new religion, spouting verses in heathen tongues that we could not understand. Reports were fed to the coastline of the Empire being possessed by the very texts it had unearthed, its people slaves. Brother warriors reported fighting in the streets of the capital and battles breaking out across the borders. It seemed that the new believes would not even give their victims a chance to convert, they simply killed them. Yet strangely more and more people, commoners and nobles alike, swelled their ranks.

News from the inner realms of the Empire grew increasingly worse and horrific. Talk of ascending deities among the people in the capital. The construction of strange temples throughout the lands. Eventually the inevitable happened and we awoke one morning to the urgent reports of armies amassing on our regions border.

Our army fought with thousands of their slavering warriors. It was as if their men had been turned insane. The horrors we fought against will never leave me. Eventually we knew that our people and Empire were no more, so we fled. We used the harbour's crafts we had been detailed to defend at all costs, and ran for our lives.".

Valgar sat in silence once he finished, his visage was grey and drawn. He noticed his hand shaking and stilled it by ingesting a hefty gulp of spirit. The Kings eye caught his, Val grinned weakly.