Sir Baldthar's Origin

[Wolf Knight]

It was more than 10 years before the Jousting Tournament in Winterhaven...
The villages of the North had suffered a terrible plague whose origin was unknown...
One such village was Coldwood...



The few remaining villagers were gathered in the middle of the village, afraid for what is to come...



...when suddently a group of Paladins arrived, led by a priest of Torm...



''Sieze them'' the priest commanded... ''This is the last village to be cleansed''... so the Paladins round up the villagers and placed them on the ground...

[Wolf Knight]

One of the Paladins was send to search the rest of the village, while the priest approached Baldthar, a young Paladin who had a long way to prove his worth in the order of Torm...
''Its your turn Baldthar...''



''Sir...'' replied Baldthar with an uneasy voice while looking in the pleading eyes of the villagers, ''These people are not infected. They should be treated with means of healing to assure their survival.''



''I see.'' said the priest ''Clearly your brother is not ready yet..'' and he turned to face the other Paladins. His eyes fixed on the one who returned to report that there was noone else in the village. ''Heboric, this is your call I pressume...'' the priest addressed him.

[Wolf Knight]

''NO'' cried Baldthar... ''You will not touch these people'' and waved his sword in a threatening jesture... ''they are well and need to be protected''



''I think your judgement is clouded Baldthar. There were no survivors in any of the villages. These are the only ones we found. Clearly they had to do something with the plague'' said the priest.
... ''Or they were blessed to survive this cursed plague'' replied Baldthar...



''Enough of this... I will not be told what to do by a newly appointed Guardian'' said the priest and waved to the others ''Sieze him as well...''

[Wolf Knight]

The Paladin behind Baldthar approached to strike, but his blow was parried by the swiftness of his young comrade



The parry was a strong one and knocked the Paladin down. He dropped back and hit his head on the well and he laid unconscious.



Baldthar turn to face the other paladins but while doing so the cut the ropes of the villagers and yelled at them ''RUN''

[Wolf Knight]

He then faced the other paladins and the priest directly...



...and as the paladins came to him from both sides, he leapt on the priest...



...and went over him to land clumsy behind him...



...in this process he lost his sword and one arm greave...



...the priest was struggling to get up, while the other two paladins approached ...

[Wolf Knight]

...Baldthar grabbed a double axe from the back of a fallen villager... something familiar about it he thought... and turned to face his attackers...



...he tried to parry their blows...



...but one of them knocked him down...



...he had lost his helmet, he felt dizzy, and suddently it came to him... he turned to face his attackers once again, only this time his look was menacing, more determined...



...and as he rose, with a single swirling blow he disarmed his opponets...

[Wolf Knight]

''Enough, Baldthar, that is enough...'' cried the priest... ''What do you want?''


 
''I want nothing to do with you'' he replied calmly and left, leaving them back wondering what had just happened...



His mind was clear now, he did not pay attention to the yells of the priest...

[Wolf Knight]

Back at his chamber in Torm's Hold...



...Baldthar took off his other arm greave and place the double axe on his table... he looked at it for a long time and then he turned to look at the chest next to the table...



...he finally opened the chest to reveal the shiled of his father... and the horns that used to decorate his father's helmet...



He grabbed the shield, horns and the double axe and left his chamber, having a last look before leaving.

[Wolf Knight]

Many years have passed since then and the Champion of Justice is just coming around of his daydreaming...



...as one of his men comes to announce to him that the time has come... he must get ready for the Tournament...



...''I always am ready...'' he replies slowly but steadily ... ''Bring me my horse.''



And just like that, he is ready for another adventure....

[bonniebeth]

It's great Panos!  Sir Baldthar is quite the hero. I've been following each installment as you post it, and I was on the edge of my seat!