Arnad The Betrayed

As he stood there, shaken, Betrayed by whom he loved most. With World around them defiled, Watchers soul returns to heavenly host, -Yedish Falrust, last quatrain of Unrelenting Watcher

Summary

Ages before the Empire there was a young man called Ulreic, he went on a journey in known world to perfect his swordplay. In his travels he met an Orentine Sorceress named Enne, two fell in love, married and had two kids, Alverg and Arnad. One day Enne saw Arnad burning a tree with his bare hands. She realised Arnad had a great potensial and took Arnad to her tutelage. One day Arnad saw his mother being stabbed by an Elven assassin, he rushed to his mother, only to find her dead. Furious, he turned to Elf and killed him with a lightning bolt. After his mothers death Arnad left a note to his father and went to Palan in order to study arcane magic. He became a close friend with Atrum, a ambitious man and a fellow Tervigian. After their gradutiation, Arnad and Atrum returned to Tervig. Atrum became a court magician and Arnad returned to his family. His father died from illness after his arrival. To clear his mind from sadness and sorrow, Arnad gave all his time to research about the nature of magic. While Arnad continued his research in town of Ernes, Elven Empire of Anenor declared war on Tervig. Lead by Crown Prince Menar, the Elven armies had besieged the castle of Ternal due to its strategic location. Alverg with his son Wilryk, court mage Atrum and their man tried to defend the seven-walled-castle but every month one wall fell to Elves. Seeing the dire circumstances Alverg sent a message to Arnad in order to make him help the defending the castle. Arnad rushed to Ternal after he got the message but when he arrived the castle, he saw his brother impaled in the chest with a lightning bolt by Prince Menar. He attacked Menar with a fireball, Menar blocked it and two started to duel. Their fight ended draw and Arnad retreated to last wall. There he persuaded his neice and his people to migrate to the eastern continent Eserai. Wilryk founded Altersburg the future capital of Alteria. With Wilryk gone, he started to plan with Atrum ,his most trusted, they prepared their greatest spells and fend off the Anenorian forces. Few years had been passed and Menar became more and more furious, they outnumbered the enemy to 15:1 but they couldn't take the last wall. He thought Arnad was the And then he plotted , he sent messages to Atrum. There, he promised him riches, glory and and lordship. And there Arnad was betrayed by his most trusted. Menar then challenged Arnad to a one-on-one combat to death, if he wins Lethwig's man will surrender, if Arnad wins Elves will leave. Arnad accepted the offer and two started their fight and then he felt a pain in his chest, he turned around and saw Atrum with a lightning spear. He realised his most trusted betrayed him, and became furious. He rained down spells to traitors and elves. Lightning bolts impaled, burning claws maimed his enemies. He charged to Atrum but blocked and parried by Menar. And there, on the bloody walls of Ternal , Elf fought men and Traitor and Prince fought the Betrayed. As the world around them burned and defiled by blood. It was Menar to fall first, impaled by the lightning spears wielded by Arnad. Then it was Atrum's turn to fell. His heart had been pierced with a spear. Arnad looked at his old comrade, with sorrow he asked "Why?". He didn't get answers, because the traitors soul had left his body. He started to cry. He won, but at what cost? He was at the brink of the death, he had almost no mana left and worse, he was betrayed by whom he trusted most. With last of power Arnad stood up and turned his face to the west, and saw the retreating Elves, and then all went black. There he rested, never to woke again.

Historical Basis

Alterian Scholars believe Lethwig's tale had happened during "Battles For Pass" between Anenor Empire and Kingdom of Tervig. Records in Palan about this period shows us there is no sorcerer called Arnad, but historians had found that the name "Atrum" is in those records. In the records found in ancient ruins of Ernes mentions the generals called "Arnad" and "Alverg". In the same ruins scholars had found a book written by a unknown alphabet. In the deciphered parts of the book there is the word "Arnad" and some informations about lightning spells. Majority of scholars believe the tale is a exaggerated and romanticized version of a battlemages life.

Spread

The tale comes from the Tervig peninsula but its more popular in the other human kingdoms of Eltei. The tale is embraced so much by Alterians even the ruling house of Alteria, House uer Urtoch believe they are the descendents of Arnad's niece Wilryk.

Variations & Mutation

Myth of Arnad had changed from culture to culture, in Eltian version Arnad is a son of a humble hunter, in Eserei version he is a son of an important noble. But biggest difference is in the Palanian version. According to the Palanians Nethelus chose Arnad as one of his archsaints and gave him an order to protect Ternal. In the Elven versions Arnad is a dark mage.

Cultural Reception

Arnad is seen as a protector and savior against Elves by humans of Eltei. Elteian nobles visit the Tomb of Arnad before a crusade against Elven lands and wish him to help their armies and people. Arnad is the Archsaint of Protection and Knowledge in the Nethelian Creed of Palan. His tomb is one of the severel pilgrimage points of Nethelian Faith. Each year at the start of spring Alterians organize a festival for Arnad. The ruling house of Alteria, House of uer Urtoch believe they are his kinsman and mourn him every end of winter. In Anenorian language there is some proverbs about Arnad, such as "Facing against Arnad" or "Dangerous as Arnad".

In Literature

There is too many literary pieces about this rale, but most popular of them is the Alterian play "The Betrayed" and Palanian poem "Unrelenting Watcher".

Related Ethnicities