Kilterkon Steelbeard – Prelude 1
Kilterkon Steelbeard stumbled out of the tree line and fell to his knees on the rocky ground. The full moon, shining from directly above, illuminated the night, but brought no warmth. Kilterkon’s breath misted in the cold night air, mixing with the dense fog that glowed in the moonlight. The dwarf painfully rose to his feet and stumbled onward, dragging his massive sword through the sod behind him. His pursuers were not far behind and would catch him soon. Those that followed him were undead, dark wraiths that would never tire. There was little chance that Kilterkon could outrun them and survive the night…but he would try.
A monolithic shape loomed in the mist ahead. A crumbling edifice of stone, obviously manmade. The old tower had been blasted apart from the inside; a ruin caused by some ancient wizard’s duel. The structure radiated a soft glow, the mist around it shimmering in the moonlight.
Kilterkon ran towards the stone tower, drawn towards the slim promise of safety. A dwarf is always more content when surrounded by stone. Climbing over a pile of rubble, he jumped down to the ancient floor and landed hard. For a moment, all was quiet and then with a slow groan and a sudden, loud crack, the floor gave way and he fell into darkness. He landed hard on his back at the bottom of a black well.
“A little further” a voice rang in his head.
Regaining consciousness, his eyes fluttered open and he stared upwards through the broken floor, past the shattered roof of the ancient tower, and beyond, to the moon that shone down on him.
Then the moon was occluded by blackness. Red eyes stared down through the hole in the floor. The wraith. Kilterkon’s pursuer was here. With an evil laugh the undead thing descended downwards, with an outstretched hand.
“Run” the voice said
Kilterkon sprang to his feet and dashed into the darkness. There was a tunnel down here. His dwarven vision guided him through a stone passage and deep into the ground. At least he would die as a dwarf should; with solid stone above his head.
With the wraith on his heels, he could feel the deathly cold behind him. Up ahead a door materialized. It looked to be made from wood and steel, but was old and rotten. He threw his weight against it and with a crunch it gave way. He tumbled into a dark room and hit something hard. This was it, the end. He put his back against the wall and turned to face the wretched undead thing that was upon him.
Blackness and red eyes were inches from his face. The creature reached out and grabbed him, cradling his head in its gruesome hand, almost a caress across his cheek. Burning cold seeped into his soul and the wraith lean forward. It opened its mouth impossibly wide, as if to devour the dwarfs head whole…
Then the world went white. Bright sunlight filled the chamber and the wraith screamed. The deafening wail seemed to go on forever and then with finality, all was silent. Face still burning from the unholy touch, Kilterkon opened his eyes. The wraith was gone. Pure white light illuminated the room, its source glowing above him. He had been leaning against a pedestal that supported a suit of armor. Standing up he gazed at the magical treasure. A breastplate of the finest craftsmanship glowed with celestial light. Kilterkon reached out and placed a hand on the armor.
The voice returned, clear, crystalline, and booming.
“You are not meant to die here today Steelbeard.” said a beautiful woman’s voice. “Vengeance can be yours. Vengeance against just those that took you and put you in chains. Vengeance against those who bring misery into this world. Those who allow others to die for nothing. Those who betray their oaths ”
“Do you wish to take vengeance on all liars, betrayers, and cowards? Will you serve as a champion of Zariel?”
With tears running down his scarred face, Kilterkon says, “Yes.”
“Don this armor. Journey to the City of Eltural. There you will join the Order of the Companions. You will bring wrath to the unrighteous. Do this and you will have vengeance.”