Reality hit's mortals in different ways but you being here means there really is no end to what man made layers of hell you are willing to travel to find me. Part of me is impressed. The rest think you must be a moron. Redemption. A word the god's gave to the mortals as a false sense of pride in themselves. Makes sense the mortals named their worst prison after the blasted word. Redemption correctional facility. Placed between two pieces of hell on earth. If being in the worst part of this landscape when you're in the canyon of Sulfear doesn't already tell you how insane you are then you must think you're immortal too. I left this story in a pit that even the greatest heroes of all time would shudder at its inhabitants so if you are still alive then you must have run and if not…Even the monk king would be impressed. Enough of my ramblings. It's time you learned more about me I'd say and since you know of my first life. Maybe you should learn about my first sons. Samrin Lakefeild, A wise and powerful leader that took my family name the furthest it's ever spanned…And Tysol Lakefeild…A man who for the last hundred years I thought had no impact on this putrid world…Until the birth of a family that carried his first name…Becoming the start of the world's greatest family of fighters against the rules set by evil gods.…Enough of Tysol…you are here for the stories of the son I thought would bring glory back to the Lakefield name…I hoped is probably a better way to say that. Here are the stories of the eldest… 'God King' Samrin Lakefield and his eventual downfall.
Samrin was a smart lad from a young age. His mother was a frost elven princess in a land far north. He could almost pass for a Frost elf until his hair started to take the black my family is known for. A strategist from his first word of 'Flanking' and adapted with a blade just like me…It made me feel a warmth I've never been able to feel in any child I have sired since. A general before mortal…This became his motto. You might expect him to put the wars of the world over his family. To be constantly thinking of a new way to conquer and take new land…This was not Samrin. He was a kind soul but he was pushed by his mother to take the Frost Elves as far south as possible…I wish I could have stopped this before the worst happened. Samrin grew up in the courts of Frost Elven royalty as a military leader. Not being born of royal blood between a brother and sister he was considered a failure from birth but that was far from the truth. He was top of his classes in Strategic warfare, Cross country relations and the rest…He was the smartest child I thought I'd ever make…
When his military life started at Twenty-five I was already twenty-two years into my next life. At this point I could easily recall my old…adventures?...Self fulfilling moments?...I'm not even sure myself what to call them…He was at his greatest when I came of age in my twenties when he won the war of Redemption Valley…Something in the future I would have to deal with in time soon to come…keep exploring the prison and you will see what I mean. Samrin was the leader of the northern war of independence from Arcanus…A war he fought from the ages of twenty-five to the ripe age of fifty… Barely adolescent for a Frost Elf but for a human like myself that was a long life…Huh…A mortal like me speaking about fifty years being a long time when I have lived over five hundred at the least…Anyway he was a brilliant tactician. As much as I don't think I deserve any praise,
It was me that came up with the tactic that eventually brought him down. It was the battle for this land. The land between Redemption and Sulfear…Here is the story of my first born's death at a plan made by me.
It was known as the battle for the burning shallow…I'm sure someone as smart as you has heard about it. The Northerners were decimated beyond belief…Not even a puny hundred men was left on the battlefield against Samrin and another thousand of his finest warriors. How would I know the specifics I hear you ask? Well that is simple to answer. I was in Redemption serving my own sentence. A story we will recall another time. When Samrin's army pushed hard into the prison itself the warden…Well he became desperate. Most of the inmates here where not incarcerated for petty thievery no…Most were at the very least murderers. Some even more foul in their life. Me? I was here because I had joined a war for the wrong side and was going to spend this life atoning for it. Or so I thought until they came.
The warden was tall even for a Goliath…No surprise since these burning mountains were their homelands. Knowing my history and name he came to my cell and said one sentence. He was not stupid…He knew what he was doing. ''Lakefield. You have any kids? Samrin? Frost Elf? Well if you do then it's ironic that your about to be slayed by his army…unless you help.'' My body was in shock. I thought about letting him win. My life would only restart anyway but since I came to this pit I had told everyone about the real me. About the 'Immortal that lived every aspect of life' and that is…Where I made the gravest of mistakes. He used all this information against me. I had made friends here and knew that to save a continent. I had to kill my flesh and blood. I responded words that still resonate with me. 'Warden Gaar-Eek…If me and my companions can leave free after…We will fight…No. We will win.'
Oret Gaar-Eek. A goliath even amongst his race wielded a pike twice the size of any human ive ever seen. The two demon lords, Cryonux and Banshar would have felt fear themselves looking into the eyes of the man that now ran their toy. "Lakefield. I offer you a pardon and my promise on the name of Tyflos to keep your tale to myself and to the annals of history." I stuttered and choked on my own spit. A pardon for one of my many lives was nothing to me but then there was a friend I had made that I wanted to save. One person said was beyond redemption. The 'Betrayer' Fabian Sterlingbloom. A paladin that broke his oath to the gods but was still a man of honour and pride. A friend as I would say. The warden was a harsh man but, at his core he was at least reasonable. He accepted our request and then…Then the war began.
Before this battle would begin, I had to forge a contract. A Sword Contract. An adventurer of your strength must have heard of them before right? Powerful artefacts made with a sliver of the god's soul that crafted them. The Ice Phoenix himself left his first in the bowels of this place and I knew I had to convince it to become a helper in my plan, for Redemption is an ever turning road that leads to many paths. Gaar-Eek explained the horrid path this would lead me down would be one filled with pain. As someone who had lost his feeling of pain around three lifetimes ago. I happily accepted the chance to feel once more.
The touch of ice was something that chilled the core of my being as the cold frost of fate seemed to enclose around my soul. The walk to the lower floors felt like an eternity. Trust me I would know and maybe you by the looks of it, back to it. In those shivering halls on a pedestal of frozen flames, sat a shield of brooding steel of neutral gray and frosted blue. A thing almost painful to see but too beautiful to look away, not out of fear or anger but unsettling sadness. I spoke loud and true. It spoke back with glee. Its name screamed as I laid my hands on it. Still Flame. With the power it granted, the feelings of loss and faith drove me to face my devotion to my end.
I emerged from the chambers as the armies circled the building. Gaar-Eek was issuing a challenge under the name of the god Tyflos. A one versus one duel to the death. Winner decides the fate of the land we stood in. Samrin stopped his army and headed forward alone…I walked from behind the gates to meet him. I wish I could tell you that this was an emotional battle of a father and son that did not wish to hurt the other. That…Would be nothing more than a fantasy when in reality…It went much worse.
The battle went as you would probably expect. Samrin and I crossed blades and in the end we ended each other. Samrin knew this was his only chance at glory. I knew this was one of many for myself. The words of my first born child as he realised who I was will burn through my mind forevermore..''Father…I have and always will, Afterlife or not, Hate you with all my being.'' It should be obvious what today's lesson is traveller but in case you hadn't figured it out yet, here is a riddle. They say that blood is thicker than water…What they don't say is that blood can be watered down to almost nothing…Good luck in your life traveller but remember…Family is who you wish it to be for men and women that fight this world's evils.
-Signed, Perry Lakefield