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The sun began to set in the high mountains distantly in the cool evening air. Shadows began to rise and dance in the light of the fire set before the camp upon the jagged rock height overlooking the distant fields and forests of the beautiful mountain lands. A dark figure loomed over the coalescent flames as they rose, beating on the night sky. Reaching for his goblet he watched his soldiers bodies sprawled across the cold stone ground watching the sky lights shine.

Tonight was the night of “the changing”, the time of the month where the Redemplars of ‘The Court of Infinite Darkness’ plunge their legions of fallen, traitorous Templars into villages and cities all around the country of Faede to force others to betray and to increase their armies even greater.

Templars which had fallen after betraying their faith or their loved ones. This is what makes a Redemplar, a being filled full of the will to redeem themselves for their traitorous actions when they were alive. But a Templar who becomes a Redemplar can never turn back for they are cursed by their own will, forcing them selves to live under the rules in hope to one day redeem themselves.

The dark figure turned to a chained man on his knees in the dancing shadows of the great flame. Coated in blood from wrists down, his cold stare disrupted his captor’s focus on plans at hand. A loud crack echoed through the night and the chained man fell forward with a jolt, now, lying in his own blood. A man with a straight thick closed helmet wielding a bloodied whip circled him, whispering to himself, planning. “Why don’t you just kill me?” Said the hostage sitting back up on his knees.

“There has been no reason given for my head still being attached to my own neck. Nor why I am here in the first place.” There was a stir in the sleeping men as they began to arise from their sleep, awakened by one circling the fire chanting a melodic tune. The man by the fire stood up, towering high above the rest of them. Leaving his rifle and sword he stepped over to the bloody man and knelt his own eyes to his. “We are the Redemplars child.” A grin crept up the man’s face, glorified by the name his ancestors had given them all.

“You know who we are, don’t you? The stories told to children and men alike around fires. Fairy tales that creep in the shadows and sing through the forests.” A flickering red light landed upon the shoulder of the man, staring it down for a long period he looked back at the prisoner. “My seeker has told me about you child as well as your village. I know that in this village there are many of our old brothers, Templars. You are going to tell us where they sleep, child.” The prisoner’s eyes escaped the man’s; in fear that his seeker may know that he himself is of Templar blood.
“I will never sell out my soul to you”. The prisoner spat at the man’s face. A solid strike landed the prisoner on his back as the redemplar struck his head with his boot and laid it upon the bloody man bolting him to the cold stone ground. “Listen boy, you will lead us to the Templars. Your father Dryll and little sister Nora will be even bloodier than you are now if you do not.” The Redemplar captain reached out and held the floating red light above his shoulder as the cold breath in his lungs released, making the cold air fear him of his power.

Dropping his palm to the prisoner’s face: when his eyes had met with the light, magic and life exploded inside of its form. “You see child, I hear all that is and what is to happen, but to where and when it happens I am blind. You tell me where your insignificant putrid incandescent village is and by my word I will not harm your family and the single Templar that stands before me.” The redemplar eyes stared into the man’s soul like a trance of ice and the prisoner sat staring back at him, both in fear and anger.

After a well pronounced period of time the man got up on his feet, staring down at the ground in sheer pain. “I will.” Was all he said lifting his wrists to the large grinning figure in front of him. “Of course you will child, what else are you to do under a moon tainted with our ancestor’s pain. The man turned arms outstretched towards the moon illuminated in the cold night sky. “Move men, we leave now!” Left and right soldiers threw on their thick tattered armor and held their weapons high. The prisoner was unshackled and hurled towards a horse. “Now lead my child, lead us into battle my dear, dear Templar”.

The roar of horses, rhino’s and wolves trampling over the cold earth could be heard louder and louder in the village as the man who was just held by their pursuers returned. “The redemplars are here! Run, everyone grab your families and run to the forests!” The man burst into his home grabbing his armor from the dresser. He turned to see his little sister curled to the railing of the spiraling staircase, tears flowing down her face like rivers. “Nora, quickly wake up your father!” He demanded as he struggled his armor on to himself.

Placing his helmet upon his head he thundered up the stairs past his father and sister. “What is happening out there my son? What is that hellish noise?” The man’s little sister grasped her fathers side wiping her tears.

“What is going to happen to us Vern? Are you alright?” She was scanning his bruised and bloodied body from head to toe as she gripped her father’s side harder. Her father was looking out the window to the hills where hundreds of torches suddenly appeared. The old man looked back at his son. With sad eyes he knew what he was thinking and gave a nod. “We must go Nora, your brother needs to fight for his people. They are here for the Templars, not us.” The old man looked back at his son with strong eyes.

“Do not even think about letting your people down. The Templar blood comes from your mother’s side and that will give you strength, fight for your fellow Templars my son. We will meet you under the gorge in two days time. If you do not come…” The father’s eyes began to tear as his son embraced his father with his strong arms.

Sadness had filled the young man's eyes, not just with the thought of leaving his family but also with what his father said about letting his fellow Templars down. Releasing his father he knelt down and hugged Nora. “I love you Nora. Everything is going to be alright.” He smiled at his little sister.

“When I see you again we are going to play like old times, just like I promised before. As well as teach you the sword. He looked up at his father and they smiled at each other.

“You better be coming back you hear.” His father wiped his eyes and the two ran into the dark hallway. Nora turned back to look at her big brother as he pulled his big, heavy sword from the wall hang. He turned back to her smiling and fell his helmet’s visor and whispered something almost faint to her ears. “We are family not by blood but by heart my sister. Never turn to the darkness that tells you everything is bonded by rules and what you see.” And he was gone… just as their attackers were upon them.