Flames consumed the Village of Ghanroh as harrowing screams echoed throughout the landscape. The sounds of buildings collapsing and soldiers barking orders grew louder as madness ensued.
On this dark day in history The Royal Knight Corps had been ordered to eliminate a village that was believed to pose a threat to the young growing Kingdom of Novar. None were to be spared, not a single child nor any adult. The knights were covered in plated armor emblazoned with Novar's royal crest a symbol that would become feared throughout the lands of Maios, it depicted a lone sword pointed downward with two serpent like heads twisting up the blade. Armed with bows and swords they set fire to Ghanroh while the villagers still slept. Those who awakened and fled from their burning homes met swords and poisoned arrows from the knights. The villagers were mercilessly executed, very few were even capable enough to put up a struggle against the trained and well outfitted knights. The few who did were simply outnumbered and lacked the equipment or skill to make up the difference.
Volric was one of the first villagers to awaken. He was a large chiseled gray skinned man. With determined chestnut colored eyes and deep blue hair which he kept short, Volric stood a little over six foot tall. At thirty-one years old he was considered young among the villagers but was regarded as one of their best warriors. Instinctively as he awakened and heard sounds of movement outside he grabbed his sword which he kept leaned against the wall in a corner by the bed. A sleek blade made of a strange black metal he received from the village elder as a gift when his son was born. The sword had seen much combat in the nine years Volric had it but the blade showed no signs of wear.
He quickly woke his wife and son from their slumber and frantically explained the situation while preparing to flee. He strapped on his blackened aeylhide armor, made from an Aeyldra a winged snake like creature whose skin is as tough as leather but much lighter allowing better mobility in combat. After equipping himself they exited their home when a sudden sword came slicing down. *Clang* Volric parried the strike with the blade in his right hand with such intensity and strength the knight recoiled back for a moment. "Run Hena I'll hold him off, take our son and get away from here!" He shouted towards his family.
Hena was a beautiful slender gray skinned woman shorter than Volric and not much for fighting as she was still wearing her silken white nightgown. She spent a majority of her time tending to the village garden which provided food for the people. She had a way with plants that no one else in the village seemed to have and she would spend time telling them stories while her son helped and listened. Her eyes were a light blue, always peaceful and warm but on this night they were full of panic and fear. One would almost swear her beautiful dark green hair was reflective, the light from the burning buildings almost making her hair seem to glow.
She understood what this meant and with tears running down her face grabbed the hand of the boy and cried out "Don't let go of my hand son no matter what!" as they began running toward The Forest of Ghan that bordered the outskirts of the village.
Volric positioned himself between the knight and his fleeing family, he would buy them time at any cost. He rushed forward towards the knight arcing his sword upward attempting to slash the chest of his target but finds a blade, his opponent parried his strike but again is on the back foot, Volric had more strength and something to protect. Realizing he had the advantage he aggressively went on the offensive increasing the speed of his onslaught. Slash right, slash left, step forward and slash downward, the knight did well to block the attacks, his training benefited him. Volric however was a survivor, he had no such formal training and had to learn things his own way. He slashed from the right towards the knight, but as his attack was parried he let go of his sword which surprised the knight. Volric used this moment to plant his right boot into the chest of his opponent with all his might knocking the knight flat on his back gasping for air. Volric rushed forward mounting his opponent raining down blow after blow to the knights face before finally being thrown off. Having regained his breath the knight quickly scrambled to his feet as Volric retrieved his weapon and rushed forward. "One more strike, one more and I'll be with them again" he thought as he pressed forward. Time suddenly stopped for Volric, the thought of his family lingered as life escaped him. While he was rushing forward to make his final attack several other knights had fired arrows into him from multiple directions. His large body became limp and crashed to the hard ground. Volric died a warrior but would never know the fate of his fleeing family.
"It's going to be okay just stay on your feet!" Hena yelled over the madness. She pulled her young son along but as they fled two knights cut off their path. Hena stopped and the young boy stood close behind her clutching her side while looking around her towards the knights. As they advance towards them swords drawn Hena whispered "I'm sorry" as she pulled two stones from a bracelet she never removed. The bracelet was a beautiful silver with ornately carved patterns of vines and flowers, a gift from her husband. Around the bracelet were six round stones in their own casings that gave off a faint glow. Two of the stones were a deep almost crimson red, another two were a dark calming mosslike green, and the final two stones were a light almost cold shade of blue.
"Igios!" Hena shouted as she threw them ahead towards the knights. The bluish stones shattered in a bone chilling shockwave and bright flash as they hurled towards their targets. Air escaped their lungs from the rapid change in temperature as jagged shards of ice instantly encased the knights freezing the surrounding area. The boy startled cowered back behind his mother "It's okay let's go" he heard her say as he dared to look at the knights again in their newfound prison of ice. The icy ground cracked beneath their feet as they continued towards The Forest of Ghan.
Hena started to feel relief as she and her son were steps away from safety.
"Damn, I took to long" she thought to herself as the world around her began to darken. An archer of The Royal Knights rarely missed their target, this day was no different as a pair of soldiers had put their arrows into Hena's back as she fled with her son. The poison acted quickly, as Hena felt her life beginning to fade she shoved her young son forward across the barrier of The Forest of Ghan.
"Farewell" she managed to mumble with the last of her breath, as her body collapsed with a smile on her face her beautiful eyes closed for the final time.
A thunderous sound began spreading throughout the burning village drowning out any and everything as trees and roots carved through the bloodshed. After only moments, where The Village of Ghanroh once stood a thick sprawling forest had risen and grown over the battlefield. It's trees were dark and twisted, many entwined with another while leafless branches angled every direction towards the treetops. The sound came to a halt as the ground grew cold and still almost lifeless. The Forest of Ghan had nearly tripled its size engulfing the village and its surrounding landscape in an instant. The King who issued the order received word of the drastic change from scouts he sent to investigate after the squad of Royal Knights failed to return. He had no qualms with calling the mission a success when he learned Ghanroh Village was no more.