When Radahn was still a nursing child on his mother's knee, he often watched the shooting stars. Where did they all go he wondered. He asked his mother if he might one day catch one, to which she smiled, kissed his head, and replied, "No, little culver. It is for us to observe destiny, not impede it."

It was an answer that had to suffice for a boy, but he was a man now who had time to experience the world for himself. Beyond the fog, Radahn saw what lay outside Marika's divine influence with an insight that Marika provided all her demigod children. With this insight, Radahn had to state that what Marika built with the First Elden Lord Godfrey was something of wonder.

There was no hunger or famine. All had more than what was needed. Not even death itself was feared as all lived unnaturally long lives and returned to the Erdtree to be spun into life anew. And Marika's offspring enjoyed no such bitterness.

Why should such a thing be allowed to end?

Now that he was one of Marika's many champions, just like his father before him. And it was in Sellia that Radahn found his purpose and opportunity to prove himself before the Golden Order. But more importantly; to save the many innocent people Radahn had come to call his friends.

His scrawny horse Leonard came and pushed his nose against Radahn's hand, which got a chuckle and an affectionate scratch from the demigod.

Radahn was a mere pup still that barely left his mother's side when he met his friend. It was huddled up in the corner, unable to stand. The Stable Master told Radahn there was nothing to be done, as the foal was born premature, and its mother rejected it. With no will to continue living, the stablemaster looked to make the creature as comfortable as possible before its essence returned to the Erdtree.

His father came to search for him when Radahn didn't come home and found Radahn in the pen with the foal. The boy begged the scrawny foal to take some milk. Radagon, who often lacked patience for such things, tried to coax Radahn to leave the foal and come home, but he refused. Radagon reasons ranged from "it's not possible to keep" to "it will find peace within the branches of the Erdtree" to an outright "it's the will of the Order, and the Order is the Greater Will". Radahn countered by hugging the foal and saying, "But I want him to live!"

So Radagon let Radahn keep the horse to save him, and Leonard hadn't left Radahn's side since. It was almost a second heartbreak when Radahn grew too large to ride, which caused him to come to Sellia to learn gravity magic.

"Humph," said Radahn as he rubbed Leonard's nose. "The stars are shifting. It won't be much longer now."

The astrologers warned about what the people of Sellia have called "the Calamity" centuries ago, but no one paid any heed then. It seemed an event too far off, and who knew how the stars might shift between now and then? So, they did nothing while it was still possible to intervene.

Now, the hour had come. Not only had the stars not shifted, but the Calemity was far worse now than previously thought. If it landed, it threatened to destroy the entire town of Sellia and render much of Caelid uninhabitable. Panic ensued, and councils started offering anything from the improbable to the ludicrous. (One even suggested moving the town - buildings and all, north. They figured they might make peace with all the dragons somehow.)

Radahn asked the astrologers to send the Queen word. They wrote a lengthy thousand-page brief that laid out every scientific observation and all calculations of the event; complete with detailed diagrams and ledgers full of equations. It took them months to compile through the bickering of whose contributions to include and credit; even if it was redundant or useless.

Radahn still smiled at their faces when Marika's reply came within less than an hour of the brief's reported delivery, indicating she did not read it. In a message addressed only to her stepson, Marika gave the one-phrase response, "Do what you must."

With Marika's blessing and the authority to do whatever he wished, Radahn ordered the entire town of Sellia to evacuate towards Redmane Castle and bring very little. For four days, the town sat empty with nothing but memories. Radahn laid his hand on one of the stone columns to remember what it was about this town that made it worth every effort to save.

When Radahn was a boy, he mastered riding his horse. In his youth, he mastered the sword. But it was here in Sellia that a young man learned what real power was.

He walked through the town to remember why it meant so much to him. The tiny room he stayed in that he no longer fit in. The cliff that his Alabaster master threw him off to force the youth to use his magic in a panic. It was like he flew, and what more he could master meant he might overcome the very stars.

He said his last goodbyes before making his journey west to put himself in a position to intercept the Calamity.

As he rode over the crest of the hill, Radahn pulled his reigns to halt Leonard. Before him were banners and rows tidy of men - thousands of them - dressed in scarlet with a loose formation of sorcerers from Sellia. They snapped to attention the moment they saw their general. The knights lifted their visors in solute. They parted to allow space for Radahn to pass and bowed their heads as he walked by while uttering his title, "Champion."

Soon, they could not contain their excitement and erupted in cheer as they chanted, "Radahn, Radahn, Radahn, Radahn!"

Behind the ranks, was old Jerren who mentored Radahn on the art of warfare and stood at his side ever since. The man dressed more akin to a jester in a court, yet not one any sane man should hope to cross in combat. And he had thought he left him and the men at Redmane while Radahn looked to face the Calamity alone.

"Jerren," said Radahn. "I did not ask these men to come."

"I know," replied Jarren with a smile, "They came on their own."

They continued to chant and only quieted when Radahn faced them to address them.

Gentlemen!" he said.

As the chants silenced, Radahn took a moment to think. He was never one for words, but these men deserved his best, "We have shared our labors. Shed our blood together. Today we come together. Be it known to all ye who gather, that my father Radagon had come to the gates of the Carian royal family, but made peace and went no further. Godfrey, the First Elden Lord went as far as subduing the giants. But today, I, the Red Lion will challenge the stars themselves, and put all things in order. I have no fear. Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a lovely thing to live with courage and die leaving everlasting fame. Hew me back into the Erdtree with a legacy echoes beyond this age!"

His men lifted their weapons in praise to their Champion at which Radahn turned away with his helmet under his arm.

"Pretty speech," said Jerren. "Just answer me one thing before you ride out on your tiny horse, general."

"What?"

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Radahn laughed, "Depends. Are you asking about war or women?"

Having caught Jerren without retort Radahn put on his helmet over his blazing red hair. Leonard trotted up to him and gave a nay as if to tell Radahn it was time to go. He hadn't planned on taking his horse with him, but as the steed followed him, Radahn realized he hadn't a choice. It did seem a little silly at the thought of a large man riding a tiny horse up in the heavens, but Radahn reasoned it would at least make a good constellation later.

He mounted Leonard and gave a breath. The heavens had already opened up and began shooting stars across the canopy.

It was time.

Radahn commanded Leonard forward, using his magic to ensure the horse did not grow burdened at his weight. Leonard gave it his all. Across Caelid's wilds, Radahn chased the stars under the violet sky. Behind, was Radahn's calvary, and behind them came his infantry. His archers and the sorcerers stayed behind.

The skies lit up with flashes like lightning as the shower came closer and closer.

Meteors lost their course and plummeted to the ground, and at their core were creatures from somewhere in the outer rims. Radahn maneuvered Leonard to dodge as they kicked up dust and debris. The wizards from Sellia cast their glint stone magic to strike down the smaller rocks and the winged creatures that sprang from them.

They cleared Radahn's path so that they might not impede Radahn's advance.

"Faster," cried Radahn and Leonard obeyed.

And then the stone shot over Radahn's head. The largest of them all must have matched the base of the Erdtree in diameter and a blazing trail of fire that headed directly for Sellia.

Radahn maneuvered Leonard to chase after it. He crossed the battlefield where his men hacked through the cosmetic armies.

He pushed Leonard harder to get ahead of the Calamity. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he felt the intense heat of the meteor. When he managed to get ahead of it, Radahn used his magic to snag the calamity. He plunged one of his blades into its crust as deep as it might go. At once Radahn was off like a current he barely grabbed Leonard before the poor horse fell.

"Gah!" said Radahn as he gritted his teeth. His grip began to slip as he couldn't hold on to both it and Leonard.

Sellia was close. Radahn takes one of those seconds to cast a spell on Leonard. He closed his eyes as he released his friend in the hope he might fall safely.

He then composed himself with faith his friend was safe and turned his attention back on the calamity. Radahn gripped the sword with both hands and swung his feet, once, twice, three times before he found a toehold. Inch by agonizing inch, Radahn climbed the face of the meteor. Dust caught into his eyes and mouth. Each moment he balanced his magic to both preserve his strength and to ensure he had enough for what he thought to do.

When Radahn was in front, he cast his spell to push against the mass. It felt like two hands clasped Radahn between them as he increased his magic to slow the meteor. The speed began to push down on his bones. Blood dripped out from his eyes. His fingers grew numb as they dug into the icy surface.

The meteor started to glow red as it came into the atmosphere. His armor began to melt under the heat and burn into his skin. Radahn pulled back and began slamming the calamity with his shoulder, over and over again. And then with one last effort, as his heart started to feel as though it was giving out, and made one last attempt to stop it.

Radahn let go and waited until he had some distance from the calamity. He then cast a spell that pulled him towards another one of the falling bodies. He used his gravity to swing around and back towards the calamity.

All below watched in awe as the stars halted in their place. The force of Radahn's will and magic had caused even the cosmos to obey him. And the calamity was no more a threat as it fell from its place in the heavens and miles away from Sellia.

They let out a cheer, but soon they muffled it in worry.

For where was their general?

Radahn soon rose. His armor melted down and his flesh burned from the friction of the sky. And in his victory, Radahn gave a mighty bellow to mark that it was he who had scourged the stars and put them in their place.

I have conquered all my enemies,

And a celestial glory radiates from me.

Many from one and one from many,

Issue of a famous line, I rise

From the lowest to the highest.

the nethermost power of the world

Is united with the highest, therefore

I am the One and the Many within me,

Multiplying myself by ten. (Fabrcious, 169)

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