On a dark winters night, Came a man from the sea. Shrouded in darkness, As he sailed with the breeze. What was his name? Not a soul even knew. Or where he had come from, And why here, he had come to.
He was cloaked all in black, As he stepped to the shore. Like a Knight of the Dark, Or perhaps he was more. I stood back a ways, Trying not to be seen. But as hard as I tried, His eyes were to keen.His head turned my way, As I dropped to the ground. And he took a step forward, Making not a single sound. He came right to me, Not five steps from my face. And he tested the air, Like a hound on the chase.
“You can come out of hiding, I know you are there. I am a man of peace, You have nothing to fear.” His voice was deep, With a commanding tone. But something about it, Chilled me to the bone.
As dark as it was, He looked down where I lay. And stretched out a hand, As I heard him say. “There is no reason to hide, I see you are there. My journey has been long, A fire we can share.”
I rose up before him, A wraith covered in dust. He said, “Be not afraid, In me you can trust.” It was then that I saw, Up close for the first time. The eyes that had found me, As I lay covered in grime.
They were blue as the sea, And bright as the sun. As I looked to them I realized, I did not want to run. I wished to stay and talk, To this man from an unknown land. To know all about him, And why he now walked these sands.
He piled together some wood, As I found a place to sit. And I watched his every movement, As the fire he built was lit. I could see he had done this before, Many times if I was right. And it was again I noticed those eyes, As they flashed in the fires light.They looked so tired and sad, As he finally sat to rest. But what was hidden behind them, No one could have guessed. I didn’t know what to say, As we sat there in the night. No words would come to mind, As I stared into the fire so bright.
But then again I didn’t need to, As he was the one who spoke first. He started to speak in low tones, As he wet his deep thirst. ‘My name is Kalatar, I am a man with no home. I know not where I am from, So all my life I have roamed.”
“I have been to many lands, You could never comprehend. Full of death and despair, And suffering to no end.” I leaned back and listened, As he took a deep breath. I looked upon this man, Who had seen so much death.
“I was given a quest, Long, long ago. How long I have pursued it, I do not even know. It was given to me alone, I was chosen and no other. So I travel through new lands, And search the world over.”
“ I bring absolution, For those who would have it. And a cause which is righteous, For a Knight who would grasp it.” I wondered what he meant, By the words he had spoken. So I listened even closer, As the silence, once again, was broken.
‘Through all the time I have traveled, I have met not one man. Who would lay down his life, To lend another, a helping hand. You see it’s what it’s about, This quest I see to fulfill. A righteous cause of life itself, Through the choice of our free will.”
He leaned forward to the fire, And warmed his hands from winters chill heart. Then looking up a little, raised his arms, And spread his hands apart. ‘What is this land I have come to? Where is it I have landed? Tell me what name to put to it, So I can know, this time, what I have been handed.”
I told him this land was called Britainia, And that it was vast and full of life. That it was free of pain and suffering, Of all the despair and endless strife. I told him this could be it, The end to his long hard quest. That maybe he could finally settle, And put his mind to rest.
And then he looked to me and smiled, And said, “You might be right.” Then rose onto his weary feet, And looked to the dawning light. ‘I must be on my way, To see if this is finally the end. But even if it is,
It’s only where the journey will begin.”He started off down the road, To places new to see. Then he stopped and turned, And said, “Brother, will you join me?” So I rose onto my feet, And said gladly will I follow. I joined him on his quest, So excited I could barely swallow.
So off we went into the rising sun, Brothers traveling side by side. On a quest of noble cause, And I was filled with righteous pride. It has been many years since I met that man, Who turned on me a tired sad eye. Know that I would gladly give my life for him, I will follow him until I die.
And so began the Knights of Absolution, The guild known as KOA, Which continues its quest of righteousness, Each and every day.
From the Journal of Osiris
Knight-Marshal, KOA
