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In 1368 DR, while traveling through Impiltur with The Clan of Light, Azrael
recounted why he was heading west. The story was later turned into a ballad by
the Clan's bard, Connor Windghost.
Background:
Azrael joined the Clan, as they were heading in the same direction, and they
adventured for the next year. The Clan wound up with a map to a ruined
stronghold in the Thunder Peaks east of Cormyr. Azrael was looking to go west
to find Elminster and the Harpers he had heard so much about in legends. He
was also looking for clergy of the Red Knight to spread the tale of Ethan
Harge and his deeds. (Despite the song, Ethan was a worshiper of The Red
Knight but that didn't fit into the lyrics so artistic license was applied by
Connor. Unfortunately, this rather annoyed the Goddess, and Connor woke the
next morning to find a severed horse's head in bed with him. He spent the
following days finding various signs of the Goddess' displeasure and
eventually converted to Her worship).
Now the Ballad:
From the notes kept by Storm Silverhand - "The Ballad of the Ghost Knight" as
performed by Connor Windghost, of The Clan of Light, in the Old Skull Inn,
Shadowdale, 14th day of Marpenoth, The Year of the Gauntlet.
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I was a fresh-faced scout on a search patrol, Hunting orc bands down, It was in the Dale Wars of '65. My weapon broke, and I got stuck, way out and all alone, and I could hear the enemy moving in close outside. Just then I heard a twig snap, and I grabbed my broken sword, and I dug in scared, as I counted down my fate. But then a paladin, a giant with a pair of friendly eyes, appeared there at my shoulder and said "wait." When he came in close beside me, he said "Don't worry, son, I'm here. If the orcs want to tangle now, they'll have two to dodge." I said, "Well thanks a lot," I told him my name, and asked him his, and he said, "The boys all call me Ethan Harge." We fought all night, and side by side we took our battle stance, and I wondered how the arrows missed this man. 'Cos they seemed to go right through him, just as if he wasn't there, and as the morning came, we both took a chance and ran. And it was by the river bank that the ambush came on top of us, and I thought it was the end and we were gone. Then an arrow with my name on it, came buzzing through a bush, and that paladin, he just swatted it with his hand. Just like it was a fly. Well he led me out of danger, I saw a town, and waved goodbye, he just waved at me from the forest, and then was gone. When I got up to the main gate, I told them about my night, and the battle I'd spent with a paladin, named Ethan Harge. When I said his name the soldier stared, and a cleric took my arm, and led me to a temple on the right. He said, "You may be tellin' truth son, but this here is Ethan Harge, and he's been right here since he passed away last night". "In fact, he's been here all week long." "But before he went, he said 'Tempus, Lord, I'd like one last request- to save a young fighter who's doing his best.'" "So here, take his sword son, I know he'd want you to have it now," and we both said a prayer for a paladin named Ethan Harge. |
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