Tale of the Dawnbringer

If you will listen, I will tell you my tale.

Before the times of great magic my order sought justice and peace in the world. When the wolves were at the doors of man, it was we who stood stalwart to protect our brothers. Against Inferal demon, against the beasts of the land, and against those who stood against law and goodness, we claimed our spot in the world through purity of heart and strength of arm. At the top of this noble order sat me and my brother. They called me Dawnbringer, as when I rode into battle it was as if the dawn had broken the darkness. They called my brother The Heart's Shield, for he once saved the princess of a great land preventing war between elves and man. Together, we had face many a trial, but those are a story for another time. Tonight I tell you the tale of our final mission, and our final failure.

The great wizard Tatenen, and elf of ancient magic and power had sealed away his kin after their slave-trade had grown to such lengths as to put to work the good races of the world. However, even his powerful magic could not end the life of his former lover. She had made herself into a false goddess, imbued to the very essence of nature itself. Even sealed in another realm removed from ours, her twisted influence on nature tainted the wood around her. For this reason, we were given the power to pass between these worlds and enter her domain, to slay her before she could regain all the power she had had when she walked the mortal plane.

We were fools to think we could take on the goddess of nature, the avatar of the wood, even if she had once been mortal. Through her drow we cut a path, through the deep gnomes that pledged themselves to her, through the twisted dwarves who had aligned themselves to her dark deals. We fought all manner of beast and monstrosity I pray no man will ever be forced to face on the sunny surface of this pure world. But when we finally stood before her, we were no match. Bested, the dark queen of the crows forced us into shapes that she said better fit our "noble titles." So I was made into a sword of light, my brother a shield of ribs. Cursed to bear this form for the remainder of our days, we sat in solitude in her realm for over an age.

I swear hero, no matter what happens, if you are against the mother of the crows then I am for you. I would swear my life in this form to you for better or worse if you would find my brother, and finally slay that evil bitch. To this end, I am yours.