The end of an age

“No I wasn’t among the heroes who destroyed Baal. I wasn’t among those who saw the world stone shatter. However, I was very much a part of the process. There were so many of us in those days…. So many. Now look at us, we’ve either fallen to fighting amongst ourselves for what little power we have left or, finding ourselves shunned for the actions of others. We used to be welcomed as Saviors and Protectors… Now, we’re lucky if we’re not killed on sight.

We Paladins are perhaps the most reviled. For all of our preaching and condemning, we seem to have fallen the farthest. Speak not of the church of Zakarum to me now, it is no longer the Shepard of the people it once was. In the Light’s seeing that we no longer needed the holy powers we once had, and in taking them from us, we now act like spoiled children. All of us who have lost what made us stand above our brothers and sisters now seem to think they should owe us for what we’ve done. We call ourselves Lords and Kings and Queens. No, we were not given power to rule, but to serve, and it seems that the majority of us have forgotten that.”

The man turned towards the door as if listening for a moment. Then with a sigh he continued his story.

“I believe, and I could be wrong for the Light has not deigned to confirm my answers as of late, that our strength was no longer necessary, and thus it was taken from us. I can see why some felt a bit disconcerted by this, after all, had we not trained and studied and learned for years to attain this power? Yes, we did, but why did we do as such? I can’t say the reasons of others, but mine, was because I truly wanted to help the people of this danger ridden land. Others…. Were not as good natured as I or my companions.

After the world stone shattered, our gifts began to wane, and the church, well the church was not very pleased to see its martial strength so depleted. I think that with the demons and beasts gone they wished to start another campaign for souls, which more than likely would have caused very few souls saved, and many lives lost. For the most part I am thankful that this is so, for I have seen a party of my kind, each with a different glow about them, each commanding a different aura that they all shared, and I have seen the force they can convey. Now instead, we were simply men. Men with a good sword arm yes, but there are plenty of those about.”

The man seemed to smile for a moment, and his features brightened considerably. Then taking a drink from his cup he turned once more to the man who regarded him and spoke once more in that soft voice that seemed so tired.

“I have heard tales of the atrocities that were being committed by the church, and at first I disbelieved. Surely this was some slander I said, and when words were spoken I was too quick to denounce them and call them false. Even when an old comrade approached me with what should have been sure proof, I called him a liar. Hence why you no longer see me with Speaks-with-Mountains, as you know the barbarians are a proud people, and with my pride I turned one of best friends away. It was not until I met with my fellows one eve, and they spoke of being called back to the East by the Light. I was confused at first, but followed my brethren back East, leaving behind friends with little more than a note. I regret doing so now.

It was an arduous journey, and many were the times that we nearly did not stop to help those in need, and had it not been for my remonstrations, we would not have I believe. That was when I first began to doubt, to think that perhaps the Light was guiding me no longer. It was coincidence that around this time, my command of holy auras began to dissipate. I thought originally the cause was my doubt. I have since come to the conclusion otherwise, but as you know a paladin’s strength is tied to his faith, and since my faith was waning, I thought my lack of faith was cause for my weakness. In my scrutinization of self, I did not notice my brethren were experiencing similar trouble, and thus continued to believe myself wrong.”

The sounds outside were gathering now and the noise was slowly becoming louder, as it moved towards the home of the family he now resided in. He sighed again and began to finger his sword, no longer so magically light and sharp, now just a simple thing of exotic looking metal. It would not be long now, he thought.

“Our journey had taken longer than my brethren expected due to my intervention, however finally, we made it to our destination. What I saw shocked me, and assured me of the accusations of my companions. The church was no longer the guiding hand of the Light, as it was so blatantly displayed before my eyes their unrighteous ways. I will not speak of what I saw, for I have not the time and I would not say such things around children, but I must admit my cowardice and say that I fled, rather than die among the righteous who attempted to stop what was going to happen. What you need know now is this, these are dark times we will live through, as if we knew any other. Now however it is not some heartless demon lord we face, but we must look upon our enemy, and be shocked to find it is ourselves.”

The sounds were now so loud that the paladin nearly had to raise his voice near the end. He moved to the man he called brother, embraced him for a long moment, armor cased body pressing against pliable flesh. He went to the young boy and girl, gave them each a hug as well as a trinket to remember him by. Their mother was not there, having passed away during the troubled times in the years before. The man felt tears coming, but fought them off.

“Amazing.” He thought. ”That after all I’ve seen and done, I still have tears left in me.”

Then he opened the door and stepped out, the mob forming a semi-circle around him, the door to his back.

“Hang him! String him up! Bleed him Dry! Burn him like his kind did to us!”

At each taunt and catcall he winced, as if they penetrated his armor like the claws and spikes of the demons he’d fought. His stood still, arms crossed over his chest, silently pleading with the light to forgive show them forgiveness. Pleading that he might someday forgive himself for what he must do. He was not yet ready to die, his message must still be heard, but he was beginning to wonder, at what cost. Suddenly the man in the house ran out, the children watching fearfully out the windows of the darkened house, the only light inside a single candle, which barely managed to illuminate the cherubic faces of the children. The man stood in front of his brother and shouted to the enraged farmers and townspeople.

“Stop this! This is my brother! Your neighbor for many years! How can you accuse him of such things.”

“Look at’im! He’s one of them there paladins. Them who take our crops and our lives. We’re tired a submittin to their will.” The man sighed and just stood there, the only thoughts were about how he was going to avoid a confrontation when his brother nearly screamed at the rabble in frustration.

“He saved our lives today! All of ours! Where would we be if he hadn’t been here? Over run by those who really do steal our crops, we would never have stopped those raiders if he hadn’t been here.”

“That’s just another ploy by the church! They probably sent both of them, so that they could better have control of us! We’re not fools!” The argument continued and the man seemed to ignore it all in his own silent pleads to the Light to guide him. The rock was thrown at him, and another. At first they struck his armor plated body and glanced harmlessly off, but they began to get increasingly more accurate. His face was cut and bruised, and he was thankful for his armor as he stood under the barrage. He drew his sword and for a moment the mob stopped, surprised at the sight of a naked blade. Then he walked forward and the crowd parted. Making way for him, with a final glance at his brother, as if to say sorry, he left and went on his way. He hoped to seek out some of his former companions, to see if he could apologize for the harsh words he’d said, and to find hope where he always knew it would be found, in the company of friends.