The Peacekeeper Wars

Phillepe, grandson of Sir Acknon Bourdieux, gingerly knocked on his grandfather’s door. Although Acknon had always been very loving to Phillepe, he had always had a slight fear of making him mad, and from the stories he had heard of his grandfather’s warrior days, it didn’t sound pleasant. 1

“Come in Phillepe.” His grandfather’s voice came from within. Phillepe entered and sat in his little chair as he always did once a week. “Here to hear another story?” 2

“Yes please sir! I love you stories!” Acknon smiled and thought for a moment. 3

“Have I ever told you the story of your greatest ancestor? No? His name was Acknon too. Some called him Acknon the Great, others Acknon the Peacekeeper, still others simply called him Wolf. He was the greatest knight to ever lift a sword!”4

“No sir, you’ve never told me. But please do! It sounds very exciting.” 5

“Indeed it is. Very well then, I shall tell you. But it may take a while. Get comfortable now and listen well.” 6

Deep in the Western Plain of the Argonnie forest, two armies faced each other. The glittering red flag of the Peacekeepers, decorated with its intricate shield and sword , flew gallantly toward the apposing Grociane army. Their dark blue flag with its blood red dragon flapped back, as if answering the challenge. But the battle would not be joined yet. The men stood eager like balverines before a hunt. The leaders of the two armies were meeting in the middle of the plain. 7

“Keli Kiya. Flerhoue, eck de chorls.”  The leader of the Grociane, Gormack, said. 8

“Agreed, but enough of your language. Mine is easier to negotiate with.” Was the reply of Cornagfer, supreme commander of the Peacekeeper army. “I warn you though, my hero will show no mercy. Choose well. May the best man win!” 9

“Aye.” Gormack returned to his lines. The two greatest heroes’ of the armies were going to fight for the supremacy of the entire Argonnie Forest. 10

“Acknon!” Cornagfer yelled his hero’s name. Acknon was on of the most famous heroes ever to come out of the guild. He was averagely built, and often underestimated. 11

“Pronilone!” The giant hero of the Grociane army stepped forward. He was a huge man. Muscles bulged all over his body, and the veins on his arms stood out like whips. 12

“Sac edine oust!” He yelled. His two handed broadsword burned with an evil blue flame that seemed to surround it and go through it. “Come sheep, meet Borione!” Acknon carried only a long one handed saber called Gorlin. It was a tiny weapon compared to Borione. But even so he stepped toward Pronilone, poised for action. Raising his huge sword, Pronilone charged with a blood curdling scream. 13

Acknon waited until the last second, until the sword was but a hands length from him. He ducked quickly and pushed forward. As he ran, he yelled loudly, “Spire Controe!” as he put his saber behind Pronilone’s back. The blade of the saber shot from the sword in a green flash as Acknon continued running. The blade sliced through Pronilone and flew back to Acknon’s blade. 14

Without breaking stride or running out of breath, Acknon ran up and down the Grociane lines, yelling his challenge. “Is there no one else?! Es akie nor lon kes?” The soldiers backed down in terror. 15

Amazement and fear shone in the eyes of Gormack as he bent onto a knee at the feet of Acknon and handed his scepter to him. “Lord Acknon, never have I seen such swordsmanship! As promised, I withdraw my warriors.” With that, horns blew to signal the retreat of the defeated Grociane army. 16

“But that was much later. First I shall start at the beginning. Some say it was a hundred years before that fight. Some say it was only twenty. No one can really be sure exactly. Acknon was born in the town of Oakvale. Acknon’s father, Shau’ ri, was a great warrior himself. Though he was never as famous as his son would become, he was still admired greatly by those who knew him. He had met Soarie, Acknon’s mother, on one of his campaigns during the Baroin War. They fell in love, and he brought her back to his homeland as a wife. 17

It was many years later, when Shau’ ri was almost too old to be a warrior, their son was born. But only a month after his birth, he was orphaned and stolen away by an invading army of bandits.”18

Inhoteep was an infamous leader of the Red Hand bandit group. He had spotted the town in which Acknon and his family lived in several weeks ago as he passed by on his way back to camp. The peaceful town was called Oakvale, and Shau’ ri had moved there to be away from war. 19

He had decided that it would be profitable to overcome the town, but he was having troubles with his co-leader, Barbon. 20

“Why waste your time on country buffoons eh? How rich could they possibly be! I say we attack the settlement of Afrodine, a much better chance of profit. Not to mention the warrior Shau’ ri lives in that town.” Barbon said loudly. 21

“You mean the washed up has been Shau’ ri? He is no more than a slobbering dog these days, weak in his old age. He will not be a problem. As for profit, it may seem like less, but I have a feeling about this one. Something besides gold and silver awaits us there.” Inhoteep said, standing up to his huge full height to put meaning into the argument. Barbon stood up against him. 22

“I am tired of your constantly trying to be the boss around here. I have as much right as you have! And I will take action if you do not let my opinion be heard and used as much as yours!” 23

“Come then Barbon. Let us see what you are made of. If you think you’re man enough to lead this group alone, then try! Come through me, and you get them.” 24

“So it has come down to this at last, old friend.” Barbon said almost soothingly as he pulled out his long saber. “I must say I have looking forward to the time I could finally be rid of your foolishness.” 25

“Come to the ring then, we will see what you are made of, scum!” 26

“Oh aye, you shall see what your insides are made of when I slice it open with Abada!” The two combatants took their places across each other in the melee ring, created for just such fights. The bandits stood watching, afraid to cheer for one side lest they be the loser. Inhoteep carried a huge battleaxe that was as long as some of the bandits were tall. 27

Inhoteep snarled as Barbon lunged toward him and attempted to cut his stomach open. Quickly parrying with the blunt end of his axe, Inhoteep brought the cutting edge down against where Barbon’s back was supposed to be. But Barbon moved quickly, and now stood behind Inhoteep. He flailed his saber wildly at Inhoteep’s back, wounding him in several places. With a loud roar Inhoteep swung around. The handle of the battle-axe knocked Barbon’s weapon aside, and, with an awesome backstroke, took off his head. Inhoteep spat the Barbon’s body. 28

“Now, does anyone else want to attack Afrodine?” The men stayed completely silent and still. “Good, then prepare to attack Oakvale.” The men went about preparing for a raid. Some were happy about the sole rule that Inhoteep had claimed. Thoughts of desertion ran through the heads of others.29

All that night they prepared, and as dawn came on, the company of bandits moved toward Oakvale. It was early afternoon when the attack began. The bandits ran, screaming curses and battle cries, into the village. They killed everyone in their path. A few of the men tried to defend their homes, but they were no match for the bandit warriors, and were quickly cut down. Inhoteep was at the front of his army, his blood cry ringing much louder than any others were, and his axe brought death to anyone around it. At last his mad slaughter stopped, and he watched his troops as they began burning the village.30

It was not long before he noticed a group of six villagers fighting against the overpowering odds. The only difference between them and the others they had killed was that these were being successful. A ring of killed bandits lay around them, and they continued to fight furiously. With a small evil smile of anticipation, Inhoteep walked their group and threw a challenge to the man who seemed to be the leader.31

“Hold back men. You there, what’s your name?”32

“I am Shou’ ri, defender of this village, and you will not come near my home!” 33

“So you are Shou’ ri. You’re not what I expected. Much weaker than I thought.” Shou’ ri curled his lip at the insult. But indeed Inhoteep’s words rung somewhat true. Shou’ ri was not as muscular as he once had been, and gray hair had overrun the black hair that used to inhabit his head. 34

“You and me scum, to the death!” 35

“Agreed!” Inhoteep whispered something into his lieutenant’s ear as he stepped forward to greet Shou’ ri’s challenge. The lieutenant hurried away to find some archers. Inhoteep knew at once that Shou’ ri, though age was catching up with him, was an even bigger danger than Barbon because of his experience. He parried and threw in the occasional offensive swing, trying to buy time. Shou’ ri seemed immediately to sense something. He slacked off of his attack some, saving his energy. 36

As soon as Inhoteep saw this, he knew had to do something to stop his suspicions from foiling his plan. He swung his axe with all the might he could muster. Shou’ ri was thrown to the ground from the force of the stroke, and the famous blade, Gorlin, knocked from his numb hand by the shockwaves. Just at that moment, ten archers fired, killing the few men that had fought with Shou’ ri. These men were actually his sons, and they were killed immediately. 37

“With a cry of rage Shou’ ri attacked Inhoteep again, but to no avail. He was killed, and something told Inhoteep that he should spare the young child in Shou’ ri’s home.”38

“That’s very sad sir. Shou’ ri sounded like an incredibly brave man.” 39

“So he was, but no more interruptions eh?” Phillepe nodded. 40

“Anyway, Inhoteep returned to his camp and put an old woman, who lived with his band, in charge of bringing up the child. As soon as he was old enough, Acknon started learning to use a weapon. For hours and hours Inhoteep would take the boy into the fields and teach him the art of swordsmanship. Inhoteep also taught him the limited art of Swomazeek (sword magic) that he knew. One more thing he taught the boy well. To hate the Hero’s Guild. You see, Inhoteep knew that by training the boy as well as he was, he would become famous, and the Hero’s Guild would be interested in getting him to join. So Acknon grew up beside the man who had killed his family, all the while thinking it was the good people of the Guild who had murdered his family and destroyed his home.” 41

“Now about the time Acknon was seventeen years old, his fame really took off. He had become extremely adept with the saber and rapier, beating almost any bandit that fought him. Acknon’s seventeenth birthday is the day when he first received Gorlin. Inhoteep had taken the sword when Shou’ ri fell. Not only was it a birthday present, but it was also a means for which he would test his adopted son. The band was planning to sack the city of Bowerstone, but to do so they would have to defeat a contingency of Peacekeeper troops stationed outside the city.”42

“It’s a magnificent blade father! Where did you get it?” Acknon asked Inhoteep. It was once a great warrior’s blade. Shou’ ri, hero of Oakvale and your real father.” Acknon’s eyes were alight with the excitement of receiving such a blade. 43

“Then you will let me accompany to attack Bowerstone?”44

“If that is what you wish, yes.” 45

“Yes father! I want to fight with you and your men! I want to prove myself!” 46

“You already have proven yourself. You are as fine a man as I could possibly hope for. Your father would be proud.” Acknon strapped the scabbard onto his belt and sheathed Gorlin. 47

“Thank you father. I will make you proud.” 48

“How many exactly?” 49

“I saw two full Catzi, eight hundred men.” 50

“How many troops do we have battle ready?” 51

“Only four hundred sir, are you sure you want to take the risk?” Inhoteep looked at his son, swinging Gorlin in practice and anticipation. 52

“I’m sure. Listen to me; this is what we will do…” 53

The Peacekeeper guard Agemmenon was extremely bored and tired. He had been on duty for well over six hours, and he thought it past high time when he should be replaced. Looking back at the camp, he saw that no one was stirring to take his place. He sighed and looked down the dark road again. It was the same as always, dark brown dirt skirted by white stones lining the path. He started to sigh again, but he never got to finish. Silent and swift as a wisp of smoke in a wind, a black dressed man slit Agemmenon’s throat, and took out a small white throwing knife, clearly visible in the dark night. He threw to a small raise in the ground and turned toward the Peacekeeper camp. 54

All around the camp, the guards met similar fates. Soon there were no guards to be seen, and, like fireflies awoken from a deep sleep, bonfires appeared all around the camp. This soon woke some of the Peacekeepers, but before they could raise the alarm, hundreds of burning arrows shot into the flammable canvas of their tents, which started ablaze quickly. Smoke and screams woke the rest of the Peacekeeper army, and confused men stumbled out of smoking tents, some to be hit by flaming arrows, some even trampled under many feet of those trying to escape. Some ran down the road, and some ran toward Bowerstone. Both were met with a hail of arrows from black robed groups of archers covering the roads going both ways. 55

It wasn’t long at all before the entire camp burned, the screams of those unlucky ones trapped still being heard. Not a single Peacekeeper was shown mercy. The few that escaped the fires were exterminated by the grim bandits that swarmed around the burning camp. Soon after, the victorious army marched to Bowerstone and sacked it. It was much the same as Oakvale. People screaming and dying, houses burning unchecked, looting and pillaging all over the city. After several hours of the madness, and most of the city destroyed, the bandits retreated to their base camp. 56

Acknon was very proud of himself. He had been one of the assassins that had killed the guards and snuck into the camp to kill the Peacekeeper leaders, and also to slop lantern oil along the way to help the fires. He proudly showed the trophy he had taken from the High guard that he had killed. It was a necklace of gold in the shape of the Peacekeeper cross and sword. He wore the necklace for many years, through all his adventures. He considered it his good luck charm. 57

Word of his deeds spread throughout the countryside. 58

“Did you hear of Inhoteep’s son Acknon? They say he was a terrible warrior who took many lives at the Massacre of Bowerstone. It is also said he will continue Inhoteep’s reign of terror after Inhoteep’s death. He might even be worse than Inhoteep!” Such were the rumors. But in reality, Acknon was never truly proud of what he had done. Though he wore the necklace with much pride, he wasn’t sure he liked to kill so many other humans in such a violent matter. They hadn’t even given the Peacekeepers a chance to defend themselves, they were simply killed.    59

“Inhotreep took Acknon on many raids, and over time his guilt of killing people started to leave him. Inhoteep’s adopted son grew more and more infamous. He had faced and defeated several heroes from the hero’s guild. It was apparent then that, if allowed, Acknon would become one of the worst bandit leaders ever.” 60

Acknon was trapped. He had been out on a scouting mission of a town called Hawthorn when he had accidentally run into a group of heroes from the Guild. They had surrounded him, and he cursed himself for his clumsiness. He drew Gorlin from his sheath and spoke the words of the multi-strike mazeek. 61

“Now then Acknon, though it may not seem like it, we are not here to harm you. The Guild Master, Sheeth, wants a few words with you.” One of the heroes told him. 62

“Boil you head hero. Come on then, I’m waiting!” Acknon snarled in reply. The hero that had spoken nodded, and Acknon spun quickly. As soon as his back was exposed, the man that had spoken pulled a potion from his pocket and threw it to shatter on the ground beneath Acknon’s feet. “Cowards!” Acknon was taken by fits of coughing as he doubled over, and sunk into unconsciousness. 63