"We gathered swiftly, all of us. Wizard, sorcerer, cleric, fighter, ranger, thief ... it did not matter. We were Guildmates, and we had our purpose. A purpose guided by the Paladins of Tyr." Khel's eyes now flashed brightly, twin flames glowing out from otherwise empty sockets
"We had grown used to battling in teams of eight to ten, deliberately training our adventurers to be ready for militarization. We took the concept of an exploration and dungeon party-- and expanded on it. Before the month was out, we had sent a missive to the mad king, and declared war.
"We knew he would need time to consolidate his army. His troops lay scattered through every duchy and noble's territory, ensuring that his people saw his power. What successfully kept his citizens in line, however, was his deadly weakness to our own army. We took none of the rival king's soldiers. We didn't need it. I and the other eight eldest Paladins traveled at the head of a separate army. We would surround the kingdom and move in, take him piece by piece and ensure victory.
"The war was short, only a year, but in that time there was loss and gain, as is the case in most wars. About nine months in, I was struck by a poison arrow during a battle not seventy miles from the capitol. Though we won the day, most feared I would not last the week, for no clerical magic could cure it.
"In truth, my own body had fought off the poison that night, and the fever dream I had was shared by my eight peers. It was a visitation from Tyr Himself. He came to all of us and told us that the brotherhood had need of masters, and that we were to be chosen. We became his Knights, champions of Tyr, justice, and compassion. We would yet need the power.
"On the seventeenth day of the twelfth month, all nine armies were in the capitol and closing in. When we reached the palace, however, we were rocked to our cores by the pure unadulterated evil emanating from it. We, the Nine, went in alone."
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"We had grown used to battling in teams of eight to ten, deliberately training our adventurers to be ready for militarization. We took the concept of an exploration and dungeon party-- and expanded on it. Before the month was out, we had sent a missive to the mad king, and declared war.
"We knew he would need time to consolidate his army. His troops lay scattered through every duchy and noble's territory, ensuring that his people saw his power. What successfully kept his citizens in line, however, was his deadly weakness to our own army. We took none of the rival king's soldiers. We didn't need it. I and the other eight eldest Paladins traveled at the head of a separate army. We would surround the kingdom and move in, take him piece by piece and ensure victory.
"The war was short, only a year, but in that time there was loss and gain, as is the case in most wars. About nine months in, I was struck by a poison arrow during a battle not seventy miles from the capitol. Though we won the day, most feared I would not last the week, for no clerical magic could cure it.
"In truth, my own body had fought off the poison that night, and the fever dream I had was shared by my eight peers. It was a visitation from Tyr Himself. He came to all of us and told us that the brotherhood had need of masters, and that we were to be chosen. We became his Knights, champions of Tyr, justice, and compassion. We would yet need the power.
"On the seventeenth day of the twelfth month, all nine armies were in the capitol and closing in. When we reached the palace, however, we were rocked to our cores by the pure unadulterated evil emanating from it. We, the Nine, went in alone."