Melhed/Library/The Seige of Agyr

The Diamons were persistent beasts. Frustrated by One Rogala's stand at the bridge over the Carp, the Diamons surrounded Agyr under siege and starve her into submission. No supplies could pass through the the hoards of Diamons into the city. Henning II Augustus, appalled at the idea that Agyr might fall to the Diamons, asked for permission to sneak out of Agyr and infiltrate the enemy camp with the intent to kill the self proclaimed god king Prudent. With a sword hidden in his tunic he slipped into the mass of Diamons and sought the king. He found two monstrous abominations within the center of the hoard, surrounded by Diamons waiting to be “paid”. Both were of important appearance, at least from what Henning could tell. But which was the king?

If he were to ask, he would surely be discovered as a spy, being a human and all. He judged that the Diamon feasting on human flesh was the king, leapt upon the demonic dais, and slew the beast. He fled through the hoard but was apprehended. When he was dragged back to the dais, he discovered that he had killed the wrong Diamon and that Prudent was still quite alive.

Knowing that punishment was inevitable, Henning boldly stated his name, that he was a Melhed citizen, and proclaimed his intent to assassinate the king. He went on to declare that he was just an ordinary Melite and that any Melite would do the same thing as he to protect their nation. He warned the great Diamon king that nowhere would he be safe from Melites seeking to kill him and eliminate the danger he posed for Melhed. To demonstrate his resolution and indifference to physical suffering, Henning thrust his left hand into a flame burning on an altar next to which he was standing.

Impressed by such bravery, Prudent decided to allow Henning to return home to Agyr. Henning responded that he wished to honor the king's kindness by sharing the information with him that there were three hundred more Melites sworn to kill the king and that Henning had just happened to draw the first lot. The king, intimidated by this false tale and unwilling to risk death at the hands of such loyal and determined men, sent envoys to Agyr suing for peace. Upon his release and return to Agyr, Henning was given the cognomen Dexter ('right-handed') and awarded land across the Carp.