As the first rays of the sun, broke over the low foot hills lining the eastern edge of the valley, a old man was stoking a camp fire back to life. A rusting in the tent, marked his traveling companion was now awake and moving. Shortly a young elf walked out with his saddle bags over one shoulder and his sheathed sword and belt in the other.
Young Corllion turned looked at his tent and with a snap of his fingers the tent reduced in size as it folded up and kept drinking until it fit in the palm of his hand. He then tucked into a pouch at his waist, once the tent was secured inside the pouch once again became invisible.
He saddled his horse and tied down his saddle bag and returned to the fire.
Master Avostad, how long will our journey to the guild house take? I'm Eager to begin. Stated Corllion.
Well that entirely depends on you my boy! Said the old man. We first have to sort out two items of great importance.
The first I want one more time to tell you and have you fully understand what you will be pledging yourself to. You will have to fully Relinquish your old life. Once you take the vows you belong to the guild body and soul. And at some point in your training and later in life you will be tasked with missions that you will not stand a high chance of completing much less returning from. Vows that once taken can only mean, a lifetime of service to the guild, its ideals, and the missions we undertake. And if you ever bring dishonor to the guild or break your vows one of your brothers will be dispatched to end you. Corllion had heard all this before, yet the rough matter of fact way that the old guild master now presented it to him, was as if he was hit with a mailed fist.
Corllion was silent for a good minute or two before nodding and saying , I understand what is required and expected of me once my vows have been spoken. You understand that with your talent even if you where not to take the vows you most likely would end up indentured to the guild anyway. Because without guidance, one of your skill would be a danger to us. Again he replied with the same nod and words of understanding.
Well if that's settled now we need to give you a name!
Is my given name not good enough? Asked Corllion a little offended. No it's a very fine name, and strong, with strong family ties, which you no longer belong to! Again stated i Avostad in that blunt manner that Corllion hadn't seen in the old man before.
Corllion thought for a good while, am I allowed to choose my own new name or will that be done for me as well? Well normally we pick something that stands out about you and your character. Stated Avostad ignoring the tone the young EX prince's voice.
After this Avostad stood up and waved his left hand and all his belongings disappeared and his horse magically was saddled and ready for the road. The only thing remaining was one plate of steaming hot food and a cup full of wine.
We'll eat up boy don't let it get cold and don't skimp you will need the energy and nourishment it will give you. And take your time, enjoy it. Ponder over your choice. For even though our guild is unknown to most your name could one day be a realm shattering thing. To know your enemies trimble at the mear mention of your name, as if by saying the thing aloud will conjure you into being. The shouting of your name will one day be the rallying cry needed to bolster the troops and break a Siege of a advancing pro army. You'll find. Young man that names of things are Immensely powerful. A boon to some, and a detriment to others.
The way Avostad spoke of this, how he could switch from a tone of grave warning and dazzling hopefulness, made Corllion think this man could have been a bard of legend if he so chose to be. He also felt as if this was going to be a common thing amongst the members of the guild. This lead him to wonder how he would compare to the other members of the order. A random thought crossed Corllion's mind. And the words left his lips before he could stop himself. You speak in two different tones when you talk about the guild as if there are two sides one that all the members belong to then only as if select people are part of the order. He asked more than stated.
You noticed that did you? Replyed Avostad, there are different branches or divisions within the guild. We are loosely arranged like an army with foot soldiers, knights, Lieutenants, captains, and generals, then you have the elders that each run a branch, that are Divided into ones skill paths. We have shields, beacons, paladins and shadows. Each branch specializes in something. The shields are the embodiment of a weapons master. Even though we only use one kind of weapon our entire life once we take our vows they are the best with that weapon hands down. They make up the bulk of our guild. Beacons make use of more of the arcane arts. Paladins, are a perfect balance of the two, most of our officer ranks are or where paladins at one time or another. The there are shadows, our spy's and intelligence gathering arm of the guild, they also carry out the more unsavory missions of the guild. All branches make use of magic and a bladed weapon. How far and where your particular talents take you is completely up to you. And each branch's elder has an Opposing branch as there counsel. You can never serve as a elder of a branch unless you serve as counsel to your opposite elder. And you can't be the guild leader unless you have served in all the branches.
Avostad continued to explain how the guild and the orders each worked as Corllion ate his breakfast, he was like a dry sponge dumped into a pale of water. He soaked every bit of knowledge up and left no drops behind.
When the old man stopped speaking, Corllion asked him, so may I retain my first name? , It is of no special significance, and it is not an ancestral name.
Yes yea that's fine , said Avostad, what are your ideas so far? Corllion is as having some difficultie in coming up with anything, that he felt would one day be everything, Avostad stated it could be. But a line of though was forming, from humble beginning's come that things. Like the mighty oak tree it starts out as a tiny little acorn! He glanced at his sword for some reason, there was also a tugging in the back of his mind as the thought. What about silversword?
Avostad thought to himself, he truly has the makings of one of us! The sword is the man & the man is the sword.
I think that's a fine strong name! He said after a slight pause, Avostad continued by saying, do you where your dream of this swords design came from? Why it's a very guarded secret? Corllion's entire body felt as if he had been charged with lighting , he was practically vibrating with anticipation of an answer to questions he has long pondered about his dream and the blade he carried. No until you informed me, I didn't know it was a bladesinger's design, and again I didn't know what a bladesinger was until you and my father told me.
Avostad took a quick moment to find the right starting point, you see, this design was created by one of the founding members of our guild, and he is also one of our worst enemies. I say this because no matter who we have ever sent to end him and close that chapter of our orders blood history, they have all fallen to the original design of that blade.
And it wasn't created while he was still a member in good Stead. It wasn't until he fell from grace, and became one of which he swore to Destroy. He was know to us as titan, before he became a vampire. He was also a vampire's bane. Do you know what it is to be a Bane? Asked Avostad. No replyed Corllion. The old guild leader, pressed on with his tail, to be a bane means you have taken a personal vow to rid the land of the every single one of a certain creature type. In this you become a bane to their existence. Titan had taken a commission to hunt a nest of vampires with a traveling troupe of adventurers. This was a group he had adventurerd with in the past. They felt comfortable in their abilities to take this task on and give the people of a fledgling town some much needed protection and peace. A respite from the constant threat of death at the hands or fangs of you will of this den of evil. They set off and after two weeks with no sighting of them , not even a remnant of a old camp site, where they supposedly had found tell tail signs of the night walkers in the area. It was if they had completely disappeared. We of course sent out teams to try and locate them. All but one team made it back with nothing to show for it. So more teams went out looking. After a while we had to give up the hunt, we as a guild ended up being press ganged into service to an army for a brewing war in the border lands. This was the earliest days of the guild we only had maybe 100 blades at the time. And our influence had yet to reach any semblance of what we enjoyed today. After the wars ended and we set to rebuilding the order , word came of a dark warrior fighting the way we fought, yet not even 50 soldiers could bring him down , even after suffering mortal wounds. Then more tails reached us of similar kind. But this second sightings came with news that a bladesinger's weapon was used and our style was noticed to be used by this monster. It carried some merit due to the person that relayed the tail is one of the kingdoms heir that fought side by side with us in the border lands. Matter of fact it was your great great grand sire, who relayed this to the guild.
Corllion thought back to his , lessons of the realms history, the shade gorath was once this titan of the order? He asked.
Yes we know not when he started going by that name but ever since the border land wars ended every two years we send a bladesinger, on a quest to end him, and not one has ever returned. You blade is of the same design as the one that he uses to this day.
But enough of this for now you have convinced me that you are determined to see where this path leads and you have picked your name, now let be away from here, and get you to the council of elders and have you take your vows.