Though the documents do not explain
where the Cadence came from, nor what they are, (and the only
information I have of them is from these records), it seems their
invasion began nearly a millennium ago.
Three noble families bound themselves
to the protection of their land, and from them were the first four
heroes. One of each family became ruler and progenitor, and from
them all heroes are descended: Cossette Qvasse of the Hunters, Renata
Dauphin of the Tricksters, and Jaya Terrodyne of the Caberjacks. And
the leader of their warriors was Daniel Qvasse, who would eventually
succeed his sister Cossette to the throne.
Daniel, after two battles became a Lord
and retired, marrying Ceallagh Terrodyne, and raising two children
(for names of lesser heroes see appendix A). Upon his death,
Daniel's epic soul solidified into the first relic. Unfortunately,
it was lost early (as will be explained later in this summary) and
its name is currently unrecovered.
In the early years, the three families
dedicated themselves to building their Houses, and recruited
mercenaries to battle their foe. As they built keeps and settled in
for a campaign to span the centuries, the Dauphins and Terrodynes
adopted promising children. But the records do not indicate who is
shared the blood of Renata and Jaya, and who is of lesser born. The
families though such distinction a distraction, but in their action
posterity will never know the truth.
Of the mercenaries, bearing their own
banners and not of the three houses, Inga Rodinson of the Alchemists
achieved the greatest fame. She was the first warrior to participate
in three battles (the second, third, and fourth of the war), though
she fell defending Elisa Dauphin at the Battle of Saturn's Stone.
And though she was sorely missed, her sacrifice protected one of the
greatest heroes of all time.
Elisa, daughter of Renata Dauphin,
entered her first battle slightly older than normal (23). She
accompanied her older sister Parambutja, who would later become the
second ruler of Dauphin Keep. Though the battle was a disaster, the
two sisters managed to destroy the remaining Cadence, but their three
allies lay dying on the field. Yet, Elisa learned, and until Seigurd
surpassed her record two centuries century later, Elisa was the only
hero to succeed in five battles (4,5,6,7,8). Upon Elisa death, she
became the second artifact, “The Clubbed Foot”, a crossbow which
was held at the final battle “At The Chalice” by Telwin Dauphin.
We return to Seigurd and Telwin later.
In the sixtieth year, after the death
of his spouse, Parambutja, Argulo Terrodyne, son of Jaya became the
first trainer nation after successfully defeating the Cadence in the
fifth and ninth battle.
But the greatest Terrodyne would be his
sister Birthe, who led four missions (8,9,10,11) and upon her death
became the mighty battering ram, “Will Finder”. Based on the
difference in age between Jaya and Birthe (who seemed to be born two
decades after Argulo), I suspect Birthe might be one of the adopted
children, and not of the blood of the Terrodyne.
And to not neglect the Qvasse, Shirle,
daughter of Daniel recorded four victories (10,11,12,13), marking the
high of Qvasse influence.
Yet Shirle and Birthe experienced a
different war than Elisa. Elisa ushered in the end of the Dark Ages.
Before the Battle of Joy (8), casualties averaged one hero per
conflict. Joy was the first struggle no hero perished at. And no
one would die until the last half century of the conflict with the
Cadence. Elisa is the only hero to record more than three victories
in this Dark time. The success of future heroes was in the glory of
the sunlight.
Fighting with Birthe and Shirle was
Celia, the founder of the Sage's guild. While Birthe replaced Arglo
as trainer, Shirle would join Celia. The sages spent their time
inspecting the corpses of the Cadence, desperate to exploit their
abilities for the benefit of the Chalice. When there was no Cadence,
the Sages erected the cathedrals, guilds, and keeps of the nobles.
By now a careful reader might have
noticed the record's referral to “The Chalice”. This massive
artifact, for which there is no evidence, supposedly sat in the
central chamber of The Capital. It's purpose is unexplained, but it
is refereed to in mythical reverential tones.
Let us return to our heroes.
Of Meridia, daughter of Parambutja, it
can be said she was victorious in four battles (10,11,12,14). Upon
her death she crystallized into “Open Yoke”, another crossbow,
held by Sceleris Dauphin in the final battle.
Among the joy of the Old Age (no hero
died, all made it to old age), there is a sadness to relate. Sophia
Qvasse, sister of Shirle, fought three battles (12,13,14), but
disappeared afterwards. And within in a year all record of the
Qvasse vanish. Their artifact was lost, and their line abandoned.
The cause is unknown, and it seemed that members of Dauphin and
Terrodyne risked much in searching, but failed to uncover the
Qvasse's demise.
From then they pledged themselves as
the great Houses. But needing other blood, and worried if another
house should fall, they tasked themselves to raise other families.
Two keeps would go to the D and T, while three other houses would
receive one keep each. And the first was the Paleae. In later
times, as the Cadence encroached and drove the armies of The Capital
into retreat, the plan was altered to three Great Houses, and no
lesser. Paleae became this final House.
But first I would be remiss to ignore
Constaince Dauphin, son of Kristina, daughter of Parambutja, daughter
of Renata. Courageous in four battles (13,14,15,16) he found the
Paleae family. A friend of Richard Paleae, progenitor of the line,
and a blood brother of Morag Paleae (the first warrior of the line
and the second ruler after his father).
Morag served for two battles (13,14)
before retiring to replace Richard.
Then there was a number of heroes who
served four battles in this golden age. Lee Dauphin (16,17,18,19),
Eyad Terrodyne (16,17,18,19), and Ashan Paleae (16,17,18,19). Upon
his death, Ashan became the relict of the Paleae, the “Festering
Boil”. Together these three fought off the first invasion of the
Wrinklers.
Then followed Killergran Paleae and
Erica Terrodyne who both served in 20 through 23. They defeated the
Twitchers.
Remi Terrodyne bridged the gap
(23,24,25,26) between this duo and the trio of Brardin Terrodyne
(24,25,26,27) the greatest hero, Seigurd Dauphin, and the ultimate
victor, Telwin Dauphin.
Seigurd, was found by Lee Dauphin, son
of Cordelia, daughter of Kristina, etc... Already in the contours of
adolescence, but nearing adulthood, he stood among the carnage of the
Cadence. Their foul forms splatted and scattered at his feet. Lee
records, “I saw them there, in land inhospitable, the demons who
slaughter our people. And this youngling stood against them. Death
couldn't claim him”. Lee
brought him to be raised by Fenrir Dauphin, his brother. On that day
Seigurd was presented with “Open Yoke”, wielding it at the age of
fifteen. Nothing did he fear, neither fire, nor poison. And in the
“Battle of the Alone”, he went out alone to fight the advanced
forms of the Cadence, which had begun to advance on The Capital. As
he brought down foe with arrow and blade, the abomination Fafnir
scattered the lesser demons in its haste to engage our hero. Yet it
could not anticipate its own defeat, and Seigurd slew it as easily as
any lesser adversary. That day the Cadence fled for the first and
final time, uncertain of their enemy. And Seigurd calmly cut the
heart from Fafnir and ate it. Those who saw him upon his return
claim he had absorbed the power of the Cadence into himself, though
considering the mystery of his discovery, perhaps this development is
unsurprising. Seigurd surpassed all heroes, victorious in six
battles (25,26,27,28,29,30), against the most vicious enemies.
And he
was gifted with prophesy. Knowing he would die before the final
battle, he abandoned his solitary ways, to train the final heroes.
He journeyed with Telwin Dauphin, the greatest of the Dauphin's
excepting Seigurd himself. Of the Ninth generation of the great
Dauphin family; Renata, Parambutja, Kristina, Cordelia, Fenrir,
Elizabeth, Samira, Johanna, Telwin was the scion of them all. He
learned at the side of Seigurd under the danger of enemy fire
(28,29,30,31). Seigurd spent the final half decade of life, retired
from the field, but training the youth of the nation. Though he was
nearing eighty, those who saw him say he was still in the vigor of
youth. And some speculate he did not die, but vanished for unknown
reasons.
But
Telwin learned well and rallied to himself the bravest, brightest,
warriors. Joseph Terrodyne with the Will Finder, Sceleris Dauphin
with the Open Yoke, Staph Paleae with the Festering Boil, and Phillip
Paleae the Fiend (He slew an ally in the Battle of Nearing Darkness,
but was forgiven if he would fight in the Battle of the Chalice).
Telwin himself wielded the Clubbed Foot.
The
records claim, a Giant Chalice stood in the center of the Capital.
And it was magical, charging its energy over a three century period.
On the final day it would release its energy to destroy the Cadence,
but the foul demons made a final foray to destroy it. There these
heroes gathered and piled the despised and deceased bodies about
them. In glory they acquitted themselves, though Joseph, Sceleris,
and Staph fell in the heap.
At
last, the records maintain, the Chalice spoke to the Hall, and Telwin
recorded its final words:
“As we expend our energy,
dispelling the Cadence, we wish future generations to remember two
facts. We, the Chalice, will be broken and scattered to the winds,
but not completely destroyed. And though the Cadence seems utterly
annihilated, it is not. Just as the sun shall rise, they shall
return. Even now they are gathering their strength. Whoever reads
this must begin the search for our dispersed elements. The cycle
will continue unabated, unless the Cadence are victorious.”
Oh,
no!
Article 1 of 2
Time to Beat: 14 hours
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