Artaemos’ Folly

Artaemos’ Folly

A parable on the subject of error, often shared with paladins of He Who Endures who seeks atonement or those of the Adorned who struggle with the burden of human error. It uses the heresies of the Mad Priest, the Archsufferer Urogaeil as a backdrop, and is said to have been composed by the Adorned of The Knights of Ilmater itself, to honour Artaemos’ resolve to undo his Follies.

Artaemos knelt before the Archsufferer and heard the command. "The heretics of the degenerate house of Suffered Guardians have lost their faith. They are mad in their minds! Their knights laid hands upon their fellow Adorned!" Artaemos' brow furrowed at the thought of the crime. "Cleanse the filth!" the command came, and Artaemos answered, leading the Brothers of the Cup to war. For he knew not that it was the Archsufferer who was mad with heresy.

Artaemos looked up at Azmarin. The banner of the Noble Heart flew proud over it, and the heretics lay inside. He gave the order. "No injustice must go unchallenged, even by those we once called brother! Onto the walls, Knights of the Cup! Onto the walls, Knights of the Bleeding Shield! Onto the walls, Warriors of Suffering!" The Noble Heart did not ask for quarter, though; and the fighting was bitter and fierce.

Artaemos looked upon Bronsheir's Charge, as the enemy's bravery finally broke upon the reserves. The wedge of heretics selling their lives so their Brothers might escape. He heard their prayers to the Broken God; saw the purity in their sacrifice. And he wept as he gave the order. "We have Endured, Brothers! We are Unbroken! Now we end this!" And it was done.

Artaemos looked out over the Weeping Rock, stained with the crimson tears of the fallen. He looked upon the broken pennants and shattered shields, upon the Bloody Rack's sundered, a Golden Cup filled with the blood of Noble Hearts, his bitter victory. "True sufferers all." He said, and he knew his error.

Then his judgment fell upon the mad priest.