Crying out in pain, I woke from a restless sleep disoriented by the extreme loss of blood I had suffered from my wounds. The nightmares and strange images that had plauged my sleep did not help my condition and for several minutes I stared blankly into the darkness struggling to remember not only where I was, but who I was. Faint footsteps approaching drew me from the fog of memories, or lack of memories, and the flap of my tent was drawn open. The light of a campfire pushed back the darkness and the silouette of a woman entered my tent.

"I heard you cry out, m'lord, and thought you might be in need of some relief."

"The pain I feel is not of the body but of the mind and spirit," I heard myself say without thinking. "But I thank you for your concern."

"Aye, many of us have felt that pain of late, but you must not ignore the wounds you recieved while protecting us from the creatures that invaded our hamlet. If not for you and your friend we would all have fallen victim to their vile intentions not to mention the fact that you both prevented my grandson from becoming the sacraficial lamb of some dark ritual."

Images or the memories of the battle began to break through the fog. I could remember the figure of a Great Warrior superimposed with the image of an Eagle fighting beside me. Gray_Eagle! Yes, the Warrior's name was Gray_Eagle, Duke of the Lakelands. Though I could not remember exactly how I came to be fighting by his side his presence had given me the Courage to face an enemy that overwhelmed me. Covered in as much of my own blood as that of our enemy I had somehow survived, or perhaps it was some sort of divine intervention that sustained me.

After replacing my bandages with fresh ones, the woman brought me a steaming mug of tea. "Drink this, m'lord, it is a special blend of spices that is said will calm and sooth the soul. I will leave you now so you may get some restful sleep before the dawn."

I gratefully took the mug and sipped from it. It had a very unusual flavor that I could not discribe and the calming effect was almost immediate. The more I sipped the more of my recent memories returned though my distant past was no more than splintered images of another life and another realm. Then, as I began to drift into a restful sleep I remembered a name... Midnight. Wheither it is my real name or simply the name I know myself by I may never know. But I hope in time I will recall my origins though what I am today is really all that matters.

I remained near the Hamlet on the borders of Westmarch for several days. A few carpenters, dispatched by Gray_Eagle I presumed, had arrived to repair the damage the Raiders had done to the homes and businesses in the village, but I found it a bit disturbing that they had not been accompanied by any Knights or Soldiers.

I finally confided in Mardra, the old woman who had tended to my wounds, that my memories had somehow become clouded. Without revealing just how extreme my memory loss was, I questioned her about the history of the Empire.

Much of the tale she told about the Dragons seemed vague and perhaps a bit distorted by the nature of Legends and song and did nothing to jog my memory, but the mention of the Northern Reaches and Dragonspire did. I recalled being questioned and tested by a Knight known as Scorpion and being Knighted into the Empire of Draconia by Blooded_Wolf. When he had asked me which Duchy I would serve I asked to serve the one that was in most need of an Honorable Knight since I was not familiar with the Duchies. That is how became a Knight of the Lakelands.

Mardra's description of the Coastlands did nothing to move me, but the mere mention of Enchantia brought forth dark images that threatened to consume my soul. I also seemed to recollect fighting minor creatures and demons of the dark beside other Knights of the Empire, though their names still seem to escape me.

When she spoke of Nova Q'lynnesti and the City of Soliath I drew a deep breath as I remembered the grander of a great temple. I knew I had visited Soliath and walked within the walls of the Great Library and the Temple of Kala. I had sorted through the works of the Druids so I might better understand and serve this empire that had adopted me as its own. I had even met a few of the Druids... Oneaus, the patriarch, as well as Drakar and Wulfgar and spoken about Honor, Valor and Virtue. I knew the work of the Druids was an intricate tapestry woven with the fabric of history that not only preserved history with a connection to the past but also defined the identity of the Empire. But most importantly the work of the Druids was the gateway to the future and the Portal of Destiny for the spirit of generations to come.

When Mardra spoke of the history of the Lakelands her images were much more vivid and her voice much more emotional. It was apparent some of the history she had lived first hand, particularly the War against Westmarch in which she had lost her husband, brothers, and son. Though the Empire had rallied and won the war by driving the forces of Westmarch back into their homelands, they had suffered great losses and the people of the Lakelands were still struggling to recover. They felt a great unease knowing that the Knights of the Lakeland were now few and far between with any defense they might have spread thin. In fact, many believed it was only by the Hand of Kala that Westmarch had not yet discovered how weakened the Lakeland borders of the Empire had become.

With this new and renewed knowledge I made a resolve to serve the Lakelands and the Empire as a whole, to patrol the borders, as Gray_Eagle had suggested. But as a single Knight I would be no match for more than a small raiding party. Though my past was uncertain, I could direct my future and I would wander this wilderness on the edge of Westmarch in search of other lost souls willing to stand with me against those that would steal the life of a wounded land.

The Departure

I repaired my armor and weapons in preparation to begin my patrol of the border. Mardra provided me with a good supply of dried meats and bred as well as a small supply of medicines that could be used to temporarily boost my strength and stamina in case of emergency. I knew stealth would be essential for a solitary Knight in potentially hostile territory so I chose to wear light armor and keep a ranged weapon equipped.

Mardra convinced the stable owner to provide me with a horse that I could use to carry my supplies and heavy equipment which could also be used to make a hasty retreat and bring back an early warning in the event I ran into an overwhelming force. One must be careful not to let Courage and Valor turn into turn into folly... retreat is always a viable option and sometimes the best course of action.

Since the arrival of the carpenters, rumors of an abomination threatening Enchantia and the disappearance of Oneaus had begun circulating through the Hamlet. Apparently many of the Knights of Draconia had joined forces to fight this great evil which may have explained the absence of Knights in the Lakelands. In some ways I felt drawn to join them, but my conviction to strengthen the borders of the Lakelands prevail. I knew a single Knight joining the ranks of the Empire's finest would not benefit the Empire as much as a single Knight on a mission such as the one I had set upon myself. I wrote a quick message of my intentions to Gray_Eagle which I entrusted to the Master Carpenter to deliver upon his return to the city.

With my Equipment and supplies packed and ready for travel, I thanked Mardra and the stable owner for their generosity and aid and bid them farewell.

"Good Luck, Midnight. May the Hand of Kala guide you and protect you."

Midnight{DE}
Knight of the Lakeland

May your Aim be Swift and True!