Issbaner's Story.

[Praetor 1550]

This is Issbaners lore. I am currently typing the handwritten version over to my laptop.

Jena, hope you enjoy. ((Mentalist or what? :8D )) W.I.T = Work In the Typing.

Enjoy. (2 1/2 chapters left.)

CHAPTER 1: VORMROTH

A thousand leagues from Aegis, and many hundred more from Asulon, over deserts ere great forests and across deep seas. Through old ruins, and great cities...You may find what was once the great duchy of Vormroth, a powerful land, under the control of the ruthless Til'Esof dukes for hundreds of years.

Now forty-three years ago, the duke and duchess had a child, a boy. Whom they called Issbaner, after one of the great heroes of Vormroth. At the age of five, he had become a strong, vigorous and energetic child. He had dirty blond hair, and deep brown, almost red eyes. with a skin tanned by the blasting suns of his lands. He was soon put to private tutoring, and while being reticent about it. He learned quickly, and well. Even if he preffered watching the Zlàraks, or Warriors of his fathers armies train. Or even taking long awalks escorted by his guardian, enjoying the feeling of freedom.

Once Issbaner turned ten, he had become a bright, intelligent boy, already possessing the ruthlessness needed, if you were to become a duke in these unforgiving lands. He was put to training with weapons, also keeping on with his educations, and learning the duties of a duke. And yet, his parents worried, for they saw that he carried little intrest in learning and finding out about the duties of a duke, preferring to talk to war veterans about distant lands, when he was not training with his now favourite weapon; the saber. While he possesssed neither the technique, nor the strength to defeat a warrior, he could easily beat any of his companions in his training.

And his parents were relieved, for a child who was so skilled with the sword, coud only become a great duke, could he not?

And yet, when Issbaner turned fifteen, disease stuck down his father, prematurely naming him duke, to replace his dying father. And to add to the problems, unrest shook the lands in these days, and talk of rebellion was heard, talk of uprising agaisnt the harsh dukes. And yet, Issbaner ignored these signs, preffering to spend his time on long hunting trips with his friends, or parties, where he shamelessly flirted with the young ladies of the court. For rare was the lady who would claim she did not find him unnatractive, with his semi-long blond hair, and muscular body.

CHAPTER 2: REBELLION and EXILE

And when our young duke turned seventeen, the inevetible happened, following his uncaring and selfish leading of Vormroth, the citiens rebeled. Overhtrowing the armies in a matter of weeks by sheer weight of numbers, and marching on the capital, and the citadel where Issbaner, and the remains of the army still stood. Yet, Issbaner feared not, for this city was strong, and the rebels would smash themselves agaisnt the walls. Of course, this was not counting the massive defection of the army, who opened the gates, letting the rebels through them, and into the city, leaving the city ripe for pillage. And pillage they did, raping, killing and burning at will.

But it was not to be the end of Issbaner, no, for with his closest friend, and his mother, they fought their way through an ancient tunnel, towards the outside of the city. Alas, on their way out, he and his mother got seperated, and he was never to see her again.

After an arduous and dangerous trip through old and abandonned taunnels, he escaped. But only three of his six friends came out with him...As he turned to look on last time upon the ruins of his beloved city, he felt, mixed with sadness, relief....for a weight had left his shoulders, and he was free...

CHAPTER 3: BRIGAND

For months Issbaner traveled the lands with his companions, slowly erring farther and farther from his homeland, learning more upon the way, about the sutble arts of stealing, lockpicking, and killing. And yet, the small nit group group began to unravel, as one of his friends left them in a small village, for a young girl, who was soon to become his wife. And then another left. finding his new life in a small bakery in a modest town.

Left with Issbaner was his closest friend, and his most faithful ally, Nifir was his name.

One early morning, as they were walking along a small dirt path in a lush, green forest, they were ambushed by bandits. But the bandits had only seen two young men, and severly underestimated them. For even if the two companions in arms knew that attacking the whole group would be madness...They knew another way. And without warning, Issbaner drew his sword, slashing the leaders head off. And by there show of strength, claiming leadership of the group of bandits and none dared disagree. And yet, through time the bandits grew to love their new leaders, for even if they were ruthless, they were fair, and shared any loot fairly.

But there was one who was not happy, and wished for the position of leader. They called him Bregovir. And Bregovir was treacherous, ready to anyting to get what he wanted...ONe hot summer night, he betrayed. Issbaner was twenty-seven, and had spent eight years with the bandits, whom he called the DragonFangs.

CHAPTER 4: CAPTURED and DEATH

Issbaner and Nifìr were betrayed while doing a routine patrol around the camp, when a rival group of bandits ambushed them. Now Issbaner and Nifìr were excellent and accomplished fighters, having proven themselves many times in various fights. Many, many bandits fell before they were stopped, and captured. but captured they were and taken to the bandits hideout. The rival group threw Issbaner into a disgusting small cell, at the bottom of a cave system -and I might note that Issbaner hated caves, and claustrophobe-. Tkaing Nifìr with them. For a while, confusement and anger where his only reaction, until he heard the screams. The screams of pain, the screams of Nifìr being tortured, and his heart filled with dread.

The screams went on for hours and as hard as he might plug his ears, Issbaenr coudl still hear his screams in his head. Suddenly, he heard the noise of gate keys rattle, and what was once his closest friend was thrown in. As Issbaner turned him over, he saw in horror that he had been horribly mutilated, and near death.

-"Oh Nifìr, what have I done to you? T'is all my fault!" Said Issaner, cradlung his friends head in his eyes.

-"I-Iss...Issbaner...t'was....O-our choice....we stayed like of old....we should have....c-changed.." Muttered Nifìr painfully..."Like Nalla...and Dalern..."

The former duke rocked his friends body in his arms, a tear forming in his eyes, as Nifìr slowly exhaled his last breath, in the arms of his friend, far from the his beloved country, and far from the glory he once knew.

Once again, the keys rattled in the lock, it was his turn...but if he had to die, he would do so proudly. He gently closed Nifìr's eyes "Rest in peace friend.". Before being roughly pulled up and marched intoa dark room, then attached to a bload soaked table. Foolishly, they had left a small knife at a hands reach from Issbaner's arm. As the executioner slowly put his first cuts into Issbaner, his back arched in pain, but he forced his mouth shut, his hands straining towards the knife...for ten minutes he strained agaisnt the pain, reaching for the knife, then cutting at his bonds when his killer was not watching. Finnaly the bonds broke, and he heaved himself up, stabbing the man deeply in the chest.

Slowly, he got up, and sneaked out of the base, fighting when he had too.

CHAPTER 5: CHANGE

It had now been a year since Issbaner had escaped the bandits, and something had changed inside him. The dying words of Nifìr still echoed in his mind…"Change"… And the loss of his friend had only sped up the change for our hero. For yes, he had changed, he knew now how it was to suffer, to lose that to which you hold the most, and he knew the pain he had inflicted to others. In fact, he was riddled by remorse, and since he had escaped and recovered, he had been seeking out all the things he had never learned like ; kindness, compassion, generosity and more… He was becoming a different man, his hardness melting, and reshaping in kindness. But he was aware of that icy, calculating part deep down, ready to surge up and assisst him in time of danger, or war. Yet he knew, that even that, had melted slightly.

For five years, he wandered, changing or molding, and all the time nearing the age old lands of Aegis.

If, with all this time, he changed, one thing remained. His fierce will for freedom, and complete disregard for authority.

And so it is, one day, after weeks of solitude, while walking on a empty road close to a strange temple, he walked into that which would be his future love, even if he knew it not…Jena.

CHAPTER 6: AEGIS

And for twelve years, Issbaner lived in Aegis. Knowing many people, and living many things, all of which are inscribed in the memories of those who lived these events with him. Yet, many a dear friend he lost, and there is not a day, when he remembers his dear friends; Nifìr, Rhisereld, Vanyariel, or Victor Brandis. But he found love too, once in a elf lady named Tyrande, and then again, later with Jena. To which he still devouts a strong unbending love.

But then, the world fell apart, and to Asulon he sailed.

This is where the pen must stop, and life must write the rest.

This is the story of Issbaner Til'Essof, Duke of Vormroth, leader of the DragonFangs, and freeman caged by love. This is his life.