Serpentis Family/Erik Eyolf/Blood & Ashes
Temple of Elune - Sirion City
The Warrior and Judge of Sirion still had a commitment to rebuild the Temple of Elune in Trinbar after the major attacks in the region. The construction had started slowly while many preparations were made and the impressive material start to cross the Sirion River in the caravans to the Marquis' properties over the hills.
His arrival was not entirely unexpected. Covered by an imposing black cloak of mourning, Erik was carrying a cerminonial urn with the ashes of his brother, Captain Karl Eyolf Serpentis. That was his new name and as would he be known and feared in the Great Halls, where he will celebrate and fight along the eternity. Perhaps until eventually reincarnate to protect the family that he served so proudly and with great honor. He was the best Captain of Sirion and it would never be ignored.
Outside the temple eighty soldiers also wore the Stormwalkers' black robes with the insignia of the silver lightning whipping the earth. Some priests of the lowest caste take care to spread blessings while they purified the soldiers with oak branchs and fresh water of the River Sirion. Those inside the Temple could see the movement growing out there. But Judge Erik went alone and saw Sir Elisedd in his prayers. It was no secret that the Priests of the Holy Father didn't like the Judge. But they had to bow to his authority, liking or not of the Judge's views about the folly of believing that the Holy Father was born first or that he was most important that Elune, lowering the Goddess to a lower female position. Nonsense. But they hated even more the fact that Erik feel himself the favorite of the Goddess and have receive her Revelations or even an intimate and loving affection.
But the Priests respected the Judge's grief. Especially when he entered the temple carrying his war swords. Reapers of Fontanese warriors and northern puppets. Then, only the High Priestess was allowed to approach him. And he received her with a sweet kiss, which certainly did the Priest's blood boil in their veins. The daughter of Elune received the urn with the ashes of Captain Karl and intoned a prayer in the ancient language spoken by the gods. The language that Erik heard from the constellation reverberating in his soul when Elune whispered in his ear, as the caresses that only a Godess could devote to his favorite son.
The priestess took the ceremonial dagger from the red belt, offering it to the Judge. It was time to pay blood with blood. Erik held the dagger and walked to the great altar. She looked the image of the Goddess and silently he avenged his brother's death. The blade bit the palm of his hand and the blood poured hot and red. An offering and an oath.
With the end of the ritual, the ashes were taken and would be veiled there as a protective talisman. It will certainly attract young warriors who sought examples of honor and glory. And there were the ashes of the best Captain that Sirion saw in the battlefields. The dead warriors became heroes. And the heroes became legends.
Captain Karl had left his life to live in the history.
Resting in Peace.
