>>5440380It was around your 21st year when they came, a massive warhost marched out of the ash wastes. Burly men a full head taller than the duke’s most imposing guards marched behind a dark armour clad figure. This made no sense, how could anyone survive in the ash wastes let alone a kingdom that could produce such an army? There was no time to ponder this question though. Your father mustered the army of Falkner and rode out to meet this host.
It was obvious that these interlopers did not have good intentions but they had done nothing yet and so your father sent an envoy ahead to parley. The envoy sternly demanded to know what business the armour-clad figure had in Falkner’s lands, he responded by slicing the envoy’s head clean off. He was un-naturally quick and as the envoy’s head tumbled to the ground he wandered how the armoured figure managed to draw his sword and close the distance before he even had time to react. Then his world went dark.
Things only got worse from there, the warhost invaded Falkner lands, looting and pillaging the villages around the border. The duke’s army fought valiantly but they were slowly pushed back to the family keep. Now the duke’s army was one of the most formidable in the region. Indeed Gerald Falkner had vassals that paid him tribute to shield them from the threats of the ash wastes. That these marauders were beating them had terrifying implications.
Eventually they breached the keep. The duke’s household guard fought valiantly, taking a heavy toll on the invaders, but every time it looked like the marauders might be pushed back the armoured warlord appeared and smashed through the lines. Now you, your brother and the duke faced him in the ruins of your family’s great hall.
>Cont 