Fate's Lore

“Are you lost my son? No? We are all lost my son. It is only through our almighty goddess Aritnesa that we endure. What’s that you say? You’ve never heard of Aritnesa? Oh, my son, you have, she reviles her true form to few, but she has reviled it to you.. I can see it in your eyes. She leaves a mark on all those she sees, large or small, heroic or cowardly, she leaves a mark. Come my son let me tell you of Aritnesa, beloved of the All Father, Weaver of Fate.”

Aritnesa, the forgotten one, erased from the pages of time, by her own doing. It is she, who weaves time, she who weaves destiny. We are all subject to her, even the gods cannot escape her power. Little is known about the history of Aritnesa, indeed only those she allows to understand truly know her. How long Aritnesa wove the threads of Fate no one knows, but it was in the Age of Twilight before the awakening of the Dragon that she came to the All Father, son of the lion, and reviled herself. Time did not pass in those moments for Aritnesa put down her weave and met with the All Father. Indeed they where in love, but the time came, and the All Father departed. So great was Aritnesa’s despair at him leaving that she ignored her weaving. And followed after.
 

It was in those fateful moments, the Dragon, no longer bound by the bonds of the weave awoke, and brought destruction upon the All Father and his allies. Aritnesa seeing her mistake returned to her weaving, fearful the All Father would discover her mistake. With utter dismay she found she no long could control her weaving, and the brought great harm upon the All Father, and the Elvin people.
 

Tirelessly she fought and regained control of her weave, yet so great was her pain, she began to unweave the fabric of time. Removing herself from the reach of all. For countless years, she wove a tell of sadness for the people of this world. And in great dismay she saw the breaking of the world in her weaving, and the withdraw of the gods.
 

But, she also saw hope, and a new chance, she re-entered the world, and now walks again among the people. She has touched you, you have been chosen. Chosen for what you ask? Chosen to server her, and repair this shattered world. She calls all of us, sons of the Dragon, or Morloch, of Myrkel, or the All Father, to aid her. Will you join us? Will you answer her call and join the Warriors of Fate? 

 -Written by Shadows-Bane (Fates founder)

Warrior’s of Fate

Everyone at some point in their existence asks “what is my fate?” In the Age of Strife everyone’s fate is as a Warrior. We are born into a time when our creator has abandoned his own creation and left the gates of the afterlife locked to all. Thus upon Deaths door we are swept back into the world, dazed we awake by a tree of stone, unclear and blurred of sight we find we will continue on in this realm and become by Fate, warriors. Our Goddess Aritnesa is the weaver of Fate she is maker and each but a string in her hand as she weaves us into the pattern of life and she has made us all warriors so that we may rebuild this world that has been sundered and forgotten.

 In this time of Chaos where everyone is striving to understand what life may have in-store for them, we, the “Warriors of Fate” are creating a place for individuals to develop their abilities and arm themselves from the chaotic world that surrounds them, so that they may become stronger, to become capable of making a stand when life calls you to.

- Written by Invor Sord (Inner Council Member)

The Book of Counted Sorrows - Chapter One

Denigo's Lament

I look across the field, past the Tree of Life to where my old trainer once lived. Malorn's Temple, built by the sweat of my old friend Natharios, is no more... A sadness hangs in the air over that once sacred ground.

My time at the trainer was nearly done, having departed from the path of Malorn to follow the goddess Artinesa, but my lament is not for the Temple, it is for the dischord that prefaced it's demise.

I am reminded of the ancient writings: "From the old springs the new. For every end, there is a new beginning" and those words comfort me, for my old friend has traveled on to seek new horizons. And the very dischord which lead to these things has demonstrated the need for the New Law.

A new beginning? That is my hope.

With the hope of a bright future for my people, I keep this journal. The future is built in the present, upon the foundations of the past. In this journal of the present, I will at times relate the past, for through remembrance of things passed away, can we discern the future and endeavor to make it brighter.

- Written by Denigo Tantric (Guild Leader)

The Book of Counted Sorrows - Chapter Four

Tantro the Sentinel

In reflecting upon my history, I must remember my ancestors, and the stream of the Tantric bloodline, as related to me by my guardian, the kindly old Sentinel, Tantro.

My earliest memories include him. He kept the tales of my father and grandfather alive for me... tales of glory and peace, of pestilence and war, of victories and defeats. Tales I shall never forget. And to this very day, still I hear the tales in my mind in the booming voice of Tantro.

Dim memories of riding upon his back through the night as he carried us across the grasslands of the east, telling me of his journeys and adventures with my grandfather... the elven invasion of my homeland... the sundering of Kel'juris and the liberation of the minotaurs... I had never seen a minotaur in those days, or an elf either, for that matter, for I was but a young child and the strange old centaur was the only enlightened creature other than a human that I had ever encountered.

It was not until years later, as a young lad that I asked Tantro what had become of my parents and his dear friend, my grandfather. My grandfather was a hero, he said, that the bards had remembered in song. in a war between two kings my grandfather had fallen. As for my parentage, my frail mother had passed at my birthing, and my father had gone to the great war, and perhaps was still there, engaged in battle. He had not heard from him since I was entrusted into the arms of the old sentinel, yet a blanketed babe.

'Twas not for years until I learned the truth, that my mother was so beloved by my father, and her death so grievous to him, that he cursed the thing that had slain her and would have cast me into the flames of his hearth, had not Tantro stopped him and taken me from him.

These things were told to me by accident; from the mouth of a well-meaning minotaur who had been freed from bondage by Tantro in the war at Kel'juris. Xegos was there on the day I was born... the day that Tantro saved me from the devouring flames.

That was when I realized why I was drawn to the flickering warmth... the elusive destroyer... That is when I knew why the flames called to me, for I had escaped their grasp, but they remained my destiny.

Tantro, I am saddened to say, is not long for this world... as I write this, his condition worsens. But I owe him my very life. He raised me and instilled in me the Sentinel's heart. But I could not escape my destiny yet again... though I thwarted the fire in my beginning, I had to return to it's heat. And though raised with respect for the All-Father, the flames of St. Malorn soon found me, as I found them... Ah, but that is yet another chapter in this, my book of counted sorrows.

 - Written by Denigo Tantric (Guild Leader)

The Book of Counted Sorrows - Chapter Five

Tantro the Sentinel

Changing of the Guard: A Farewell to Shadows-Bane

The mounting sorrows overwhelm me
As I bid my friend farewell
Now my duty is, he tells me
"Fill my shoes, and fill them well"

Mounting sorrow, mounting gloom
Unknown paths that lead to where?
Will I lead us into doom?
Can I lead us; do I dare?

My beloved guardian, Tantro, first introduced me to the Druid Shadows-Bane when I was very young... when he brought me to settle in an old friend's guild, The Order of the Black Orchid in the ancient city of Shilmista.

I struck up an immediate friendship with this young druid, a cavalier, devil-may-care upstart officer in the Black Orchid. No one knew it then, but he was destined for greatness. Ousted from the guild due to a conflict with the strict, tyrannical leadership, he left our city for a time... but his heart did not. The ousting of the popular young officer led to dissention in the city and triggered the events that would lead to the downfall of the Black Orchid. With the passing of The Order, the well-liked young druid answered the call of his friends and rose to his true calling. He re-organized the last shattered remnants of The Black Orchid after the fall of Shilmista, eventually founding the Defenders of Fate and building Fate's Legacy, our beloved city.

He resurrected the guild with the few true Black Orchids who remained after the collapse: myself, Tantro and the faithful old minotaur Xegos; Sun-Star and the entire House of Sord; Vess and the Stoneforge Clan, along with a few others. He made those of us closest to him his Inner Council and we followed him to build our future.

Our road was rocky, treacherous and fraught with peril... we wandered without direction in the wilderness until he lead us to this ground upon which we now stand. We left the ruins of Shilmista without a home, without looking back, trusting in his able leadership. And he did not fail us.

When we came to these lands, only the grand stone tree, a feeble bank and two pathetic unranked forges stood upon these grounds. This mighty city in which we now live was built upon our blood and sweat... forged from the sheer will to survive as a guild... and always under the guidance of Shadows.

As our city grew, I saw my role as that of an advisor. I had studied the ancient writings and had a grasp of their knowledge and an understanding of their lessons. These things I imparted to Shadows as our guild grew into an alliance and then into a nation, in an effort to ease his burden.

As I read my very first entry into this journal I am struck by the prophetic lines I wrote:
I am reminded of the ancient writings: "From the old springs the new. For every end, there is a new beginning" and those words comfort me, for my old friend has traveled on to seek new horizons.

At that time, those words were written about another friend, but now the exit of Shadows from our leadership has brought a new beginning for me. As he left, he passed the leadership to me and I am charged with a great responsibility. Overwhelmed with his departure and the uphill climb before me, I will nonetheless endeavor to follow in his footsteps and to continue to lead the Defenders of Fate to greatness.

Fare thee well, my old friend. May I remember your triumphs and use them for inspiration, that I might be the leader you felt me capable of becoming. In your farewell address, you called me wise. I pray now that the wisdom you saw in me will truly emerge that I may conduct our business for the betterment of our nation and for the common good of our people.

 - Written by Denigo Tantric (Guild Leader)

The Book of Counted Sorrows - Chapter Final Chapter

Fate is a strange and unpredictable beast. This nation began in Fate's Legacy. I was a 'reluctant' nation leader and the choices I made back then laid a course. I am proud of the accomplishments and great strides Lord Darkman has made with our little nation. From one small city in a forgotten corner of the wilderness south of King's Cross to a mighty, server controlling force.

The first major milestone came when a traitorous dog betrayed us and tried to feed us to the wolves... gave quarter and a secure foothold in our lands to a tyrant who thought he would bend us to his will and devour us.

The day of Kyler's defeat, crushing his cities and banishing him from our land, was our first real victory as a nation. The first of many, although I gave up nation leadership shortly after we won that war against the Forsaken Empire... mainly from exhaustion and my increasingly taxing duties in the 'real world'.

And now we stand at another crossroad. There is a storm on the horizon. The clouds are gathering.

There is coming a great return to Mourning. The dead are resurrecting and walk again even now. The names of dead soldiers from the past are reappearing throughout the world.

Yea, there are those who have called the dead soldiers back among the living. The wizards and necromancers in King Steven's court have, out of the fear of Iscariot, dabbled in the black magic of resurrection and are calling in allies, long dead, to fight by their side.

The forces of the Houses of the Holy become stronger day by day with new names added to their ranks. New names, yes, but I believe old souls inhabit them.

Our crest now dominates the terrain and thus, we are the logical target even to a newly born guild who does not know the politics of Mourning and who have no affiliation with our enemies.

The time is upon us, if not overdue, countrymen, to become as efficient as possible. We must consolidate into a stronger single nation if we hope to survive the coming storm.

If you do not believe my prediction, take a careful look at the world list. You will see the gathering clouds. You will see that the fallen have indeed risen to walk the shard of Mourning once again. And more come each day.

But beware my friends... already the fearful have planted informants in our midst and even some traitors of old have been knowingly welcomed back into our fold. Does a leopard change his spots? Perhaps. But I am afraid that I believe otherwise.

Fate's Legacy, the ancient city where our nation began, has left the nation to clear the way for a new beginning.

Denigo Tantric will remain with his city until it is no more. It is his fate. It is his duty. But - many of my alternate personnae will join you in our newly streamlined nation to fight by your side against the threatening storm.

Further delay is not an option. The steamlining is necessary because the Storm is real.

Adieu,
Denigo