|
Back in days when Adriatic sea was a green land inhabited by legends and myths, in time before the first gods
when all the power resided in mortal hands, does the story of the Steelslayer
begins. The Adrians had no gods to worship, not because lack of imagination, but because lack of
need for them. Although they were mortals they were also so much more. They
believed in power of the soul, and that emotions can be used as a weapon.
Great poets, warriors, wizards walked with their heads up
among legends of the Balkan.
In many ways, they were legends themselves, and, like all
legends, the eternity of their long existence was at the end, it didn’t come
slowly but almost instantly, like the last verse of a poem. However, they were
not perfect, far from it. They had their wars, with no true foe in outer world Adrians turn to each
other. What begun like a spark soon changed into inferno, fueled by unsurpassed
hate and desire to dominate over most powerful kind world ever saw. Last war
ended like those before it, in a truce. Royal families would rule the land
through Seer Council, until some ambitious person emerges and try to conquer
land again. Adrians despised schemes, plots, and lies. If you cant protect your life, then you
don’t deserve it- famous saying of Adriatic culture. Although they had no gods
they venerated and believed in souls of their ancestors. Pillars of the
ancestors is in the core of Adria. Its said that souls of all Adrians go into pillars to watch over their
descendants. An Adrians could go as far as they wanted and as long as they can see pillars in the
distance no harm would befall them. However, last war was different. The land
couldn’t absorb so much unleashed power and large portion of it traveled into
deep, dark space. What it awakened there was soon to be known as the last verse
of a poem of Adria. Land next to Adria, Balkan soon fell to the new deity that
transformed its peaceful people into savage killers. Awakened by powers of Adrians, ominous force tried to sneak into their hearts,
but since Adrians had no wishes, needs, or even thoughts about gods, the force flooded Balkan
people with promises of power, wealth, and conquest. There was no altars for
Balkan new god. His altars and praygrounds are forever forged into the heat of
battle and only there could Balkan people seek for something from their new god
they called He who is Steel. With the prayers on their swords and fate in their
steel, guided by whispers of their deity, people of Balkan invaded Adria. The
same land they once respected and feared. Although Adrians were caught by surprise they fought
with might human mind cant comprehend. However, exhausted from the war and
still little in numbers they couldn’t stop the horde from the north. He who is
Steel give Balkanians power needed to break the protection of their pillars and
make them immune to fear, for the sight of angered Adrians is not made for human eyes. They
refused to give up and made their last stand under pillars of their ancestors. It
was a battle where Adrians finally took place among stories, among legends, among stars…
It was end for them, but for Balkanians and their god, a
beginning of terrible slaughter. The sight of dead Adrians fill their ancestors with hate, anger
and sorrow. The Pillars shattered as those emotions reached its peak and from
the ruins emerged something even Balkan god couldn’t put to words. It resembled
tall Adrian and all similarities with Adrians there ended. Huge
wings made of fire that burns with undying passion and hate in white inferno of
ancestral memories. Armor made of wrath, hole in chest where heart should be,
and face, mask of fear made flesh. Blood drips from the wound in the chest and
on the sword, making strange steely sound. Being rushed forward, with every death
as a cut on the Steel god, turning their place of victory into their tomb.
Balkanians flee in terror as being mercilessly butchered them and all their
fate in the Steel god vanished, never to return…
Time turn the past into legend and where once was proud land of Adria is now sea, some says that it
hides more than just a few secrets…
Although a god cant be killed, it can be forgotten, as Steel
god was, by the hand of Adrians revenge. However, even now, Balkan people crave for battle, for blood, for war.
They don’t know why, perhaps it’s a legacy from past days, echo of a voice lost
in the void of oblivion.
And winged avenger? Being of incarnated pain of Adrians ancestors, after
that battle he disappeared. Balkan people give him name Bash Chelik which means
hard steel. As a symbol of his victory over Steel god. They say his hate is
vanished with Steel god and that he is looking for a way to heal his wound. Did
he succeed?
No one knows, but they say that if you listen carefully in
the moonless night
one can hear strange sound. It reminds of liquid dripping
of, and strange steely sound about it.
…Unsung battles are
always the greatest
Silent scream in
immortal soul
Longing for a hug
But embracing war…
|
