Ebon Skull Archives: The Story of Jedah Nightshadow

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This is reposted from OES documentation for the pleasure of the Atlantic Community. Story by Jedah Nightshadow of OES.


In this world the paladins of virtue are held with the highest respects amongst the Ordinary. Kings granted them audience and great mages bowed at their passing, what a shame that the paladins are not always what they seem. The Group of "Virtue Seekers" known as the Silver Cross was an elite fighting force. They were known throughout the realm as a powerful foe of the darkness which dwells in the night. Although as I have seen in the past even the brightest stars harbor darkness and so was true with the ways of man. Some ere born to do neither great good nor evil, they simply existed and followed what rules they felt necessary. Others were born with the Light in their hearts. Great hero's of legend who could turn back the Darkness with shingling blades. It was too bad these were mostly tales for children. The darkness however was real...it grew deep inside even the holiest of knights. Jedah looked across the battlefield.

The Mantle of the Silver cross was tattered and torn as the Legionnaires worked tediously to free it from beneath its previous bearer. The blood soaked fields were ridden with the decaying corpses of Orcish kin. The campaign to drive the orcs from the foothills of Yew had begun nearly four years ago and finally ended on this ground...it would be a moment forever marked in history...a glorious battle which would be told for all time. Jedah motioned his horse forward through the sea of carrion. Broken lances and shattered bits of armor scattered the fields as a constant reminder of the casualties the British armies had taken. Across the field he could see his commander Lord Valitain, Leader of the Cross and Knight General of the armies of Britain. He was a large man who had seen many a battle in his lifetime, a brilliant tactician who had never seen defeat, or at least that was the image he conveyed. He wore a long white main which matched perfectly with his similarly colored mustache. He looked the part of an old Grandfather. but Jedah had seen the man fight like a starved lion and knew not to underestimate the general because of his age. He smiled as Jedah drew nearer and began to laugh at some unknown jest. The Man with him upon a much smaller white mare was Lord British's personal messenger Talinar. The weasel like little man looked an odd shade of green for some reason as he held a white linen cloth to his noble mouth. It had just become clear to him what was so funny to his knight commander, as Jedah looked at the ground beside Talinar. It seemed not all were as used to the smell of Death as a soldier. Jedah had forgotten that feeling long ago. An emptiness was inside him now...A place that only death could fill in his soul. He could feel it grow with every limb severed at his sword, and every heart pierced by his lance.

"Jedah it is good to see you have made it threw yet another battle with me" boomed Valitain as he reined his war horse in beside my own. "It seems the Light has smiled on us once again". Jedah smiled for a moment his eyes never leaving the worm like Talinar.

Known as Jedah Nightshadow, he was born as Jedah Le'ralion, a name which brought back memories of a farm life near Trinsic, which he would care not to recollect. He was given the title of Nightshadow after an assault he had lead against a group of ettins Led by the Titan Nor'Gath. Jedah had head the Silver Cross into the camp under the cover of night and slaughtered the Beasts while they lay in their beds of grass and sticks. It had been a well planned surprise attack which earned him his place as Second in the Cross.

"Yes Milord may the light also grant us a peaceful trip home as well..." Looking back upon those words it would seem almost bitter irony.

For the next 3 days the army marched south forgoing camp at the city of Yew. The Return to Britain was all that was on the mind of the soldiers.

It was on the fourth day that Valitain took me into tent with a solemn look on his old worm face. He looked tired of late...ever since the night two days ago when he had been heard shouting at the Messenger in the middle of the day. His Scouts had told him that Talinar had left and had not been seen since...

"Sit Jedah, please Sit" The knight General motioned to a pile of pillows which were set on the floor. Taking a seat the Valitain soon followed.

"Is something Wrong Milord?" I asked as I carefully watched the aging figure lower himself to the floor like any twice his age.

"Yes...Jedah...something is terribly wrong. It seems we have become the victim of some political scheme...."Valitains face hardened for a moment as if focusing on a point of anger in his mind.

"What can you mean?" I muttered" Well it seems someone within the Silver Cross...has let go of their virtues and committed some horrible acts of murder. This sick individual has been leaving a trail since we left Britain...and is thought to be an agent of Darkness. The thought hit me like a hammer across the face...

"I swear my lord I will help in anyway that I can, we will find the traitor and have him dealt with and hung from the walls of Britain!" With that Knight General began to chuckle.

"I am glad to hear you say that Jedah..." It was all too quick for me to truly understand one moment it was me and Valitain...the next two other beings held me from behind. A sick smile etched across the old mans face as he slowly pulled a knife from his belt. "You see I could not have myself discovered and I knew you would be as loyal as to offer your own life for mine" I screamed and cursed and fought with all my strength... but all I could hear was his laughter. My mouth had been shut by some arcane spell... and the hands which held me from behind were like steel. I felt the Knife blade move across my throat and I thought of the Virtues which I had spent my life to defend... It was only then...as my blood dripped from blade of the most virtuous man I had ever known, that I saw the lies...Saw through the Virtues and the beliefs of the light... and as I die... as the cold steel made it's final trip around my throat. I swore...to all that was Dark and unholy that I would return... return to purge the world of the virtues which had woven the fabric of society. To make all of mankind pay for the very crimes I had given my life defending.

Whether it was hell, Oblivion, or the Skull itself that guided me to this island of Death and Ice, One thing can be known. That when again I set foot upon the realm of the virtuous, it shall be with a fist of Flame and thirst for Blood.

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