The Balthazaragon Book One, Proof of Valor Plot

"This title combines "Balthazar" with "agon," which means "contest" or "struggle." The title suggests that Balthazar is a figure who overcomes obstacles, adversaries, or challenges, and that his story involves both physical and moral struggles."

Chapter Layout

Prologue

An introduction by Odindis Skorgrím, Balthazar's granddaughter.

Introduction

A summary of the current state of the cosmos in Balthazar's time.

Act 1

  1. Chapter One: Balthazar and the Squires enjoy a last feast together in their great hall on Bedlam before the final gambit the following day. The next time they feast together, they will all hopefully be Knighted.
  2. Chapter Two: Knight Maredudd enjoys a tea dinner with her old friend and fellow knight Sir Wu'Hurror who is not happy with testing some of the Squires just yet, namely young Balthazar. His death or defeat could cheat the order out of the power of an Arcane Lord, or worse, and allow it to fall into dangerous hands. However, Maredudd has been training him and the Squires for 5 years in Bedlam, she has faith in his sword skill and his brothers-in-arms.
  3. Chapter Three: Maredudd and Wu'Hurror accompany Sir Sakuma in briefing the Squires for the Journey ahead. They will be separated into Fire Teams and set on a pre-determined course via Jump Ships to a situation the Order has deemed capable of their skills and abilities. They are to resolve it while being monitored by the Masters back on Bedlam, the manner in which they conduct themselves will be used to determine if they are ready to be Knighted or not. Each Fire Team must elect a Leader amongst themselves and Balthazar is chosen for his as Yad has no interest and Emeric does not care. Their journey will take them to a Realm besieged by the Vy'Kyeen and they are tasked with lifting it. The journey will take 1 month in total both ways. Before they depart, Maredudd wishes them good luck and urges them to remember her training.

Intermission 1

Act 2

  1. Chapter One: Yad and Balthazar are woken up from their sleep by Emeric with bad news; their ship has gone off-course. They have been targeted by some kind of Inter-Realm booby trap utilized by Pirates. They strap in for an emergency landing in a distant Realm. They land and find themselves in a Realm with mountains upon mountains of endless riches. They are arrested by a gang of pirates.
  2. Chapter Two: The Squires are contained and brought to a camp town, made up of landed starships, makeshift structures, and some military-grade pop-up bunkers, hosting an impressive host of brutes and murders. They are brought to their boss, Lord Yisu Qatun, a Scion of the Torganiin Clan, a vassal Clan to House Sarkari, Yad's family. He is surprised Yad joined the Dragon Knights after he ran away all those years ago. He himself left home too to carve out his own kingdom. He has no reservations about killing or enslaving Yad, or his new friends, and imprisons them for now until they get their mining operation situated.
  3. Chapter Three: The Squires debate their next move while imprisoned when they meet another prisoner meant to be a slave, Damian, who claims to be a native of these lands, the Realm of Tears. He was scouted from the city of An Bin Kau'R and sent to investigate the invaders but was captured. Should they all escape and return to An Bin Kau'R, his people can rouse the pirates from these lands. They agree to aid Damian and launch their escape, faced with Household Knights of the Torganiin Clan and Divine Beasts, celestial creatures from Yad's homeland. Balthazar and Emeric defeat 1 Knight each and Yad kills one of the Divine Beasts before they make an escape on a land transport with Damian.
  4. Chapter Four: Within a few hours, they arrive in An Bin Kau'R, a magnificent city built next to a lake of golden-rich waters. They meet Damian's superiors, the Scouting Guard Heads, who appeal to the Master of the City. They do not have the power to oppose all of the invading pirates and elect to petition the aid of the Khaos Dragon Zu Tan Xo, the master of this Realm.
  5. Chapter Five: (Bedlam) Maredudd, Wu'Hurror, and Sakuma debate the current events, and Sakuma considers intervening, the affairs of the Khaos Dragons could involve the Temple of Khaos, their old enemy, and could kill the budding Squires. However, it is Wu'Hurror who stays his hand, they gave this mission to Skyburner, and Skyburner must see it through. However, Wu'Hurror is more concerned with the possible killing of Yisu Qutan himself, which might provoke his Clan's Lord House, Sarkari.
  6. Chapter Six: (Realm of Tears) The journey to Dragons Peake took 3 weeks, the Squires were accompanied by a religious party known as the Wakist to wake the great dragon from his slumber, Damian and a new scouting party, and some armed warriors from the City Guard. The city of Dragons Peake was beautiful resting just near the head of their dragon master, though supposedly suffering from a food shortage and fierce famine. The Wakist approach Zu Tan Xo but cannot stir him from his slumber, he only wakes after Balthazar steals a relic from the hoard next to the beast, a magical blade that was calling to him.
  7. Chapter Seven: Zu Tan Xo is furious with the Squires and threatens to level Dragons Peake if they are not captured. Balthazar, Yad, and Emeric hide in the city's sewer system when they are approached by a young boy, El Vaatu, who was going to sell them out but once he learns they are Dragon Knights, he offers to help them escape should they help him save his people, and Balthazar agrees. Dragons Peake has a short-range portal system they use for trade and transport as the Realm is often moved by Zu Tan Xo all the time. They are caught by Damian, who helps them escape, and in the ensuing firefight, are pulled through the portal with them.

Intermission 2

Act 3

  1. Chapter One: Bannavǫllr, Plains Once Golden was the home of the Golden Oak Church Disciples who worshiped the deity Rakises of the Holy Pantheon. But he was wounded fatally by The Demon Lancelot, Beholder of the Word Legendary during the Great War, and has been dying ever since. His Realm is dying, and Vaatu needs to save what little remains of his people and their culture. The party of 5 makes their way through the broken capital city of Sun-Kiss. The city itself is empty, all its people are rounded up and sacrificed to their god by the Night Golemns who still wander the streets. They avoid the mindless creatures and make it to a transit hub to take them to the last safe Church in the city.
  2. Chapter Two: The Last Church is home to a crowd of 17+ preachers, deacons, popes, and Maidens who escaped the purge of the Night Golemns. They are hopeless and believe their deaths are fated, what's more, is that Vaatu's mother was captured on a food run 3 days ago, and taken to the temple. Vaatu begins to lose hope as well when one of the Tree Sentinels arrives, creatures cast from the wood of the Great Ygg tree, corrupted and tainted by Rakises and his defilement. Balthazar refuses to be a slave to fate, noting that what has been written cannot be unwritten, and draws the blade he stole, God Shattering Star, a weapon of immense power and symbol of the Arcane Lineage. He slays the sentinel and declares that El Kamuu will be saved and Rakises will fall.
  3. Chapter Three: Damian and El Vaatu are to lead the Last Deciples safely through the city and back to the portal entrance. Balthazar, Yad, and Emeric will travel to the City castle, the Temple of Rakises, and fell the tarnished Holy God. The Squires board the transit rail and take it to the temple, making as much noise as possible to attract the Golems, giving Vaatu and Damian a better fighting chance. Swarms of Golems attack the transit and melt into massive constructs. The three of them fight them off, destroying the transit, and are forced to walk the rest of the way to the Temple.
  4. Chapter Four: (Realm of Tears) Yisu Qatun and his forces sacked the city of An Bin Kau'R, pillaging and burning, and raping their way to victory, with the City Guard unable to oppose such a powerful and overwhelming force. Yisu Qatun rounds up the remaining citizens and parades the naked City Master through the streets, and all manner of sickness and depravity. They take their spoils and on the way back to their camp, are visited by the dragon Zu Tan Xo.
  5. Chapter Five: (Bannavǫllr): The temple of Rakises is built around the trunk of a dying Ygg tree, the magical super-structures which link all Realms to Yggdrasil. They are welcomed in by Rakises's slaves who bring them to the depraved god, enjoying himself in his chambers, full of monuments to his sins. The Dragons Head has not sanctioned this, and Balthazar holds no real power here. They will return his cattle to him and depart from the Realm, or he will consume them and their power. Alternatively, he invites them to be Knights of his Order and restore glory to his Church. They refuse and declare that Kamuu and her people will be leaving this Realm only after his head has been severed from his body.
  6. Chapter Six: Balthazar, Yad, and Emeric fight Rakises, against a normal God, this might have been suicide, but Rakises was misshapen from his own corruption and still wounded from his war with Lancelot and Hector. He was a bully and had yet to know what it was to face a blade since that humiliation. The battle was hard, but in the end, God Shattering Star pierced his chest and consumed him entirely in rainbow flames. Beaten and battered, the Squires cut into the Ygg Tree and retrieved Kamuu from the celestial sap converting her into fruit, stringing some emotions within Balthazar himself.
  7. Chapter Seven: With the death of Rakises, the Realm itself began to fall apart. The Squires make a daring escape through the city on their spectral steeds as the oceans burn out, the sky cracks, the stars burn out, and Balthazar is cursed. Only Damian and Vaatu remain at the portal, waiting, cutting it close as everything collapses in on itself just as they escape with seconds to spare.

Intermission 3

Act 4

  1. Chapter One: Balthazar, Yad, Emeric, and Damian are arrested by the Master of Dragons Peake, the Fair Lady Melanie Henninger. Damian will be charged with high treason, the immigrants will be deported back to what remains of their Realm, and the Squires will answer to Zu Tan Xo for their crimes. However, Emeric offers a deal. He gives her a Ygg Seed, which will grow into a healthy Ygg Tree in time. He stole it when they cut Kamuu free, it will solve the Realms food and famine problem, however, only the Disciples know how to make it truly bloom. Melanie agrees to these conditions but the 3 of them must leave and never return, her Master will return from his rampage soon and won't be so reasonable. Kamuu is reunited with Vaatu, and he promises to repay them one day for all of this. They leave for the pirate camp to steal a functional starship and leave this Realm.
  2. Chapter Two: Halfway back to Yisu's pirate camp, a 5 week's journey, they encounter Zu Tan Xo, who decides not to kill them after seeing Balthazar can wield God Shattering Star. He makes a vague and cryptic message about the future before departing back to Dragons Peake.
  3. Chapter Three: Yisu and his pirates were laid to waste, their camp town was in shambles, and only one small starship remained fit enough to get them back to Bedlam, hopefully. Only one Divine Beast was alive, fatally wounded and dying, Yad took the creature upon his back to save his life and it vowed to serve him until they both died. They stock up on foodstuff and prepare for the month-long journey back to Bedlam.

Intermission 4

Act 5

  1. Chapter One: King Gawain Pendragon holds a council meeting with his Round Table on New Camelot above Bedlam to discuss the events of the previous months. Namely the killing of Rakises, the 1st recorded death of a God since the end of the Great War in Heaven over an age ago. Many are understandably concerned about what this will mean for the cosmos moving forward, something so unprecedented will have ramifications. After the meeting, Gawain is approached by his old friend Sir Lancelot who knows he wishes to appoint Medraut as the Commander of this new Chapter, which he cautions against. The Order is divided and weak enough already, appointing Mordred's son to such a title will only cause more division.
  2. Chapter Two: The Blackstone Hammer Forge smith known as Mirjam Frey and her staff prepare the armor and weapons of their assigned Knight, one Balthazar Skyburner. Mirjam arms Balthazar with his armor and gifts him a long bow enchanted with storm magic from her family. Balthazar meets with Yad and Emeric who run into Lady Maredudd who congratulates them on everything so far, but warns them that their previous adventure was nothing compared to the horrors of the cosmos. They must remember to stay together and uphold their oath at all costs.
  3. Chapter Three: The City on New Camelot is filled with people celebrating the Squires who have paraded around until they reach the main castle HQ and stand before King Gawain. He calls them forward, one by one, remarking on how they have grown, and asking them to take the vow to uphold the Oath Eternal and swear their swords to the Order of the Dragon's Head. In the end, Gawain calls Medraut forward and names him Commander of this new 517th Chapter, which he names the Knights of Valor (Valor Knights).
  4. Chapter Four: After the ceremony, the newly Knighted Squires are to collect their personal effects and prepare to ship out after greeting some of the other senior Knights. During this time, Balthazar is pulled aside by a Lord, Reinardus Prince of Malperdy, a 2nd cousin of Balthazar's who confirms his father was Bālkyth, the Star-Javelin, the creator and previous wielder of his blade GSS. He gives Balthazar a unique medallion and swears to answer his call to arms should the day ever arise. Balthazar has questions about his father, their family, and his own past, but Reinardus doesn't have all the answers.
  5. Chapter Five: Gawain speaks with young Medraut in private. Gawain has no less than 8 recognized sons by many Maidens and various others who he has not yet claimed publically. While impressive and courageous and powerful, he thinks none of them are fit to claim the title 'Pendragon', not like Medraut. He urges him to walk this path, regardless of the hardships, and surpass him. Medraut is the son of Mordred, King of the Black Winter, if the Order can unite under his command, then no force could ever break them, not even the Holy Order itself.
  6. Chapter Six: The Knights are brought to Himeji Castle, the base of their new Chapter and their new home as of now. They are greeted by Lord Tyrion Himeji gives a brief introduction to his family's vessel and introduces the various chiefs of staff for Maintenance & Engineering, Hospitality, and Landed Knights & Guardsmen. The Castle will also be shared with various staff from the Blackstone Hammer Forge and Skalds from the Imperial Skaldic Academy of Avalon.
  7. Chapter Seven: Balthazar is taken to his new room where he finds a present delivered from Maredudd, a parcel containing the unopened birthday present from his mother. Maredudd writes a note telling him to face the past and make a new future, but Balthazar is not yet ready to face it.
  8. Chapter Eight: Mirjam and her staff settle into their accommodations and serval of them express concern. House Frey is on the decline and many members of her staff are relying on Mirjam to be successful for their own livelihoods. None of the other Forge Houses would hire them normally, but Mirjam did so because they needed work. Mirjam is the last in her line, if she cannot make a name for herself, the name Frey will die, and she won't let it.
  9. Chapter Nine: All of the Knights hold a feast in their new grand hall as they depart from Bedlam. They are impressed by God Shattering Star and are convinced he is destined for greatness. However, Balthazar rejects this notion, he does not believe in fate or destiny, they are all free to walk whatever path they want, and the only chains that exist are the ones they put on themselves. The 1st Law of the Logic of the Sword Kings states that only a man can enslave himself, and only that man can free himself. Balthazar aims to become a Sword King and wield the Blade of Actualization. This is his charge.

Epilogue


Plot points/Scenes

  • Prologue
  • Act 1: Peak of Anticipation
Balthazar has been training in the Bedlam Realm with his Brothers-In-Arms Yad and Emeric for 5 years, along with a score of other Squires. The time has come for them to apply for Knighthood by passing a Gambit. They host one last big dinner together in the Great Hall and prepare for the coming journey. Master WuHurror is unconvinced Young Balthazar is ready and should he die the Order loses an Arcane Lord, but Master Maredudd has faith in Balthazar's resolve, his blade work, and his brothers. The Squires are summoned and armed before they are boarded onto separate Jump Ships. Each Fireteam is charged with an objective at a nearby Realm, they will be monitored remotely from Bedlam. Failure to complete may result in death. Balthazar, Yad, and Emeric embark on their journey.
  • Intermission 1
  • Act 2: Of Fire and Blood
The journey takes an unexpected change when their Jump Ship is intercepted by a Marauder gang pillaging a vast Realm of seemingly endless riches. With their ship down, the Squires are forced to improvise. They are engaged by a pirate Lord named Yisu Qatun Torganiin, a Scion of the Torganiin Clan, a vassal Clan to House Sarkari, Yad's family. Yisu Qatun, however, reasons he is justified in killing the Prince because he has long since left the safety of his royal lineage. Yisu Qatun commands his Household Knights and a company of Divine Beasts in addition to his pirate forces, attempting to carve out a kingdom of his own. The Squires defeat two of his Household Knights and kill 1 of his Divine Beasts before retreating deeper into the Realm where Yisu Qatun and his Pirates will not follow.
They encounter a city deep within the riches sitting on a massive lake where they learn this Realm is known as the Realm of Tears, it is the domain of a Khaos Dragon. This city, An Bin Kau'R, was given to the Dragon as a form of tribute ages ago. When they learn of the pirate situation, they go to wake their master so that he may rouse the thieves from his lands. Traveling to the head of the Dragon takes 3 weeks, in that time some of the Masters consider intervening, if the Squires lead to the death of Yisu Qatun, they might risk retaliation from House Sarkari. However, Maredudd holds them still, Yisu has already shamed his Clan and it is unlikely House Sarkari will defend a pirate. Besides, this is Balthazar's expedition, he must deal with the consequences.
When they finally arrive at the head of Zu Tan Xo, the Holy City of Dragon's Peake, a city struggling with finding food, the Wake Healers are unable to stir their Master from his great slumber. Meanwhile, Balthazar is drawn to the mysterious energy of a sword on an altar. It speaks and calls to him until he finds it in his hands, prying it from the mangled burned corpse of some fool who tried to steal it, or perhaps died using it. Doing so wakes up Zu Tan Xo, who tries to kill Balthazar and his brothers. They flee into Dragons Peake, hiding in the sewer system, where they encounter a boy named El Vaatu. He claims he hails from a Realm plagued by a dying God, he escaped to seek help but none of the Knights of this Realm will aid his quest. His mother is in danger and if she dies, he loses everything. Balthazar and his brothers decide to aid Vaatu who claims they can escape Zu Tan Xo via a portal system the City possesses.
  • Intermission 2
  • Act 3: Speak No More of Tarnished Gold
Balthazar, Yad, and Émeric accompany young El Vaatu back to Bannavǫllr, Plains Once Golden, to rescue his mother, the last priest of the Golden Oak Church. When they arrive they find what remains of the Disciples, but Vaatu's mother has already been given to the tree to be consumed by Rakises. The 3 Squires get the remaining Disciples out of the dying Realm, leaving them in the care of Vaatu, and travel to the Monastery Castle where Rakises resides to rescue Vaatu's mother. Lord Rakises, a once Golden God, is now a shell of his former self and sustains himself off of the life forces of his followers. He invites the Squires to serve in his court and resolves to consume their energies after they refuse. They battle with the fallen God and in the end, Balthazar murders him with God Shattering Star, the first recorded death of a God since the Great War in Heaven ended an age ago. They cut down Rakises's Tarnished tree and retrieve Vaatu's mother before she is digested and makes a hasty escape from Bannavǫllr. Its God was the only thing holding it together, and with Rakises dead, it begins to fall apart.
  • Intermission 3
  • Act 4: The Land of Endless Weeping
The Squires and the Disciples are back in the Realm of Tears at Dragons Peake, where Zu Tan Xo has not yet returned from laying waste to the pirates via the time dilation between Realms. Balthazar approaches the Master of the City and petitions her to take on the disciples. Emeric had obtained a Seed sapling from the Tarnished tree, if maintained and cared for, it will grow into a Great Ygg Tree, these magical trees can grow anywhere, rich fruit grows from their branches, rushing water bursts from their roots, and the lands around it become fertile for crops. The only hitch is that only the Disciple know how to take care of them. She agrees to care for them but Balthazar and his knights can never return here again. El Vaatu thanks the Squires deeply for their aid and promises to repay it one day. The Squires cannot use the portals to get back to Bedlam and must have needs of one of Yisu Qatun's starships, praying they do not cross paths with Zu Tan Xo on the way. The journey takes them five weeks, and on the way they do encounter the Dragon. However, once he sees Balthazar draw the sword of God Shattering Star he allows them to pass, promising that he will see Skyburner again one day, and on that day, it shall be one of their lasts, either his or the boys.
Noting but embers and corpses remain of Yisu Qatun's pirate camp-town. His divine beasts were wounded fatally, and only one remains, a lion creature whom Yad saves and takes upon his back to save his life. The beast's name is Kohryn, and he vows to serve his new Master until death does them part. Yisu Qatun's body is located, or what remains of it. They track down a starship with a function Jump Drive and plot a 1 month's journey back to Bedlam.
  • Intermission 4
  • Act 5: An Age of New Beginnings, But also an Age of Old Endings
The mobile planet-fortress New Camelot warps into the sky over Bedlam where King Gawain Pendragon, Lord of the Stars holds council with his Round Table. Among them are Maredudd and the topic is which Squires are to be Knighted based on their performance in their final gambit. The topic turns to Balthazar Skyburner, his encounter with a Khaos Dragon, and the act of killing a God, something no being has done since the end of the Great War in Heaven. He is capable of defying fate and may yet prove to be the Order's greatest asset moving forward. Others are unsure about what this means for the order and the balance of the cosmos, nothing has ever happened like this and the consequences could be dire. Some also raise issues with knighting Medraut, the youngest son of Mordred the Black, a traitor and usurper.
The Blackstone Hammer Forge prepare to arm the new Knights, among them is the young woman Mirjam Frey, a smith who has already obtained the rank of Kell Undrin and is devoted to restoring glory to her Clan. Mirjam has purchased the warrant to arm Balthazar Skyburner, a member of the arcane lineage. In the world of smithing, fame, and glory are achieved by crafting items of renown used by legendary figures, and a member of the Lineage of Balphus is sure to achieve some glory. Or, she hopes so, as she has spent a sizeable portion of her family's dwindling riches on this shot. Mirjam gives Balthazar a suit of excellent-grade armor and a Thunder Bow, a modification to the standard bow issued by the Forge enchanted with storm magic by her family. She and her staff will be one of the many smiths assigned to the Chapter Balthazar and his fellow Squires will form.
Balthazar, Emeric, and Yad meet with Master Maredudd one last time before the Knighting ceremony. The old goat reminisces about how different the 3 of them were back when she first assumed responsibility for them, how they have grown, and how much they still have to grow yet. She warns them that the trials they recently faced are nothing compared to the wilds of the cosmos, they may be alone and outnumbered and there may not always be an easy answer to their problems. They need to stay together, united they are invincible, but if divided they will be consumed by the depravity and decay of the Realms.
The Squires are paraded around New Camelot on their spectral steeds to the citizens before being presented to King Gawain. He calls them forward, one by one, and knights them with his sword Holy Sword Galatine. They are paired with a full complement of smiths from the Blackstone Hammer Forge as well as Skalds from the Imperial Avalon Academy. Collectively they are dubbed the 'Knights of Valor', the 517th Chapter founded under the Honorable Gawain Pendragon. They will be based out of Himeji Castle, a massive mobile battle station under the stewardship of the Himeji Clan and their staff. The Knights are to live and work aboard Himeji Castle from now on for the foreseeable future.
Balthazar is pulled aside by a Lord, Reinardus the Prince of Malperdy. He is the son of Queen Hermeline Reris, daughter of King Walter Reris of the Hunt, the younger brother of the previous Queen, Veryian, and the mother of Prince Balkyth, Balthazar's father. He does not know the full history of their family and cannot answer all of Balthazar's questions, but what he is sure of is his promise to Balthazar; Reinardus vows to answer his call for aid at any point in time, should he have needs of him. They are family and families stick together.
Medraut is summoned by King Gawain, to discuss his future. Gawain has knighted the young man and named him Knight-Commander of this new Chapter, much to the ire of his council who would not like to see the Son of Mordred the Black hold such high station. But Gawain has high hopes for the boy, he never married himself, but has sired many sons from many maidens, and none of them are worthy of the title 'Pendragon' he claims. Medraut is fighting an uphill battle and has much to prove, but should he succeed, he will be one of the greats.
Aboard the fortress, Lord Tyrion Himeji gives a brief introduction to his family's vessel and introduces the various chiefs of staff for Maintenance & Engineering, Hospitality, and Landed Knights & Guardsmen. Himeji Castle will be their home until otherwise stated and they will need to become familiar with it in time. The Knights are shown to their quarters, a sizeable upgrade from the humble abodes on Bedlam, and Balthazar finds a parcel waiting for him, delivered on command from Lady Maredudd. He recognizes it as an unopened birthday present from his mother before the Dragon Knights found him. He lacks the strength to open it despite the note from Maredudd urging him to face the past else the future remains out of reach.
Mirjam and her staff settle into their own complex within the vessel. Many of her subordinates were hired or are on loan to her House, thus the finical success of her actions directly impacts their lives and futures. Many of them think betting on Skyburner is foolish, the Prince of House Sarkari is a much safe investment, or the demigod, but Mirjam remains resolute in her resolve. House Frey was once great before they were humiliated and banished from the Sons of Ivaldi, forced to work under the Blackstone Hammer Forge before their name fell into ruin. She is the last of her line, should she fail, the name Frey fails too.
In a private feast hall, the Knights host a final feast celebrating their victory, congratulating Medraut on being named the Knight Commander all of them dying to see Balthazar's sword, God Shattering Star. They are impressed with its very presence and are convinced he is destined for greatness. However, Balthazar rejects this notion, he does not believe in fate or destiny, they are all free to walk whatever path they want, and the only chains that exist are the ones they put on themselves. The 1st Law of the Logic of the Sword Kings states that only a man can enslave himself, and only that man can free himself. Balthazar aims to become a Sword King and wield the Blade of Actualization. This is his charge.
  • Epilogue

Relations

Protagonists

  • Bālthazar R. Tess-Ir Skyburner
Bālthazar Skyburner, also known as Billy, is a young man of no renown hailing from the planet MARS in Midgard. He has a head of dark purple hair with eyes to match, a male of average height and confident build, and a body marked by scars from his time training in BEDLAM. Bālthazar was not blessed with a powerful body, an Inherited Magical Technique, or favored by the Gods. His own Magical Energy is impotent and lame, thus he turned to the logic of swords and mastered them so that no Squire can be is equal in blades alone.
  • Yād Nairobi Sarkari
Son of Lord Kereenyaga & Blood of Queen Manjistha, Seventh of His Name, and Prince of House Sarkari of The Risauyama Dynasty, Yād Sarkari is a wayward royal who absconded from the safety of his homeland for unknown reasons, though his titles remain intact. Yād has a head of rich black curly hair and copper skin untouched by the wages of battle. Though a foot taller than his brothers-in-arms he claims to be the runt of his litter. He has mastery over many forms of Magic, and sword logic, and excels at hand-to-hand combat. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he requires a certain degree of motivation to be roused to act.
  • Émeric Desjardins
Émeric Desjardins is a man of few words, stoic and silent but always watchful. Not quite as tall as Yād but towering over Billy, Émeric has rich brown hair, his body bears the marks of slavery, still branded by whatever events transpired before bending the knee to the Dragonlords. Émeric possesses an affinity for Elemental Release, namely inheriting the Tome of Wood, as well as an abundance of Magical Energy. He moves in a dry and direct manner and fights in a way that implies he would end the encounter with that action.

Allies

  • Ecthelion B. E. Yamato, Squire
  • Medraut L. Cameliardes, Squire
  • Khaldur Roz, Squire
  • Ævardottir Osk, Squire
  • Zainabu Soyinka, Squire
  • Jana de Blázquez, Squire
  • Moacir H. Sakagut, Squire
  • Maredudd L. Broceliandeur, Grand Master
  • Wu'Hurror, Knight-Marshal
  • Gawain Eddyrhys Le Fay, Pendragon
  • Gonkuro Sakuma, Knight-Marshal
  • Damian-Roliand-Generation92-02, Scout of An Bin Kau'R City
  • El Vaatu: Son, Disciples of the Golden Oak Church
  • El Kamuu: Mother, Disciples of the Golden Oak Church
  • Mirjam Frey, Smith of The Blackstone Hammer Forge
  • Reinardus, Prince of Malperdy

Neutrals/Bystanders

  • Melanie Henninger, Master of Dragons Peake City
  • Tyrion Himeji, Master of Himeji Castle
  • Nakano Manami, Chief of Maintenance & Engineering Staff at Himeji Castle
  • Tati-nas-ka-nofre, Chief of Hospitality Staff at Himeji Castle
  • Gonazi Onnat, Chief of Landed Knights & Guardsmen at Himeji Castle
  • Lancelot David Hébras, Round Table Knight & Commander of the Benwick Knights

Competitors

  • Zu Tan Xo, Ruler of the Realm of Tears

Adversaries

  • Yisu Qatun Torganiin, Pirate Lord
  • Rakises the Once Golden One, God

Backdrops

Locations

  • Bedlam
  • The Realm of Tears
  • Bannavǫllr, Plains Once Golden
  • New Camelot
  • Castle Himeji

Past Events

  • Yisu Qatun Torganiin & His Past: Yisu Qatun is the son of Mönkhtsetseg, making him the grandson of the current ruler of their Clan, Bataar Khan. Bataar has 89 daughters and 48 sons, each sporting their own lineage of children as well, thus Yisu Qatun can get lost in all the noise. He left home years before Yad had, commanding some 30 Household Knights, stealing serval Divine Beasts, and making off with a Small Fortune. He used his Hosar to buy serval pirate and marauder gangs, united them under his rule, and began offering paid protection to smaller Realms. When this no longer yielded anything of substance, he took to pillaging Realms instead. Returning home is no longer an option for Yisu Qatun, but he has no desire to do so anyway.

Creative Sources

Compiled list of (free) sites, tools, and links I use for various assets or art in SEVEN SEALS

  1. Article, World, & Icons made with Bannersnack (FREE)
  2. Character Portraits & Landscapes made with ArtBreeder (FREE)
  3. External Family Tree Tool is FamilyEcho (FREE)
  4. Unique Symbols & Signs from Cool Symbols (FREE)
  5. Various Fantasy Names generated from Fantasy Name Generator (FREE)
  6. Sci-Fi inspired names & Generators via Donjon (FREE)
  7. Flags & Shields made with Armonia (FREE)
  8. Most art is AI generated with https://www.midjourney.com/home/
— tab]https://www.midjourney.com/home/but is not free.