Wilt
The Tragedy of Shej
In the world of Aurea, The Dunes of Avarice are a desert region on the continent of Lynae. The Dunes of Avarice have known both prosperity and ruin. This story takes place in a time that we still had the first. In that time the kingdom of Silero reigned over the desert. Silero’s monarch, Stelk, lead the kingdom to even greater heights before the day he descended into madness. This was a result of his wife being killed in an attack by bandits. The story is that she was traveling across the region in luxury before the wheels broke off; a band of thieves looted the riches from the queen’s caravan. Stelk developed a paranoia and could never rest without knowing for sure who was responsible.
In a matter of weeks, Stelk had made outlandish accusations against a majority of the nobles and their vassals. As he began to delve into insanity, his judgement clouded and although Stelk sat alone on the throne, it seemed that there was another ruling. Stelk was a mere husk driven by paranoia. There came a point where execution devolved into a daily event; the paladin Shej was forced to take thousands of innocent lives. Of the many wrongly put to death was the wife of Stelk’s highest vassal. The title “highest vassal” provides insight into the nature of this paladin; normally, the title of paladin is the highest honor a knight can receive. This prevents infighting within the group. As always, Shej was an exception. The paladin, Shej, had always demonstrated remarkable resolve and possessed a will which drove his blade towards justice. Shej’s devotion to righteousness was unwavering; this was not a quality coupled with mercy. This story begins in a time where the power to define righteousness was held by the king; this story ends in a time where Shej is guided by his own definition of righteousness. Shej placed his desire for justice over all other human values.
Upon a paladin pledging their blade to a king, they first pledge to an oath. A knight must uphold this oath throughout their service as a knight and into his afterlife. The punishment for this immorality comes in the form of immortality. To wander forever without rest is the price paid by these knights. This binds a knight to deny their own desires.
The earliest heartbreak Shej ever knew was at the age of twelve. He had befriended a magnificent pegasus; Gambit was the name given to his steed. These benevolent yet chaotic forces of nature remind me of myself. Stelk in blind greed demanded the pegasus as a gift. Shej, understanding his place, handed Gambit’s reigns to the king. Immediately, Stelk wished to soar into the sky; therefore, Gambit took to the skies. As Stelk pushed the steed further and further he disregarded the creature completely. It was not long before Stelk was thrown off and began to plummet to the ground. Had it not been for his court wizard, Anotrebbikar, he certainly would have died from the fall. When Stelk had recovered from his injuries he cursed the winged beast. He ordered for its wings to be removed in the most torturous fashion as punishment for its defiance. This was the first time Shej denied his sense of justice.
A day came where Shej severed all ties to this world. With a heavy blade in hand and a heavy heart hidden behind a mask, Shej’s marital vows were broken. One after another innocent people dropped to their knees and rested their head on the chopping block. Conveniently, they had assumed a position of worship; unfortunately, the altar which they knelt at was bloodied and reeked of abandonment. Then it was time for Kalypso’s execution, Shej covered his face behind a mask. Shej’s oath to Stelk preceded his oath to Kalypso. For twenty seconds Shej stood motionless. The screams of his winged steed, Gambit, echoed in his ears. Shej closed his eyes but visualized the scene through the countless screams of horror. As the blade severed her neck, all ties to this woman were cut.
An incessant chanting spurned Shej’s heart towards a path of defiance; to Shej, the call to execution had become a daily reminder of the king’s blindness, but also a reminder of his own weakness. The day came where Stelk had become so blind as to wage war against the gods. This decision was one that changed the course of history for Silero.
Two hours after the execution, beasts roared from outside the castle. Shej had beckoned as many monsters as he could to the castle. He tore down the defenses and incited uproar within the castle. Shej used the chaos to get face to face with the king (well, as face to face as you can get when you are wearing a mask). Shej placed his hand on “The Mad King” and silenced his noxious babbling; with one stroke of his brush, the walls were covered in paint. As Stelk’s head rolled on the floor, the screams of royals filled the castle. For the first time in Shej’s life, he was not bound by any code. This moment was tarnished by the shrieks of terror echoing down the halls. Monsters had flooded into the keep; the roar of dragons petrified the noble imposters. In the frenzy, Shej fled from the castle.
Shej did not hear another voice for two weeks; this drought was ended when a god spoke to him in a dream. Shej was presented with a choice: atone for his sin, or wither for eternity. Redemption would come through a triumph; Shej was commanded to rid the dunes of the curses which plagued the region. This was the point that Shej began to place his own judgement against that of gods. Shej rejected this offer out of spite; he could not afford to lose his pride. The moment refused the paladin refused to atone a red sigil burned into his left hand. A red-eye watched him for eternity. As the rune appeared on his left hand he stared at it for twenty seconds. He drew his blade and drove it through his heart. Blood splattered onto the sands painting a grim image. Shej stood in horror at the realization that his heart was no longer beating. He closed his eyes but death never came. The next step Shej took blended into his last step; nothing would ever be new again. His soul was painted red by his own hands; his soul was void of curiosity.
Doubt’s most cruel tactic is to slowly lead a mortal along with the promise of glory or self-righteous fulfillment. This corrupts the soul into chasing a tainted goal. Pride gives actions meaning; I created it to give mortals a sense of achievement after their triumphs; however, time and time again I see Doubt using pride to lead mortals down a twisted path.
As long as free will burns within the mortal soul the world will continue to wander between blue and red for eternity.
In a matter of weeks, Stelk had made outlandish accusations against a majority of the nobles and their vassals. As he began to delve into insanity, his judgement clouded and although Stelk sat alone on the throne, it seemed that there was another ruling. Stelk was a mere husk driven by paranoia. There came a point where execution devolved into a daily event; the paladin Shej was forced to take thousands of innocent lives. Of the many wrongly put to death was the wife of Stelk’s highest vassal. The title “highest vassal” provides insight into the nature of this paladin; normally, the title of paladin is the highest honor a knight can receive. This prevents infighting within the group. As always, Shej was an exception. The paladin, Shej, had always demonstrated remarkable resolve and possessed a will which drove his blade towards justice. Shej’s devotion to righteousness was unwavering; this was not a quality coupled with mercy. This story begins in a time where the power to define righteousness was held by the king; this story ends in a time where Shej is guided by his own definition of righteousness. Shej placed his desire for justice over all other human values.
Upon a paladin pledging their blade to a king, they first pledge to an oath. A knight must uphold this oath throughout their service as a knight and into his afterlife. The punishment for this immorality comes in the form of immortality. To wander forever without rest is the price paid by these knights. This binds a knight to deny their own desires.
The earliest heartbreak Shej ever knew was at the age of twelve. He had befriended a magnificent pegasus; Gambit was the name given to his steed. These benevolent yet chaotic forces of nature remind me of myself. Stelk in blind greed demanded the pegasus as a gift. Shej, understanding his place, handed Gambit’s reigns to the king. Immediately, Stelk wished to soar into the sky; therefore, Gambit took to the skies. As Stelk pushed the steed further and further he disregarded the creature completely. It was not long before Stelk was thrown off and began to plummet to the ground. Had it not been for his court wizard, Anotrebbikar, he certainly would have died from the fall. When Stelk had recovered from his injuries he cursed the winged beast. He ordered for its wings to be removed in the most torturous fashion as punishment for its defiance. This was the first time Shej denied his sense of justice.
A day came where Shej severed all ties to this world. With a heavy blade in hand and a heavy heart hidden behind a mask, Shej’s marital vows were broken. One after another innocent people dropped to their knees and rested their head on the chopping block. Conveniently, they had assumed a position of worship; unfortunately, the altar which they knelt at was bloodied and reeked of abandonment. Then it was time for Kalypso’s execution, Shej covered his face behind a mask. Shej’s oath to Stelk preceded his oath to Kalypso. For twenty seconds Shej stood motionless. The screams of his winged steed, Gambit, echoed in his ears. Shej closed his eyes but visualized the scene through the countless screams of horror. As the blade severed her neck, all ties to this woman were cut.
An incessant chanting spurned Shej’s heart towards a path of defiance; to Shej, the call to execution had become a daily reminder of the king’s blindness, but also a reminder of his own weakness. The day came where Stelk had become so blind as to wage war against the gods. This decision was one that changed the course of history for Silero.
Two hours after the execution, beasts roared from outside the castle. Shej had beckoned as many monsters as he could to the castle. He tore down the defenses and incited uproar within the castle. Shej used the chaos to get face to face with the king (well, as face to face as you can get when you are wearing a mask). Shej placed his hand on “The Mad King” and silenced his noxious babbling; with one stroke of his brush, the walls were covered in paint. As Stelk’s head rolled on the floor, the screams of royals filled the castle. For the first time in Shej’s life, he was not bound by any code. This moment was tarnished by the shrieks of terror echoing down the halls. Monsters had flooded into the keep; the roar of dragons petrified the noble imposters. In the frenzy, Shej fled from the castle.
Shej did not hear another voice for two weeks; this drought was ended when a god spoke to him in a dream. Shej was presented with a choice: atone for his sin, or wither for eternity. Redemption would come through a triumph; Shej was commanded to rid the dunes of the curses which plagued the region. This was the point that Shej began to place his own judgement against that of gods. Shej rejected this offer out of spite; he could not afford to lose his pride. The moment refused the paladin refused to atone a red sigil burned into his left hand. A red-eye watched him for eternity. As the rune appeared on his left hand he stared at it for twenty seconds. He drew his blade and drove it through his heart. Blood splattered onto the sands painting a grim image. Shej stood in horror at the realization that his heart was no longer beating. He closed his eyes but death never came. The next step Shej took blended into his last step; nothing would ever be new again. His soul was painted red by his own hands; his soul was void of curiosity.
Doubt’s most cruel tactic is to slowly lead a mortal along with the promise of glory or self-righteous fulfillment. This corrupts the soul into chasing a tainted goal. Pride gives actions meaning; I created it to give mortals a sense of achievement after their triumphs; however, time and time again I see Doubt using pride to lead mortals down a twisted path.
As long as free will burns within the mortal soul the world will continue to wander between blue and red for eternity.
"Morality is subjective; “The Tragedy of Shej” is a story that follows a paladin who ends up placing his own judgement above the commands of authority. This disobedience leads Shej down a dark path and eventually causes Shej to betray Silero. This fable will reveal Doubt and myself as underlying forces." -Feon
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