The Tale of Yona and Idris

The Modern Version of the Story

Once, there was a knight, clad head to toe in steel. Idris was his name and it was known throughout the land, with it being one known as one of valor and honour; a knight that all would have looked up to. His hair was a mane of raven black and his dark glistened like stars in a midnight sky. He was a knight of Strale, fighting for its princess, Yona. She was a beautiful, intelligent woman, with many suitors throughout the land. Despite all the possible courtships, only one interested her. The honor bound knight that raised his sword in her name. Although he was of noble birth, Yona's father would not allow it, as no knight would be good enough for his royal daughter. Idris knew this, continuing to build his already sparkling reputation, hoping that one day the relationship of a knight and princess could be more.
Eventually the King would relent, bending to his daughter's stubborn love, allowing the two to begin a true courtship, knowing that it would do good for his family's reputation. He also knew that Idris would merely remain a prince, with his daughter being the second born child, rather than his heir. It was only until he had risen through the ranks, becoming a general of his army, that the knight would marry into royalty, bolstering the confidence of the people that served the king. The couple would be celebrated for the years that they shared in holy matrimony, eventually causing the princess to be with child.
It is then, while Yona spent time on a religious pilgrimage to Saol's Grove in order to anoint her child, that she would find herself set upon by a winged beast of scales and flame, slaying her retinue while steeling away the princess, taking her away to his cavern home. Prince Idris caught wind of this, taking a squadron of his best knights in the hopes of slaying the beast in his lair. The beast was young, arrogant, leaving its ancestral home of Dranocast, believing himself better than those that led him. This arrogance would be its downfall, as he believed himself invincible in the face of mortal knights, but the knights were prepared, drawing out the beast and using machines of war to pierce its hide. Eventually it would fall to the superior tactics of the knights, but the toll was heavy, and Idris was not there to greet his wife when she was liberated from the lair.
Heart broken by the loss of the one that she had given her love to, she was not prepared to raise her son in a world without his father. Being a woman of great faith, she took it upon herself to beseech Afrid, the Goddess of Life, asking her to bring back her prince. The emotion at which she spoke, along with the wrenching of her heart, was enough to persuade the primordial of life, enlisting her twin, Avalore, the Goddess of Death, to personally escort Yona through the lands of the dead to search for her lover. He sat, alone, in the fields of Elysium, his eyes lighting up as he saw Yona, only for that light to fade when he realised the possible means as to why she would be standing here before him, the sprawling wings of the Raven Queen casting a shadow large enough to envelop them both. 
She attempted to bring him back, only to be informed that this is merely a greeting, a visit, rather than a true return to life. Yona, unable to fathom being separated from her lover, instead sought out the Goddess of Life, stating that she could do with a scion in the Material Realm. Being as persuasive as ever, Afrid agreed, making the princess a spokeswoman for her, representing her to the mortals when celestials were unable to do so on her behalf, bringing back her husband as part of the agreement. Now Yona is portrayed as a religious figure, being named Saint Yona after her work following this event, being frequently seen in the churches of Strale.

Date of Setting

1201BDE