Blood of the Dragon (Origin of House Skyfire)
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
The following is a popular legend passed through the generations of House Skyfire and Sanctus. Its authenticity cannot be confirmed due to the age of the tale. Regardless, it is the commonly accepted origin of House Skyfire and the holy blade, Ice.
Before the time of recorded history, our land of Sosaria was a world overrun by wickedness and evil. The unholy wizard Mondain, along with his witch bride Minax, brutally oppressed the people with their tyranny. Together the two summoned the foulest demons and creatures of the Abyss to enforce their will.
Our ancestral home of Trinsic was not yet the fabulous stronghold of light that it is today. During the Age of Darkness, it was but a small fishing town and home to a small band of resistance fighters.
The Virtues, as we know them, did not yet exist in their formal sense as established by Lord British. The people of this group believed in two distinct forces in the universe: The Light, which is the driving force of natural life, nature, virtous aspects of humanity, and all things good in the world. The other force was Oblivion and its servant, Entropy; the driving forces of death, decay, necromancy, and corruption. The people believed that these forces were locked into an eternal struggle for dominion over Sosaria. To them, Mondain and his minions were the Avatars of Oblivion made flesh.
Vanya, a young priestess of the light resided among these early residents of what is now Trinsic, providing spiritual guidance and healing to a people in misery.
Vanya often traveled along the roads to offer her services to people in need. One such day she was attacked by the followers of Oblivion. The undead hordes ambushed and captured the young priestess, taking her for sacrifice upon their unholy alter.
As she lay prostrate upon the cold slab, she cried out to the light for deliverance. Her cries were answered. The ground shook and trees snapped like kindling with the torrent of wind that descended upon the enclave. A great roar was heard in the distance, as if Sosaria herself had cried out in anger.
Through the trees came what seemed a man. His eyes were as blue steel, hair as black as the darkest void, and armor so golden that it turned the darkness to daylight. His blade was as fire. The kiss of the greatsword turned the undead to ash with the slightest stroke. Within moments, her captors were no more.
The golden knight freed her from her bonds and helped her to her feet. Vanya asked to whom she owed her life. The golden knight responded, “To the divine light which has guided me to your aide.”
Vanya intoned her prayers of thanks to the light. She gazed over the stranger again. “Surely you have a name, Sir Knight?” she asked.
The stranger pondered for a long moment, as if never asked this question before.
“My name is Twyin….Skyfire.”
Tywin took Vanya back to the village. There he took up residence, captivated by the young priestess. Eventually, the two were wed. However, their happiness would be short-lived.
Mondain’s regional overlord, a Lich Lord by the name of Mar’dun, had become aware of the lightbringers residing in the village. He gathered his dark forces and sent them against the town.
People fled in panic as the Death Knights and reavers descended upon their homes with fire and steel. The undead showed no mercy, sparing neither man, woman, or child in their rage.
Vanya searched wild-eyed for her husband, failing to locate Tywin anywhere. Had he fled from the coming onslaught? Surely, her love had not abandoned the people he had sworn to protect.
The few surving members huddled on the docks, weapons pointing feebly at the approaching horde. The Lich Lord Mar’Dun made his way through the ranks until he stood before the priestess. His empty eye sockets shone a dull red in the evening twilight as he lifted her off her feet. Then the unexpected happened.
A great plume of scorching white fire erupted from the heavens, incinerating the followers of Mar’Dun as they scattered in fear.
The beat of huge wings created a torrent of wind which knocked all but Mar’Dun to their backs. The golden wyrm landed, its maw emitting a thunderous roar as the Lich Lord turned to observe his new foe.
Their combat commenced, the great beast rending the ground with its weight as Mar’Dun called forth the powers of Oblivion. The air crackled and came alive as the forces of Light and Shadow crashed amongst one another.
The wyrm reared, coming down with all its weight on the Lich Lord, pinning him beneath its front legs. In a last desperate effort, Mar’Dun placed his hands upon the wyrm. Its golden scales browed and then blackened, as the decay spread over its body. With its final ounce of strength, it bellowed another great torrent of fire, destroying the Lich Lord.
The great beast closed its eyes and collapsed, shaking the ground as it fell. As it lay dying, it began to shrink and change.
There, barely breathing, lay Lord Twyin Skyfire.
Vanya ran to him, cradling his head in her arms as she sobbed.
“Do not cry for me my wife. This is a happy day. You are with child. Yours is the blood of the dragon and the light.”
He turned his head and kissed her one final time, before placing his greatsword in her hands.
“The divine gift of the light…Ice to quench the fires of Oblivion’s hells. Pass it through the generations to be a rallying cry for the light, and a symbol of fear for the darksworn. My spirit will always reside within its blade. None but those of my true blood may wield it.”
The valiant knight closed his eyes for the last time…and disappeared. All that remained was the blade, Ice, and the promise of a child within Vanya’s womb.
And so has the legend been passed through all the Ages of Sosaria, and all the generations of House Skyfire. The only proof of the story is the holy blade itself, Ice, which resides in the care of the patriarch of House Skyfire.
_________________
~Lord Talon Skyfire
King of Sanctus
Resident Curmudgeon of Atlantic