Memoirs Of A Knight

An Eagle's Flight

2005-05-16T00:05:00.000+08:00

Today, I woke up with a severe headache. Pain throbbed at the side of my temple. I opened my eyes painfully looking and was greeted by the stone ceiling of my room. I forced myself up winching at every movement of my sore body. I sat at the edge of my teak bed and buried my head into my hands, taking deep breaths.

“I need fresh air” as I slipped on my leather boots, without bothering to lace it up, I gathered my tunic and Sting which was leaning against the corner post of my bed. I staggered down the stairs and felt the scowl of Gretha Grukland gazing upon my back as I walked towards the stable.

The familiar neighs from the stable barn brought a smile back upon my face. As I looked into the stable, the majestic Mustang stood out among the other pale colored barn horses. “Passion, the prince of beast.” I thought to myself, feeling an injustice that this majestic creature has to reside in this dark smelly depilated stable. His dark eyes burned with passion to ride once more together with the wind refusing to remain that stable for a second longer. Passion trotted and and snorts impatiently to be able to ride once more with his master. Passion raised its fore legs and stomped against the entrance of the stable. "Yes my friend, nice to meet you again.." I replied laughingly. Passion raised both its forelegs and stood on its hind legs in response to my greetings.

I unlatched and opened the stable door as Passion dashed out running around the courtyards with gladness. He trotted up beside me and rubbed its neck against my body. I patted its forehead and looked straight into his large eyes. "Lets ride my friend, and be one with the wind" I whispered. I saddled Passion and we rode out of the compounds leaving behind the screaming Gretha for not latching back the stable door.

Time seems to come to a halt when I ride together with Passion. I felt my headache bean to dissipate as the cool wind rushed against my face. I patted the side of Passion's neck indicating him to ride faster, and I felt the unmistakable accelerating rhythm of its hooves in response. My surroundings soon became a blur around me blending into one giant indistinctive oil painting around me.

I took a deep breathe and tasted the saltiness of the air. I smiled because this meant that I am now at Ox Head cliffs. The name came about due to the cliff's resemblance of an ox head looking out towards the horizon of the Western Ocean, my favorite scenery in all of these lands. This place is also a place where Passion and I built our friendship over the years. The great waves crashed against the immovable Ox head displaying the power of mother nature. In her presence, I can only choose to forget my insignificant problems in comparison to this display of raw power.

I alighted off the back of Passion and sat down at the edge of the cliff. Passion trotted to my side and lied down beside me. He knocked his snout into my face and I tried pinching its ears in counter. In response he attempted to nibble my hand playfully.

"Are you a Tandemm Rideeer or a knight suggested by your knighthood ring that you are wearrringg on your forefingeerr.." a voice behind me interrupting our play time together. In shock, I turned around with one hand at the hilt of Sting half expecting to locate a drunkard as indicated by the slurring in his speech.

True enough, a middle aged man with a greying black beard and loosely tousled black hair was sitting five meters behind me with a bottle of cheap ale in his left hand.

"Nay, I am a knight of Tyr in service to the King Denethra son of Dunthril." I replied cautiously.

"Ah...a renegade knight...one that does not serve in the army of the Northern Kingdom, except in times of war when called upon by the King's decree." replied the man as he struggled to stand up on his feet and started walking towards me.

"I don't like people like you...you people take the name of knighthood for granted, doing what you please and I don't believe any single one of you are loyal to the king except to your own pouches." he spat with disgust.

Upon closer observations, the old man was actually a well built man with weathered skin. A veteran fighter no doubt. His hands coarse like the hands of one who handles the sword well. The black chainmail revealed under his brown leather tunic confirmed my suspicion. I cannot locate any Knighthood Ring his hands..

I looked into his deep blue corset eyes and it pierced right through me. “These are eyes of one who has seen much in this world.” I thought to myself.

The old man stopped about ten feet away from me his eyes still locked onto mine. "You have the eyes of an eagle." he remarked. "It has been a while since i saw anyone with eyes like yours."

I saw his eyes shifted to my belt and focused at my scabbard. "A second age designed broad sword..they have stopped producing this type of swords anymore. The Hawk Blade." he said with amazement in his eyes. "You fight by the way of the eagle?"

I nodded my head, clenching my fist around the hilt of Sting, tensing my muscles for a fight.

He looked up and smiled. "Then prepare yourself knight, for I am Duncan Erhard, and I fight by the way of the Eagle!"

Immediately he drew his broadsword which is uniquely similar to Sting in design and within a few strides he slash his sword at me.

I managed to draw Sting out just in time to deflect the attack that was aimed at my throat.

"Are you mad?!!" I shouted at him as my hands felt numb from his last attack. "He is strong.." I knew I cannot last for long if this madness continues . I got to to find a way out of this.

My thoughts were interrupted when Passion jolted up and bent its body ready for to the charge aggressor. I knew in my heart that Passion may die if he charges. So i shouted "NO!! Passion you stay there!! it is between him and me."

Passion looked into my eyes for a moment. His deep dark eyes seems to be telling me that he cannot obey my orders. "Stay..." I repeated. With a disgruntled snort, Passion lowered himself to the ground.

Duncan then adopted the Eagle High Guard posture with both hand holding on to the sword in a 45 degrees overhead position. His left leg steeping out in front of his right with his body straight up.

"An eagle soars above the world and looks down at it." "It anticipates the moves of its enemies and attacks in a decisive stroke" Duncan recited with a strong voice.

I gathered my thoughts and charged towards him swinging a full left slash. He easily deflected my attack by shifting his left feet behind and bringing his sword in a right slash to meet my attack throwing my balance off.

I was defenseless as the force of the deflection caused my body to stall for a moment. A moment enough for my death.

I saw him turned his sword edge towards me expecting that edge to come rushing at me, therefore ending my pitiful life.

Suddenly I was jolted out of my breathe as a force hit me in my chest and I was thrown back from him.

I looked at him incredulously when I figured out that he kicked me away instead of killing me..

"Why??" I asked. He looked at me and said "I have no intention of killing you. That was just to test your skills." He turned his back towards me and looked across the field. "Trouble is here..prepare yourself."

Before I could ask him what did he mean by that statement, I heard the thundering of horses galloping towards our location.

A band of soldiers on horsebacks with a cargo carriage trailing behind came before us. I presumed the leader of the pack is the rider in the front. Furthermore the glistering gold ring on his forefinger suggested that this man is a knight.

A well-armored knight with long unkempt black hair with a well trimmed beard. His onyx black full plate armor with intricate designs gleaning under the sunlight.

"My, my what do we have here, its none other than Duncan Erhard, the fallen knight and weaponmaster of Tyr of the third age." the knight sneered, taking pleasure how the term fallen knight seems to pierce the heart of Duncan.

Duncan Erhard lifted up his head in pride and replied "A pleasure Sir Gershon Meinrad, dog lackey of the tyrant triad leader Bastion Arnous."

Upon the greetings of Duncan Erhard, ten of Gershon's soldiers drew their swords enraged by the insult. But they sheathed back their swords when Gershon raised his left hand.

"You still owe a debt of three hundred gold coins for killing Bastion Arnous's prized mustang two weeks ago." declared Gershon. "If you do not hand over the coins today, Bastion Arnous demands your head for compensation." smirked Gershon as he drew his sword out intending to make good his threat. "Or another mustang in equivalent..." said Gershon as he spotted Passion at the back.

"Over my dead body..." I hissed as I adopted the posture of the Eagle High Guard. In the corner of my eye, I caught Duncan Erhard smiling before adopting the Eagle High Guard posture too.

Gershon's eyes burned with anger and his face twisted with displeasure. "Very well, then let me rip apart and crush the wings of you two pathetic eagles, for I am Sir Gershon Meinrad and I fight by the way of the Tiger!!" Gershon bellowed as he charge his horse towards us.

I heard Duncan shouted "An Eagle swoops low on the plains, Eagle Low Catch!" and instinctively I executed an Eagle Catch by twisting my body around and doing a roundhouse draw attack with my right backhand but this time I lowered the sword.

I felt the sword slammed right into the flesh of his horse as blood gushed out in sprays. The force of the impact caused me to be thrown off a distance away. When I looked up, I saw Gershon sprawled on the ground with his horse thrashing in pain before falling to the ground in its pool of blood.

Enraged, Gershon stood up and shouted like a mad man charging towards the Eagle High Guard postured Duncan. Gershon's attack were fast and sharp as it whistled through the air. However what's more amazing was how Duncan deflected every attack of Gershon's with ease.

The intricate footwork displayed by Duncan was complicated and hard to follow. It seems like a dance in unison with his sword movement.

Desperate, Gershon began to intensify his attack with faster and heavier sweeps but Duncan still seemed comfortable with the intensified attack pattern displaying his impregnable sword dance at his own pace

Before long , I could see Gershon panting as he breathes heavily. His movements began to slow down and his attacks became more deliberate. Sensing that his opponent is weak, Duncan began his offense.

The hunter became the hunted.

It seems like a few seconds as Duncan raised an upper slash at Gershon causing his sword to be slapped up in the air, Duncan then did a roundhouse Eagle Catch as he twisted his body anti-clockwise sending his sword towards Greshon's head. Gershon managed to bring his sword back down to shield the attack. Using the momentum from the deflection, Duncan twisted his body clockwise in a half roundhouse, stretching back his sword arm in a thrust like posture, Eagle Strike. Before Gershon could react or even let out a final scream, Duncan's sword plunged into the throat of Gershon's decapitating his head in a splash of blood.

For a moment, everything seemed to pause. Gershon's ten soldiers carried a look of terror and shock on their faces that their leader was killed, but more so at the skills Duncan displayed. Duncan turned to face them and started walking towards them. A few soldiers in the back cried out in terror before turning around and fled with their horses. When the rest of the soldiers saw that, they all lose their courage and fled leaving abandoning their cargo carriage.

I looked at Duncan with respect and he turned to me with sadness in his eyes. "What's your name knight." he asked.

"I am Lan Black, sir.."

"Don't call me that, I am not a knight. Anyway I know that you are looking for soldiers for your clan from the notice board I passed by in Willow. Interested in a weaponmaster?" Smiled Duncan.

"Its my honor. But I don't think I can pay you for your service and... " i replied truthfully.

"Bah!! The dogs have left behind their cargo carriage behind, that should be enough for my pay." interrupted Duncan before I could finish my line.

I nodded and we both left to check the contents of the cargo carriage. When I opened the flap of the cargo, I can't help but to let off a whistle.

Inside was a small chest of gold coins, at least five hundred of them and provisions of wine and dried meat. However what surprised me more was, at the back of the carriage is bounded and unconscious Arntok man.

Duncan looked and revealed no surprise on his face "Just as I thought. Gershon is a slave trader and a tax and debt collector employed by the rich tyrant Bastion Arnous."

Duncan looked at me and asked "Do you have a place to go?"

I nodded.

Duncan nodded in response. "Lets use your mustang to bring back the cargo including the Arntok.”

“Ah yes, remember to take the Knighthood ring of Gershon. We have to send it back to Tyr to report of his death. " Duncan added.

"And of course his armor, I think it will suit you well...Commander." smiled Duncan.

Somehow, my headache resumed upon hearing those words.

Reflections

2005-05-14T13:48:00.000+08:00

There does not seems to be much activity or response around that notice board. I have just turned away a few beggars and warriors with missing limbs that came knocking on my door.

Today is the fouteenth day of the month of the star. The year 1030 of the fourth age, reign of King Denethra son of Dunthril. Dread feelings overcame me as I thought about the end of this month whereby I have to pay the overdued five months worth of rent amounting to ten silver coins to Gretha Grukland. I looked into my almost empty coin pouch and saw just two measly silver coins. Sigh when will be the day I will see a platinum coin in my pouch.

Maybe its not such a good idea to start out as a Knightopreuner after all. Its an unproven career after all. It emerged about two years back when King Denethra announced that The northern Kingdom will now outsource more often to independent clans so as to cut the Northern Kingdom expenses due to its ever increasing operation growth.

Since then many knights began to start out their own clans and the employment revolution began as farmers turned soldiers increased each day and young boys all aspire to be heroes and champions when they grow up. It was such a phenomenon that the term Knightopreuner was derived. Books and scrolls teaching on Knightopreuner were also published at an alarming rate. However this in turn has its side effect.

When knightopreuners fail in their start ups due to the saturation of this market, their clan will usually resort to the darker side or the black market. Loyalty switched as soon as the next person with the highest bid came along and the idea of hijacking traders and merchants sounds like a better deal. Bandits began to increase each day as they raid caravans so regularly that now every caravan need 5 times the amount of soldiers as compared before this Knightopreuner craze came about.

As such, Knightopreuner began to shift its focus from providing their swords to the King to providing security forces to the caravans. Because of the influx of trade, there are bands that soon became wealthy and influential. Perhaps the most prominent and successful one would be "The Red Avatar Clan". Their distinctive ruby red armor soldiers can be spotted all around the empire even stretching to the Cloudspire. Their commander "General Redknap" used to serve in the Northern Kingdom as a Captain, but I guessed he is having a better life now.

I too am a knight of the Northern Kingdom but I turned renegade after I have decided to be a Knightopreuner. Sometimes looking at the room around me which serves to be the base of operation for The Black Jack Knights, I sort of regretted making this move as for the pass eight months, perhaps the most well paid job I have undertaken was to help pass a an important message to the city of Madrigal. Even that earned me three silver coins only. Ah yes, Madrigal is the city of magical knights. These are knights that can command the forces of elements to assist them. However due to the limited giftings of such a person to control the elements at ease, the army of Madrigal is usually small but yet potently powerful. The city of Covenant is also known as the City of Light is where healers and paladins are trained and raised. They are sovereign and exist outside the rule of the Northern Kingdom.

I read the book "Sword style of the way of the Eagle." The Eagle Attack style is perhaps one of the oldest sword styles which involves mainly two handed attack techniques. However, it has been over-shadowed by newer and some hybrids sword style. Some rumored that a new class of swordmaster have risen in Covenant that attacks like the wind. They say that they go by the way of the Heron. Well guessed I will go check it out when I drop by that city.

I practiced a few strokes of the "Eagle High Guard" and the roundhouse strike of the "Eagle Catch".

Bandaged my thigh and washed the blood off Sting before turning in to bed in agony...

A Knight's Tale- The beginning

2005-05-13T17:50:00.000+08:00

I looked up to the ceiling of the room. Sweat profused out of my pores staining my off-white linen shirt. I looked at the door that somehow never seems to open. My vision begins to dim...and i whispered to myself...a customer...a customer...a customer...zzz.... I lie back on my four years old wooden rocking chair and begin to think to myself..maybe its not such a good idea after all.

I am a mercenary. Or should I say a security firm woo big words...anyway where was I. Ah yes, I am a mercenary or a renegade knight and i sell my sword for anyone that pays me well. I kill rob steal bash...wait a minute, i mean i protect and uphold the justice which is relative in the eys of the person who put food on my table. In a moment of grandeur, tears rolled down my face.

Suddenly the door crashed open and an six feet two hundred pounder lady in her fourties stormed in. She have at least 8 hair rollers on multi directional orange red hair which looks like the stack of hay that my valient mustang "Passion" feeds upon. Her eyes burning with a certain passion to tear apart the torso of anyone standing in her path. She sneered revealing a row of brown stained teeth and one particular tooth with a gold filling gave a shine upon reflecting upon the sun. I rolled my eyes...bet she practised that smile everyday unto perfection. She was my landlord. Gretha Grukland.

She carries a twisted wooden club with brown stains indicating past victims blood. "Dear Sir Lan, how are you this morning? How is business?" mirked Gretha as she walks closer to where i was sitting and the stench of over salted fish and vegetables hit my nostril. Instinctively, i reached for my trusty sword "Sting" and i pulled it out in a quick flash. Analysing my current situation, I decided to get the upper hand and attack her first, i lifted my sword and charged towards Gretha with a battlecry in hope to scare her away. Gretha rolled her eyes before she stepped to a side, stick out her leg and tripped me as i went sprawling across the floor. She went over to my legs and sat on my back. The feeling was insatiable...followed by a sharp pain as she pull off her signature move "The bridge lock" manuever on me.

"Do you yield??!!!" she screamed as I nodded my head furiously and pounded the floor with my free hand. "When are you paying the rent of ten silver?!!!" she bellowed as she turned my angle to an awkward angle. I swear i heard something cracked. "By the end of this month!!!" I exclaimed fainting from the pain that was ebbing from my left ankle. Satisfied, Gretha stood up and she turned to me and smiled "Pleasure doing business with you". Realising that something was wrong, she went to the entrance where the sun rays were shining in and this time she smiled again, reflecting the shine in her golden tooth before storming out of the room.

I sat up rubbing my aching ankle, that was brutal...got to think of a way to counter that move. Bridge Lock...well I have to start thinking how do i pay back the ten silver coins of rent i owe her. I am a knight after all, although a drop out but i try to think of myself as a knightropeuner. Another big word...I recalled what my mum used to say about her marketing trips to the grocery. She always say, marketing basics: always locate whom you want to approach and then approach and then convince them that you love them, and will support them no matter what, after that you get what you want, abandon them if they are of no more value to you. Ahh...that sounds better than sitting in this room waiting for customers to come. I looked my signboard at the door that says "Black Jack Clan".

So i stood up, dusted the dirt off my leather pants and boots. I went over to my shiny silver Sting and sheathed it back successfully after two tries. I have decided to take the advice of my mother as I walked into the village they called "Willow"

History & Forces Of The Old World

2005-05-04T01:03:00.000+08:00

History
King Dunthril father of King Denethra ruled the city of Tyr during the third age where man and elves live together in harmony and in peace. The city of Tyr believes in freedom and equality of man as exemplified by the magnanimous King Dunthril. Some even called him the King of Kings. During his lifetime, he had driven back the barbaric desert Arntoks from "The Province" back across the Cloudspine. He unified the kingdom of the Masters of the Wild Mustang, the Tandem riders and the magical knights of Madrigal. Together these cities formed the alliance called the Northern Kingdom, which they will subject and fly under the flag of Tyr.

However like in all ages, there will always be a nation that wants to plunge the entire land into darkness and chaos. The kingdom of Scales lead by King Senfarious is evil personified. The people were taught that there is no goodness in this world and human beings have to be killed in order for their redemption. The hearts of man were slowly being corrupted and seeds of destruction and perversity prevailed in such an environment. King Senfarious also used goblins, orcs and dark elves from the other side of the Cloudspine in his war against both the holy kingdom of Covenant and the Northern Kingdom.

In the month of the Sun, year 998 of the third age. The greatest battle ever fought in the Old World also named as "The Crying Day" took place at the great plains, The Province. Thousands of Tyr Knights, Magi-Knights of Madrigal, Tandem Riders of Tandem, elves warriors of Ennine, paladins of Covenant clashed with the forces of the Dark Knights of Scale, the goblins and orcs of Rhi'anon and the Dark elves of Forest Heart and mercenaries of the untamed lands. That day both kingdoms broke their entire army but the Northern Kingdom managed to rout the army of Scale and the King Sefarious was killed by a stray arrow. It pierced straight through his throat. Some say that arrow was the work by an assasin sent by the dark elves. However due to the immense losses the Northern Kingdom has incurred on that day, King Dunthril decided that the Northern army do not have the capability to seige and take the city of Scale. With their King dead and the armies scattered, the city of Scale has no choice but to lie low nursing its wounds waiting for the chance to strike again.

In the following year, on the month of the moon, year 999. King Dunthril made his passage into his after-life. The funeral and mourning lasted for an entire month as various Kings from the Northern Kingdom came and pledged their alliance to the new King of Tyr and Northern Kingdom, King Denethra son of Dunthril ascended the throne at the fine age of twenty four. Thus marking a new chapter for the Old World, the fouth age.

Rumors and news reported that the plans for the dark alliance are underway. The Dark Lord of Rhi'anon has reinstated a new king for the city of Scales. King Nebacous, the chaos bringer.

Northern Kingdom

City of Tyr- Lead by King Denethra and his Northern Knights. His elite unit, Black Knights serve to be defenders of the throne and the watchman of the passes of Cloudspire. As the Northern Knights have to be dispatched to guard against the City Of Scales, King Denethra began to outsource independent clans such as "Red Avatar Clan" and "Blue Thunder Clan" to maintain the local security and the everyday operations within the Kingdom.

City of Madrigal- Lead by the High Archmage Gwindor and his Magi-Knights. Due to the small pool of people that are gifted with the elements, the force is usally small but potently powerful. However after "The Crying Day", much of the Magi-Knights fell in battle including two of the most powerful Archmage Thursa and Archmage Indril. Ever since, the magical power of Madrigal fell drastically and days of calling forth thunderstorms and fire bolts are now a whisper.

City of Tandem- Lead by King Trakius and his Tandem Riders. These are knights that excelled in horse-back fighting. The secret to their greatness however, is in the beast they use. The Wild Mustang, located in the Deep Mire. It is said that a Wild Mustang chooses its rider, and once chosen it will stay with its master for life. If the master dies in battle, the Wild Mustang will either revenge its master or it will die of depression. Such was the bond between man and beast displayed by the Tandem Riders. The Wild Mustang is at least three feet taller than the biggest common barn horse and its stamina and speed is legendary. It can cover five times more distance than a normal horse does given the same amount of time.

Elves of Ennine -Lead by the elf queen Galthriel. This particular race has an average lifespan of six hundred years old and lives in the magical forest of Ennine. The elves of Ennine has always allied with Cities of the North against their hated brothers, the Dark elves of Forest Heart and the dark creatures of Rhi'anon. Elves are a rare sighting but recently there have been elves who called themselves City Elves who lived in cities of the North.

City of Covenant -The holy city of Covenant lead by the High Templar Dawn Silverstar. This city does not interferes with the affairs of the Northern Kingdom but they value justice and order above all things else. During in times of war and chaos, High Templar and his paladins will always ally with the army of justice against the forces of evil. Their greatest aim is to destroy the Dark Lord of Rhi'anon and is currently building up its forces for a crusade into the evil lands of Rhi'anon.

The Dark Alliance

City of Scales -The city of man's ugliness and perversity. It is lead by King Nebacous, the chaos bringer and his Dark Knights. His small band of Chaos Knights are feared among the entire Old World. These Knights possess dark magical magic and kills man by the hundreds distinctively by its large jagged curved shamsir, lengths up to 2 metres long. They live for wide-spread chaos and extinction of the entire human race for their redemption.

Dark elves of Forest Heart -These are independent elves that thrive on deception and betrayal. Their organisation of the kingdom only exist to achieve a greater purpose for themselves. Currently lead by the Queen Quesifara, Queen of Blades. She has known on several occasions to kill without mercy and logic and to play the hearts of those around her. No one is safe around her and even the King of Scales has to be wary around her. Dark elves make the best assasins, especially against the light footed Elves of Ennine.

City of Rhi'anon -Lead by the Dark Lord whose name cannot be uttered by any known language in the Old World. The existence of the Dark Lord traces way back before the first Age and books did not survive so long to tell its tale. Legions of Orcs and Goblins serve to please him and his personal servants of death, the Sceptions. The Sceptions are thickly armored knights that ride on Dark Horses that have two long protruding fangs. There are thirteen Sceptions in total and each serve to be the Dark Lord's advocate and general.

Others

Muirthemne -The city of the babarians. The Arntoks are warriors of the desert and they fight with long spears. The Arntoks rarely takes part in the events of the Old World and seldom comes in contact with them. They are masters of the desert and the desert only.

The Great Devoid -Located deep within the mountains, it is the spawning place of Rhi'anon armies. Orcs and goblins are magically spawned and breed in these deep underground caverns and caves. The mature Orcs and Goblins then set up warcamps around Stoneheim and Myrgard awaiting the call of their Dark Lord.

Map Of The Old World

2005-05-02T01:52:00.000+08:00