The Fall of Ulfar

The wedding ceremony begins, festivities and the likes are filled with joy and happy faces. Scarlet clad folks gather round to watch as the Chaplain rose strides confidently up the aisle, her divine beauty capturing the admiration of every attendee, even the dwarves begrudgingly accept that for a spink, she's looking wonderful on her day and honourably nod in approval as she makes her way past. The finest rolborian musicians play a tune for her entrance.

As Ulfar looks to his painted bride, he feels crowans warmth embrace him, he knows this is his purpose when he’s not serving his lady. He smiles as she approaches closer, taking salvage in the surrounding gasps from the guests as they bask in her glory. Father Cragen respectfully removes his helmet and nods to the Defender as the elf approaches, symbolising the severity of the ceremony and the respect he has for his church.

“Dearly beloved.” echoes High Father Sam over the rapidly quieting crowd. “We’re gathered here today in the light of the seven and the protection of Lady Crowa to unite these two Crowans in holy bonds.” he continues.

Ulfar smiles at his somewhat blushing bride who delicately lifts her veil.

“I ask, is there any that can say with whole hearts, that they know a reason that either of these two should not wed?” Sam asks carefully, “Knowing that if you don’t have a good reason you’ll take a twatting from us all.” he adds carefully, leading to a cheer from the crowans.

“Then so be it.” Sam says happily. “Before we begin, let us take a moment, to remember those we have lost. Due to sacrifice, and battle being their guidance.” he adds taking a bow slightly. “May they rest in Elisium.” he adds kissing his holy symbol. His sleeve falls slightly revealing the word ‘Eva’ engraved onto his skin.

The crowd murmur as they all praise the seven in unison.

“Ulfar, you are the defender of faith of our esteemed church. You bear a title that others cannot possibly ever fathom the responsibility that comes with it.” Sam explained, “You choose to take on the responsibility of making a good woman out of Arikai?”

As Ulfar opens his mouth, a crash of thunder and flashes of light erupt in the camp. The guests panic as they turn to see a Necromancer appear in the camp surrounded by Undead. “Well Hello there Defender.” he says mockingly, “ENJOY MY GIFTS!” he yells firing a writhing thunderbolt into the crowd, the dust kicks up as the undead begin to march forward.

A lone shout comes from the cloud of dust comes as the first skeleton flies out of the cloud… as it settles, Arikai stands mace in hand, her dress glowing as red as the almighty lady crowa herself. “I do not need to be made into a good woman.” she says between breaths, throwing her veil to a witness. Her soon to be husband following in her footsteps sword drawn as High Father Sam joins the line, the audience begin to unit together, drawing their weapons before diving into the undead horde.

More mages appear inside the camp and begin throwing spells at the wedding goers, they don’t stay down for long as Ulfar marshals his church together, commanding them to attack the mages as the wedding goers follow suit. Ulfar charges into a group of ghouls, his sword glowing with the might of Crowa as the beasts fall to his blade.
Arikai shouts, “SAM. DO THE WEDDING!” as she strikes another down.
Sam turns, “I’M A BIT bymyfaithcleave I’M A BIT BUSY AT THE MOMENT!” he screams sending another of the creatures crashing into a animate.
Ulfar dodges a blow by a death knight before striking a fatal blow to the creatures skeletal face. “NOW SAM!” he orders before kicking the crumbling corpse to the floor.
Sam turns wiping his blade with a rag, “ALRIGHT FINE!” he yells before pulling a dagger out and stabbing a black robed mage through the throat. “DO YOU ARIKAI!” he pauses, “FUCK OFF YOU SHIT EEL PRAISE BE TO THE LADY CROWA FOR HER FORTITUDE!” he yells, furiously stomping on the crotch of another mage. It’s dagger still embedded in the Priests shoulder. “DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN AS YOUR HUSBAND?” He manages to shout between punches, his fist rattling off a semi unconscious mage.

Arikai nods, “I do!” she manages to say before catching a creature on her shield and flipping it onto its back and burying her sword in it’s heart. “I take Ulfar as my husband!” she yells falling to her knees to bury the sword deeper in the still twitching corpse.
Sam throws a body onto her sword, “GOOD!” he turns to Ulfar, “ULFAR. Do you take, LISTEN UP YOU CHAINMAIL WADDLING SHIT EEL!” he yells, finally managing to catch his attention. “DO YOU TAKE ARIKAI AS YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE IN THIS. HANG ON.” he stops and pulls the dagger out of his shoulder before plunging it into the face of a cultist. “STOP RUINING MY BIT!” he screams before kicking the man in the crotch and flinging him into a steadily increasing pile of bodies. “NOW THEN. DO YOU TAKE ARIKAI AS YOUR LAWFULLY WEDDED WIFE IN THIS LIFE AND IN ELISIUM?” he yells amidst the carnage.
Ulfar stands from behind his arrow dented shield, “I DO.”
Sam cleaves through a line of cultists, “GOOD. THEN BY THE POWERS INVESTED IN ME BY THE LADY CROWA AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE SEVEN I DELCARE YOU HUSBAND AND WIFE. FUCKING KISS AND LEAVE THE RINGS TILL WE’VE DEALT WITH THESE SHIT EELS!” he yells.

Sharing the briefest kiss possible and a brief smile they continue the fight, Ulfar longs for another brief moment of Arikais lips but he knows that her bloodlust will lead to passion later on. Arikai disappears into a horde of undead before reemerging over the now crumbling bodies with the head of another Necromantic cultist.
“Decoration for the kids room.” she says rolling it over to his feet.
Ulfar smiles, and makes a note to come back for that later. He charges alongside her and Sam with the rest of the wedding guests to take on the head necromancer… as his feet fail him and the masses fall to the ground under an unseen force.

“YOU FOOLS. THINK YOU COULD TAKE ME ON DIRECTLY?” the figure says pacing, “YOU TRY TO SMITE ME WITH MORTAL WEAPONS?” he adds kicking one of the wedding guests. “THERE IS NONE THAT CAN DEFEAT ME.” he says finally levelling his staff over Arikais heart. “Noone short of the gods can stop me now.” he mocks.

Sam stops, he shakes his head at Ulfar. “Don’t.” but it’s too late.
With the light of Crowa burning through his heart, Ulfar rises to his feet, “Crowa… Aid me in this my final battle.” he ushers, glowing with the light of Crowa and his weapon becoming part of his arm. His shields dents popping out like new as his armour knits itself together before glowing with his body. A final yell comes out as his eyes become burning visions of the gods light and he effortlessly cleaves the staff in two. The wedding goers begin to shuffle back, Sam holds Arikai as she tries to go after he husband.

“YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME!” the mage says unconvinced, throwing his shattered staff aside and throwing a pure stream of soulfire into Ulfars chest…. Ulfar looks down at his armour, reflecting the blast into harmless air unscathed. He smiles briefly.
“My turn.” he says raising his sword and piercing the beam into two. Causing it to fade slowly as it weakens with each passing moment.

Ulfar slowly steps towards the mage, blocking the desperate balls of soul fire the mage throws towards him with minimal effort. “It is you, that cannot defeat…” he says grabbing the mage by the throat, “Us.” he says driving the blade into the mages stomach.
The mage gasps, “Who are you mortal?” he asks through baited breaths.
Ulfar smiles, “I am Ulfar, Defender of Crowa. Protector of the meek. Arikais Husband…. and with Crowas light I banish you from this plane. Foul beast of magic.” he replies defiantly, his voice echoing whispers of Elisium as his grip tightens and the mage slowly fades from life. “Tell your master, he will never defeat us.” the defender says finally before throwing the corpse to the floor.

The light fades from Ulfars armour and body, he staggers slightly and walks towards Arikai, “We will be together in Elisium my love.” he says collapsing into her arms. “I did it for you.” he says removing a ring from his pocket made of Goril. “Wear it always, and feel my love for you each day. Until your last.” he says shaking.
Arikai sheds a single tear, defiant to the last. “And you will wear this forever.” she says removing a ring from her pouch, “You will know the embrace of our Lady Crowa at last.” she echoes, “Now rest sweet defender. Rest on in Elisium.” she finishes with a kiss as his eyes close finally.

Around the scene the wedding goers remove their hats respectfully, as Sam gets to his feet slowly, “FRIENDS AND WARRIORS.” he shouts, clearly holding back emotions to improve his morale. “ULFAR DIED NOT FOR OUR MISTAKES, HE DIED DEFENDING US ALL FROM A CREATURE OF UNFATHOMABLE POWER. DO NOT MOURN THIS MAN WITH SADNESS. HE FELL DOING WHAT ALL CROWANS DESIRE IN LIFE. SHOWING THEIR COMPANIONS, THAT WE ARE WHAT WE ARE. AND THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF ITHRON WILL NOT BE SLAVES TO THE SO CALLED, GREATER POWERS.” he yells confidently, “YOU ALL FOUGHT BRAVELY. NOW LET US REMEMBER HIM AS HE LIVED.” he pauses to wipe a tear, “FOR ULFAR!” Sam yells, as the crowd begin to yell in unison, Arikai joining them, cradling the departed Defender. Of Crowa.