Hi everyone! \u00a0We’re going to give you a fairly short, fairly dark story today, leading up to a more whimsical, yet longer tale in the next week or so. \u00a0This one tells the tale of Alduin, a paladin who has lost his faith and fallen from grace. \u00a0It’s a dreary tale set in a dreary part of Tellest, and it has some tragedy for being such a quickly told piece. \u00a0Either way, I hope you enjoy it, and are loving this new year as much as I am! \u00a0Cheers!<\/p>\n
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Fallen<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A cold zephyr stoked the flames that danced upon the candle wicks.\u00a0 Like a whisper, it swept through the building, sneaking up the stone steps on either side of the wide hall.<\/p>\n The heavy oak door was thrust open for a moment, allowing the unexpected visitor to pass through.\u00a0 Greaves and boots rattled against the hard, frigid floor in hushed tones.\u00a0 The man was careful to mute his movements with slow and steady steps.<\/p>\n Alduin gently placed his hand against the door, pressing until he heard the telling click.\u00a0 With only the meager light from the candles and chandeliers high above, the building somehow seemed more dismal.<\/p>\n His eyes rose, past the line of pews, and he gazed upon the effigy that stood at the rear of the temple.\u00a0 Animus, the god of life, held a glass disc in his hands.\u00a0 The brotherhood had taken to calling it the Lens of Truth, but Alduin knew better.\u00a0 It was just an extra bit of flair that an overzealous sculptor had added to a commissioned piece.<\/p>\n Sighing, the weary man lifted the helmet from his head.\u00a0 As that breath escaped his lips, it turned into steam before evaporating into the air.\u00a0 He placed the helm upon the pommel of his sword, still in its scabbard on his belt.<\/p>\n With his vision still on that back wall, he peered out the window behind the statue.\u00a0 Grey clouds kept the sun from casting down its warmth, yet the persistent snow let a drear haze press against the glass.\u00a0 That blank canvas halted there, leaving the temple to its shadows.<\/p>\n Alduin turned to face the stone steps in the corner of the building.\u00a0 As he passed by the rows of candles there, the snow on his fur cloak sparkled in protest.\u00a0 He had already seen them though, and swept them off his shoulder.<\/p>\n The steps led into a spiraling staircase, all encased within the dark stone.\u00a0 With narrowed eyes, he began his steady ascent.\u00a0 More of those deeply colored wooden pews had been constructed on the second floor.\u00a0 They sat angled toward Animus, as did a matching set on the opposite side.\u00a0 He slid between two rows, his path deliberate and his pace quick.<\/p>\n As he reached the rear of the temple, Alduin heard steps resonating from down below.\u00a0 He narrowed his eyes and remained focused ahead.\u00a0 He shifted a standing candelabrum to the side.\u00a0 A stone pillar jutted from the wall behind it, each brick tightly packed against each other.<\/p>\n He reached for his belt, producing a short knife, a subtle scrape humming into the air.\u00a0 That blade was pressed against the masonry, casting one large stone aside.<\/p>\n Though the muted lights from the candles couldn\u2019t pierce that dark shroud, the inside of the pillar seemed to glow.\u00a0 There, at the center of the hollow, was a single red feather.\u00a0 Alduin reached inside, his fingers curing beneath the magnificent plume.<\/p>\n \u201cI had thought it too cold to see one offering prayers,\u201d a stranger behind him spoke.<\/p>\n The visitor stared ahead at his prize, barely reacting to the sound.\u00a0 \u201cI offer no prayer, brother monk,\u201d he griped.\u00a0 \u201cFor there is no one who would hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAhh, the Fallen One has returned.\u201d<\/p>\n Alduin turned then, pulling a pouch from his belt.\u00a0 He used no discretion as he placed the roc\u2019s feather in the small leather satchel.\u00a0 Finally, he looked up, noticing the monk of his former order.<\/p>\n Clothed in flowing brown robes, the man\u2019s weathered features managed to blend beneath the shadows.\u00a0 His short, silvery hair was more visible, though not so striking as his dark eyebrows that furled at the sight of the dissident.<\/p>\n \u201cI did not recognize your voice, Edgar,\u201d Alduin mocked.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s become weaker over this past year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe cold will do that,\u201d the monk conceded.\u00a0 \u201cBut once the thaw comes, I will find my strength again.\u00a0 As you did.\u00a0 Animus works in wonderful ways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know as well as I that I am no longer a champion of that cause.\u201d<\/p>\n Edgar nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThat may be, but he has not forgotten you.\u201d<\/p>\n Stepping forward, Alduin scowled at his former friend.\u00a0 \u201cI know what I saw.\u00a0 When I fell beneath the floe, there was nothing.\u00a0 Your Animus is a lie.\u00a0 After this life, there is only darkness.\u00a0 And I won\u2019t let the frost take Iona without a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t let you leave with the feather,\u201d Edgar insisted.\u00a0 \u201cThere will be others that will need it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey can have what remains,\u201d Alduin snarled.<\/p>\n The old monk stood straight after hearing that comment.\u00a0 He shook his head, his vision falling upon the floor.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened to you?\u00a0 What happened to the paladin we knew?\u00a0 You used to uphold these laws.\u00a0 You used to stand for justice.\u00a0 What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n With fierce eyes, Alduin stared ahead.\u00a0 \u201cI fell,\u201d he spat.<\/p>\n Lifting his chin, the weathered warrior started forward.\u00a0 Edgar held his ground, swallowing hard as his old friend advanced.<\/p>\n The heel of a hand landed against an armored chest.\u00a0 A hefty thwack<\/em> resonated into the temple, and the paladin was just barely aware that he had been pressed backward.\u00a0 His countenance became even more frightening then as his eyes widened.\u00a0 He dropped his shoulder and charged forth.<\/p>\n Both men struggled against the angled pews then.\u00a0 Their contest of strength cracked wood and bruised flesh, and each felt the momentum of the battle toss and turn.\u00a0 It was naught but a series of blurs, yet Alduin saw one thing clearly.\u00a0 Edgar\u2019s fingers wrapped around the leather pouch, and he tugged it from the warrior\u2019s belt.<\/p>\n With no hesitation, the helmet flew from the pommel on Alduin\u2019s hip.\u00a0 It struck the monk in his jaw, spinning him around and away.<\/p>\n Crashing against the railing that overlooked the floor below, the monk shook his head, blinking his eyes furiously.<\/p>\n A cacophonous crack alerted both men to the consequences of their scuffle.\u00a0 The railing snapped, and Edgar teetered backward.<\/p>\n Alduin leapt ahead, reaching for his former companion.<\/p>\n He only managed to retrieve his pouch once more.\u00a0 Edgar tipped over, and a stunted scream was all that remained of him.<\/p>\n Stepping forward, the paladin looked down at the rows of pews.\u00a0 The monk lay strewn across one of those wooden benches.\u00a0 While the man lay broken, the pew stood strong.<\/p>\n Alduin sighed, but looked at his prize.\u00a0 The pouch remained undamaged, barely a new crease upon it.\u00a0 He shrugged and turned back toward the stone staircase.<\/p>\n As he proceeded on, he took more care to look at his surroundings.\u00a0 He traced each intricacy of the stone with his fingers.\u00a0 He breathed deeply when his boots made their muted thuds against the last step.\u00a0 The aroma of the incense seemed more powerful then.\u00a0 When he passed the candles on each side, he held his hand atop one of the wicks, snuffing out the flame.<\/p>\n Several more steps carried him to the door.\u00a0 He steadied his hand against the sturdy frame.<\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be coming back this way again.\u201d<\/p>\n When he pushed the door open, he was surprised to see that the sunlight was piercing through the clouds.\u00a0 It scattered across the snow, leaving the man temporarily blinded.<\/p>\n Alduin turned then, guarding his eyes with his hand.\u00a0 Looking back into the temple, he curled his fingers into a fist, steadying it against his chest.<\/p>\n The sunlight shone through the rear window of the building.\u00a0 There, it was amplified by Animus\u2019 Lens of Truth.\u00a0 It radiated out upon the pews, leaving a halo around the lifeless body of the monk.<\/p>\n The leather pouch slipped from the paladin\u2019s fingers.\u00a0 He stared ahead for only a moment longer before his head bowed.<\/p>\n Alduin fell to his knees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hi everyone! \u00a0We’re going to give you a fairly short, fairly dark story today, leading up to a more whimsical, yet longer tale in the next week or so. \u00a0This one tells the tale of Alduin, a paladin who has lost his faith and fallen from grace. \u00a0It’s a dreary tale set in a dreary 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