Author: VelunaDave

BANG BANG BANG

Brother Darius lifted his head from the book he had used as a pillow the night before and looked around his study. "Must be my imagination" he thought as his head sank back down to the table.

BANG BANG BANG

"I know you are in there Darius" a voice called out.

Brother Darius lifted his head up from its resting place again and started shaking it from side to side. "It had to be him didn't it," he thought, "the one person that I know will not stop pounding on the door till I open it." With the creaking of old bones Darius rose from his chair and started shuffling across his dark study dodging stacks of books as if the room were lit.

BANG BANG BANG

"Please be so kind as to open the door for us Brother Darius," the voice said again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Darius shouted. "The boy is lucky Rao does not bless me with a permanent silence spell," he thought to himself. He chuckled quietly at that thought as he entered the great hall of the library he called home. The morning sun had just reached high enough to cast its light through the large stained glass windows four stories up bathing the library in a kaleidoscope of colors.

The Great Library of Rao had been constructed over 300 years ago and was one of the grandest buildings in all of Mitrik. The great hall rose 50 feet over his head with stained glass windows lining the top edge showing the glory of his most glorious Rao. The main floor was solid marble tiles with tables and bookcases scattered across it. Giant pillars of granite rose from the sides supporting the roof and side balconies. Carved images of angelic beings and knights wrapping around them from top to bottom.

Brother Darius walked past the last of these pillars as he entered the foyer area and opened the front door. Outside stood a group of three people only one of whom Darius was familiar with. The one who had been knocking on the door was a large broad shouldered young man dressed in plate mail with the symbol of St. Cuthbert emblazoned on his chest plate. Behind him sitting on the stairs looking bored was a female halfling who was bouncing a small ball off the steps leading up to the library. To the right of the large man was a male dwarf dressed in chain mail that had seen better days.

"You know the library is closed on Godsday Lord Raniar," Darius said to the large armored man knowing it was not going to do any good.

"Just as you know that the Knights of Veluna have special privileges Brother Darius," the young man known as Raniar Thunderspirit said as he walked past Darius into the foyer of the library.

Darius rolls his eyes and says sarcastically "Of course M'Lord, how could I have ever forgotten that. Who are your friends if I may ask ?"

"The small fidgeting one is Telpian, and the clanking one is Arakhal. They are new to our land and wish to gain a better understanding of the land we call home. I was hoping you could help me in this task Brother."

Darius's shoulders sagged as he resigned himself to his fate and shut the door behind the group. "Follow me" he said as he led them into the library and sat down at a large stone table in the middle of the Great Hall.

"So what would you like to know ?? Perhaps how this city came to be ? Maybe how the original settlers came to this spot ? Or how the great western road came to be ?"

"Tell them about the battle Brother Darius," Raniar said with a smirk on his face.

The dwarf looks up more interested now. "A fight ? I am always up for a good story of battle. What is this battle he speaks of Darius ? Bandits ? Orcs ?"

Darius's eyes look at Raniar pleading for him to stop but Raniar chuckles and continues.

"No my small friend. Brother Darius here was at the battle of Emridy Meadows. Weren't you my old friend ?"

"You were at the Battle of Emridy Meadows," Telpian says with awe in her voice.

Darius stands up and paces a bit at the end of the table. "Yes I was Telpian. It was a day of great triumph and great loss. Many a good soul was lost that day but evil was finally driven back." Darius stops at the head of the table and looks back noticing he now has the full attention of Telpian and Arakhal. With a soft sigh he begins his tale.