Once upon a Shard (for Cyborg)

[Drizzt]

Once upon a Shard…..
High in the mountains of the Tihua Pass there is a tower, long forgotten. Yet within the tower there is an evil lurking. At the bottom of the pass is the community of 5 Towns, the good folk go about their days and nights not knowing that their lives are about to change.
A sudden flash of light splits the twilight and a ball of Flame sears down into the large market square between the towns in a fiery explosion. A voice booms over the country side, “Your time as simple folk of the Realm is over. For now you shall serve me.” People all over looked to the pass in shock, some of the elder folk whisper a name, remembered from tales of ages past, Grimsbane.
Many years ago, before the 5 Towns came to being, the Tower stood atop the pass. Grimsbane was known throughout the land as a force to be reckoned with. He would often send out his minions to pillage the lands around, dragging back people and beasts alike for all manner of vile experiments. Finally, a hero emerged, someone who would take back the country side in the name of all that was good and just. Wielding a sword that would reap the very corrupt soul of Grimsbane banishing it to the furthest reaches of the abyss, never to return. Or so it was thought. The long ago hero, with his sword and band of companions set out and eventually defeated Grimsbane, bringing peace to the lands once again. The sword and the hero all but forgotten now, except in tales around the campfire and the local inn.
The people gathered in the remains of the square the following day, the fires having been put out the evening before. They moved to make repairs or salvage what they could, all the while wondering what would happen when Grimsbane came down from the tower. Unfortunately they didn’t have to wait for long. In the distance a dust cloud was spotted, and soon a small host of warriors appeared. They arrived and spoke not a word, but with sword and spear corralled the people, separating them old from young. Then tying the young to a tether, the host returned to the Tower. Not a word spoken by the others nor a hand raised. They had resigned themselves to their fate.
On an outlining farm, a young man was cleaning out the barn. As he shifted things around rearranging the farm gear and stocks to make room for the coming harvest. He discovers an old footlocker, like the ones used for Queens guard. Curious he uses a pry bar to pop the ancient lock. In side, an old tabard and sword, baring the ancient crest of the old Queen. With a tentative hand he reaches out to the white bladed sword, it seems to pulse ever so slightly in the dim light of the barn. As he touches the hilt a quiet voice whispers
“The time has come once again, a Champion is needed.” Images flow through his mind, the battle of the past is made clear and now he knows what he must do. He straps on the mighty blade, and sets out, grabbing supplies for the day’s journey to the Tower, begins to walk without a second thought to he battle he will be facing once he arrives.
The host arrives at the tower with the new slaves in tow. They immediately set them to work rebuilding the Tower. Grimsbane watches from on high, finally his eye is drawn to a young maiden who stands a part from the rest. With a gesture, he sends one of his minions to collect her, after all an Emperor needs an Empress. The girl, though frightened, sees an opportunity to perhaps free herself and her fellow slaves, maybe she can reason with the master of this place. She is taken to a large room, and more minions take charge of her and bathe and dress her in finery like she has never known. She is then taken to another room larger than the first, at the end is an ornate Throne.
The Champion makes his trek through the pass, taking care to avoid the armed minions that now patrol, thankfully he knows the area well, and the interlopers clearly do not. In short order he has come within sight of the Tower. The sword whispers, “To the top, that is where Grimsbane will be.”
Nodding as much to himself as the sword, he finds a collapsed portion of the wall and sneaks inside the Tower. Carefully he makes his way to the top, stopping every few minutes to ensure he has not been discovered. All those years of sneaking into the Inn to steal ale are finally paying off. He reaches the top floor, there is a large set of doors, but off to the side a smaller door, perhaps a servants entrance. He listens at the small door, and hearing nothing cautiously opens it. Luck is with him, the small room is empty. He realizes that surprise will only take him so far, and with no small amount of reverence, draws the blade for the first time.
A fire wakens in hi veins! He feels the power of the weapon flow through his limbs, he knows instinctively what must be done. Without hesitation he walks to the only other door in the room and throws it open. The blade glows with a pure white light, the Champion steps into the large chamber and sees the girl, and at the far end Grimsbane on his throne.
With a snarl, that is almost feral, Grimsbane stands and hurls a searing ball of Flame at the Champion. He ducks and rolls as the scorching blast hits the doorway where he was standing moments before, destroying it. The girl screams and dives for cover behind a convenient piece of heave oak furniture. The Champion runs the length of the hall, dodging and weaving to avoid the rapid fire blasts of searing Flame.
Roaring in frustration Grimsbane, rushes forward swinging a staff that glows with arcane energy. The Champion parries the flurry of blows, looking for an opening, but the Lich has other things in store. Wielding the staff one handed he readies another blast of the searing flame. Almost too late, the Champion gets the blade up to deflect the blast, in doing so has to accept and hit from the staff. As it contacts him, he feels his energy drain. The blade whispers, “My strength is yours, and yours is mine.”
Power floods through the Champions limbs, and with a mighty blow he sunders the staff and Grimsbane as well. The staff releases all its arcane energy at once, destroying the room in a fiery blast.
The smoke clears, and from behind a heavy piece of oak furniture creeps the girl. She sees the blade lying on the floor, still smoldering from the blast. She walks over and picks it up.
“Take me and hide me until I am needed again.”
In a daze she walks out of the Tower, the minions have vanished and the towns folk are safe once again.