Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="drnuncheon" data-source="post: 211206" data-attributes="member: 96">Aelric's Story (I)As he had many times over the years, Aelric Rowanshield made the close acquaintance of the ground, meeting it with a sickening thump.He let himself lie there for a moment, in the soft earth - almost mud, churned by the hooves of the wilful horse he'd been dealing with.  Then, slowly, and fighting against the pain, he picked himself up once again.Twenty years ago, he'd never have been able to do that to me, the old man thought ruefully. Even ten years ago...  His glance fell to his belt, through which he'd thrust a pair of heavy leather gloves, much battered and stained.  And I never would have thought of using these, just for a horse.  Shaking the muck from his aching arm, he pulled the gloves on, and felt some of the long-gone strength of his youth return."Now," he said, looking at the horse evenly, "We are going to try this again."  But even as he did so, his eyes picked out a moving figure - no more than a boy - running for his house.  A visitor? He squinted. No, those are the King's colors. A messenger.Slowly, he coiled the lead-rope as he walked towards the house, wondering what the Father had sent him after all these years."Sir Aelric Rowanshield?" the lad panted.  At the nod, he looked up at the mud-covered old man in disbelief. This was who the King wanted? Certainly, most able-bodied men were fighting the war, but there surely must be someone better... Drawing himself up, the boy spoke stiffly and formally. "Sir Rowanshield, His Majesty has need of your services, and requests and requires your presence at Dresda posthaste."A hint of surprise flickered behind the man's eyes. "Very well," was all he said. "Come inside. I will feed you and send you on your way."Aelric watched the boy dash off down the road, then slowly turned.  There was little to do to close the house up - a word with Eamon would send his neighbor's youngest over to keep an eye on his stock, and the horses had plenty of pasture.  It would set them back months in their training, but there was really nothing for it.He led a draft horse to the front door, and began to load it with the few possessions he would need on the road. As he tied on the last of the food, he heard hoofsteps behind him.  Turning, he regarded the new arrival."You are not one of my horses," he said quietly, but the horse's gaze calmly begged to differ.  After a moment, Aelric stepped forward to stroke the beast's muzzle.  It was without a doubt the finest warhorse he had ever seen.  He did not need to check its ear to know that there would be no owner's mark - there was only one stable a horse so fine could have come from."So that is to be the way of it," he sighed, returning to the house.  Taking an iron key from his pocket, he knelt slowly in front of the oaken chest that had laid so long undisturbed in his bedchamber.  The lock protested, but finally gave way. With trembling hands, the old man lifted out a horn of yellowed ivory chased with silver, and pulled back the oiled cloth beneath it. Even in the dim light, the steel gleamed.  An hour later, for the first time in thirty years, Aelric Rowanshield rode forth to war.The Knights Of the Holy Order of the WidowerA minor sect of holy warriors, the Knights Widower was composed of men who, like the Father, had lost their wives and chosen not to remarry.  Even at its height, it never rivaled the more famous orders such as the Order of the Golden Sun or the Order of the Sceptre, but its members were well known for their patience, maturity, and quiet devotion rather than the militant zeal displayed by many others.  Because of its age and the nature of its membership, the Knights Widower were among the most accepting of the worship of the Mother in all its forms, and it may have been that acceptance that lead to their official disbanding by the Church hierarchy just over thirty years ago.  Now, only a few members of the order remain.</blockquote>

Verification