The Knight Reborn
The armored warrior awoke with a start. All around him were the trappings of the three orders of the Knighthood. As he sat up, he realized that he was lying on altar of polished stone.
As he swiveled his feet over the side of the stone slab and stood, his muscles and joints protested with the feeling of painful waves of pins and needles running thru his legs. Looking around the room, the warrior observed that his shield and sword lay at the foot of the altar.
As he bent to retrieve them, he noticed the following inscribed in the flawless marble:
Huma Dragonsbane
Knight Of The Crown
Champion Of Krynn
Huma.
The name sounded strange on his lips, however as he said the name, memories and visions began to return. Strongest of these involved a silver haired maiden and a flight of dragons in formation above the clouds. As Huma relived his memories, the room began to lighten with golden glow.
As he shook off the memories and returned to the present, he noticed that he was no longer alone. A small man with gray hair and a long beard stood before him.
"Who are you sir?" Huma said with some confusion.
"We have met before Sir Knight" said the old man with a kindly smile.
Where have a seen an old man before pondered Huma. He did recall the man garbed in grey robes on the path when he was taking the test to obtain the Dragon Lances...But where else?
As he considered it a moment longer, the man's face or his identity was revealed to him in his mind. At that moment, he dropped to his knees in worship and said the only name that it could be.
PALADINE
Paladine looked at Huma with a smile. Although his face was warm with the emotion of a father seeing his son again, the old man's eyes were sad. Huma could tell without asking that something was bothering his Patron.
"My Lord, what troubles you?" Huma asked with humility.
Paladine reached out and touched Huma's should and bade him to rise. With a quiet gesture, he directed Huma to sit on the steps of the funeral altar. When he spoke finally, his voice was weary and troubled. "My son, you have by rights earned your rest. However it is a time of conflict and confusion. The land is being left in the hands of mortals and dragons because of a pact the Gods made to save Krynn."
"What has the power to depose the gods?" Huma asked in awe.
Paladine sighed and continued "Chaos has been freed my son. As a result, in order to rid the world of his destructive power, the gods of good, neutrality and evil must leave Krynn in the hands of those who will be its new masters.
Huma nodded and spoke quietly "Then why was I awoken?"
Paladin clasped the knight's should and faintly smiled.
"I hope to entreat you to go out among the people, not as a knight in armor, but as a knight in spirit. Walk among the people and bring them hope." As Huma nodded in understanding, Paladine held up his hand to get his attention.
"Be warned Huma, this task will not be easy. Those that worshipped the gods will find that their prayers go unanswered. However, your task is to help the people find the strength and faith in themselves to endure the coming of the fifth age."
Huma rose to his feet and grasped the hilt of sword. "By my Oath as a knight, I shall do all that you ask. Direct me my lord and I shall endeavor to do your bidding."
Paladine smiled but shook his head "No Huma, you shall not do as I ask, but follow your insincts and heart. I can not help you from this point onward."
Huma nodded in acceptance "I understand my lord."
As quick as a heartbeat, Paladine was gone. In his place, was a pile of clothing and walking stick.
The armored warrior awoke with a start. All around him were the trappings of the three orders of the Knighthood. As he sat up, he realized that he was lying on altar of polished stone.
As he swiveled his feet over the side of the stone slab and stood, his muscles and joints protested with the feeling of painful waves of pins and needles running thru his legs. Looking around the room, the warrior observed that his shield and sword lay at the foot of the altar.
As he bent to retrieve them, he noticed the following inscribed in the flawless marble:
Huma Dragonsbane
Knight Of The Crown
Champion Of Krynn
Huma.
The name sounded strange on his lips, however as he said the name, memories and visions began to return. Strongest of these involved a silver haired maiden and a flight of dragons in formation above the clouds. As Huma relived his memories, the room began to lighten with golden glow.
As he shook off the memories and returned to the present, he noticed that he was no longer alone. A small man with gray hair and a long beard stood before him.
"Who are you sir?" Huma said with some confusion.
"We have met before Sir Knight" said the old man with a kindly smile.
Where have a seen an old man before pondered Huma. He did recall the man garbed in grey robes on the path when he was taking the test to obtain the Dragon Lances...But where else?
As he considered it a moment longer, the man's face or his identity was revealed to him in his mind. At that moment, he dropped to his knees in worship and said the only name that it could be.
PALADINE
Paladine looked at Huma with a smile. Although his face was warm with the emotion of a father seeing his son again, the old man's eyes were sad. Huma could tell without asking that something was bothering his Patron.
"My Lord, what troubles you?" Huma asked with humility.
Paladine reached out and touched Huma's should and bade him to rise. With a quiet gesture, he directed Huma to sit on the steps of the funeral altar. When he spoke finally, his voice was weary and troubled. "My son, you have by rights earned your rest. However it is a time of conflict and confusion. The land is being left in the hands of mortals and dragons because of a pact the Gods made to save Krynn."
"What has the power to depose the gods?" Huma asked in awe.
Paladine sighed and continued "Chaos has been freed my son. As a result, in order to rid the world of his destructive power, the gods of good, neutrality and evil must leave Krynn in the hands of those who will be its new masters.
Huma nodded and spoke quietly "Then why was I awoken?"
Paladin clasped the knight's should and faintly smiled.
"I hope to entreat you to go out among the people, not as a knight in armor, but as a knight in spirit. Walk among the people and bring them hope." As Huma nodded in understanding, Paladine held up his hand to get his attention.
"Be warned Huma, this task will not be easy. Those that worshipped the gods will find that their prayers go unanswered. However, your task is to help the people find the strength and faith in themselves to endure the coming of the fifth age."
Huma rose to his feet and grasped the hilt of sword. "By my Oath as a knight, I shall do all that you ask. Direct me my lord and I shall endeavor to do your bidding."
Paladine smiled but shook his head "No Huma, you shall not do as I ask, but follow your insincts and heart. I can not help you from this point onward."
Huma nodded in acceptance "I understand my lord."
As quick as a heartbeat, Paladine was gone. In his place, was a pile of clothing and walking stick.